IHC Handling Systems has delivered a pile guiding tool for the installation of eighty wind turbine foundations at sea. This tool was designed and constructed by IHC Handling Systems, and then installed on board Seajacks' new jack-up vessel, Zaratan, in autumn 2012.
Handling and Lifting Equipment Package
The pile guiding tool is part of an extensive package of advanced handling and lifting equipment that IHC Handling Systems supplied. The complete order consists, next to the pile guiding tool, of a 700 t upending tool and accompanying hydraulic power packs. The equipment is being used on the Meerwind offshore wind farm project in the German North Sea.
The monopiles – which are essential for the foundation of windmills – are lifted and positioned by the equipment more efficiently than they were previously. 25 monopiles have been successfully installed since September last year.
Installation Process
The foundation of the wind turbines in the Meerwind offshore wind farm project consists of a monopile and transition piece. The monopiles have an outer diameter of 5500 mm, an overall length of 64 m and a maximum weight of 680 t. The transition piece connects the monopile to the mast of the wind turbine.
Tilting and Positioning
The new pile guiding tool has replaced the commonly used "upending bucket" and "guiding and positioning tool" by combining two operations – tilting and positioning – into one piece of equipment. In doing so, it saves valuable time during the installation process. In addition, less deck space is required and the tool is much lighter than the current equipment.
Joint effort by IHC Merwede
The new IHC Handling Systems' tool was produced in conjunction with several sister companies, including IHC Vremac Cylinders, which supplied the cylinders, IHC Winches, where the assembly and testing took place, and piling specialist IHC Hydrohammer, which supplied the S-2000 hydraulic hammer for driving the monopiles.
