Floating Support Damping Plate with Varying Cross-Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind turbine floating supports with damping plates are not sufficiently resistant due to low thickness and specific shape, which affects their ability to effectively dampen heaving, pitching, and rolling movements.
Innovation Solution
A marine wind turbine with a floating support featuring a damping plate that has a varying horizontal section with depth, a minimum surface area greater than the main float, and a frustoconical shape, providing increased strength and hydrodynamic efficiency, along with notches and/or projections for enhanced structural resistance and damping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the damping plate has low thickness and specific shape, then the device complexity is reduced, but the strength and resistance of the damping plate deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The damping plate employs varying thickness across different zones: thinner at the periphery for hydrodynamic efficiency and damping performance, and thicker at the central root area for structural strength and resistance. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping plate features a frustoconical shape with curved surfaces instead of flat planes. This curvature optimizes hydrodynamic performance while the gradual transition from thin to thick sections provides structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If the damping plate has low thickness, then the manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but the hydrodynamic damping capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The damping plate is designed with peripheral regions of low thickness for optimal hydrodynamic damping and central regions of high thickness for structural integrity. This local differentiation allows the plate to achieve excellent damping performance without requiring uniform thickness throughout, balancing manufacturability with reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the damping plate varies continuously from the periphery to the center, creating a gradient structure. This parameter change optimizes both hydrodynamic performance (thin edges) and structural reliability (thick center) while maintaining ease of manufacture through a systematic design approach.
3Reliability
If the damping plate has a frustoconical shape with varying section, then the hydrodynamic efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical shape with curved surfaces provides superior hydrodynamic efficiency compared to flat plates. The specific half-angle range (15-60 degrees) optimizes the balance between hydrodynamic performance and structural feasibility, achieving reliable damping capability while maintaining reasonable geometric simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping plate geometry is defined by controlled parameter variations (thickness, radius, angle) following a frustoconical profile. This systematic parameter change creates an optimized hydrodynamic shape without arbitrary complexity, as the geometry can be described by a few key parameters within specific ranges.
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 solution enhances the structural resistance and hydrodynamic damping capabilities of the floating support, effectively reducing movements and ensuring stability under wind and wave forces.
Implementation Method 1
The damping plate protrudes from the float to dampen the heave, pitch, and roll movements of the floating support
Implementation Method 2
The damping plate has a variable section with the depth, so as to be efficient from a hydrodynamic point of view
Data Source
Figure 1~3c
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a floating support structure (1) having a main floater (2) and a damping plate (3). The damping plate (3) has a cross-section that varies with depth. Furthermore, the damping plate (3) has a minimum horizontal cross-section Sd1 greater than the horizontal cross-section Sc of the main floater (2).