Floating Wind Turbine Platform Ballast Redistribution for Tilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating offshore platforms experience tilting due to changing dynamics of water and wind, which can destabilize the platform and affect the efficiency and stability of wind turbines.
Innovation Solution
A ballast distribution system that includes sensors to detect inclination and a controller to redistribute ballast among pontoons or compartments to maintain a desired inclination, using pumps and controllable valves to adjust the platform's balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ballast is redistributed among pontoons to maintain platform leveling, then platform stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors, controllers, and fluid control members
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect platform inclination and feeds this information to a controller that automatically adjusts ballast distribution through fluid control members, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains platform stability dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The platform uses its own sensors and control system to automatically detect and correct its own inclination without external intervention, with the ballast redistribution system serving itself to maintain proper orientation
2Stability of the object's composition
If ballast is dynamically redistributed in response to inclination changes, then platform leveling is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous pump operation
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast redistribution system operates periodically or intermittently based on detected inclination changes rather than continuously, activating pumps only when leveling is required and allowing the platform to maintain its corrected position without continuous energy input
3Measurement precision
If multiple ballast compartments are used within pontoons for fine-tuned control, then platform inclination control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each pontoon is divided into multiple independent ballast compartments that can be controlled separately, allowing fine-tuned adjustment of ballast distribution to achieve precise platform leveling and stable orientation
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
The system effectively maintains the platform within a predefined range of tilt, enhancing stability and efficiency of wind turbines by dynamically balancing the platform in response to environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The ballast distribution system includes fluid control members that are controllable for directing a flow of the ballast within the pontoons
Implementation Method 2
a sensor for generating a signal responsive to an inclination of the floatable structure
Implementation Method 3
a controller in communication with the fluid control members to selectively redistribute the ballast among the pontoons in response to the signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
A floating wind turbine platform is disclosed. The floating wind turbine platform may include a floatable structure having multiple semisubmersible columns: The semisubmersible columns may be interconnected by pontoons, at least some of which may contain a ballast. The floating wind turbine platform may also include a ballast distribution system having a sensor that is usable to detect an inclination of the floatable structure in a body of water. The ballast distribution system can balance the floatable structure in response to a signal from the sensor by operating a pump to distribute the ballast within the pontoons. Distributing the ballast within the pontoons may include selectively adjusting a position of the ballast contained within the internal volume of at least one of the pontoons, or transferring at least some of the ballast between the internal volumes of the pontoons.