A small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device

By using a small, integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device with a modular structure and powered by solar lithium batteries, the problems of high cost and poor environmental adaptability of existing equipment have been solved, achieving efficient and reliable wind energy resource monitoring and meeting the construction needs of offshore wind farms.

CN224375827UActive Publication Date: 2026-06-19CTG JIANGSU ENERGY INVESTMENT CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
CTG JIANGSU ENERGY INVESTMENT CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-06-12
Publication Date
2026-06-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing offshore wind energy resource monitoring equipment suffers from high cost, complex structure, single performance, unstable energy supply, non-compact structure, and poor environmental adaptability, making it difficult to meet the high-efficiency monitoring needs of offshore wind farms.

Method used

A small, integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device was designed. It adopts a modular structure that integrates the buoy body, sensor system, data acquisition unit, power system and communication module. It uses high-strength composite materials and a compact design, combined with solar and lithium battery power supply, integrates multiple sensors, and uses high-quality waterproof connectors and special marine cables to ensure the stability and reliability of the device in harsh marine environments.

Benefits of technology

It achieves high-precision wind energy resource monitoring with low cost, easy deployment and maintenance, and has all-weather operation capability, improving the environmental adaptability of the equipment and the reliability of data acquisition, and reducing the number of failure points and maintenance costs.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring devices, the device includes buoy main body, sensor system, data acquisition unit, power supply system and communication module;The buoy main body, sensor system, data acquisition unit, power supply system and communication module are integrated in one body using modular structure, form compact equipment.The utility model uses modular structure design, designs a kind of small integrated, low-cost offshore wind energy resource monitoring device, improves the environmental adaptability and data acquisition capacity of device, provides reliable hardware technical support for the construction and operation of offshore wind farm.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to offshore wind energy resource monitoring equipment, specifically to a small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing global emphasis on renewable energy, offshore wind energy, as an important clean energy source, has gradually become a research focus in the wind power industry due to its abundant resources and stable power generation. Accurate monitoring of offshore wind energy resources is crucial for wind farm site selection, turbine layout, and power generation prediction. Existing wind energy resource monitoring methods mainly rely on large-scale wind measurement towers and marine observation platforms for data collection.

[0003] Traditional offshore wind energy monitoring equipment mainly consists of fixed wind measurement towers. These towers are typically 80-120 meters high, need to be anchored deep in the seabed, and have long construction periods, high costs, and are difficult to relocate. For example, some existing wind measurement towers can cost several million yuan, have construction periods exceeding six months, and are difficult to move or adjust once installed. Furthermore, traditional wind measurement towers are large and complex, easily damaged in harsh marine environments, and have high maintenance costs.

[0004] To improve wind energy monitoring efficiency and address the shortcomings of traditional methods, some buoy-based wind energy monitoring devices have emerged on the market. For example, some existing technologies employ a buoy platform carrying a single wind speed and direction sensor to reduce equipment costs and improve deployment flexibility. While these devices have solved the problem of collecting basic meteorological elements such as wind speed and direction to some extent, they still have the following drawbacks:

[0005] ① High cost and complex structure: Traditional wind measurement towers are large and complex in structure, with high construction and maintenance costs and inconvenient operation;

[0006] ② Single performance and limited adaptability: Existing equipment is mostly designed for a single environmental parameter and fails to effectively integrate multiple sensors;

[0007] ③ Unstable energy supply: Existing equipment mostly relies on a single power source, which is difficult to meet the needs of long-term operation in the marine environment;

[0008] ④ The structure is not compact enough: the components of the device are scattered and the overall integration is low, which increases the number of failure points and maintenance difficulty;

[0009] ⑤ Lack of environmental adaptability: The equipment is not adequately waterproofed and corrosion-resistant, resulting in poor reliability in harsh sea conditions. Utility Model Content

[0010] Purpose of the utility model: This utility model aims to address the shortcomings of the existing technology by designing a small, integrated, and low-cost offshore wind energy resource monitoring device, improving the device's environmental adaptability and data acquisition capabilities, and providing reliable hardware technical support for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms.

[0011] Technical solution: The present invention provides a small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device, comprising a buoy body, a sensor system, a data acquisition unit, a power supply system, and a communication module; the buoy body, sensor system, data acquisition unit, power supply system, and communication module are integrated into a single unit using a modular structure to form a compact device, with the sensor system, data acquisition unit, power supply system, and communication module installed on the surface or inside the buoy body.

[0012] As a preferred structure of this utility model, the buoy body has a three-layer structure: the top is a platform structure with a diameter of 60 cm, used to install wind speed and direction sensors and solar panels; the middle part is a float with a diameter of 80 cm and a height of 100 cm, the outer shell is made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin material and covered with a special anti-corrosion coating, and the inside is filled with closed-cell foam; the lower part is a conical counterweight structure with a built-in 25 kg counterweight block; the buoy body has an equipment compartment located inside the middle float, and the equipment compartment adopts a double-sealed design.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the sensor system is integrated into the buoy structure, comprising:

[0014] The wind speed and direction sensor, installed at the center of the top platform structure of the buoy and 2.5 meters above the water surface, adopts a three-cup structure with a cup diameter of 120mm and is made of carbon fiber.

[0015] An environmental parameter sensor group, including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a barometric pressure sensor, is installed inside a dedicated waterproof housing on the side wall of the float and is connected to the outside atmosphere through a radiation shielding tube.

[0016] The pressure wave sensor is installed at the bottom of the underwater part of the buoy and is fixed by a special mounting bracket.

[0017] The GPS positioning module, installed at the edge of the top platform structure of the buoy, is fixed by a special bracket.

[0018] All sensors use 316L stainless steel housings and waterproof gaskets.

[0019] As a preferred structure of this utility model, the data acquisition unit adopts a compact waterproof design, with an STM32F429ZIT6 microcontroller as the core, and integrates signal conditioning circuit, storage module, and interface circuit. The data acquisition unit adopts a six-layer PCB design, with shockproof brackets around the circuit board. The outer shell is made of engineering plastic with nickel plating and is filled with inert gas. It is connected to each sensor through a waterproof connector.

[0020] As a preferred structure of this utility model, the power system adopts a combination of solar energy and lithium battery power supply, including: a solar panel installed on the top platform structure of the buoy; a charging controller, a lithium battery pack, and a power management circuit installed in the equipment compartment; the solar panel is connected to the charging controller through a waterproof cable, the charging controller is connected to the lithium battery pack through an internal bus, and the power management circuit is connected to the charging controller and the lithium battery pack through a dedicated interface to form a complete power supply circuit.

[0021] As a preferred structure of this utility model, the communication module includes:

[0022] A 4G / 5G communication module is installed in the equipment compartment. The 4G / 5G communication module is housed in a waterproof shell made of engineering plastic and filled with inert gas.

[0023] The omnidirectional antenna system is installed on the top platform structure, 2 meters above the water surface.

[0024] As a preferred structure of this utility model, the electrical connection between the components adopts the following method:

[0025] The sensor system is connected to the data acquisition unit via an RS485 bus in a star topology.

[0026] The data acquisition unit and the communication module are connected via a UART interface;

[0027] The power system adopts a zoned power supply design, supplying power to each module through waterproof connectors;

[0028] The connection uses a military-grade waterproof connector and a special marine cable with an outer layer of polyurethane.

[0029] Beneficial effects: (1) This utility model adopts an integrated compact structure design, with a total weight controlled within 50 kg, which is convenient for transportation and installation. It can be deployed by a single person, greatly reducing manpower and equipment costs. (2) This utility model adopts a high-strength composite material buoy structure, combined with an optimized counterweight design, to ensure that the stability of the device on the sea surface is not less than 95%, and to achieve wind speed and wind direction measurement accuracy of ±0.3 m / s and ±3°, meeting the accuracy requirements of wind energy resource monitoring. (3) This utility model adopts a solar energy and lithium battery combined power supply scheme, combined with a low power consumption circuit design, reducing standby power consumption to 15 mW, realizing uninterrupted operation around the clock, and effectively reducing maintenance frequency and costs. (4) This utility model integrates multiple sensors into one, minimizing the distance between sensors, and uses high-quality waterproof connectors and special marine cables for connection, reducing signal transmission loss and fault points, and improving the overall reliability of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of this utility model:

[0031] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the buoy structure of this utility model:

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sensor arrangement of this utility model:

[0033] Figure 4 This is the circuit connection diagram of the data acquisition unit of this utility model:

[0034] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the power supply system of this utility model:

[0035] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the communication module of this utility model:

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the system connection of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] This utility model provides a small, integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device. The device adopts a modular design, integrating multiple sensors into a compact unit, significantly reducing manufacturing and deployment costs. Figure 1 As shown, the device mainly consists of five parts: buoy body 1, sensor system 2, data acquisition unit 3, power supply system 4, and communication module 5.

[0039] The main body of the buoy 1 is made of high-strength composite material, with a diameter of 80 cm, a height of approximately 100 cm, and a total weight of about 35 kg. It possesses excellent buoyancy and stability. Figure 2 As shown, the design employs a three-layer structure: the top is a platform structure 11, 60 cm in diameter, used to install wind speed and direction sensors and solar panels; the middle is a float 12, 80 cm in diameter and 100 cm high, with an outer shell made of fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin and covered with a special anti-corrosion coating, resistant to UV aging and seawater corrosion. The interior is filled with closed-cell foam to provide buoyancy and ensure the float will not sink even if the outer shell is damaged; the lower is a counterweight structure 13, with a conical design and an internal 25 kg counterweight to ensure the buoy remains vertically stable under wave impact. The three layers are rigidly connected by stainless steel flanges and bolt assemblies. The top platform structure 11 is fixed to the middle float 12 with M12 stainless steel bolts, and the middle float 12 is connected to the lower counterweight structure 13 by an internal connecting rod made of 316L stainless steel to ensure the rigidity and stability of the overall structure. The buoy has an equipment compartment 14 located inside the central buoy 12, which is used to install the data acquisition unit 3, charging controller 42, lithium battery pack 43, power management circuit 44 and communication module 51. The equipment compartment adopts a double-sealed design with a protection level of IP6.

[0040] Sensor system 2 is integrated into the buoy structure, such as Figure 3As shown, the system includes a wind speed and direction sensor 21, an environmental parameter sensor group 22, a wave sensor 23, and a GPS positioning module 24. The wind speed and direction sensor 21 is mounted at the center of the top of the buoy via a high-strength carbon fiber support rod and is fixed to the mounting base at the center of the top platform structure 11 via a flange. The sensor is 2.5 meters above the water surface, employs a three-cup structure with a cup diameter of 120mm, a measurement range of 0-60m / s, and an accuracy of ±0.3m / s. It is made of carbon fiber, and its lightweight design reduces the impact of inertia. The environmental parameter sensor group 22 is installed inside a dedicated waterproof housing on the side wall of the buoy 12 and is bolted to the buoy housing. It includes a temperature sensor (range -40℃ to 85℃, accuracy ±0.1℃) and a humidity sensor (range 0-100%RH, accuracy ±2%). The buoy features a RH (relief and shock) sensor and a barometric pressure sensor (range 800-1100 hPa, accuracy ±0.1 hPa), which are connected to the outside atmosphere via a 20 mm diameter radiation shielding tube to ensure measurement accuracy. A wave sensor 23 is fixed to the bottom of the underwater buoy body 12 using a dedicated mounting bracket, 1 meter below the water surface. It employs a pressure-type design, calculating wave height by measuring changes in water pressure, with a wave height measurement range of 0-20 m and an accuracy of ±0.2 m. A GPS positioning module 24 is installed at the edge of the buoy's top platform structure 11, fixed by a dedicated bracket, providing a positioning accuracy of ±3 m, an update frequency of 1 Hz, and an antenna with a gain design to improve positioning accuracy. All sensors use 316L stainless steel housings and waterproof gaskets to ensure long-term stable operation in seawater environments.

[0041] Data acquisition unit 3 features a compact, waterproof design with a casing size of 200×150×80mm, and is installed inside equipment compartment 14. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the core of the data acquisition unit is an STM32F429ZIT6 microcontroller 31 with a main frequency of 180MHz. It has 256KB of RAM and 2MB of Flash memory, and integrates a signal conditioning circuit 32, a storage module 33, and an interface circuit 34. The signal conditioning circuit 32 includes a 16-bit ADC, a programmable gain amplifier, and a digital filter for processing the raw sensor signals. The storage module 33 uses a 32GB industrial-grade SD card, supporting circular storage for raw data backup to ensure data integrity. The interface circuit 34 provides RS485 bus connectivity, power management, and communication interfaces, and features opto-isolation protection. The entire acquisition unit uses a six-layer PCB design with a PCB size of 150×100mm. The circuit board is surrounded by shock-resistant brackets to enhance its vibration resistance. The data acquisition unit connects to each sensor via waterproof connectors and uses RS485 bus communication, providing strong anti-interference capabilities. The data acquisition unit's casing is made of engineering plastic with a nickel-plated surface and is filled with inert gas, providing excellent insulation and sealing.

[0042] Power system 4 employs a combined solar and lithium battery power supply scheme. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the device includes a solar panel 41, a charging controller 42, a lithium battery pack 43, and a power management circuit 44. The solar panel 41 measures 700×700mm, is mounted on the top platform structure 11 of the buoy, and is fixed by an aluminum alloy bracket. It has an area of ​​0.5 square meters, a peak power of 80W, uses monocrystalline silicon material, and has a conversion efficiency of 23%. The charging controller 42 uses MPPT technology, achieving a maximum power point tracking efficiency of 99%, and features overcharge and over-discharge protection. It is installed inside the equipment compartment 14. The lithium battery pack 43 uses lithium iron phosphate material, has a capacity of 20Ah, a cycle life exceeding 2000 cycles, and an operating voltage of 12V. It can support continuous operation for 15 days in the absence of sunlight and is also installed inside the equipment compartment 14. The power management circuit 44 monitors battery status and manages low power consumption, supports zoned power supply and sleep / wake-up functions, and is also installed inside the equipment compartment 14. The solar panel 41 is connected to the charging controller 42 via a waterproof cable. The charging controller 42 is connected to the lithium battery pack 43 via an internal bus. The power management circuit 44 is connected to the charging controller 42 and the lithium battery pack 43 via a dedicated interface, forming a complete power supply circuit. Except for the solar panel 41, the other power components 42, 43, and 44 are all sealed inside the equipment compartment 14, with an IP68 protection rating and an operating temperature range of -20°C to 70°C.

[0043] Communication module 5 adopts a 4G / 5G dual-mode design, supports multi-frequency network, and ensures signal coverage in remote sea areas. Figure 6 As shown, the system includes a 4G / 5G communication module 51, an antenna system 52, and a waterproof housing 53. The 4G / 5G communication module 51 uses an industrial-grade M.2 interface module, supports multi-band networks, has an uplink speed of 50Mbps and a downlink speed of 150Mbps, and is installed inside the equipment compartment 14. The antenna system 52 uses an omnidirectional antenna design with a gain of 6dBi, and is mounted on the top platform structure 11 via a dedicated antenna bracket, 2 meters above the water surface, to improve signal coverage. The waterproof housing 53 is made of engineering plastic and filled with inert gas to prevent internal condensation. The module has automatic reconnection and heartbeat packet detection functions to ensure a stable and reliable communication link. Both the antenna and the communication module housing are waterproof, resistant to salt spray corrosion, and adaptable to harsh marine environments.

[0044] like Figure 7The system connection diagram illustrates the electrical connections between the components. The sensor system connects to the data acquisition unit via an RS485 bus, employing a star topology. Each sensor has its own independent power supply and signal lines. The data acquisition unit connects to the communication module via a UART interface, supporting a communication rate of 115200bps. The power supply system provides power to each module through dedicated waterproof connectors, employing a zoned power supply design. Power to some modules can be cut off when not in operation, reducing power consumption. The connections between components use military-grade waterproof connectors with a insertion / extraction force of 50N, providing excellent sealing and corrosion resistance. All internal connection cables are special marine cables with an outer polyurethane layer, an IP68 waterproof rating, and resistance to seawater corrosion. The cables have 8-12 cores and a cross-sectional area of ​​0.5-1.5mm². 2 Tensile strength >100N. The overall structural design is compact, with minimal distance between components, reducing signal transmission loss and potential failure points.

[0045] All exposed parts of this invention are made of 316L stainless steel or special anti-corrosion materials, with a protection level of IP67 or higher. They have passed 1000 hours of salt spray testing without corrosion and are suitable for harsh marine environments.

[0046] In practical applications, this device can be anchored in specific sea areas or deployed in a drifting manner using a GPS positioning system. Before leaving the factory, the device undergoes waterproof performance testing, sensor calibration, and system function testing to ensure that all performance indicators meet requirements. Deployment can be completed with just a small workboat and 2-3 people, significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs and complexity.

Claims

1. A small, integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device, characterized in that, It includes a buoy body (1), a sensor system (2), a data acquisition unit (3), a power supply system (4), and a communication module (5); the buoy body (1), sensor system (2), data acquisition unit (3), power supply system (4), and communication module (5) are integrated into one unit using a modular structure to form a compact device, and the sensor system (2), data acquisition unit (3), power supply system (4), and communication module (5) are installed on the surface or inside of the buoy body (1); The buoy body (1) has a three-layer structure: the top is a platform structure (11) for installing wind speed and direction sensors and solar panels; the middle is a float (12), the outer shell is made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin material and covered with a special anti-corrosion coating, and the interior is filled with closed-cell foam; the lower part is a conical counterweight structure (13); the three layers are rigidly connected by stainless steel flanges and bolt assemblies; the buoy body has an equipment compartment (14) inside, located inside the middle float (12), and the equipment compartment adopts a double-sealed design; The sensor system (2) is integrated into the structure of the buoy body (1) and includes: a wind speed and direction sensor (21) installed at the center of the top platform structure (11) of the buoy at a specified height above the water surface; an environmental parameter sensor group (22) installed in a special waterproof shell on the side wall of the float (12), including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor, and connected to the outside atmosphere through a radiation shielding tube; a pressure wave sensor (23) installed at the bottom of the underwater part of the float (12) and fixed by a special mounting bracket; a GPS positioning module (24) installed at the edge of the top platform structure (11) of the buoy and fixed by a special bracket; all sensors use 316L stainless steel shells and waterproof gaskets; The data acquisition unit (3) adopts a compact waterproof design, with an STM32F429ZIT6 microcontroller (31) as the core, and integrates a signal conditioning circuit (32), a storage module (33), and an interface circuit (34). The data acquisition unit (3) is connected to each sensor through a waterproof connector. The power system (4) is powered by a combination of solar energy and lithium batteries, including: a solar panel (41) installed on the top platform structure (11) of the buoy; a charging controller (42), a lithium battery pack (43), and a power management circuit (44) installed in the equipment compartment (14); the solar panel (41) is connected to the charging controller (42) via a waterproof cable, the charging controller (42) is connected to the lithium battery pack (43) via an internal bus, and the power management circuit (44) is connected to the charging controller (42) and the lithium battery pack (43) via a dedicated interface to form a complete power supply circuit; The communication module (5) includes: a 4G / 5G communication module (51) installed in the equipment compartment (14), the 4G / 5G communication module (51) being housed in a waterproof housing (53); and an omnidirectional antenna system (52) installed on the top platform structure (11).

2. The small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the buoy body (1), the platform structure (11) has a diameter of 60 cm; the float (12) has a diameter of 80 cm and a height of 100 cm; the conical counterweight structure (13) has a built-in 25 kg counterweight block.

3. The small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the sensor system (2), the wind speed and direction sensor (21) is 2.5 meters above the water surface, adopts a three-cup structure, has a cup diameter of 120 mm, and is made of carbon fiber.

4. The small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The data acquisition unit (3) adopts a six-layer PCB design, with shockproof brackets around the circuit board, an outer shell made of engineering plastic, a nickel-plated surface, and an inert gas filling the interior.

5. The small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the communication module (5), the omnidirectional antenna system (52) is installed at a height of 2 meters above the water surface.

6. The small integrated offshore wind energy resource monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connections between the components are as follows: The sensor system (2) is connected to the data acquisition unit (3) via an RS485 bus in a star topology. The data acquisition unit (3) and the communication module (5) are connected via a UART interface; The power supply system (4) adopts a partitioned power supply design, and supplies power to each module through waterproof connectors; The connection uses a military-grade waterproof connector and a special marine cable with an outer layer of polyurethane.