Measurement platform for installing in water

Abstract

Measurement platform for installing in water, very light and easy to transport, which comprises a foundation of improved suction anchor type constituting the platform base. It is driven into the seabed by the pressure difference between outside and inside, and by reversing the pressure gradient it can be extracted for reutilization. The measurement platform also has a series of telescopically connected tubes, a house located on these tubes containing the devices, a vertical shaft wind turbine for powering the assembly, a device for transmitting data (wi-max or equivalent) to the on-land station, a Doppler laser anemometer, security cameras and the terminal of a Doppler current meter. All data recorded by the devices as well as pictures from security cameras will be continuously sent to the on-land station. Thus the security of the facility is increased, and possible sabotages are forecasted.

1 . Measurement platform for installing in water, suitable for its installation both in impermeable and permeable soil beds, having a series of devices installed for collecting data in the location and sent it to an on-land station characterized in that its fixing to the ground is performed by using a foundation of the suction anchor type having at its base a foundation plate or shoe ( 11 ) equipped with a variable geometry O-ring ( 10 ), which may slide inside a cylinder or bell ( 7 ), which in turn has at its center a series of telescoping tubes ( 5 ) on which a device housing ( 4 ) is placed, which is joined to the innermost tube of the series, being able of easily moving up and down, keeping it during normal operation at a height higher than the maximum wave expected. 
     
     
         2 . Measurement platform for installing in water according to  claim 1  characterized in that the device housing ( 4 ) is designed to be watertight and therefore remains afloat during the immersion of the bell ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . Measurement platform for installing in water according to  claim 2  characterized in that on the device housing ( 4 ) a vertical shaft wind turbine ( 1 ) for powering the assembly, a device for transmitting data in real time (wi-max equivalent) to the on-land station, a Doppler laser anemometer ( 2 ) and security cameras are placed, and inside the house is the terminal of a Doppler current meter and all other devices necessary for taking measurements. 
     
     
         4 . Measurement platform for installing in water according to  claim 1  characterized in that the foundation plate ( 11 ) has four cylindrical holes through which guides ( 12 ) for ballast valves ( 13 ) are inserted, and at the center of the foundation plate ( 11 ) is a cylindrical hole larger in diameter than the previous ones, through which the telescoping tubes ( 5 ) will be inserted, and a guide ( 14 ) for a balancing valve ( 15 ). 
     
     
         5 . Water installation of the measurement platform described in the preceding claims characterized in that for fixing the bell ( 7 ) to the seabed the platform is introduced in the water with the foundation ( 11 ) located at the bottom of the bell ( 7 ), and it is immersed, flooding the necessary part using the ballast valves ( 13 ), until it rests on the ground;
 a pump is then connected, and the air is extracted from inside the bell ( 7 ) and ballast water; when the shoe ( 11 ) is placed on the bed the balancing valve ( 15 ) is opened allowing the water inlet within the telescopic tubes ( 5 ), until reaching a height that compensates for the sub-pressure, and because of the pressure difference existing between the bell cover ( 6 ), which resists the atmospheric pressure plus the pressure being exerted thereto by the water column above it and the vacuum therein, the bell ( 7 ) is being driven into the ground, in this process, the tubes ( 5 ) are unfolded as the bell ( 7 ) is immersed and driven, for this purpose, at the joint of the last tube to the base ( 8 ) of the device housing ( 4 ) there is a valve that allows the outlet of the inner air, and which avoids the inlet of external water; finally under pressure water is introduced inside the tubes ( 5 ) in order to complete and fix the telescopic lifting process until lifting the house ( 4 ) and the devices contained therein, to the operational height, always above the maximum wave expected.   
     
     
         6 . Water installation of the measurement platform according to  claim 5  characterized in that the weight of the tubes ( 5 ), when the tubes ( 5 ) are not unfolded, compresses the support joint ( 16 ) and makes it watertight. 
     
     
         7 . Water installation of the measurement platform according to  claim 5  characterized in that in case the measurement tower is desired to be demounted, the pressure gradient is reversed and the bell ( 7 ) removed, and the tubes ( 5 ) are folded for being reused.