A water-damped elastic cable for reducing peak mooring force of floating photovoltaic systems at sea

Abstract

This invention provides a water-damped elastic cable for reducing peak mooring forces in floating photovoltaic systems at sea, relating to the fields of marine engineering and renewable energy. The device includes main components such as a steel sleeve, a compression spring, a tie rod, a return orifice, and a check valve. The steel sleeve seals to form a closed space. The tie rod and spring push plate inside move under force, causing the spring to compress or rebound, simultaneously causing water to flow between the return orifices, producing a water-damping effect. The damping effect can be flexibly adjusted by regulating the size of the return orifice. Upper and lower check valves are respectively installed on the top and bottom covers of the steel sleeve, enabling unidirectional water flow without affecting the damping during spring compression while reducing damping during spring rebound. This device is not only suitable for floating photovoltaic systems at sea but can also be applied to mooring systems for other floating structures such as wind power generation, improving the system's resistance to wind and waves and operational stability by reducing instantaneous tension peaks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of marine engineering and renewable energy, and in particular to a water-damped elastic cable for reducing the peak mooring force in offshore floating photovoltaic systems, aiming to improve the safety and economy of offshore floating photovoltaic mooring. Background Technology

[0002] With the growth of global energy demand, floating photovoltaic (PV) systems are gaining increasing attention as an efficient and clean energy source. These systems install photovoltaic panels on floating structures at sea, which then stabilize the system and generate electricity using solar energy. However, due to the highly dynamic nature of the marine environment, the floating structures are constantly impacted by natural forces such as waves, tides, and wind, resulting in significant peak instantaneous forces on the mooring system. This not only affects the system's stability but also shortens the lifespan of the mooring equipment. Therefore, effectively reducing the peak forces on the mooring system is crucial to ensuring the long-term stable operation of floating PV systems.

[0003] Traditional mooring systems mostly employ rigid or elastic mooring cables, but both methods have limitations in reducing peak force. Rigid mooring cables cannot effectively absorb instantaneous impact forces, while conventional elastic mooring cables, when facing wave loads, are insufficient to provide adequate protection for the system due to their elastic properties. Consequently, the overall impact resistance of the mooring system is limited. Therefore, an innovative mooring device is needed that can generate effective damping under wave loads, reducing instantaneous peak tension and quickly returning to its initial state to adapt to periodic wave impacts.

[0004] Based on this, the present invention provides a water-damped elastic cable structure that achieves a buffering effect on wave loads, reduces the peak value of the mooring system tension, and thus significantly improves the wind and wave resistance and service life of the offshore floating photovoltaic system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to a floating photovoltaic system for marine applications, and more particularly to a water-damped elastic cable for reducing the peak mooring force of such systems. With the increasing adoption of floating photovoltaic systems in practical applications, the forces borne by the mooring system under natural loads such as waves and wind exhibit peak values ​​with fluctuations, negatively impacting the system's stability and service life. This invention aims to effectively reduce the peak force on the mooring system under wave loads through a water-damped elastic cable structure, thereby enhancing the system's resistance to wind and waves and improving its stability and safety.

[0006] The water-damped elastic cable structure proposed in this invention includes a sealed steel sleeve and components such as a compression spring, a return hole, and a check valve disposed therein. The flow of water inside the water-damped elastic cable is controlled by the tension in the mooring system to achieve a damping effect.

[0007] The water-damped elastic cable structure of this invention includes a steel sleeve, sealed by a top cover and a bottom cover to form a closed internal space; a tie rod, one end of which is connected to the lower lifting lug, and the other end passes through the inside of the steel sleeve and is connected to a compression spring via a compression spring push plate; a rubber plug is provided on the compression spring push plate to ensure a sealing effect between the compression spring push plate and the steel sleeve and prevent water seepage. An upper lifting lug is used to connect the water-damped elastic cable to the floating structure of a floating photovoltaic system; a lower lifting lug is used to connect the water-damped elastic cable to a mooring gantry; upper and lower return holes are respectively located at the upper and lower parts of the steel sleeve to control water flow; an upper check valve and a lower check valve are respectively located at the top and bottom covers of the steel sleeve to achieve unidirectional water flow.

[0008] When the wave load is large, the water-damped elastic cable compresses the spring through the internal tie rod and spring push plate structure, and restricts the water flow with the help of the return hole to generate damping, thereby effectively reducing the instantaneous tension. When the wave load decreases, the spring rebounds, and the internal water flow achieves unidirectional flow through the check valve, allowing the water-damped elastic cable to quickly return to its initial state, preparing for the wave impact of the next cycle.

[0009] The water-damped elastic cable of the present invention can be used in a floating photovoltaic mooring system at sea. The floating photovoltaic mooring system at sea includes a photovoltaic floating body structure, a photovoltaic panel provided on the photovoltaic floating body structure, a water-damped elastic cable, a mooring chute and an anchor block connected to the photovoltaic floating body structure, wherein the water-damped elastic cable is the water-damped elastic cable structure described above in the present invention.

[0010] The water-damped elastic cable structure of this invention features a rational design, maximizing the water damping effect through optimized water flow channel design. This device not only provides effective damping during peak stress but also rapidly returns to its initial shape when the stress decreases, making it suitable for the long-term stable operation requirements of offshore floating photovoltaic systems. This invention can be widely applied to mooring systems for floating structures such as offshore photovoltaic and wind power generation, extending the service life of mooring devices and improving their resistance to wind and waves and operational reliability by reducing the instantaneous peak stress of the mooring system.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0012] 1) Reduction of mooring force peak: The present invention effectively reduces the instantaneous peak force of the floating photovoltaic system under wave load through the structural design of water-damped elastic cable, thereby enhancing the system's resistance to wind and waves.

[0013] 2) Improve system stability and safety: Water-damped elastic cables produce a significant damping effect when wave loads are large, reducing the transmission of instantaneous tension, thereby improving the stability and safety of the system in harsh marine environments.

[0014] 3) Rapid recovery capability: The design of the spring and check valve enables the water-damped elastic cable to quickly return to its initial state after the force is reduced, providing sufficient preparation for the next wave impact and ensuring the continuous effectiveness of the damping cable under periodic loads.

[0015] 4) Extending the lifespan of the mooring system: By reducing the peak mooring force, this invention effectively reduces the wear and fatigue of key system components, thus extending the service life of the entire mooring system.

[0016] 5) Wide adaptability: This invention is not only applicable to offshore floating photovoltaic systems, but also to mooring systems for offshore floating structures such as wind power generation, providing higher load-bearing capacity for various floating devices in complex marine environments. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the floating photovoltaic mooring system of the present invention installed at sea.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a water-damped elastic cable structure for reducing the peak mooring force of floating photovoltaic systems proposed in this invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a water-damped elastic cable AA for reducing the peak mooring force of a floating photovoltaic system proposed in this invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an upper check valve for a water-damped elastic cable used to reduce the peak mooring force of a floating photovoltaic system at sea, as proposed in this invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a water-damped elastic cable for reducing the peak mooring force of a floating photovoltaic system proposed in this invention.

[0022] Legend: 1. Floating photovoltaic structure; 2. Photovoltaic panel; 3. Water-damped elastic cable; 4. Mooring cable; 5. Anchor block; 301. Steel sleeve; 302. Top cover; 303. Bottom cover; 304. Upper lifting lug; 305. Lower lifting lug; 306. Tie rod; 307. Upper reflux hole; 308. Lower reflux hole; 309. Compression spring; 310. Compression spring push plate; 311. Rubber plug; 312. Water tank connector; 313. Upper check valve; 314. Lower check valve. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top / bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "sleeved / connected," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 This invention designs a water-damped elastic cable 3 for reducing the peak mooring force of a floating photovoltaic system at sea. It is connected to the floating photovoltaic structure 1 at sea via an upper lug 304 and to the mooring cable 4 via a lower lug 305. Finally, the mooring cable 4 is connected to the anchor block 5 to form a complete mooring system for the floating photovoltaic system at sea.

[0027] See Figure 2 and Figure 3 The water-damping elastic cable 3 includes main components such as an external steel sleeve, a compression spring, a reflux hole, and a check valve. Specifically, it includes a steel sleeve 301, a top cover 302, a bottom cover 303, an upper lifting lug 304, a lower lifting lug 305, a pull rod 306, an upper reflux hole 307, a lower reflux hole 308, a compression spring 309, a compression spring push plate 310, a rubber plug 311, a water tank connector 312, an upper check valve 313, and a lower check valve 314.

[0028] The steel sleeve 301 is made of stainless steel, and its two ends are sealed by the top cover 302 and the bottom cover 303, forming a closed internal space. The pull rod 306 is connected to the compression spring 309 via the compression spring push plate 310 and passes through the interior of the steel sleeve 301. Its other end is connected to the lower lifting lug 305, allowing the compression spring 309 to be compressed or released when the lower lifting lug 305 is under force. Rubber plugs 311 are installed around the compression spring push plate 310 to ensure a tight seal between the compression spring push plate 310 and the steel sleeve 301, preventing water seepage through gaps. The upper return hole 307 and the lower return hole 308 are respectively located at the upper and lower parts of the steel sleeve and on both sides of the compression spring push plate 310, used to allow water flow and thus create a damping effect. The upper check valve 313 and the lower check valve 314 are installed on the top cover 302 and the bottom cover 303 respectively via the water tank connector 312, achieving unidirectional flow. The flow direction of the upper check valve 313 is from the inside of the steel sleeve 301 to the outside, while the flow direction of the lower check valve 314 is from the outside of the steel sleeve 301 into the inside of the steel sleeve 301.

[0029] Furthermore, since the lower part of the water-damped elastic cable 3 is connected to the mooring rail 4, it will initially be subjected to the tension of the mooring rail. Therefore, during actual installation, the compression spring 309 in the water-damped elastic cable 3 is pre-compressed to induce a certain initial deformation in order to resist the initial effect of the mooring rail tension.

[0030] The specific working process is as follows: When the wave load increases, the tension on the upper lug 304 and lower lug 305 of the water damping elastic cable 3 increases, causing the tie rod 306 to move downward, which in turn drives the spring push plate 310 to compress the spring 309. During this process, because the spring push plate 310 and the steel sleeve 301 are in close contact through the rubber plug 311, the downward movement of the spring push plate 310 will cause the upper return hole 307 to draw in water and the lower return hole 308 to discharge water, thereby generating a water damping effect. In this invention, the areas of the upper return hole 307 and the lower return hole 308 are adjustable to regulate the water flow rate, thereby changing the water damping effect. The smaller the return hole, the more significant the damping effect. If the area of ​​the upper return orifice 307 or the lower return orifice 308 is set to 0, the spring pusher plate 310 will not be pulled. The limit position of the spring pusher plate 310 is the lower edge of the lower return orifice 308, because the lower side is a closed space and cannot move further. When the wave load weakens, the spring 309 begins to rebound, water enters the lower return orifice 308 and the lower check valve 314, and water exits the upper return orifice 307 and the upper check valve 313. Although this process also has a damping effect, it is smaller than the damping effect of the tension process. The purpose is to enable the spring 309 to rebound quickly. The above is a complete working process of the water damping elastic cable 3. This process is repeated in the periodic wave load, thereby continuously weakening the peak value of the mooring force.

[0031] The specific embodiments described above are based on the present invention and serve as inspiration. Through the above description, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the inventive concept. The technical scope of this invention is not limited to the contents of the specification, but must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A water-damped elastic cable for reducing the peak mooring force of floating photovoltaic systems at sea, characterized in that, The water-damping elastic cable includes: a steel sleeve (301), which is sealed by a top cover (302) and a bottom cover (303) to form a closed internal space; a tie rod (306), one end of which is connected to a lower lifting lug (305), and the other end passes through the inside of the steel sleeve (301) and is connected to a compression spring (309) through a compression spring push plate (310); an upper lifting lug (304) for connecting the water-damping elastic cable to the floating structure of the floating photovoltaic system; a lower lifting lug (305) for connecting the water-damping elastic cable to the mooring gantry (4); an upper return hole (307) and a lower return hole (308) respectively located at the upper and lower parts of the steel sleeve (301) to control the water flow; and an upper check valve (313) and a lower check valve (314) respectively located at the top cover (302) and the bottom cover (303) of the steel sleeve (301) to achieve unidirectional water flow. The flow direction of the upper check valve (313) is from the inside of the steel sleeve (301) to the outside, and the flow direction of the lower check valve (314) is from the outside of the steel sleeve (301) to the inside.

2. The water-damped elastic cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, A rubber plug (311) is provided on the spring push plate (310) to ensure the sealing effect between the spring push plate (310) and the steel sleeve (301) and prevent water penetration.

3. The water-damped elastic cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steel sleeve (301) is made of stainless steel and is used to improve the corrosion resistance and durability of the water-damped elastic cable.

4. The water-damped elastic cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper check valve (313) and the lower check valve (314) are installed on the top cover (302) and the bottom cover (303) respectively through the water tank connector (312) to achieve unidirectional flow.

5. The water-damped elastic cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The areas of the upper return hole (307) and the lower return hole (308) are adjustable to regulate the water flow rate, thereby changing the water damping effect.

6. A floating photovoltaic mooring system for marine applications, comprising a photovoltaic floating structure (1), photovoltaic panels (2) mounted on the photovoltaic floating structure (1), a water-damped elastic cable (3), a mooring chute (4), and an anchor block (5) connected to the photovoltaic floating structure (1), characterized in that, The water-damped elastic cable (3) is the water-damped elastic cable according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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