Wave energy power generation compliant offshore aquaculture raft platform
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410110351.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-11-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-01-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing offshore aquaculture floating platforms exhibit significant torsion under oblique wave conditions, resulting in poor structural stability and safety. The torsion phenomenon is substantial, leading to high costs. Furthermore, current technologies lack effective vibration damping devices and cannot effectively suppress the platform's torsion. Additionally, their self-generated power capacity is insufficient, necessitating reliance on external power supplies, which further increases costs.
The platform adopts a structure that connects the inner turret to the float, utilizes the wind vane effect to enable the platform to autonomously adapt to the wave direction, and combines the PTO system to capture wave energy and convert it into electrical energy. Single-point mooring is used to reduce costs. The relative motion between the inner turret and the float captures mechanical energy and converts it into electrical energy. The PTO system acts as a vibration damper to reduce the platform's displacement response.
It improves the structural stability and safety of the platform, reduces costs, achieves self-sufficiency in electrical energy, reduces platform torsion and vibration deformation, and reduces dependence on external power sources.
Smart Images

Figure CN117698939B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of aquaculture equipment, and more particularly to an adaptive offshore aquaculture floating platform that integrates wave energy power generation. Background Technology
[0002] Offshore aquaculture is a marine aquaculture production system set up in open sea areas exposed to wind and waves, with supporting facilities and equipment, and replenishment vessels. Floating platforms are a common type of floating foundation for offshore aquaculture equipment, such as... Figure 2 As shown, this is a typical offshore aquaculture floating platform. The platform consists of several modules connected by connectors (dashed lines in the diagram), usually articulated. The platform mooring method generally employs a distributed multi-point mooring scheme, with the number of mooring cables determined by the sea conditions and dynamic response requirements of the target operating area. Existing products have poor adaptability to wave direction. Because the floating platform is a long and narrow structure, it does not experience significant torsion under headwind (incident along its length) and crosswind (incident along its width) conditions. However, under oblique wave conditions, the multi-point mooring scheme restricts the platform's spatial position, preventing directional adjustments based on wave direction, leading to significant torsion. This poses a significant challenge to the strength and safety of the connectors; furthermore, the distributed mooring scheme is costly. In addition, the floating platform itself is a very large floating body, subject to significant vibration and deformation under wave loads. Existing structures lack vibration damping devices; the anchor chains only restrict spatial displacement. Typically, floating platforms are equipped with numerous electrical facilities, including lighting systems, staff support systems, and feeding systems. Since the existing structures lack self-generating power, the platform's electricity needs to be supplied via energy storage tanks or through cable transmission. The former requires periodic supply from supply vessels, while the latter necessitates long-distance power transmission, both of which incur significant costs.
[0003] Therefore, those skilled in the art are dedicated to developing an compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform that integrates wave energy generation. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is how to provide a compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform that integrates wave energy power generation, is structurally stable and highly safe, reduces costs, and achieves self-sufficiency in electricity.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform that integrates wave energy power generation, comprising a floating platform, an inner turret, a float, a mooring cable, and a PTO system, wherein the floating platform is connected to the inner turret, the mooring cable is connected to the float, and the PTO system connects the inner turret and the float for capturing wave energy and converting it into electrical energy.
[0006] Furthermore, the floating frame includes a main body and a connecting part; the main body includes several hinged modules, the connecting part is a structure extending outward from the main body, and an inner turret is installed at the connecting part.
[0007] Furthermore, the connecting part is a triangular structure extending outward from the main body of the floating frame, with an opening at the center of the triangular structure, where an inner turret is installed.
[0008] Furthermore, the inner turret is embedded in the center of the triangular structure.
[0009] Furthermore, the main structure of the inner turret is cylindrical.
[0010] Furthermore, the float is a columnar structure with at least three stacked segments.
[0011] Furthermore, the height of each columnar structure in the float decreases from top to bottom, while the diameter of each columnar structure increases from top to bottom.
[0012] Furthermore, the lowest section of the columnar structure is a circular slab structure.
[0013] Furthermore, the mooring lines are connected to the floats using multi-point catenary mooring and / or tensioned mooring.
[0014] Furthermore, the PTO system includes spring-damped and / or bistable forms.
[0015] The present invention has at least the following beneficial technical effects: (1) The present invention utilizes the wind vane effect of the inner turret to improve the autonomous adaptability of the platform to the wave direction, so that the structure always maintains the wave-facing state, reduces the torsion phenomenon, and improves the structural safety; (2) In the present invention, the PTO system is always fixed at the front end of the platform, which is the point of maximum heave displacement response of the structure in the wave-facing state. The PTO system itself has a large damping, which acts as a vibration damper to reduce the displacement response of the platform structure; (3) The present invention implements single-point mooring, which reduces costs; (4) The present invention uses PTO wave energy equipment to enable the structure to capture wave energy and convert it into electrical energy, so that the platform can achieve self-sufficiency in electrical energy.
[0016] The following will further explain the concept, specific structure, and technical effects of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, so as to fully understand the purpose, features, and effects of the present invention. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a typical offshore aquaculture floating platform.
[0019] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the inner turret and anchor chain structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a float according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative yaw motion between the floating frame and the inner turret in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative heave motion principle between the float and the inner turret in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Among them, 1: floating frame, 11: initial position of floating frame, 12: final position of floating frame, 2: inner turret, 3: float, 31: upper section of float, 32: middle section of float, 33: lower section of float, 4: mooring system, 5: anchor chain, 6: direction of incident wave, 7: relative heave motion. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates several preferred embodiments of the present invention to make its technical content clearer and easier to understand. The present invention can be embodied in many different forms, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned herein.
[0025] In the accompanying drawings, components with the same structure are indicated by the same numerical designation, and components with similar structures or functions are indicated by similar numerical designations. The dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary, and the present invention does not limit the dimensions and thicknesses of each component. To make the illustrations clearer, the thickness of some components has been appropriately exaggerated in the drawings.
[0026] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic of an compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation. It mainly includes: a floating platform 1, an inner turret 2, floats 3, a mooring system 4, and a PTO system (not shown in the diagram). The mooring system 4 can be a mooring cable. The floating platform 1 itself is composed of several hinged modules, with a triangular structure extending outwards at the front end. A circular opening at the center of the triangular structure is used to install the inner turret 2. The floating platform 1 is a multi-segment cylindrical structure, with the height of each segment decreasing from top to bottom, and the diameter of each segment increasing from top to bottom. The mooring system 4 is directly connected to the floats 3, using a four-point catenary mooring system to constrain the platform's position. The PTO system connects the inner turret 2 and the floats 3, and is used to capture wave energy and convert it into electrical energy. Figure 3 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body of the inner turret 2 is cylindrical and is embedded in the center of the triangular structure at the front end of the floating frame 1 platform. The anchor chain 5 is hinged to the float 3. Figure 4As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the float 3 is a three-section cylindrical structure, wherein the upper section 31 of the float is the longest and has the smallest diameter; the middle section 32 of the float is the next tallest and has a slightly larger diameter; and the lower section 33 of the float is actually a circular heave plate structure.
[0027] In this structure, the mooring system is directly connected to the float 3, therefore, under wave loads, the spatial position change of the float 3 is minimal, and the displacement response is minimal. The key point of this invention lies in two relative motion relationships:
[0028] (1) Relative yaw motion between floating frame 1 and inner turret 2. There is a relative yaw motion (i.e., relative rotation around the z-axis) between floating frame 1 and inner turret 2. Utilizing the "wind vane" effect of the inner turret 2, floating frame 1 can always autonomously adapt to the wave direction and maintain a wave-facing state. For example... Figure 5 As shown, in the geodetic coordinate system O—XYZ, assume that the floating platform 1 is at an angle of 15° to the X-axis, and the incident wave direction 6 is at an angle of 30° to the Y-axis. Due to the relative rotation between the floating platform 1 and the inner turret 2 platform, under the wind vane effect, the floating platform 1 will autonomously rotate counterclockwise until the overall orientation of the floating platform 1 is the same as the wave propagation direction. There is no relative motion relationship between the floating platform 1 and the inner turret 2 other than rotation around the z-axis.
[0029] (2) The relative heave motion 7 between float 3 and inner turret 2. For example... Figure 6 As shown, there is a relative heave motion 7 (i.e., up-and-down movement along the z-axis) between float 3 and inner turret 2. When float 3 is subjected to wave load, it will move up and down reciprocally, and because it is not constrained by mooring cables, it has a large heave displacement change; while the inner turret 2 structure is fixed by the mooring system at this time, and its spatial position changes very little, thus generating a large relative heave motion between the two. At this time, the built-in PTO system captures the mechanical energy of the relative heave motion and converts it into electrical energy for storage, thereby realizing the conversion from wave energy to electrical energy.
[0030] The relative motion relationship (1) ensures that the structure always remains in the wave-facing state, reducing the occurrence of torsion and improving structural safety; the relative motion relationship (2) enables the capture of wave energy, allowing the platform to achieve self-sufficiency in electrical energy; in addition, the PTO system in the relative motion relationship (2) is always fixed at the front end of the platform, which is exactly the location of the maximum heave displacement response of the structure in the wave-facing state. The PTO system can also act as a vibration damper to reduce the displacement response of the platform structure.
[0031] This embodiment only illustrates one form; other alternatives to this invention are also available.
[0032] (1) Regarding the mooring system: The embodiment uses a four-point catenary mooring system, but it can be replaced according to the requirements of the operating sea conditions and operating time, such as using different numbers of mooring cables or using tensioned mooring.
[0033] (2) Regarding float 3: The float in the embodiment is a solution optimized after calculation, and its shape can also be redesigned according to the characteristics of the operating sea conditions;
[0034] (3) Regarding the floating frame 1: The floating frame in the embodiment is a structure of two rows and five columns hinged together. The number and arrangement of sub-modules can also be changed.
[0035] (4) Regarding the PTO system: The specific form of the PTO system is not specified in the embodiments. It can be a bistable form, a spring-damped form, etc.
[0036] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation, characterized in that, The system includes a floating platform, an inner turret, floats, mooring cables, and a PTO (Positioning Toll Collection) system. The floating platform is connected to the inner turret, the mooring cables are connected to the floats, and the PTO system connects the inner turret and the floats for capturing wave energy and converting it into electrical energy. The floating platform includes a main body and a connecting portion. The main body comprises several hinged modules. The connecting portion is a structure extending outward from the main body, and the inner turret is installed at the connecting portion. The connecting portion is a triangular structure extending outward from the main body, with an opening at its center, where the inner turret is installed. The inner turret is embedded within the center of the triangular structure. The floating platform and the inner turret only have relative yaw rotation about the vertical axis, so that the floating platform can autonomously adapt to the wave direction and maintain a wave-facing state under the wind vane effect of the inner turret; there is relative heave motion between the float and the inner turret in the vertical direction, and the PTO system is used to capture the mechanical energy of the relative heave motion and convert it into electrical energy.
2. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The main structure of the inner turret is cylindrical.
3. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The float is a columnar structure consisting of at least three stacked segments.
4. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The height of each cylindrical structure in the float decreases from top to bottom, and the diameter of each cylindrical structure increases from top to bottom.
5. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The lowest section of the columnar structure is a circular sway plate structure.
6. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mooring cable is connected to the float using multi-point catenary mooring and / or tensioned mooring.
7. The compliant offshore aquaculture floating platform integrating wave energy power generation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The PTO system includes spring-damped and / or bistable forms.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Floating type draught fan foundation, draught fan and construction method thereof
CN111021393A
Deep and far sea culture work ship based on wind energy-wave energy combined power generation and single point mooring
CN114655374A
Wind wave fusion floating power generation platform with cross cover plate type damping system
CN117416476A
