Floating Vessel Crane Motion Compensation for Deep Water Wind Turbine Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind turbine installations in deep water are hindered by the instability of floating installation vessels, which are affected by multiple degrees of freedom, making precise alignment and hoisting of heavy components challenging, especially in poor weather conditions and deep water environments where jackup vessels are impractical.
Innovation Solution
A lifting assembly supported by a floating installation vessel, equipped with sensors and a controller to adjust the position of the suspended load relative to the wind turbine assembly, using markers and cameras to detect and compensate for vessel and wind turbine motions, ensuring precise and controlled movement of components during installation or maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a jackup vessel is used for offshore wind turbine installation, then the vessel can provide a stable base for crane operations, but the vessel cannot operate in deep water where the seabed is too far for the legs to reach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static jackup vessel (fixed legs on seabed) to a dynamic floating vessel system that actively compensates for motion. The control system continuously adjusts crane operations based on real-time motion data from sensors, enabling stable lifting operations despite the vessel's natural floating movements in deep water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback control by using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, wave radar) to continuously monitor vessel motion and feeding this data back to the control system. The controller processes this information and automatically adjusts crane boom angle, hoisting speed, and load position to compensate for vessel movements, maintaining alignment between the suspended load and target.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a floating installation vessel is used in deep water, then the vessel can access remote offshore sites, but the vessel experiences multiple degrees of freedom motion that complicates precise alignment and hoisting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated control system. Instead of relying on operator skill to manually adjust crane operations during vessel motion, the system uses sensors and controllers to automatically calculate and execute alignment corrections, significantly improving precision and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters (boom angle, hoisting speed, load position) in real-time based on measured vessel motion parameters. The control system processes motion data and continuously adjusts these parameters to maintain optimal alignment between the suspended load and the target on the wind turbine structure.
3Device complexity
If traditional lifting methods are used without motion compensation, then the equipment is simpler, but the installation procedure is significantly prolonged due to alignment difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary motion measurement and prediction before critical alignment operations. Sensors continuously monitor vessel motion and the control system predicts future positions, allowing proactive adjustment of crane operations to maintain alignment throughout the lifting process rather than reacting to misalignment after it occurs.
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
This method significantly reduces the duration and enhances the safety of component lifting maneuvers by accounting for vessel and wind turbine motions, allowing for precise alignment and stable operation even in adverse conditions, making it suitable for deep water installations beyond the reach of traditional jackup vessels.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor arrangement 2, in this case the sensor arrangement 2 comprises a motion tracking assembly with one or more cameras 21 and various markers 20 attached at appropriate points on the floating installation vessel 3
Implementation Method 2
a controller 4 realised to control elements of the lifting assembly 10 on the basis of the sensed installation vessel motion to adjust the position of the suspended load relative to the wind turbine assembly 5
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes an offshore wind turbine installation arrangement (1, 2, 3, 4), comprising a lifting assembly (1) realized to hoist a suspended load (L) between a floating installation vessel (3) and a wind turbine assembly (5), which lifting assembly (1) comprises a crane (10) supported by the floating installation vessel (3); a sensor arrangement (2) realized to sense at least a motion (RX, RY, RZ; V) of the floating installation vessel (3); and a controller (4) realized to control elements (12A, 13A, 151A, 152A) of the lifting assembly (1) on the basis of the sensed installation vessel motion (RX, RY, RZ; V) to adjust the position of the suspended load (L) relative to the wind turbine assembly (5). The invention further describes a method of hoisting a load (L) between a floating installation vessel (3) and an offshore wind turbine assembly (5).