EP2831342A2

EP2831342A2 - Method for handling a hydro sound absorber, and device for reducing underwater noise

Info

Publication number: EP2831342A2
Application number: EP13718097.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Elmer
Original assignee: Elmer Karl-Heinz
Current assignee: Elmer Karl-Heinz
Priority date: 2012-03-26
Filing date: 2013-03-13
Publication date: 2015-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-13
Also published as: MX2014011457A; ES2681496T3; MX361839B; DE202013011742U1; WO2013102459A3; DK2831342T3; US20150078833A1; DE112013001673A5; US9334647B2; AU2013207241A1; AU2013207241B2; PT2831342T; WO2013102459A2; CA2868436C; CA2868436A1; PL2831342T3; EP2831342B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handling a hydro sound damper (1) in the area of an offshore construction site, especially in the case of a pile to be introduced into the seabed (11), wherein, prior to the noise-emitting works, a hydro sound damper (1) is positioned in the region of the offshore construction site. The invention further relates to a device (2) for reducing underwater noise and for handling at least one hydro sound damper (1) in the region of an offshore construction site, especially in the case of a pile to be introduced into the seabed (11), the device (2) comprising at least one hydro sound damper (1) having a carrier structure (16) and noise-mitigating elements (31) fastened thereto.

Description

Method for handling a hydro silencer and device for reducing sound in the water

The invention relates to a method for handling a hydro silencer in the area of an offshore construction site, in particular in the case of a pile to be introduced into the seabed, wherein a hydro silencer is positioned in the area of the offshore construction site before the start of the noise-emitting work.

The invention further relates to a device for reducing sound in the water and / or for handling at least one hydro silencer in the area of an offshore construction site, in particular in a pile to be introduced into the seabed, wherein the device has at least one hydro silencer.

Piles are introduced by drilling or ramming in the seabed to serve as a foundation for marine structures, especially for offshore wind turbines. The foundations usually consist of one or more piles. With a foundation with only one pile one speaks of single pile or monopile. In the case of a foundation which comprises several piles, this is often introduced into the soil using templates known as templates. Such foundations are also called jacket foundations or tripod foundations.

In the case of a tripod foundation, the structure will have a three-diagonal strut construction with additional horizontal bracing Seabed height supported. At the bottom of the struts facing the seabed they are connected to the ground introduced piles.

When building the jacket, the structure is anchored on a jacket structure called a jacket made of hollow sections. The truss structure is anchored with the piles inserted into the seabed. For a jacket foundation usually at least three piles are provided.

When using a tripod or a jacket, it has proven logistically advantageous if first the piles, for example using a template, are introduced into the seabed and temporally independent of the introduction of the piles at a later time the jacket or the tripod with connected to the piles.

When drilling and vibration ramming in the seabed, especially in the impulse driving of offshore piles, considerable sound emissions are emitted into the surrounding water from the piles brought into the seabed, as well as from the seabed. For fish and marine mammals living in the water, these noise emissions can be detrimental and life-threatening. The sound is generated at the friction surface of the pile and seabed and is transferred by them into the surrounding water.

To solve this problem, a device for reducing waterborne sound and ground vibrations in pile foundations in the water is provided according to the invention. Water sound is also called hydro sound. To reduce the hydro sound is known from the document DE 10 2008 017 418 A1 a hydro silencer, abbreviated as HSD known. This consists of a plurality of mutually spaced damping elements to reduce the hydro sound, which are evenly distributed on a support structure, for example, arranged on a network. The support structure is placed around a source of sound at the site of use. A sound source is, for example, a pile, which is introduced into the seabed, which can be done by ramming or drilling.

The invention has for its object to provide a way in which the transport of a device for the reduction of hydro sound over land and sea to the place of use and the arranging and the mountains at the site of such Device can be done quickly, easily and inexpensively, the device is also suitable for the largest possible protection against hydro-sound.

This object is achieved with a method according to the features of

Claim 1 solved. The further embodiment of the invention is shown in the dependent claim.

Thus, according to the invention, a method is provided in which a hydrostatic muffler receiving transport housing in the vicinity of the seabed or in the vicinity of the water surface is positioned for the arrangement of the hydro silencer in the offshore construction site and then the hydro silencer from a first functional position of the transport housing out vertically or is spread parallel to the extension of the pile and / or horizontal or parallel to the geometry of the seabed in a second functional position. Since the hydro silencer by means of the device according to the invention at the site mechanically, hydraulically and / or pneumatically, preferably automatically, can be spread to its required level, the arrangement of the hydro silencer with little staff and time is possible. The same applies to the removal of the hydro silencer from the site.

The device according to the invention is preferably equipped with a hydro-silencer whose carrier structure is a network and whose sound-reducing elements are suitable foam elements and / or air-filled enveloping bodies for reducing hydrodynamic sound.

Depending on the requirements of the hydro silencer, for example with regard to the depth of water on the mounting parts, it is provided that the hydro silencer is only partially or completely spread out of the first functional position out of the transport housing. Thus, a device with a hydro silencer for water depths of, for example, up to 30 meters in shallower waters, for example, be used at a depth of only 10 meters. In this case, the hydro silencer is only partially deployed. The same applies to the horizontal positioning parallel to the seabed. The propagation of the hydro silencer always takes place until it reaches a spread required for the reduction of noise. In addition, a propagation can be omitted according to the invention. This reduces the complexity of the construction site equipment and the number of available types of devices. To reduce the propagation of sound, the hydro silencer is in order arranged around the pile over the entire height of the water column, ie from the seabed to the water surface.

Since the intensity of the sound in the ground decreases with the distance to the sound source, it is favorable to provide a device by means of which a hydro silencer can be arranged parallel to the seabed, wherein the hydro silencer from the sound source to a relevant for a sufficient reduction of the hydrophone distance is spread. The required relevant distance depends, among other things, on the condition of the soil and the working energy during the introduction of the pile. Since the vibrations in the seabed and the sound in the water influence each other, can be minimized by the arrangement of the hydro silencer parallel to the seabed on the one hand the sound in the water and on the other hand, the vibration excitation of the seabed by the hydro sound or the propagation of shocks in the seabed can be reduced.

It has also proven to be advantageous that after completion of the noise-emitting work, the hydro silencer is contracted from the second functional position and stored in the transport housing in the first functional position, with the last transport housing is removed from the offshore construction site. This makes it possible to remove the device completely and with little expenditure of time completely out of the water. Since the device is transferred back to its advantageous for transport compact structure after the completion of the sound-emitting activities, the device is immediately available for re-use at another site. At least the handling and storage on board a ship is possible without great effort.

The object is achieved according to the invention with a device according to the features of claim 3. The further embodiment of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, therefore, a device is provided which comprises a holding device on which a first, fixed end of the hydro silencer is held and in which a remote from the first end of the hydro silencer second free end of the hydro silencer relative to the holding device movable, in particular to the holding device is positionable. This makes it possible to spread the hydro silencer on site in a simple manner, even under the adverse circumstances of an underwater construction site on the high seas, and undamaged again after its use contract. This mobility according to the invention is the basis for a device which, on the one hand, is easy to transport in a first functional position of the hydro silencer, to be positioned on the construction site and removed from the construction site, and which additionally permits a large-area and effective propagation of the hydro silencer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the device has at least one buoyant body and / or a ballast body, wherein the buoyant body and / or the ballast body is connected to the second, free end of the hydro silencer. The first and the second end of the hydro silencer are designed to deploy and to contract the hydro silencer relative to each other movable. The ballast body, also called output body is designed such that its specific gravity is at least temporarily equal to or greater than the specific gravity of the ballast body surrounding water. For influencing the ballast body, for example, it can absorb or release water or air and thus change its specific weight. The same applies to the buoyancy body. The buoyant body consists of one or more elastic chambers which are empty and / or filled with air and / or filled with water or emptied of these substances. The buoyant body has a specific gravity which is equal to or less than the water surrounding the buoyant body. The buoyant body essentially serves the unfolding of the hydro silencer against gravity, while the unfolding of the hydro silencer is achieved by gravity by means of the ballast body. Ballast body and buoyancy bodies act in opposite directions.

It is advantageous that the device comprises a transport housing for storing and transporting at least one hydraulic muffler located in a contracted first functional position, wherein the transport housing is connected to the first, fixed end of the hydro silencer and / or to the second, free end of the hydro silencer. This makes it possible to first position the transport housing at the construction site and only shortly before the beginning of the generation of sound to deploy the hydro silencer from the transport housing out. Until deployed, the hydro silencer can wait for its use in the compact, contracted first operating position. After the end of the generation of sound of the hydro silencer is pulled back together and stored in the transport housing to save space. The compact transport housing is easy to handle. For use in water, it has proved to be favorable that the transport housing for water permeable, for example, designed as a basket. The transport housing may consist of one or more containers. In one embodiment, the transport housing consists of two open on one side baskets, which are arranged opposite to each other with the open sides. Here, the hydro silencer is arranged in the one open-topped basket and the second slightly larger, downwardly open basket is arranged in the first functional position of the hydro silencer above the smaller basket. The hydro silencer is thus completely enclosed in the first functional position and captive by the transport housing. In the second functional position of the hydro silencer, the two baskets of the transport housing are arranged away from one another, wherein the hydro silencer extends between the two baskets. According to one embodiment of this embodiment, the two baskets are annular and provided for concentric arrangement on the pile and / or around its insertion tool around. Before deploying the hydro silencer, the smaller basket is first held by a lock in the larger basket. If the transport housing is positioned on the pile in the water, the lock can be opened.

The first end is also referred to as a fixed end, since this end of the hydro silencer is connected to a holding device which is held stationary during deployment and retrieval of the hydro silencer. In contrast, the second end of the hydro silencer is movable as a free end. The second end is connected for discharging or retrieving the hydro silencer with a ballast body and / or a buoyant body.

The device or the hydraulic muffler comprises alternatively or in addition to the ballast body numerous ballast devices. These are connected to the support structure and counteract the buoyancy of the support structure and / or the buoyancy of the damping elements. The ballast devices are dimensioned adapted to the depth of use, so that their weight reduces the buoyancy of the hydro silencer or their weight is significantly greater than the buoyancy of the hydro silencer. The ballast devices thus serve as ballast body lowering, in particular the second end of the hydro silencer. If the ballast devices are distributed at least partially, in particular evenly, over the hydraulic muffler, the support structure and / or the net, the tensile stresses in the hydrodynamic muffler, the support structure and / or the net are significantly reduced compared to the solutions known from the prior art. In one embodiment variant of the device, the immersion of the ballast body connected to the second end of the support structure or of the hydro silencer is ensured down to the seabed by means of the ballast body. The opposite first end of the hydraulic muffler is held in this embodiment at or just above the water surface of a holding device. The buoyancy of the hydro silencer and / or the holding device on the one hand and the weight of the ballast body and / or the sound reduction elements on the other hand cause a tightening and positioning of the preferably reticulated support structure.

In a device in which the first, fixed end of the hydraulic muffler is assigned to the water surface, the holding device is connected to an insertion tool or to the upper end of the pile. In a holding device connected to the insertion tool and / or to the pile, it is advantageous that it can be lifted together with the insertion tool or with the pile at the construction site, in particular by means of the hoist of pile and / or insertion tool can be lifted from the ship. Thus, less technical equipment must be kept on the ship and the positioning of the device at the stake is facilitated. Before the hydro silencer is deployed, it is held in the transport housing, in particular by means of a lock. If the insertion tool is positioned on the pile in the water, the lock can be opened and / or the hydro silencer can be deployed.

Alternatively, in the device, the holding device is held by a positioning device. The positioning device is independent of the hoist of the insertion tool. The hoist of the insertion tool and / or the pile comprises, for example, a crane carried by a ship with at least one winch and at least one rope connecting the winch to the pile and / or the insertion tool. The positioning device, however, may have a separate crane on the same or another ship. According to a preferred embodiment, the positioning device comprises at least one winch independent of the hoisting gear of the loading device and a rope which is independent of the hoisting device of the loading device and which connects the independent winch to the holding device. In another embodiment, the positioning device is a holding means or a guide device for the pile, which is arranged, for example, on the same ship as the hoist of the introduction device, but independently of this can be used. The support structure is preferably a network on which a plurality of sound-reducing elements are preferably arranged evenly distributed. The sound reduction elements of the hydro silencer are spaced from each other. They are also referred to as damping body.

A development of the invention relates to a device having a cable which connects the first, fixed end with the second, free end of the hydro silencer. The hydrodynamic damper, in particular in an at least partially deployed second functional position, is freely movable on the cable. The freedom of movement of the hydraulic muffler along the cable relates in particular to central areas between the first and second ends. This embodiment is preferably used in a substantially vertically arranged hydro silencer, beispielswese a arranged around a pile hydro silencer. The support structure is connected by means of rings or loops with the rope. In order to counteract the buoyancy of the sound-reducing elements in the water, preferably annular ballast devices are provided for the connection of the support structure and rope.

The hydro silencer is also exposed to ocean currents. So that they do not press the hydro silencer against the pile and this is there adjacent damaged or weakened in its function, it has proven to be practical that the device comprises spacers which are arranged between the pile and hydro silencer and connected to the hydro silencer. Preferably, the spacers are designed as a ring or ring segment. It makes sense that the spacers also serve as ballast facilities. For this purpose, the ballast devices or spacers may be slidably mounted for guidance on the rope.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the transport housing is disposed on an insertion tool and / or the pile. Another, alternative embodiment of the device provides that the transport housing is arranged on a template and / or a template is designed as a transport housing.

In this alternative embodiment of the device, the first, fixed end of the hydro silencer is associated with the seabed. The holding device is connected to the template, so that the device, in particular the hydro-silencer located in the first functional position, together with the template on the Construction site is positioned. The hydro silencer can thus already be attached to or integrated in the production of the template on land and is then towed with the template to the site. As a result, the assembly effort is reduced at sea and the positioning of the hydro silencer over the known from the prior art solutions simplified.

In a device in which the first end of the Hydroschalldampfers is attached to the stencil, it has proven to be practical that the second end of the hydro muffler is attached to a buoyancy body. The buoyancy body is held in the first functional position of the hydro silencer on the transport housing. For unfolding the hydro sound steam engine, the buoyant body is released from the transport housing and / or filled with a gas, preferably with air. The buoyancy body then rises, while pulling the hydro silencer out of the transport housing and unfolds the hydro silencer.

A further development of this device has a collecting device for receiving the buoyant body. The collecting device is preferably arranged in the region of the water surface. It can float on the water surface and / or be held by a positioning device. The positioning device can be connected to a crane, the pile or the insertion tool. It is also possible that the collecting device is attached directly to the pile or the insertion tool.

The buoyant body is preferably designed as at least one hollow body, in particular as a hose. The hollow body may be a steel tube which can be filled with compressed air. However, the formation of the buoyant body from a flexible hose has proved to be particularly simple and space-saving. The hollow body is annular according to a preferred embodiment, in particular formed around the pile. The buoyant body may also consist of a plurality of ring segments, which are arranged around the pile enclosing each other. The buoyant body connected to the support structure of the hydro silencer rises filled with air at the pile and pulls the hydro silencer upwards. The hydro silencer envelops the pile from below to the buoyancy body. The flooding of the buoyant body and thus of the hydraulic muffler ends when the buoyant body reaches the water surface or is absorbed by the collecting device.

The collecting device may also be arranged below the water surface, so that the buoyant body passes through only a portion of the water column. This version may be at great depths are used. Here it is possible, for example, to provide two or more superimposed hydro silencers. For example, a first hydro silencer may extend from the seabed to the collecting device, and a second hydro silencer may extend from the collecting device to the water surface. The vertical combination of several hydro silencers is of course also possible with the embodiment of the device in which a ballast body is arranged at the second end of the hydro silencer.

The embodiment of the device with a buoyant body, which pulls the hydro silencer out of the transport housing and unfolds, is not necessarily limited to a template. It is also possible for a transport housing arranged on a holding device, for example on a single pile, to be lowered down to the seabed. For this purpose, the transport housing can be lowered and held by a positioning device. Then a buoyancy body of the device is activated, rises led on the ropes of the positioning and unfolds the hydro silencer.

This mode of operation is also possible with a waiver of the buoyancy body, if the hydro silencer itself has a sufficient buoyancy force. Then, a transport housing, preferably releasably attached to a holding device of the device, lowered from the positioning of the stake. The first end of the hydraulic muffler is connected to the holding device. The second end of the hydro silencer is connected to a downwardly open transport housing. If the transport housing separated from the serving as a ballast body and closure of the transport housing holding device, the transport housing rises with the ascending hydro silencer up, the hydro silencer is pulled down from the transport housing.

The lowering of the ballast body or the expulsion of the buoyant body in the aforementioned embodiments can also be controlled. For this purpose, it is provided that the device comprises a pulling device for lowering and catching up of the second, free end of the hydraulic muffler, wherein the pulling device comprises a drive unit, in particular a winch, which is preferably arranged on the holding device, and a traction means, preferably comprises a cable, which is connected on the one hand to the drive unit and on the other hand to the second, free end of the hydraulic muffler. So it is possible, for example, by means of a traction device comprising an underwater winch, the buoyancy body and thus Also to keep the hydraulic muffler in the transport housing against the buoyancy forces of the buoyant body. Only by the operation of the traction device of the buoyancy increases or is overtaken again. The same applies with opposite effective directions for a device with a ballast body.

It has proved to be favorable that the ropes and nets of the device consist of a textile material, for example of polyethylene fibers, in particular fibers of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene such as Dyneema.

In addition to the vertical, so parallel to the extension of the pile oriented propagation of a hydro silencer, it is also favorable, a hydro silencer parallel to the seabed, so mainly spread horizontally. For this purpose, the device has a spreading device, which is attached to the holding device and / or on the template. The horizontal arrangement of the hydro silencer contributes significantly to the reduction of hydro sound. The sound emitted from the seabed into the water is partially reflected by the water masses and reintroduced into the soil. The sound re-registered in the soil is passed on from the ground as ground vibration and also emitted back to the water as sound. Sound propagates not only exclusively through the water or over the seabed, but also through the interaction between water and the seabed. A horizontal or parallel to the seabed arranged hydro silencer acts as a parallel damping layer. In addition to the sound emitted by the ground into the water, the intensity of the reflection of sound and thus the subsequent re-entry of the sound into the ground are also reduced. This minimizes the total water sound.

As sufficient in most applications, a spread of the hydro silencer from 10 to 15 meters around the pile has been found.

A useful addition to the device is that the device has at least one decoupling device which is arranged on the underside of the holding device and / or the transport housing and / or the template, in particular between the seabed and the underside. This makes it possible to minimize the transmission of ground vibrations to the parts of the device that contact the seabed so that the emission of sound into the water by these parts is reduced. The decoupling of the seabed contacting parts of the device, in particular the mass-rich parts such as the holding device, the ballast body or the template, reduces the interaction of the sound transmission between the seabed and water and thus the hydro sound. The elastic decoupling device preferably consists at least of a polymer and / or a spiral spring and / or a foam body and / or a gas cushion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device according to at least one of claims 3 to 12 for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 and 2 is provided.

The invention allows for various embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, some of them are shown in the drawing and will be described below. The drawing shows in

Fig. 1 in a schematic representation of a side view of the basic

Working principle of the invention with a hydraulic muffler, which sinks in its spread to the seabed;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of the basic

Working principle of the invention with a hydro silencer, which rises in its propagation to the water surface;

3 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention with the device on a ship;

4 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention with the device attached to an insertion tool;

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention with the device attached to an insertion tool.

6 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention with the device before the beginning of the introduction of a pile into the seabed, wherein the hydro silencer is in a first functional position.

7 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention with the device when introducing a pile into the seabed, wherein the hydro silencer is in a second functional position; 8 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention with the device when introducing a pile into the seabed, wherein the hydro silencer is in a first functional position;

9 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention with the device;

10 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention with the device;

Figure 1 1 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention with the device prior to placement of an insertion tool on a pile.

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention with the device prior to the introduction of a pile in the seabed.

13 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention with the device when a pile is introduced into the seabed;

14 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the invention with the device during spreading of the hydro silencer;

15 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the invention with a spread hydrodynamic damper;

16 shows a schematic representation of various embodiments of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

17 shows a schematic representation of embodiments of the fourth and fifth

Embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 shows a schematic representation of a template in a plan view; FIG.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic representation of a template in a side view; FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the invention with a parallel to the seabed expanded hydraulic muffler in a first variant.

21 is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the invention with a parallel to the seabed spreaded hydraulic muffler in a second variant.

FIG. 22 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention with a hydro silencer spread parallel to the seabed; FIG.

FIG. 23 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention with a hydraulic muffler spread parallel to the seabed; FIG.

24 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention with a parallel to the seabed expanded hydro silencer.

FIG. 25 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention with a decoupling device; FIG.

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the invention with a hydraulic muffler spread parallel to the seabed. FIG.

In underwater work, in particular when introducing a pile 1 1 in the seabed 14, the resulting sound from the pile 1 1 is radiated into the surrounding water 12. Due to the vibrations in the seabed 14 sound is also emitted into the water 12. In order to reduce the hydrophone, so the sound in the water 12, a device 2 is provided, of which some embodiments are described in more detail below. In the exemplary embodiments of the device 2 shown in the figures, the method according to the invention is also explained.

The method is used to handle a hydrostatic muffler 1 in the area of an offshore construction site, in particular for a pile 1 to be introduced into the seabed. Before the noise-emitting work on the offshore construction site begins, the hydrodynamic muffler 1 must be positioned in the area of the offshore construction site , For arranging the hydro silencer 1, a transport housing 5 in the vicinity of the seabed 14th or positioned near the water surface 3. In the transport housing 5, the hydro silencer 1 is stored and transported in a first functional position. If the transport housing 5 is positioned as intended, the hydrodynamic damper 1 is spread out of the transport housing 5 vertically, parallel to the extent of the pile 11 and / or horizontally, parallel to the geometry of the seabed 14 into a second functional position. After completion of the noise-emitting work on the offshore construction site, the hydro silencer 1 is pulled together from the second functional position and stored in the transport housing 5 in the first functional position. Finally, the transport housing 5 is removed from the offshore construction site.

The basic operating principle of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 2 comprises a hydraulic muffler 1, the opposite and the water surface 3 and the seabed 14 associated ends associated with at least one buoyant body 17 and / or at least one ballast body 13. Here, the water surface 3 associated with the end of the hydro silencer 1 is connected to a floating device 9 and a buoyant body 17, while the opposite, the seabed 14 facing the end of the hydro silencer 1 is connected to a ballast body 13. By means of the selectable filling of the buoyancy body 17 and / or ballast body 13 with gas and / or water or by means of the positioning device 7 shown in Figure 3 and / or the traction device 32 shown in Figure 1 1, the ends of the hydro silencer 1 can be moved relative to each other. If the distance between the ends increases, the hydraulic muffler 1 spreads. If the distance decreases, the hydraulic muffler 1 is collapsed.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a ballast body 13 is lowered by a floating device 9 in the direction of the seabed 14. In this case, the hydraulic muffler 1 is spread. For example, the ballast device 13 can be lowered 20 by means of a pulling device 32, not shown here, and ascend 21 by means of this and / or regulated buoyancy bodies 17 which are only filled with air when needed.

FIG. 2 shows a device 2, in which the hydrodynamic damper 1 has buoyant bodies 17 at one end, which rise 21 from the seabed 14 for the purpose of spreading the hydrodynamic damper 1. The other end of the hydro silencer 1 is attached to a ballast body 13. For lowering 20 and blowing 21, the ballast body 13 and the buoyant body 17 consist of chambers in the water and / or gas, preferably air can be filled or removed as needed. The lowering 20 of the hydro silencer 1 allows temporary shipping traffic on the hydro silencer 1, for example, at longer work stoppages. Chambers which are used as ballast body 13 and / or buoyancy body 17 are in a variant also between the two ends, in particular evenly distributed on the support structure 16.

In a first embodiment of the invention, which is shown in Figures 3 to 7, a device 2 is provided, in which the transport housing 5 is held with the folded hydro silencer 1 by a crane 18. The crane 18 is arranged on a ship 23 as part of a positioning device 7, also called a lifting device, of the hydrodynamic damper 1. The crane 18 is in the first embodiment shown at the same time also part of a hoist 6 of an insertion tool 4. The insertion tool 4, for example, a piling tool, serves to introduce the pile 1 1 in the seabed 14.

The positioning device 7 receives the transport housing 5. The transport housing 5 is arranged around the insertion tool 4, which is held by a cable of the hoist 6. The positioning device 7 and the hoist 6 are independent of each other. They include separate cables and independent winches. In order to maintain a distance from the insertion tool 4, the positioning device 7 comprises a traverse 8. As an alternative to the traverse 8, the positioning device 7 may also comprise a plurality of cables. The transport housing 5 is struck by means of at least three, better four ropes on the cross member 8.

The transport housing 5 is positioned in front of the introduction of the pile 1 1 in the vicinity, in particular above the head 10 of the pile 1 1, but at least at or above the water surface 3. The head 10 may be during the introduction of the pile 1 1 in the seabed 14 above and below the water surface 3. The transport housing 5 is held in position during the pile work or lowered to the water surface 3. For floating on the water surface 3, a floating device 9 shown in FIG. 8 can be arranged on the transport housing 5.

Before the beginning of the introduction of the pile 1 1 in the seabed 14 and or the holding device 15 is a ballast body 13 by means of a pulling device 32 on the Seabed 14 lowered. With the ballast body 13, the support structure 16 of the hydro silencer 1 from the transport housing 5 out along the pile 1 1 is spread to the seabed 14. The support structure 16 of the hydro silencer 1 is movably mounted at regular intervals on the live cables 37.

After the introduction of the pile 1 1 of the hydrophone 1 is recovered. To recover the ballast body 13 is pulled up again to the transport housing 5, wherein the hydraulic muffler 1 is arranged in the transport housing 5.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the device 2 is equipped with a floating device 9. The floating device 9 is connected to the transport housing 5. For positioning the transport housing 5, a positioning device 7 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 has been used. As soon as the transport housing 5 floats on the water surface 3, the positioning device 7 is no longer required and can be released from the transport housing 5. Since the transport housing 5 encloses the pile 1 1, they can not expel. The lowering of ballast body 13 and hydro silencer 1 before the beginning of the introduction and the recovery of the hydro silencer 1 is carried out as already described above by means of a arranged on the transport housing 5 traction device 32nd

Figures 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the invention. In this device 2, the support structure 16 of the hydro silencer 1 is connected to a buoyant body 17 and a ballast device 13. The buoyant body 17 and / or the ballast body 13 each consist of a hose 22 to which the support structure 16 of the hydro silencer 1 and weights 19 are attached as additional ballast body 13. To ascend 21, the tube 22 is filled with air. To lower 21, the air is discharged from the tube 22 and / or the tube 22 is filled with water.

The use of a hose 22 has the advantage that the hydrostatic muffler 1 can be positioned flush with the seabed 14. In this case, the ballast device 13 applies to obstacles 24, such as rocks on. The sections, as shown in Figure 9, or complete lowering 20 of the buoyant body 17 makes it possible to allow at least temporarily in a spread hydrohead 1 crossing vessel traffic.

The weights 19 and the water-filled tube 22 of the ballast 13 lie on the seabed 14. For a sensitive seabed 14, for example at Shell benches, the tube 22 can be filled with only so much air and / or water that the ballast device 13 floats a few decimeters above the seabed 14 and so does not drag on flow movements on this. For example, the weights 19 may be a chain.

Figures 1 1 to 13 show a fourth embodiment of the invention. The device 2 according to the invention is fastened to the insertion tool 4 and comprises a transport housing 5, in which the hydrodynamic damper 1 is arranged in particular for transport to and from the place of use. The delivery tool 4 is suspended on a hoist 6. The transport housing 5 is arranged around the insertion tool 4 around and consists of two nested, annular baskets 26, 28. The smaller, internally arranged basket 28 includes the hydro-muffler 1. The larger, externally arranged basket 26 is open at the bottom and fixed by means of a holding device 15 to the insertion tool 4, a hydraulic pile hammer. The hydro silencer 1 comprises at least one network as a support structure 16 and disposed thereon a plurality of sound reduction elements 31 for reducing the hydro sound.

The upper end of the support structure 16 is attached to the larger basket 26. The smaller basket 28 is connected to a positioning device 7 or to a pulling device 32. Alternatively, the larger basket 26, similar to the embodiment of Figures 3 to 7, held by means of the positioning device 7, in which case the smaller basket 28 is connected for lowering 20 with a pulling device 32 or a second hoist. The larger basket 26 may be secured by means of the holding device 15, but also with a pile guide arranged in the vicinity of the water surface 3 or on the erection vessel. The pulling device 32 is preferably an electric or hydraulic underwater winch.

Before deploying the hydro silencer 1, the first basket 28 is first held by a lock in the second basket 26. If the insertion tool 4 is positioned on the pile 1 1 in the water 12, the lock can be opened.

FIG. 12 shows how the pile 1 1 is held and guided by a template 29 positioned on the seabed 14. The introduction tool 4 can be placed both above the water surface 3, as shown in Figure 12, and below the water surface 3, as shown in Figure 13, on the pile 1 1.

For discharging the hydro silencer 1, the first basket 28 by means of the actuation of the positioning device 7 or the pulling device 32 to the seabed 14th or lowered onto the template 29. In this case, the pile 1 1 of the hydraulic muffler 1, as indicated in Figure 13, completely enveloped.

In order to counteract the buoyancy of the sound-reducing elements 31 in the water 12, 16 annular ballast devices 13 are attached to the support structure. The ballast devices 13 pull the hydro silencer 1 with the first basket 28 down and at the same time act as a spacer to the post 1 1. The ballast devices 13 are mounted for guidance on the ropes 37 of the positioning device 7 and the traction device 32.

Figures 14 and 15 show a fifth embodiment of the invention. The device 2 according to the invention has a transport housing 5, which comprises an upwardly open, annular basket 28, in which the hydraulic muffler 1 is accommodated. The basket 28 may be lowered to the seabed 14 or attached to a template 29 positioned at the seabed 14. The weight forces of the above-described ballast devices 13, the spacing means, the support structure 16 and / or an unillustrated lock or pulling device 32 hold the hydro silencer 1 in the basket 28.

The device 2 comprises an annular buoyant body 17 attached to the support structure

16 of the hydraulic muffler 1 is attached. The buoyant body 17 is an annular continuous tube or composed of several individual segments. Filled with air, the buoyant body 17 presses against the water surface 3. The buoyant body 17 can only be filled with air for the ascent 21 or permanently filled with air. Preferably, the riser 17 is held by a locking device on the transport housing 5. The ascending 21 buoyant body 17 pulls the hydro silencer 1 along the pile 1 1 upwards. The hydro silencer 1 surrounds the pile 1 1 from below to the buoyant body 17. The rising 21 of the buoyant body 17 and thus of the hydraulic muffler 1 ends when the buoyant body

17 reaches the water surface 3 or is received by a collecting device 35 of the device 2. The collecting device 35 is preferably fastened to the insertion tool 4.

By discharging the air charge in the buoyant body 17 of the hydro silencer 1 can be gradually lowered again. Additional, separate ropes are not required in this embodiment. In the respective right half of Figures 14 and 15 is a variant with at least one additional tensioning device 32 for rope tension shown. By means of the traction device 32 designed as an underwater winch, it is possible to keep the hydro silencer 1 in the basket 28 against the buoyancy of the buoyant body 17 filled with air, to let the hydro silencer 1 rise from the basket 28 and to lower it again 20. The carrier structure 16 of the hydraulic muffler 1 may be movably mounted on the ropes 37 between the buoyant body 17 and the pulling device 32. In addition to the support structure 16, the ropes 37 can also serve to guide the ballast device 13 or the spacer means.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15 are not restricted to use with a template 29. Figures 16 and 17 show the embodiments in a monopile. Figures 18 and 19 show a template 29 without hydro silencer in a section of a plan view and a side view.

When introducing a pile 1 1 in the seabed 14 of the resulting sound is not only radiated from the stake 1 1 in the surrounding water 12. Due to the vibrations in the seabed 14 sound is also emitted into the water 12. In order to reduce the hydrophone, that is to say the sound in the water 12, according to a further embodiment of the invention, variant embodiments are shown in FIGS. 20 to 26. These variants serve to reduce the resulting by the interaction of water 12 and seabed 14 hydrophone.

Figures 20 and 21 show a sixth embodiment of the invention. The device 2 has a hydrostatic muffler 1, which is spread parallel to the seabed 14. For propagation and recovery on the seabed 14, the support structure 16 is pulled apart by a spreading device 36, for example a scissor device 27. The propagation device 36 can be operated pneumatically and / or hydraulically. For buoyancy and lowering, the device 2 has ballast bodies 13 or buoyancy bodies 17 that can be filled with water and / or air. The propagation device 36 is fastened together with the support structure 16 to a template 29 as shown. The hydro silencer 1 preferably has a round cross section at the bottom 14 of the sea. In a template 29 for several piles 1 1, the cross section may also be square. The template 29 may also be occupied with a hydrostatic muffler 1 beyond.

FIGS. 22 to 26 show that hydraulic silencers 1 are arranged in the region of the pile 11 and in particular on all other structures and devices on the seabed 14, such as a template 29 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. The Template 29 is coated on both its upper side and on its underside and in the interior of the net-like hydro silencer 1 sound-reducing. The effective cover of the seabed 14 may be achieved by means of foldable 34 or push-out 33 spreading devices 36 disposed on the sides of the template 29. The propagation devices 36, also called surface elements, are covered with hydro silencers 1. Alternatively, hydraulic muffler 1, as shown in FIG. 24, can be enlarged by means of horizontal and / or vertical scissors devices 27, especially around piles 11. The scissors devices 27 and the spreading devices 36 are preferably arranged on the sides of the template 29.

FIGS. 17 and 25 show a further embodiment of the invention. The device 2 has in this embodiment of the invention on the basket 28, on the ballast body 13 and on the holding device 15 and / or on the template 29 more decoupling 30. The decoupling devices 30 are between the bottom of the basket 28 and the seabed 14 and between the underside of the template 29 and the seabed 14 are arranged. The decoupling devices 30 shield the basket 28 or the template 29 against ground vibrations. For this purpose, the decoupling devices 30 comprise springs, damping elements and / or air-filled enveloping bodies. The decoupling devices 30 reduce the transmission of vibrations, vibrations or ground vibrations to the device 2 and / or the template 29 and thus their transmission to the water 12 and the formation of hydro-sound.

Claims

PAT E NTAN SP RETURN

1 . Method for handling a hydro silencer (1) in the area of an offshore construction site, in particular in the case of a pile (1 1) to be introduced into the seabed, wherein a hydro-sound steamer (1) is positioned in the area of the offshore construction site before commencement of the noise-emitting work, characterized in that a hydrostatic steamer (1) accommodating the transport housing (5) in the vicinity of the seabed (14) or in the vicinity of the water surface (3) is positioned for the arrangement of the hydro silencer (1) and then the hydrophone silencer (1) from a first functional position from the transport housing (5) out vertically or parallel to the extension of the pile (1 1) and / or horizontally or parallel to the geometry of the seabed (14) is spread in a second functional position.

2. A method for handling a hydro silencer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that after completion of the noise-emitting work of the hydro silencer (1) pulled together from the second functional position and stored in the transport housing (5) in the first functional position, said last the transport housing (5) is removed from the offshore construction site.

3. Device (2) for reducing waterborne sound and for handling at least one hydrostatic muffler (1) in the area of an offshore construction site, in particular in a in the seabed (14) to be introduced pile (1 1), wherein the device (2) at least one Hydro silencer (1) comprising a support structure (16) and attached thereto Schallminderungselemente (31), characterized in that the device (2) comprises a holding device (15) on which a first end of the hydro silencer (1) is held and one of first end of the hydraulic muffler (1) remote second end of the hydraulic muffler (1) relative to the holding device (15) movable, in particular remote from the holding device (15) is positionable.

4. Device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the device (2) has at least one buoyant body (17) and / or a ballast body (13), wherein the buoyant body (17) and / or the ballast body (13) at least is connected to the second, free end of the hydraulic muffler (1).

5. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the device (2) has a transport housing (5) for storing and transporting at least one hydro-silencer (1) located in a contracted first functional position, wherein the Transport housing (5) with the first end of the hydrophone silencer (1) and / or with the second end of the hydrophone silencer (1) is connected.

6. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the device (2) comprises a cable (37) which connects the first end to the second end of the hydro-silencer (1) and to which the hydro-silencer (1), in particular in an at least partially deployed second functional position, otherwise freely movably arranged.

7. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the transport housing (5) is arranged on a template (29) and / or on an insertion tool (4) and / or the template (29) as Transport housing (5) is formed.

8. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the first end of the hydraulic muffler (1) is associated with the water surface (3), wherein the holding device (15) is connected to an insertion tool (4) or by a positioning device (7) of the device (2) is held independently of a hoist (6) of the insertion tool (4).

9. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the first end of the hydraulic muffler (1) is associated with the seabed (14), wherein the holding device (15) with a template (29) is connected.

10. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the device (2) has a collecting device (35) for receiving the Floating body (17) of the device (2), wherein the collecting device (35) is preferably arranged in the region of the water surface (3).

1 1. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the device (2) comprises a traction device (32) for lowering (20) and catching up the second end of the hydro silencer (1), wherein the traction device (32) a drive unit which is preferably arranged on the holding device (15), and comprises a traction means which is connected on the one hand to the drive unit and on the other hand to the second end of the hydrophone silencer (1).

12. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 1 1, characterized in that the device (2) has a propagation device (36), which is attached to the holding device (15) and / or on the template (29) and by means of which the hydraulic muffler (1) is spread horizontally or parallel to the seabed (14).

13. Device (2) according to at least one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the device (2) has at least one decoupling device (30) which on the underside of the seabed (14) contacting parts of the device (2), in particular on the holding device (15) and / or the transport housing (5) and / or the ballast body (13) and / or the template (29) is arranged.