A mooring device for tension leg platform pool testing

Abstract

This invention provides a mooring device for a tension leg platform in a water tank test. The device includes a platform connecting mechanism, a fixing mechanism, and a tensioning mechanism connected in sequence. The platform connecting mechanism includes a first rotary shackle, a tension sensor, a second rotary shackle, a first mooring cable, an elastic component, and a second mooring cable, all connected in sequence. The fixing mechanism includes a first fixing plate and a first pulley thereon. The tensioning mechanism includes a second fixing plate, a second pulley, a cable roller, and a servo motor. The second pulley, cable roller, and servo motor are mounted on the second fixing plate, and the output of the servo motor drives the cable roller to rotate. The second mooring cable is wound around the first and second pulleys and then connected to the cable roller. Using this modular structure for the mooring device facilitates disassembly and maintenance, and allows for component adaptation or replacement according to the test plan. It is highly applicable in situations requiring frequent platform model changes or multiple sets of tests.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of marine engineering technology, specifically relating to a mooring device for tension leg platform pool testing. Background Technology

[0002] Tension leg platforms are structures consisting of multiple tension legs that anchor a floating platform to the seabed via a mooring system. They maintain a stable floating state by applying tension to the platform model. This unique kinematic characteristic gives them irreplaceable advantages in offshore oil and gas extraction applications, but it also presents complex challenges in design, installation, and maintenance. Tank testing of tension leg platforms is a crucial bridge connecting theoretical design, numerical simulation, and real-world marine performance. Engineers use meticulously designed scaled-down models, advanced marine engineering tank facilities, and rigorous testing procedures to simulate and control the mooring tension of the tension leg platform model. This allows them to study and analyze the forces and dynamic responses of the offshore platform under different operating conditions, gain a deeper understanding of the hydrodynamic behavior of tension leg platforms in complex marine environments, and accurately measure their kinematic performance and key tendon tension. This provides indispensable physical evidence for optimized design, safety verification, and ultimately successful deployment.

[0003] Existing mooring devices in pool testing face several technical challenges. First, tension adjustment and simulation typically utilize high-strength steel cables, spring steel strips, or rigid rods. Weights or spring systems are connected to the bottom of the model via pulley systems to apply and maintain the required pretension. These devices are often structurally complex, requiring lengthy installation and commissioning times, especially in pool tests of varying scales. To adapt to different test sizes, frequent adjustments are necessary, such as replacing weights or spring systems at the bottom of the model, changing steel cables of different diameters or lengths, connecting multiple cables in parallel or series, or replacing steel strips of different thicknesses—a cumbersome process. Finally, many existing devices lack integrated real-time monitoring and automatic feedback control systems, lacking the ability to perceive and precisely adjust tension changes in real time. During testing, personnel often cannot obtain accurate tension data in real time, nor can they automatically adjust the tension based on the test data, significantly compromising the reliability and accuracy of the test data. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test. This device solves the problems of poor adaptability, inconvenient installation and maintenance in the prior art through a reasonable modular structure design. It realizes the free combination of various modules of the tension leg platform model to adapt to different test schemes and can be dynamically adjusted according to test requirements.

[0005] This utility model discloses a mooring device for a tension leg platform in a water tank test, comprising a platform connecting mechanism, a fixing mechanism, and a tensioning mechanism connected in sequence, wherein:

[0006] The platform connection mechanism includes a first rotary shackle, a tension sensor, a second rotary shackle, a first mooring cable, an elastic component, and a second mooring cable connected in sequence; the elastic component is detachably connected to the first mooring cable and the second mooring cable respectively.

[0007] The fixing mechanism includes a first fixing plate and a first pulley disposed on the first fixing plate;

[0008] The tensioning mechanism includes a second fixed plate, a second pulley, a cable drum, and a servo motor. The second pulley is mounted on the second fixed plate. The second mooring cable is wound around the first pulley and the second pulley and then connected to the cable drum. The output end of the servo motor drives the cable drum to rotate.

[0009] The first fixing plate and the second fixing plate are detachably connected to the test water tank.

[0010] This invention fully considers the variability of test schemes and ease of operation. The mooring device is composed of a modular structure, and components can be adapted or replaced according to the test scheme. For example, different specifications of mooring cables and elastic components can be selected for pool tests. The positions of the first and second fixed plates can be flexibly determined according to the test scheme, and the first and second pulleys can be set to guide the mooring cables. Combined with tension sensors and servo motors, precise simulation and control can be performed for different tension test schemes.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a control unit, which is connected to the tension sensor and the servo motor. The control unit is used to monitor the tension sensor and control the servo motor in real time.

[0012] Furthermore, the position of the first pulley on the first fixed plate can be adjusted to slightly adjust the direction of the tension force.

[0013] Furthermore, the position of the second pulley on the second fixed plate can be adjusted to slightly adjust the direction of the tension force.

[0014] Furthermore, the first mooring rope is provided with a first connector at different lengths, and the first connector is connected to the tension spring.

[0015] Furthermore, the second mooring rope is provided with a second connector at different lengths, and the second connector is connected to the tension spring.

[0016] By adjusting the installation position of the tension spring on the first and second mooring ropes, the dynamic response characteristics and overall stiffness distribution of different tensioning systems can be simulated.

[0017] Furthermore, the elastic component is a tension spring.

[0018] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1) This utility model adopts a modular structure, which is easy to disassemble and maintain. Components can be adapted or replaced according to the test plan. After the test, the connection points can be quickly disconnected and the whole device can be transferred to another place for use or rearranged. This greatly reduces the workload of on-site installation and debugging, improves testing efficiency and reduces labor costs.

[0020] 2) This utility model guides the mooring cable through the first pulley on the first fixed plate and the second pulley on the second fixed plate. Combined with pulleys, tension sensors and servo motors, the magnitude and direction of the tension force are accurately simulated and controlled. This ensures that after the cable is guided by the first and second pulleys, the direction of the force is consistent with the direction of the force at the mooring point of the platform model, thereby reducing additional bending moments and unnecessary lateral forces, and improving the accuracy and repeatability of the tension force simulation.

[0021] 3) This utility model uses a control unit to monitor and control the tension force in real time, and has good dynamic monitoring and control functions.

[0022] 4) This utility model determines the number of the first and second fixed plates and their positions in the test pool through an experimental scheme. It can accommodate different types of tension leg platforms, such as three-legged or four-legged platforms. By adjusting the positions of the first and second fixed plates, the first pulley on the first fixed plate, and the second pulley on the second fixed plate, the direction of the tension force can be adjusted and controlled within a large or small range to adapt to changes in platform size, cable entry angle, and pool bank space conditions. By adjusting the connection positions of the tension springs with the first and second mooring ropes, the dynamic response characteristics and overall stiffness distribution of different tensioning systems can be simulated. The above design can be used for multi-scheme comparison in the exploration phase and has high applicability in scientific research and teaching scenarios where frequent changes to platform models or multiple sets of experiments are required. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a front view of the overall layout of the test pool for a mooring device used in tension leg platform water tank tests according to some embodiments of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a top view of the overall layout of the test pool for a mooring device used in tension leg platform water tank tests according to some embodiments of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a partial enlarged view of the main layout of the test pool of the mooring device for tension leg platform water tank testing provided in some embodiments of this utility model.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the main layout of the test pool of the mooring device for tension leg platform water tank testing provided in some embodiments of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a front view of the fixing mechanism of a mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test provided in some embodiments of this utility model.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the tensioning mechanism of a mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test provided by some embodiments of this utility model.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 100 mooring devices, 200 test pools, 300 platform models.

[0031] 110 Platform connecting mechanism; 111 First swivel shackle; 112 Tension sensor; 113 Second swivel shackle; 114 First mooring cable; 115 Elastic component; 116 Second mooring cable.

[0032] 120 Fixed mechanism, 121 First fixed plate, 122 First pulley,

[0033] 130 Tensioning mechanism, 131 Second fixed plate, 132 Second pulley, 133 Cable drum, 134 Servo motor, 135 Coupling. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To more clearly and completely describe the technical solution of this utility model, the following detailed description is provided through specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model. Various changes can be made within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

[0035] It should be noted that when one element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element present. The terms "set," "connect," and "install" should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances. The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, this utility model provides a mooring device 100 for a tension leg platform water tank test. The mooring device 100 is disposed in the test water tank 200 and connected to the platform model 300. Figure 2 As shown, the mooring device 100 adopts a three-point mooring arrangement, with three sets of platform connection mechanisms 110, fixing mechanisms 120, and tensioning mechanisms 130 arranged at three symmetrical positions on the platform model 300. Specifically, as shown... Figure 4 As shown, the platform connection mechanism 110 includes a first rotary shackle 111, a tension sensor 112, a second rotary shackle 113, a first mooring cable 114, an elastic component 115, and a second mooring cable 116 connected in sequence. The elastic component 115 has a tension function, exemplarily such as a tension spring with tensile deformation function; the first rotary shackle 111 connects to the mooring point of the platform model 300. Figure 5 As shown, the fixing mechanism 120 includes a first fixing plate 121 and a first pulley 122 disposed on the first fixing plate 121; as Figure 6 As shown, the tensioning mechanism 130 includes a second fixed plate 131, a second pulley 132, a cable drum 133, and a servo motor 134. The second pulley 132 is mounted on the second fixed plate 131. Figure 3-6As shown, the second mooring cable 116 is wound around the first pulley 122 and the second pulley 132 and then connected to the cable drum 133. The output of the servo motor 134 drives the cable drum 133 to rotate. The tension sensor 112, the servo motor 134 and the control unit are connected. The control unit monitors the output power of the tension sensor 112 and the servo motor 134 in real time to accurately simulate and control the magnitude and direction of the tension force. The pulleys are arranged in equidistant triangles according to the model position. The first fixing plate 121 is fixed to the bottom of the test pool 200 with bolts. Installation can be completed by manual alignment and tightening. The positions of the first fixing plate 121 and the second fixing plate 131 can be flexibly determined according to the test plan to adapt to changes in different platform dimensions, cable entry angles and pool bank space conditions. The specific position is determined to ensure that after the cable is guided by the first pulley 122 and the second pulley 132, its force direction is consistent with the force direction of the platform model mooring point, thereby reducing additional bending moment and unnecessary lateral force, and improving the accuracy and repeatability of tension force simulation. The installation height and horizontal position of the first pulley 122 and the second pulley 132 can be adjusted according to the platform deck height, the distance from the cable entry point to the bottom of the pool, and the model scale to ensure that the mooring cable maintains a reasonable entry angle before entering the water, simulating the mooring force path under real sea conditions. During the test preparation phase, the actual tension of the cable is measured using a tension sensor, and the cable drum is adjusted once using a servo motor to reach the predetermined tension value. After adjustment, the drum position is locked, and the tension is not actively changed during the test to ensure the stability of the loading conditions. This arrangement allows for quick and accurate setting of the required initial tension at the start of the test and maintains a constant force state throughout the test, thereby improving the comparability of data and the reliability of test results.

[0038] Servo motor 134 is a 400W DC motor. The PLC program built into the control unit adjusts and controls servo motor 134 with a resolution of 0.1N. The control unit can adjust servo motor 134 to automatically adjust the tension output according to the motion state of the platform model and the changes in cable tension during the test. Especially under dynamic load changes such as simulating wind, wave and current coupling, hydrodynamic disturbance, and sudden changes in platform attitude, servo motor 134 can quickly respond and adjust the cable length after receiving the control unit command, thereby dynamically controlling the tension of each cable. This significantly improves the adaptability and adjustment stability of the mooring system to dynamic environmental changes, and avoids model drift, tilting or even damage caused by excessively loose or tight cables. It is particularly effective in simulating extreme sea conditions, swell excitation or unsteady platform motion, and greatly enhances the realism of the simulation test and the reliability of the data.

[0039] To adapt to changes in test scale, such as when conducting a 1:10 scale test, the model parameters can be matched by replacing the first mooring rope 114 and the second mooring rope 116 with different diameters, using tension springs with greater stiffness, and increasing the power level of the servo motor 134. The entire device does not need to be replaced; only some key components need to be adjusted or replaced to complete the system modification. This enables a wider range of tension adjustment and faster response capabilities, thereby meeting the test requirements of different scales and complexities, and possessing wide applicability and scalability.

[0040] Example 2

[0041] Based on Embodiment 1, the position of the first pulley 122 on the first fixed plate 121 is adjustable, and the position of the second pulley 132 on the second fixed plate 131 is adjustable. By adjusting the positions of the first pulley 122 on the first fixed plate 121 and the second pulley 132 on the second fixed plate 131 respectively, or by adjusting the positions of the first pulley 122 and the second pulley 132 on the first fixed plate 121 and the second fixed plate 131 simultaneously, the tension direction of the cable can be changed to adapt to different model designs.

[0042] Example 3

[0043] In this embodiment, the mooring device 100 adopts a four-point mooring arrangement scheme, with four sets of platform connection mechanisms 110, fixing mechanisms 120 and tensioning mechanisms 130 arranged at the four vertices of the platform model 300. The connection method of the platform connection mechanism 110, fixing mechanism 120 and tensioning mechanism 130 is the same as that in embodiment 1.

[0044] When disassembling this mooring device, because the mooring device adopts a modular structure, all connection points can use quick-disassembly connectors such as universal hooks, flanges, bolts or couplings. The device can be quickly disassembled and transported by simply disassembling the device according to the modules. The whole process takes no more than 30 minutes on average. Compared with the traditional device that requires overall hoisting and on-site welding, it has significant improvements in efficiency and reusability.

[0045] The test method steps for the mooring device based on the above-mentioned tension leg platform water tank test are as follows:

[0046] Based on the design scheme of the tension leg platform, a scaled-down model of a certain proportion is established, and a suitable test water tank 200 and platform model 300 are selected.

[0047] The connection positions of the first fixing plate 121 and the second fixing plate 131 in the test water tank 200 are determined according to the design scheme.

[0048] According to the design scheme, the first mooring cable 114, the tension spring 115, and the second mooring cable 116 are selected.

[0049] The mooring point of platform model 300 is connected to the first swivel shackle 111;

[0050] Start servo motor 134 to conduct a water tank test.

[0051] When comparing multiple solutions, the above method can be adjusted according to changes in the design scheme, such as different directions of tension force, different magnitudes of tension force, different dynamic response characteristics of the tensioning system, and different overall stiffness distribution. This includes the following adjustment steps: adjusting the position of the first pulley 122 on the first fixed plate 121; and / or, adjusting the position of the second pulley 132 on the second fixed plate 131; and / or, adjusting the position of the first fixed plate 121; and / or, adjusting the position of the second fixed plate 131; and / or, connecting the tension spring 115 to the first connecting piece at different lengths of the first mooring rope 114; and / or, connecting the tension spring to the second connecting piece at different lengths of the second mooring rope 116; and / or, replacing the first mooring rope 114 with a different specification; and / or, replacing the tension spring 115 with a different specification; and / or, replacing the second mooring rope 116 with a different specification. These steps can be selected and combined as needed.

[0052] The mooring device and method for a tension leg platform water tank test provided by this utility model have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principle and implementation of this utility model. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the core idea of ​​this utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from the principle of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A mooring device (100) for a tension leg platform in a water tank, comprising a platform connecting mechanism (110), a fixing mechanism (120), and a tensioning mechanism (130) connected in sequence, characterized in that, The platform connection mechanism (110) includes a first rotary shackle (111), a tension sensor (112), a second rotary shackle (113), a first mooring cable (114), an elastic component (115), and a second mooring cable (116) connected in sequence; the elastic component (115) is detachably connected to the first mooring cable (114) and the second mooring cable (116) respectively; The fixing mechanism (120) includes a first fixing plate (121) and a first pulley (122) disposed on the first fixing plate (121); The tensioning mechanism (130) includes a second fixed plate (131), a second pulley (132), a cable drum (133), and a servo motor (134). The second pulley (132) is mounted on the second fixed plate (131). The second mooring cable (116) is wound around the first pulley (122) and the second pulley (132) and then connected to the cable drum (133). The output end of the servo motor (134) drives the cable drum (133) to rotate. The first fixing plate (121) and the second fixing plate (131) are detachably connected to the test water tank (200).

2. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a control unit, which is connected to the tension sensor (112) and the servo motor (134).

3. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, The position of the first pulley (122) on the first fixed plate (121) is adjustable.

4. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, The position of the second pulley (132) on the second fixed plate (131) is adjustable.

5. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first mooring cable (114) is provided with a first connector at different lengths, and the first connector is connected to the elastic component (115).

6. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second mooring cable (116) is provided with a second connector at different lengths, and the second connector is connected to the elastic component (115).

7. The mooring device for a tension leg platform water tank test according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic component (115) is a tension spring.

Images