Floating Catamaran Wind Turbine Assembly for Offshore Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind turbine installation methods are inefficient and require complex, costly procedures, especially in marine environments, as they often necessitate partial assembly at sea, which increases operational risks and costs.
Innovation Solution
A floating offshore wind turbine apparatus utilizing a catamaran hull with spaced apart gantries or frames, allowing full assembly on land before transport, and deployment using a mooring system for stable offshore installation, enabling efficient and cost-effective installation and operation in various water depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wind turbines are assembled offshore using traditional methods, then installation can be performed in marine environments, but assembly complexity and operational risks increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine is fully assembled on land at a manufacturing facility before being transported to the offshore installation site. The entire assembly process including tower, nacelle, and blades is completed beforehand, eliminating the need for complex offshore assembly operations and reducing operational risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating wind turbine system is divided into transportable modules that can be assembled on land and then transported offshore. The catamaran hull and turbine components are segmented for easier handling and transport, then integrated at the installation site.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional offshore installation methods are used, then wind turbines can be installed in marine environments, but installation costs and operational risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Complete assembly and commissioning of the wind turbine occurs on land in a controlled environment, eliminating exposure to marine operational risks during assembly. The fully assembled turbine is then transported to the offshore site as a complete unit.
Solution Approach 2:
A floating catamaran platform serves as an intermediary transport vehicle, carrying the assembled turbine from land-based manufacturing to the offshore installation site. This mediator enables transition from land-based assembly to offshore operation without requiring complex offshore assembly capabilities.
3Device complexity
If wind turbines are fully assembled on land, then assembly complexity is reduced, but transport and deployment capabilities must be enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a floating catamaran platform and the wind turbine components, allowing the turbine to be assembled on land and then transported via the floating platform to the offshore site. This segmentation enables land-based assembly while maintaining offshore deployment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating catamaran platform provides variable draft and buoyancy characteristics that enable it to operate in diverse water depths. The platform can be configured for different transport and deployment scenarios, changing its operational parameters to match site-specific requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex offshore assembly procedures are used, then installation can be performed in various water depths, but installation time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine is completely assembled and commissioned on land before transport, eliminating time-consuming offshore assembly operations. This preliminary action on land significantly improves installation efficiency while the floating platform enables deployment in various water depths.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating catamaran platform's draft and buoyancy characteristics can be adjusted to accommodate different water depths, providing adaptability across various offshore sites without requiring complex installation procedures at each location.
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 complete assembly and commissioning of wind turbines on land, reducing installation complexity and costs, and provides stable operation in diverse water depths, optimizing performance and decommissioning processes.
Implementation Method 1
a floating offshore wind turbine apparatus having a base that includes a catamaran hull
Implementation Method 2
deployment using a mooring system for stable offshore installation
Data Source
AI summary
An offshore floating wind turbine apparatus provides a pair of spaced apart hull sections with a space between the hull sections. One or more gantries each connect to the hull sections. The one or more gantries are spaced apart and connected to the hull sections with pivotal or universal joint connections. A wind turbine tower has upper and lower end portions. The wind turbine tower has a lower end portion with a base that is mounted to one of the gantries. The tower upper end portion has a rotor, hub, nacelle, and blades. A mooring system preferably holds the hull sections on a desired offshore marine location.