Floating Platform Mooring System with Counterweight Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anchoring systems for floating platforms, such as TLP platforms, face challenges with high tension leading to restricted movement, risk of anchoring line breakage, and uncontrolled pitching and rolling movements, especially during tidal changes and severe storms.
Innovation Solution
The anchoring system comprises a floating platform with at least one pair of anchoring lines, each with a bottom section fixed to the seabed or weights, and a central section attached to a counterweight. The anchoring lines include direct and cross sublines, allowing for sliding on rotary fixing means, which reduces pitch and roll movements while enabling vertical and horizontal movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If high tension is applied to anchoring lines to keep the platform upright and avoid pitching/rolling movements, then the platform stability is improved, but the vertical movement of the platform is blocked and the risk of anchoring line breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tension parameter dynamically by introducing elasticity to the anchoring lines. The lines can adjust their tension level based on tidal changes and platform movement, maintaining sufficient tension for stability while allowing controlled movement to prevent breakage. This is achieved through elastic materials or mechanical tensioning devices that adapt to varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static high-tension anchoring system to a dynamic one where the anchoring lines can adapt their tension and length. The elastic properties allow the system to respond dynamically to tidal variations and platform movements, maintaining stability while preventing excessive stress accumulation that leads to breakage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If anchoring lines with reduced extensibility are used to maintain tension, then the platform remains upright, but the platform cannot move upwards with rising tides causing increased tension and breakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces extensibility as a variable parameter in the anchoring lines, allowing them to change their effective length and tension based on tidal conditions. This enables the platform to move vertically with tides while maintaining adequate tension for stability, resolving the conflict between upright position maintenance and tidal adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring system becomes dynamic rather than static, with lines that can extend and contract in response to tidal changes. This dynamic behavior allows the platform to adapt its vertical position while maintaining stability, eliminating the breakage risk associated with rigid, non-extensible lines.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the number of anchoring lines is increased to prevent breakage, then the platform stability is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the quantity of anchoring lines, the patent changes the quality parameter of the existing lines by introducing elasticity and adaptive tensioning capabilities. This allows a smaller number of lines to provide sufficient stability while adapting to various conditions, reducing system complexity and installation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the anchoring lines themselves - they provide both stability and adaptive movement capability through their elastic properties. This eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms or additional lines, simplifying the overall system while maintaining stability.
4Reliability
If the platform is allowed to move vertically and laterally to accommodate tides and waves, then the anchoring line tension is reduced, but pitching and rolling movements increase making the platform unsuitable for certain applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the tension parameter of the anchoring lines to find an optimal balance - sufficient tension to prevent excessive pitching and rolling, but not so high as to block vertical movement or cause breakage. The elastic properties allow continuous adjustment of this parameter based on sea conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the effective tension and stiffness of the anchoring lines in response to different sea states. During calm periods, the lines allow more movement; during storms, they provide greater stabilizing force. This dynamic behavior maintains platform suitability for various applications while preventing breakage across different conditions.
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 reduces or eliminates pitching and rolling movements, allows for vertical and restricted horizontal movements, and simplifies the mechanical design by eliminating central pulleys, thus enhancing stability and reducing the risk of anchoring line breakage.
Implementation Method 1
The anchoring system object of the present invention comprises a floating platform (for example, to support a wind turbine) and at least one pair of anchoring lines (for example, anchoring cables or anchoring chains)
Implementation Method 2
Each pair of anchoring lines comprises two anchoring lines arranged in a plane passing through a central axis of the floating platform
Data Source
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AI summary
An anchoring system for floating platform which eliminates the pitch and roll movements of the floating platform using anchoring lines (200) attached to the seabed (5), which are supported by several pulleys or rotary fixing means (2, 3) of the floating platform (100) and are all joined in a common counterweight (1) hanging from the floating platform (100). Each anchoring line (200) comprises a direct subline (200d) and a cross subline (200c), which maintain the counterweight (1) always located in correspondence with the central axis (300) of the floating platform (100). It also describes a novel method for installing the floating platform at its destination without the aid of special ships.