Coaxial Mooring Tensioner for Low-Strain Line Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mooring systems for offshore structures are costly, require complex installation and maintenance, and suffer from increased wear and damage due to bending strain on mooring lines, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective solution.
Innovation Solution
A mooring apparatus with a coaxial arrangement of portions that reduces out-of-plane strain on mooring lines by allowing them to be aligned during tensioning, featuring a line engaging device that adjusts between configurations to manage tension and prevent misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guide is used to direct the mooring line towards the surface for tension adjustment, then the mooring line can be tensioned by a winch on a vessel, but bending strain increases causing wear and damage to the mooring line and apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is made movable relative to the first portion, allowing the system to dynamically adjust the alignment between the mooring line and the apparatus. This dynamic adjustment minimizes bending strain during tensioning operations while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus changes the geometric parameters of the mooring line path by allowing the guide portion to move, thereby altering the angle and curvature through which the line bends. This reduces the bending strain and wear on the mooring line.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of the coupling apparatus is increased to accommodate larger angles for guiding the mooring line, then bending strain is reduced, but cost and weight of the apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the static size of the apparatus, the guide portion is made movable, allowing a compact apparatus to achieve larger effective guiding angles through dynamic repositioning. This reduces bending strain without increasing apparatus weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is divided into separable portions (first portion, guide portion, second portion) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the guide portion to be repositioned to optimize the mooring line angle without requiring a larger overall apparatus structure.
3Force
If winches are installed on each structure to be moored for applying tension, then pre-determined tension can be applied to mooring lines, but cost and installation time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning function is extracted from the moored structure and transferred to a separate vessel. The apparatus on the structure only needs to provide guidance and support, while the winch system remains on the vessel, simplifying the structure's equipment requirements and reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus acts as an intermediary between the mooring line and the vessel's winch system. It provides the necessary guidance and support functions, allowing the vessel to apply tension without requiring complex installation on the moored structure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the guide portion is made movable to reduce bending strain, then wear on the mooring line is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is segmented into movable portions that can move relative to each other. This segmentation enables the guide portion to adjust its position to minimize bending strain and wear, while the modular design keeps the overall complexity manageable through standardized connections.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
An apparatus for mooring a structure, the apparatus comprising a first portion (35) for receiving a portion (15) of a line, such as a mooring line, extending from a structure, a guide portion (40) for guiding a/the portion of a line received by the first portion, the guide portion being movably connected to the first portion and a second portion (45) for connecting or coupling the apparatus to a seabed or a further structure located thereon, the second portion being movably connected to the first portion and/or guide portion.