The present invention relates to a floating structure for supporting PV panels .

Such a floating structure is known from WO 2022 / 135730 . The known floating structure is part of a plurality of interconnected platforms which are intended to be located of fshore . Each of the platforms has a plurality of buoyant members which support the platform . The platforms are substantially triangular in planform . Adj acent triangular platforms are pivotably connected to each other .

An obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved floating structure .

This obj ect is accomplished with the floating structure according to the invention which comprises a frame extending in a main plane and a plurality of elongate buoyant members having respective longitudinal directions which extend in transverse direction of the main plane , wherein each of the buoyant members has an upper part which is fixed to the frame above a lower side of the frame and a lower part which proj ects from the lower side of the frame , wherein the upper part and the lower part are separate elements which are fixed to each other .

An advantage of the floating structure according to the invention is that it provides the opportunity to transport the elongate buoyant members as separate smaller parts to a site where they are assembled . For example , the upper part and the lower part may be dimensioned such that they fit in a standard sea container .

An additional advantage is that it provides the opportunity to apply lower parts which have di f ferent dimensions and/or shapes . For example , the upper parts and the frame may have standardi zed dimensions and/or shapes whereas the lower parts may vary from one floating structure to the other .

It is noted that the floating structure may also be suitable for supporting an alternative superstructure , for example a wind turbine . The lower part may be releasably fixed to the upper part , for example by means of bolting .

The upper part and the lower part may be provided with cooperating flanges through which the upper part and the lower part are attached to each other . When the flange is located at an outer side of the buoyant member it may function as a spray rail in case the flange is located above water level under operating conditions or as a heave plate in case the flange is locate below water level under operating conditions .

At the location where the upper part and the lower part are fixed to each other a reinforcement element , for example a circumferential reinforcement plate , may be provided at an inner side or an outer side of the buoyant member .

In a preferred embodiment the upper part has a circumferential wall including a lower end portion which has a larger cross-sectional area than an upper end portion thereof , wherein the circumferential wall diverges in a direction from its upper end portion to its lower end portion such that two of the same upper parts as separate elements partly fit into each other, since a plurality of identical upper parts can be partly nested within each other during transport to a destination before assembly of the floating structure , which saves transport volume . The circumferential wall of the upper part may be conical or f rustoconical or may have a pyramid shape or the like .

Similarly, the lower part may have a circumferential wall including a lower end portion which has a smaller cross- sectional area than an upper end portion thereof , wherein the circumferential wall diverges in a direction from its lower end portion to its upper end portion such that two of the same lower parts as separate elements partly fit into each other . The circumferential wall of the lower part may be conical or f rustoconical or may have a pyramid shape or the like .

The length of the lower part may be di f ferent from and preferably larger than the length of the upper part as measured in longitudinal direction of the buoyant member .

The buoyant members may have circular cross-sections . This minimi zes drag loads under operating conditions . Nevertheless , the buoyant members may have polygonal crosssections , elliptical cross-sections or the like .

The frame may have a substantially polygonal shape within the main plane including a plurality of corners .

The buoyant members may be located at the corners . This maximi zes stability and optimi zes hydrodynamic performance of the floating structure .

The floating structure may have coupling members for coupling it to another floating structure , wherein the coupling members are mounted at the corners in case the buoyant members are located at the corners . This is advantageous since the buoyant members provide relatively high rigidity at the corners of the frame . The coupling members may form proj ections which are directed outwardly from the floating structure , for example in the form of tripods .

The frame may have a triangular shape .

Preferably, the frame has a three-dimensional truss structure comprising interconnected beams , wherein the upper parts of the buoyant members form upright beams of the truss structure , since the upper parts are integral with the three- dimensional truss structure , hence providing a robust structure . Furthermore , the buoyant members have two functions , i . e . improve robustness of the floating structure and providing buoyancy, which means an ef ficient use of material . I f under operating conditions the frame is located above water level the upper part of the buoyant member functions as a reinforcement . I f under operating conditions the frame is located below water level or partly below water level the upper part of the buoyant member functions as a reinforcement as well as a buoyancy . The upper part also provides a volume which can be used for accommodating other equipment , for example equipment which should preferably be kept in an isolated space . Similarly, the lower part also provides a volume which can be used for accommodating other equipment or ballast , for example .

The interconnected beams of the frame may be releasably fixed to each other . This means that the floating structure has a modular configuration which provides the opportunity to transport all separate elements to a site where they are assembled to form the floating structure . Nevertheless , the beams may also be welded to each other, for example .

The upper part may have a lower connector and an upper connector for being connected to respective beams of the truss structure , which lower and upper connectors are located at a distance from each other in longitudinal direction of the buoyant member .

In the event that the upper part has a diverging circumferential wall in a direction from the upper end portion to its lower end portion, the lower connector may be located at an outer side of the lower end portion and the upper connector may be located at an axial upper side of the upper part . The upper connector and/or lower connector may be proj ections , which may be welded to the upper part . Preferably, the proj ections are only at the outer side of the lower end portion of the upper part , whereas at a distance from the lower end portion the outer side of the circumferential wall is substantially free from proj ections . Hence , nesting of the upper parts remains possible .

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a floating structure as described above , wherein the upper and lower parts are supplied as separate elements , the upper parts are placed in upright orientation on a support and fixed to the frame , hence forming an intermediate configuration, after which the intermediate configuration is li fted and the lower parts and the upper parts are fixed to each other .

In a particular method, wherein the frame has the three-dimensional truss structure , the upper and lower parts and the beams are supplied as separate parts , wherein the upper parts are placed in upright orientation on a support and the beams and the upper parts are fixed to each other, hence forming an intermediate configuration, after which the intermediate configuration is li fted and the lower parts and the upper parts are fixed to each other .

Before li fting the intermediate configuration, further parts , such as PV panels , may be mounted to the intermediate configuration .

The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to very schematic drawings showing embodiments of the invention by way of example . Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a floating structure according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view as Fig. 1, but showing an enlarged part thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar view as Fig. 1, showing two interconnected identical floating structures.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a series of parts of the floating structure as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view as Fig. 1, but showing an intermediate configuration of the floating structure.

Fig. 6 is a similar view as Fig. 1, illustrating a final configuration of the floating structure.

Fig. 7 is a similar view as Fig. 1, showing an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a floating structure 1 according to the invention. The floating structure 1 is intended for supporting PV panels (not shown) and to be installed offshore. The floating structure 1 comprises a frame 2 which has a three-dimensional truss structure comprising interconnected beams. The frame 2 extends in a main plane and has an upper side 3 and a lower side 4. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1 the frame 2 has an equilateral triangular shape within the main plane and includes three corners, but an alternative embodiment (not shown) may have a different polygonal shape including a plurality of corners.

The floating structure 1 comprises three elongate buoyant members 5 which are located at the respective corners of the frame 2. Fig. 2 shows one of the buoyant members 5 in more detail. Each of the buoyant members 5 has a centreline CL in its longitudinal direction which extends perpendicularly to the main plane. The buoyant members 5 have circular cross-sections.

Each of the buoyant members 5 comprises an upper part 5a which is located at the frame 2 above the lower side 4 thereof and a lower part 5b which projects from the lower side 4 of the frame 2. The length of the lower part 5b is larger than the length of the upper part 5a as measured along the centreline CL. Fig. 2 shows that the upper part 5a forms an upright beam of the truss structure of the frame 2. This means that the upper part 5a is integrated in the frame 2. The upper part 5a and the lower part 5b are separate elements which are fixed to each other . Both the upper part 5a and the lower part 5b of the buoyant member 5 are conical such that two of the same upper parts 5a partly fit into each other and two of the same lower parts 5b partly fit into each other before being fixed to each other . This provides the opportunity to transport the upper and lower parts 5a, 5b in an ef ficient manner to a site where they are assembled in order to form complete buoyant members 5 . Fig . 4 shows a series of partly nested upper parts 5a . Referring to Fig . 2 , the upper part 5a has a circumferential wall including a lower end portion 6 which has a larger cross-sectional area than an upper end portion 7 thereof , whereas the lower part 5b has a circumferential wall including a lower end portion 8 which has a smaller cross- sectional area than an upper end portion 9 thereof .

The lower end portion 6 of the upper part 5a and the upper end portion 9 of the lower part 5b are provided with cooperating flanges 10 through which the upper part 5a and the lower part 5b are bolted to each other . An upper side of the upper part 5a and a lower side of the lower part 5b are closed by an upper closure 11 and a lower closure 12 , respectively .

Referring to Figs . 2 and 4 , an outer side of the lower end portion 6 of the upper part 5a is provided with outwardly proj ecting lower connectors 13 which are welded to the upper part 5a . Beams of the frame 2 are connected to the lower connectors 13 . The upper closure 11 of the upper part 5a, i . e . an axial upper end of the upper part 5a, is provided with upper connectors 14 . It is undesired to apply outwardly proj ecting upper connectors at an outer side of the upper end portion 7 of the upper part 5a, since this would make nesting of a series of upper parts 5a more di f ficult .

Fig . 3 shows two substantially identical floating structures 1 which are interconnected . Both floating structures 1 are provided with pairs of coupling members in the form of pairs of tripods 15 at their corners which are adapted such that the floating structures 1 are allowed to pivot with respect to each other without contacting each other under operating conditions on the water . In order to avoid a collision of the lower parts 5b the distance between the frames 2 is relatively large . This provides the opportunity to locate PV panels beyond outer edges of the upper sides 3 of the respective frames 2 , since relative displacement at the height level of the frames 2 is lower than relative displacement of the lower end portions 8 of the lower parts 5b . It is noted that in practice more than two similar floating structures 1 may be pivotally coupled to each other . The tripods 15 are attached to the upper parts 5a of the buoyant members 5 , hence forming part of the three- dimensional truss structure of the frame 2 . Since the upper parts 5a provide relatively high rigidity at the corners of the frame 2 it is advantageous to provide the tripods 15 at the corners .

Figs . 5 and 6 show successive steps of a method of assembling a floating structure 1 as shown in Fig . 1 . Three of the upper parts 5a are supplied as separate parts and placed in upright orientation on the floor or a building platform at a site where the floating structure 1 is assembled . Beams for forming the three-dimensional truss structure are also supplied as separate parts and fixed to each other and to the upper parts 5a, for example by means of bolting . Furthermore , the tripods 15 are fixed to the corners of the frame 2 . This results in an intermediate configuration 1 ' as shown in Fig . 5 . In a next step the intermediate configuration 1 ' is li fted, for example by a crane (not shown) , after which the lower parts 5b of the buoyant members 5 are fixed to the respective upper parts 5a thereof . It is also possible to mount the PV panels and/or further parts on the upper side 3 of the frame 2 before li fting the intermediate configuration 1 ' .

Under operating conditions the upper parts 5a of the buoyant members 5 may be located above water level , submerged or partly submerged .

From the above , it is clear that the modular design of the buoyant members 5 and the frame 2 facilitate transport , particularly when the upper and lower parts 5a, 5b are shaped such that they can be nested within each other . Additionally, the modular structure makes it easy to assemble the floating structure 1 at any desired location .

Fig . 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a floating structure 1 which has di f ferent upper and lower parts 5a, 5b with respect to the upper and lower parts 5a, 5b in the embodiment as shown in Figs . 1- 6 . The upper parts 5a in the embodiment as shown in Fig . 7 have shapes which form appropriate supports for the tripods 15 . The circumferences of the lower ends of the respective upper parts 5a are partly arched and partly polygonal . The upper end portions of the respective lower parts 5b have cross-sections which are also partly arched and partly polygonal in order to fit to the lower ends of the upper parts 5a . The upper end portion may be a separate transition section which is fixed to the remainder of the lower part 5b .

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore , which may be varied in di f ferent manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents .