Buoyant Pile Plug Structure for Low-Force Sea Tow Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sea foundation pile transport caps lack independent buoyancy, preventing simultaneous towing of multiple piles and requiring significant forces for installation due to their weight and size.
Innovation Solution
A pile plug with independent buoyancy, featuring a rigid skeleton and flexible sheathing with pneumatic valves, along with an installation cradle and towing set that allows for low-force cap placement and simultaneous towing of multiple piles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional transport caps without independent buoyancy are used, then the pile can be hermetically sealed during towing, but multiple piles cannot be towed simultaneously and significant forces are required for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The transport cap is equipped with independent buoyancy elements (floatation chambers) that provide upward buoyant force to counteract the weight of the cap itself. This allows the cap to be self-supporting in water, eliminating the need for heavy towing vessels and reducing installation forces. The buoyancy is achieved through sealed chambers filled with air or other gases, creating a counterbalancing force against gravity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport cap with independent buoyancy is self-supporting and can be towed without requiring external assistance from heavy vessels. The cap itself provides the necessary buoyancy to remain afloat and stable during towing operations, making the system self-sufficient and enabling multiple caps to be towed simultaneously on a single vessel.
2Reliability
If large-sized transport caps are used to seal large piles, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but the caps cannot fit on the deck of the tug boat for return transport
Solution Approach 1:
The independent buoyancy allows large transport caps to be supported by water during return transport, eliminating the constraint of deck space on tug boats. The caps can be towed behind the vessel or positioned in the water without requiring physical placement on the deck, as the buoyant force supports their weight and prevents sinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The water environment acts as an intermediary medium that supports the large transport caps during return transport. Instead of requiring the caps to be placed on the deck, they are towed through the water where buoyancy provides support, allowing easy transport regardless of cap size while maintaining hermetic sealing.
3Productivity
If multiple tug boats are used to tow multiple piles simultaneously, then productivity increases, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple transport caps with independent buoyancy are combined into a single towing system. The caps can be towed simultaneously behind one tug boat or positioned on a single pontoon, merging what would have required multiple separate towing operations into one consolidated operation. This reduces the number of tug boats needed while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent buoyancy design makes the transport cap a multi-functional element that serves both as a hermetic seal for the pile and as a self-supporting flotation device. This universality allows a single tug boat to handle multiple caps of various sizes, eliminating the need for specialized heavy vessels for each pile and enabling one vessel to perform multiple towing functions simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective towing of multiple sea foundation piles by reducing the need for multiple tug boats and minimizing installation forces, enhancing safety and reducing offshore wind farm construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
flexible sheathing (3) at least on the side surface of the plug body, while the flexible sheathing constitutes an airtight container equipped with pneumatic valves (4)
Implementation Method 2
A pile plug (1) with independent buoyancy and high displacement
Data Source
AI summary
The pile plug (1) has independent buoyancy, high displacement and a rigid structure of the skeleton (2) and a flexible sheath (3) at least on the side surface of the plug body, while the flexible sheath constitutes an airtight container equipped with pneumatic valves (4). The sheathing material (3) of the plug (1) can be made of a material with a high friction coefficient in relation to the pile material selected from the group: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane. Inside the cap (1) there is a pile venting pipe (14) closed with a pile venting valve (15), which connects the space inside the pile with the surroundings. Preferably, the cap (1) has a ballast load (16) internally for positioning the plug with respect to the pile and for balancing the cap horizontally and also preventing unfavourable rotation of the pile.