A PONTOON WITH FLOTATION MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING AN ENERGY

CONVERSION INSTALLATION ON A BODY OF WATER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The aspects and embodiment thereof relate to the field of pontoons for carrying an energy conversion installation on a body of water.

BACKGROUND

A pontoon provides a floating platform with a working surface, on which for example a photovoltaic installation may be positioned. Using the pontoon, a water surface may as such be used for carrying photovoltaic installations.

A pontoon typically comprises one or more hollow floater bodies supporting the working surface. The hollow volume inside the floater bodies contributes to the buoyancy of the pontoon, and is related to the weight of the photovoltaic installation carried on the working surface. To prevent the floater bodies from filling with water in case of a leak, the hollow volume may be filled for example with a low-density foam.

SUMMARY

It is preferred to provide a pontoon for carrying an energy conversion installation which is at least one of compact, economical, convenient to manufacture or assemble, resilient against waves and/or weather, and durable for long-time use, for example multiple years, for example more than 5 or 10 years.

A first aspect provides a pontoon for supporting an energy conversion installation on a body of water, the pontoon comprising a structural frame, comprising a plurality of beams interconnected to form a frame, wherein the beams define a volume between them. One, more or all of the beams may be flanged beams, the flanged beams each comprising an elongated beam body and at least one flange protruding away from the beam body towards the volume defined between the beams. A floatation member is positioned at least partially in the volume defined between the beams.

The structural frame may be arranged for providing strength, stiffness, impact resistance and/or durability to the pontoon. In use, the energy conversion installation may be connected directly or indirectly to one or both of the structural frame and the floatation member. As a particular option, the energy conversion installation is not directly connected to the floatation member, but in particular only to the structural frame.

An energy conversion installation may for example be a photovoltaic installation for converting solar energy into electrical energy using one or more photovoltaic panels. An energy conversion installation may also for example comprise a wind or water turbine for converting kinetic energy from wind or waves into electric energy.

The floatation member provides floatation capabilities to the pontoon. As such, the floatation member comprises one or more materials with a density lower than a density of water, in particular lower than 1025 kg/m ³ or even lower than 1000 kg/m ³ , since these materials provide buoyancy under water, either salt water - seawater - or sweet water, respectively.

The floatation member may comprise one or more separate flotation elements. If the flotation member comprises multiple flotation elements, the flotation elements may be held together as a flotation member by means of he frame provided by the beams. The flotation member or one or more flotation elements may have a density lower than a density of water, in particular lower than 1025 kg/m ³ or even lower than 1000 kg/m ³ (for sweet water), which may apply to the flotation member or one or more flotation elements as a whole - per unit. In one implementation, the flotation member or one or more flotation elements comprise one or more hollow chambers or hollow cells. Such cells may have dimensions in the order of millimetres or less, thus constituting a solid foam. In another implementation, such cells may have dimensions in the order of centimetres or even tens of centimetres. Such implementation allows for using dense materials - with a density larger than salt water or sweet water - for an outside of the flotation member or the flotation elements to account for robustness, whereas the total density of the total flotation member may be less than the density of water, either sweet or salt.

One, more or all of the beams comprised by the structural frame may be flanged beams comprising an elongated beam body and at least one flange protruding away from the beam body towards the volume defined between the beams. A flanged beam for example has an I-shaped, H-shaped, L-shaped, T-shaped, U-shaped, or C-shaped cross-section. In particular, a flanged beam has such a cross-section over at least part of the length of the beam, or over the full length of the beam.

A flange of a flanged beam may be arranged for at least partially supporting the floatation member, or a separate floatation element of the floatation member. As such, the floatation member may at least partially abut at least one, more, or all of the flanges of the flanged beams.

A floatation member or a floatation element of a floatation member may be connected or coupled to the structural frame. For example, the floatation member or floatation element may be clamped between multiple beams, or connected directly to one or more beams, for example using glue, welding, screws, bolts and nuts, any other connection means, or any combination thereof.

As a particular option, which may as all disclosed options be readily combined with other options, the floatation member comprises a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer, and wherein the middle layer has the average density lower than the density of water, in particular lower than 1000 kg/m ³ . Embodiments are also envisioned without the top layer or without the bottom layer.

The beams of the structural frame may have a density higher than water, in particular higher than 1000 kg/m ³ , and may hence not contribute to the buoyancy of the pontoon. As a further option, one or both of the optional top layer and the optional bottom layer may have a density higher than water and sweet water in particular, in particular higher than 1000 kg/m ³ or even higher than 1025 kg/m ³ , and may hence also not contribute to the buoyancy of the pontoon. Instead, for example, one or both of the top layer and the bottom layer may protect the middle layer from outside influences, such as for example at least one of water, weather, and impacts.

Whereas such elements having a density higher then sweet water - or even higher than seawater, for example of the North Sea or the Atlantic Ocean -, such higher density materials generally provided a better protection and robustness. Hence, such materials, like iron and steel, may not be preferred from a buoyancy point of view, this may be compensated by particular materials inside the flotation body, for example in each flotation element.

The beams may form an approximately rectangular shaped structural frame in use in a top plan view. As other options, the structural frame may in use in a top plan view be approximately: square, triangular, or as any other polygon such as a pentagon, hexagon, or any other polygon with any number of edges formed by the beams. Beams may be substantially straight, or curved, for example to form a circular, ellipsoid, or other shaped frame.

The structural frame may comprise two side beams, a centre beam positioned between the two side beams, a front beam and a rear beam positioned perpendicular to the two side beams. The centre beam may provide more stiffness to the structural frame. The centre beam may be positioned inside the volume between the side beams, for example but not necessarily in the middle between the side beams. As such, two sub-volumes may be defined: one sub-volume between a first side beam and the centre beam, and a second sub-volume between a second side beam and the centre beam. When more than sub-volume is present in the volume defines by the structural frame, more than one separate floatation member may be used. A single floatation member may also fill more than one sub-volume.

It will be understood that a pontoon may comprise any number of beams, flanged beams and centre beams and thus any number of subvolumes, and any number of separate floatation elements. Multiple centre beams may be oriented parallel, or at an angle relative to each other, in particular perpendicular to each other. It will also be understood that embodiments of pontoons are envisioned without a centre beam.

For example, the pontoon may comprise two layered floatation members, a first of which is positioned between a first of the side beams and the centre beam, and a second of which is positioned between a second of the side beams and the centre beam.

One or more joint members may be used for connecting ends of two or more of the beams. A joint member may allow two beams, for example a side beam and a front beam, to be oriented at a particular angle relative to each other, for example perpendicular.

A particular joint member comprises two substantially parallel and offset cover plates connected by one or more perpendicular connection members. The offset between the cover plates may correspond to a height of one of the beams of the structural frame, an end of which may hence be positioned between the cover plates.

One, more or all of the side faces of the floatation member contacting or facing the structural frame may be non-flammable, fire- retardant, flame-retardant and/or heat-resistant. Non-flammable here implies that the material at the side faces has some resistance to catching fire, being ignited or combusted. For example when beams and/or joint members are welded together, heat from the welding process may otherwise damage, ignite, or combust the floatation member.

A second aspect provides a method for assembling a pontoon for supporting an energy conversion installation on a body of water, the method comprises the steps of forming a structural frame by interconnecting a plurality of flanged beams, thereby forming a volume between the flanged beams, and positioning a one or more floatation elements in a volume defined by the plurality of flanged beams.

The method may require less effort and/or expensive materials compared to known methods for assembling pontoons.

As an option, part of the structural frame may be removed to open at least one access opening, and the one or more floatation elements may be positioned in the volume defined by the plurality of flanged beams through the access opening. The interconnected flanged beams may be rigidly connected, and may restrict access to the volume defined by the plurality of flanged beams. By removing part of the structural frame, for example temporarily removing, the volume defined by the plurality of flanged beams may become more accessible.

At least part of the removed part of the structural frame may be replaced or reconnected after the one or more floatation elements are positioned in the volume defined by the plurality of flanged beams - either partially or fully -, in particular for closing off at least part of the at least one access opening.

The flanged beams comprise an elongated beam body and two flanges extending from the beam body in generally the same direction, for example parallel when using I-beams, C-beams, or U-beams, and at least part of the one or more floatation elements may be positioned between the two flanges of at least one of the flanged beams. The thickness of a floatation member formed by the one or more floatation elements may generally correspond to a distance between the two flanges, such that the flotation elements are confined by the beams and the flanges in particular.

Using the method according to the second aspect, a pontoon according to the first aspect may be manufactured. It will be appreciated that options disclosed in conjunction with the first aspect may be readily applied to the second aspect, and options disclosed in conjunction with the second aspect may be readily applied to the first aspect. Options disclosed in conjunction with one particular embodiment of an aspect may also be readily applied to other embodiments of said aspect. Options disclosed above may be readily applied to embodiments disclosed below in conjunction with the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures:

Figs. 1A and IB show an embodiment of a pontoon for carrying an energy conversion installation;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of a pontoon;

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a pontoon supporting a plurality of photovoltaic panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figs. 1A and IB show an embodiment of a pontoon 100 for carrying an energy conversion installation, respectively in a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view. The pontoon 100 comprises a structural frame comprising as an example two side beams 102 positioned substantially parallel to each other. Positioned between the two side beams 102 is an optional centre beam 104, positioned parallel to the two side beams 102. The two side beams 102 and the centre beam 104 have as an example an I-shaped cross-section which makes them flanged beams. It will be understood that any embodiment disclosed herein, in particular in conjunction with the figures but also embodiments which are not provided with a specific figure, may have one or more or all flanges beams with a U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section. It will be understood that the centre beam is optional, and embodiments disclosed herein are also envisioned without the centre beam.

A front side and a rear side of the structural frame are formed respectively by a front beam 106 and a rear beam 108. The front beam 106 and the rear beam 108 in this embodiment have as an example an I-shaped cross-section which makes them flanged beams.

Whereas the beams shown by Figure 1 A and Figure 1 B have flanges positioned under a right angle relative to the beam body, also beams may be used with flanges having an angle larger than ninety degrees relative to the beam body. Referring to Figure 1 A and Figure 1 B, this would result in flanges at the top of the beam body pointing upward, towards the centre of the pontoon 100. Additionally or alternatively, flanges at the bottom of the beam body would be pointing downward, towards the centre of the pontoon 100. In such implementation, the angle of the flanges may be between ninety degrees and 135°.

The side beams 102, the front beam 106 and the rear beam 108 are connected into a rectangular structural frame by means of four corner members 109 as joint members connecting ends of the beams.

Between the centre beam 104 and each side beam 102, a floatation member 110 is positioned. A floatation member 110 is formed by multiple separate floatation elements, for example indicated with 110’ and 110”. In the embodiment of Figs. 1A and IB, the floatation elements extend between a side beam 102 and the centre beam 104. Embodiments of the pontoon 100 are also envisioned in which for example one or more floatation elements extend between the two side beams 102, and/or between the front beam 106 and the rear beam 108.

As a particular option, at least part of a floatation member 110 which in assembled state of the pontoon contacts or is positioned in the direct vicinity of the structural frame may be non-flammable, heat resistant, fire- retardant and/or fire resistant. And such, it may be subjected to heat caused when welding together elements of the structural frame, such as at least one of the side beams 102, the front beam 106 and the rear beam 108 to another of the side beams 102, the front beam 106 and the rear beam 108 or a corner member 109.

One or more tensioning elements 107 such as threaded rods may be used for connecting or coupling the side beams 102 and/or the front beam and the rear beam. Using the tensioning elements 107, for example, movement of the side beams 102 away from each other may be restricted. The tensioning elements 107 may be exposed above or partially in the floatation member 110, as shown in Fig. 1A.

As an even further option, depicted for example in Fig. IB, the structural frame may comprise one or more diagonal or cross members 111, which may be beams, flanged beams, or flat strips of material. The cross members 111 may connect side beams together at a bottom side in use, and may be positioned at an angle relative to both side beams.

Fig. IB shows as a particular option that part of the structural frame may be dismantled to form an access opening generally indicated by dash-dotted square 112. Via the access opening, one or more floatation elements may be positioned inside the volume defined between the beams of the structural frame, in particular after the beams of the structural frame have been permanently connected. Permanently connected may imply that in use, the beams of the structural frame are not disconnected anymore after the pontoon is positioned on the body of water and during the use of the pontoon on the body of water.

In the example of Fig. IB, a part 104’ of the centre beam 104 may be removed, for example temporarily removed, to form the access opening 112. The access opening 112 may in particular be provided between cross members 111. In other embodiments, additionally or alternatively, part of one or more cross members and/or part of any other element of the structural frame may be dismantled or removed. Alternatively, for example when the pontoon is not provided with a centre beam, part of at least one of the side beams may be removed to form the access opening. The removed part may be replaced and/or reconnected to the structural frame to close off the access opening. Additionally or alternatively, any other locking member may be used to lock or hold the one or more floatation members in place, in particular by closing off at least part of the access opening.

Similar to how part of the centre beam has been removed in Fig. IB, part of a side beam may be removed to form the access opening - for example when the pontoon does not comprise a centre beam. For example, part of a flange of a side beam may be removed, preferably temporarily to allow positioning of a floatation member or floatation element.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of a pontoon 100, comprising two side beams 102, a front beam 106 and a rear beam 108 as parts of a structural frame. Fig. 2 shows as an option the floatation member generally indicated with 110 comprising a plurality of separate floatation elements.

The floatation member 110 has a layered structure, with for example a top layer 202 and a bottom layer 204. Any layer may comprise one or more floatation elements, and each floatation element may have a density above, below, or of 1000 kg/m3.

In a particular embodiment, the floatation elements forming the top layer 202 have a density lower than 1000 kg/m3, and hence contribute to the buoyancy of the pontoon. Alternatively or additionally, floatation elements forming the bottom layer 204 have a density lower than 1000 kg/m3, and hence contribute to the buoyancy of the pontoon.

Also shown in Fig. 2 is that different floatation elements may have different shapes and sizes. For example, two different floatation elements 202’ and 202” are indicated, which are part of the top layer 202, and have different dimensions. Different dimensions may allow more convenient positioning of the volume defined between the flanged beams with smaller elements 202”, while being able to use more efficient larger elements 202’ as well.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a pontoon 100, supporting a plurality of photovoltaic panels 140 as an energy conversion installation. The photovoltaic panels 140, in a top plan view, may be contained within a footprint of the structural frame delimited by the side beams 102, front beam 106, and the rear beam 108. As such, the structural frame may for example protect the photovoltaic panels 140 from impacts.

In general, in the figures, not all components visible have been provided with a reference numeral for clarity and conciseness of the figures.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being connect to another element, the element is either directly connected to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Also, it will be understood that the values given in the description above, are given by way of example and that other values may be possible and/or may be strived for.

It is to be noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments that are given by way of non-limiting examples. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps. Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality.