Floating Intervention Platform Position Compensation Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind farms in deeper waters face challenges in installation and maintenance due to harsh offshore conditions such as winds, currents, and swell, which affect the stability of equipment and require new operating and maintenance strategies.
Innovation Solution
An offshore floating intervention platform equipped with a position compensation device that adjusts for local vertical displacements between the intervention platform and the floating wind turbine platform, ensuring stable and precise operations during docking and intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a floating base platform is used to access deeper water wind turbines, then operational reach to deep water resources is improved, but operational stability under harsh offshore conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intervention platform as an intermediary vehicle between the shore/base and the wind turbine. This platform serves as a stable intermediate base that can dock with the floating wind turbine, allowing equipment to be transferred and operations to be conducted from a more stable platform rather than directly from the motion-prone floating base.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a floating base for reach, an intervention platform for stability, and equipment carriers for specific tasks. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function - the floating base provides access to deep water while the intervention platform provides a stable working environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If equipment is carried on a floating wind turbine platform subjected to winds, currents, and swell, then access to deep water wind resources is achieved, but equipment stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intervention platform acts as an intermediary that receives equipment from the floating base and provides a stable platform for equipment operation. Equipment is transferred to this intermediate platform which dampens the effects of waves and motion, thereby improving reliability while maintaining access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intervention platform provides beforehand cushioning against the harsh offshore conditions by serving as a motion-dampening intermediate platform. Equipment is positioned on this platform before operations begin, protecting it from the full impact of waves and motion throughout the intervention process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional fixed base platforms are used for installation and maintenance, then operational stability is maintained, but applicability to deep water locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed base platform to a dynamic floating base combined with a stable intervention platform. The floating base adapts to deep water conditions while the intervention platform maintains stability during operations, combining the advantages of both fixed and floating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the functions of reaching deep water (floating base) and providing stable operations (intervention platform), whereas conventional systems combine both functions in a single fixed structure. This segmentation enables deep water access while maintaining operational stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The intervention platform comprises at least a wind turbine equipment lifting tower, having at least a lifting unit comprising: a mast, a wind turbine equipment elevator configured to vertically move along the mast between a lower loading/unloading position and at least an upper intervention position and a lifting actuator, configured to move the wind turbine equipment elevator between the lower unloading/loading position and the upper intervention position. The lifting unit comprises at least a position compensation device configured to be activated in the loading/unloading position and/or in the intervention position to compensate local vertical displacements between the intervention platform and the wind turbine platform when the intervention platform is docked to the wind turbine platform.