A water body profile observation buoy based on single anchoring and an observation method

Abstract

The application discloses a water body profile observation buoy based on single-anchor mooring, which adopts a single-anchor mooring mechanism, and the main structure of the buoy is in a long circular shape; a profile operation cabin is arranged at one end of the long axis of the long circular main structure, and the profile operation cabin is used for water body profile observation; and the single-anchor mooring mechanism is arranged at the bottom of the other end of the long axis of the long circular main structure. The main structure of the buoy is composed of two half-disc structures which are symmetrically spliced from two ends of a box-shaped structure. The short axis length of the main structure of the buoy is at least 3 m. The profile operation cabin is provided with a moon pool, an instrument package and a winch device. The winch device comprises a winch, a pulley arranged on the top of the profile operation cabin and a cable for hanging the instrument package through the winch and the pulley, and is used for putting the instrument package into the water body to be observed through the moon pool and recovering the instrument package from the water body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure pertains to the field of marine observation, and in particular relates to a large, elongated disc-shaped buoy based on single-anchor mooring and capable of water profile observation. Background Technology

[0002] Large buoys are widely used in marine observation and monitoring. They are typically designed in a disc shape and are deployed long-term in specific waters using a single anchor mooring system. They are primarily used to observe marine meteorological data and various parameters of the surface water. Common buoys have diameters of 3m, 6m, and 10m. Due to factors such as wind, waves, and currents, as well as the mooring method, single-anchor moored large buoys usually lack the capability for water body profile observation. This is because there is a risk of entanglement between the single anchor chain and the water body profile observation equipment. A single-anchor moored buoy will freely rotate and drift around its anchor point under the influence of currents and waves, causing the relative position and attitude between the anchor chain and the buoy to constantly change. Since the profile observation equipment usually needs to be lowered vertically into the water from the center of the buoy or the moon pool, the anchor chain of the single anchor system is located directly below the buoy, making it highly susceptible to entanglement during instrument movement. Entanglement can not only interrupt observations but also damage the equipment, potentially rendering it unrecoverable, severely impacting the reliability and safety of long-term fixed-point observations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One aspect of this disclosure is a large elongated disc-shaped profile observation buoy based on single-anchor mooring. The buoy employs a single-anchor mooring mechanism. The main structure of the buoy has an elongated oval cross-section. A profile operation chamber is provided at one end of the long axis of the elongated oval main structure for water profile observation. The single-anchor mooring mechanism is provided at the bottom of the other end of the long axis of the elongated oval main structure.

[0004] One aspect of this disclosure is a method for observing water body profiles, the method comprising the following steps:

[0005] Place the buoy in the predetermined sea area, and then cast the anchor and anchor chain into the seabed using a single anchor mooring mechanism.

[0006] The instrument package used for water body profile observation is lowered into the seawater via a winch through the moon pool, and after the observation is completed, it is retrieved and fixed in the profile operation cabin. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated in the drawings by way of example and not limitation, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 A buoy system and a single anchor mooring system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 2 An elongated disc-shaped buoy body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 3 The instrument package of the profile observation system according to one embodiment of this disclosure is not locked.

[0011] Figure 4 The instrument pack locking state of the profile observation system according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0012] Figure 5 A longitudinal section of an elongated disc-shaped buoy body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] 1 – Elongated disc-shaped buoy; 2 – Single anchor mooring system; 3 – Profile observation system.

[0014] 11 – Main structure; 12 – Mast; 13 – Solar platform; 14 – Meteorological platform; 15 – Moon pool; 16 – Profile working cabin; 17 – Underwater instrument well.

[0015] 21—anchor, 22—anchor chain

[0016] 31 – Winch system; 32 – Instrument package; 33 – Fixture; 34 – Automatic control unit.

[0017] 311—Windlock body, 312—Wire rope, 313—Pulley,

[0018] 331 - Clamping block, 332 - Electric lead screw. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To address the interference between the anchor chain of a single-anchor moored buoy system and water profile observation equipment, a three-anchor mooring buoy system was developed. The three-anchor buoy consists of a main buoy, three auxiliary buoys, and three sets of moorings. The main buoy is a disc-shaped structure with a diameter of 12m to 15m, with a moon pool at its center for deploying and recovering profile observation equipment. One side of each auxiliary buoy is connected to the main buoy, while the other side is anchored to the seabed. Due to the complexity of the three-anchor buoy's structure, its cost is significantly higher than that of conventional buoys of the same specifications. Furthermore, practical applications present challenges such as difficult deployment and recovery operations, high operating costs, and significant risks associated with offshore buoy landing. Therefore, it currently only sees limited experimental applications.

[0020] Buoys used for non-moored profiling observations primarily include the long cylindrical buoys employed by the international Argo program. These long cylindrical buoys are typically battery-powered and move with ocean currents during observations, lacking the capability for long-term stationary observations and usually used as disposable tools. The international Argo program (Argo: Array for Real-time Geotrophic Oceanography) is a global, large-scale real-time ocean observation program.

[0021] Therefore, this disclosure addresses the aforementioned technical problems by providing a long, disc-shaped buoy based on single-anchor mooring, enabling it to conduct long-term, fixed-point water profile observations, while reducing the cost, difficulty, and risk of offshore operations.

[0022] According to one or more embodiments, a water profiling buoy based on single-anchor mooring comprises an elongated disc-shaped buoy body, a single-anchor mooring system, and a profiling observation system. The elongated disc-shaped buoy body mainly includes a main structure, mast, solar platform, meteorological platform, moon pool, and profiling operation cabin. The single-anchor mooring system mainly includes an anchor and anchor chain. The profiling observation system includes a winch system, instrument pack, anchoring device, and automatic control unit. The winch system includes a winch body, wire rope, and pulleys. The anchoring device includes three sets of electric lead screws and clamping blocks, which are hinged together. The electric lead screws have a self-locking function. The clamping blocks have side plates and a bottom plate; the side plates are used to directly clamp the instrument pack, and the bottom plate is used to support the weight of the instrument pack. The automatic control unit, according to operating instructions, controls the winch to complete the wire rope winding and unwinding operations, and controls the anchoring device to complete the clamping and releasing of the instrument pack.

[0023] Here, the water profile observation buoy employs a single-anchor mooring mechanism. The main structure of the buoy has an elongated oval cross-section. A profile operation chamber is located at one end of the long axis of this elongated oval main structure, which is used for water profile observation. A single-anchor mooring mechanism is located at the bottom of the other end of the long axis of the elongated oval main structure.

[0024] The buoy's main structure consists of two semi-circular disc structures symmetrically joined from both ends of a box-shaped structure. The minor axis of the buoy's main structure is at least 3 meters long. The profiling compartment houses a moon pool, an instrument pack, and a winch system. The winch system includes a winch, a pulley located on the top of the profiling compartment, and a cable for attaching the instrument pack to the winch and pulley. It is used to lower the instrument pack into the water body to be observed through the moon pool and to retrieve the instrument pack from the water body. The movement of the instrument pack is restricted by a fixing device. A mast is located at the other end of the long axis of the elongated main structure, and a single anchor mooring mechanism is housed within this mast.

[0025] The top of the mast is equipped with solar photovoltaic panels. A meteorological observation platform is also located at the top of the mast for housing meteorological observation equipment.

[0026] This disclosure provides a long, disc-shaped profiling buoy based on single-anchor mooring, which solves the problem of long-term fixed-point water body profiling observation at specific sea coordinates in a relatively economical way. This buoy combines the characteristics of disc-shaped and ship-shaped buoys, using a long, disc shape as its main structure. Compared to a conventional disc-shaped buoy of the same tonnage, the long, disc-shaped buoy has a reduced current-facing area of ​​approximately 33%, thus improving its current-facing capability. Structurally, the long, disc-shaped buoy can be disassembled into two semi-disc-shaped buoys and one box-shaped structure, resulting in a simpler structure without increasing manufacturing difficulty. The long, disc-shaped buoy also adds a structural center for profiling operations, enabling it to carry profiling instruments.

[0027] In this embodiment, the buoy employs a dual-center layout, placing the mooring chain and the profiling equipment at opposite ends of the buoy body. This sufficiently large initial distance effectively prevents entanglement. Under the influence of ocean currents, the anchor, anchor chain, buoy body, traction cable, and instrument pack unfold sequentially within a single plane, with the anchor positioned upstream and the instrument pack downstream. This design prevents the profiling equipment from tangling with the mooring chain during underwater operations.

[0028] Furthermore, the moon pool structure used in this embodiment extends through the buoy's deck and bottom plate, preventing seawater from entering the buoy's cabin from the moon pool. The bottom of the moon pool features a funnel-shaped structure, facilitating the smooth entry of the profile observation instrument pack into the moon pool during retrieval.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments, a method for observing water body profiles using a large buoy moored by a single anchor is provided.

[0030] Depend on Figure 1 It is understood that the large buoy disclosed herein can be deployed in a predetermined sea area using conventional methods, with the anchor and anchor chain thrown into the seabed. The buoy will move within a circular area centered on the anchoring point and with the maximum length of the anchor chain as its radius, enabling long-term fixed-point observation.

[0031] Depend on Figure 2 It is understood that the large buoy disclosed herein can reach the solar power platform and meteorological platform via the mast from the main structure, and is capable of carrying a solar power system and marine meteorological instruments. The main structure is equipped with multiple underwater instrument wells, capable of carrying conventional underwater instruments such as physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine biology, underwater photography, and underwater communication instruments.

[0032] Depend on Figure 3 It is known that the instrument package used for water body profile observation can be lowered to the seabed via the moon pool, and after the observation is completed, it can be retrieved and fixed in the profile operation cabin.

[0033] With the anchor firmly anchored to the seabed, the buoy drifts away from the anchor under the influence of ocean currents. At this point, the anchor chain is furthest from the moon pool, making it ideal for water profiling. Upon receiving the profiling operation command, the automatic control unit first sends a release command to the instrument pack securing device. Three sets of electric lead screws inside the profiling chamber retract synchronously, causing three sets of clamping blocks to move outwards, away from the center of the moon pool, releasing the instrument pack from its restraints. Subsequently, the automatic control unit sends a release command to the winch. The winch slowly lowers the profiling instrument pack from the profiling operation chamber on the buoy deck, through the center of the moon pool, to the seabed via a steel cable, completing the water profiling during this process. Under the influence of ocean currents, the instrument pack pulls the steel cable away from the anchor chain, effectively preventing entanglement. For continuous observation, the control system reciprocates the raising and lowering of the steel cable, moving the instrument pack up and down in the water to achieve continuous profiling. After observation is completed, the automatic control unit sends a retrieval command to the winch. The winch retrieves the wire rope, lifting the instrument pack from the seabed through the center of the moon pool back into the profiling work cabin. Once the instrument pack is in position, the automatic control unit sends a clamping command to the instrument pack securing device. Three sets of electric lead screws extend synchronously, pushing the clamping blocks towards the center of the moon pool: the side plates of the clamping blocks grip the instrument pack, and the bottom plate supports the bottom of the instrument pack, forming a double fixation of clamping and support. Finally, the automatic control unit sends a standby command to the winch, the winch releases the rope, the wire rope is no longer under tension, and the entire observation and retrieval clamping process is complete.

[0034] It is worth noting that although the foregoing has described the spirit and principles of this disclosure with reference to several specific embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed specific embodiments, and the division of aspects does not imply that the features in these aspects cannot be combined; such division is merely for the convenience of expression. This disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A water profile observation buoy based on single-anchor mooring, the buoy employing a single-anchor mooring mechanism, characterized in that, The main structure of the buoy has an elongated oval shape in cross-section. A profile observation chamber is located at one end of the long axis of this elongated oval main structure. This profile observation chamber is used for water profile observation. The single anchor mooring mechanism is installed at the bottom of the other end of the long axis of the main body structure.

2. The buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main structure of the buoy consists of two semi-circular structures symmetrically spliced ​​from both ends of a box-shaped structure.

3. The buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The minor axis length of the main structure of the buoy is at least 3 meters.

4. The buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The profile working chamber is equipped with a moon pool, an instrument pack, and a winch.

5. The buoy according to claim 4, characterized in that, The winch device includes a winch, a pulley located on the top of the profile working chamber, and a cable for attaching the instrument pack via the winch and pulley, used to lower the instrument pack into the water body to be observed through the moon pool, and to retrieve the instrument pack from the water body.

6. The buoy according to claim 5, characterized in that, The movement of the instrument pack is restricted by a fixing device.

7. The buoy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The other end of the long axis of the elongated main structure is provided with a mast, and the single anchor mooring mechanism is located inside the mast.

8. The buoy according to claim 7, characterized in that, The top of the mast is equipped with solar photovoltaic panels.

9. The buoy according to claim 7, characterized in that, The top of the mast is also equipped with a meteorological observation platform for setting up meteorological observation equipment.

10. A method for observing water body profiles, characterized in that, Based on the buoy as described in claim 1, the method includes the following steps: Place the buoy in the predetermined sea area, and then cast the anchor and anchor chain into the seabed using a single anchor mooring mechanism. The instrument package used for water body profile observation is lowered into the seawater via a winch through the moon pool, and after the observation is completed, it is retrieved and fixed in the profile operation cabin.

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