Floating Hub Mooring Network for Deep-Water Cable Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mooring arrangements for floating wind turbines in deep water are unstable, leading to excessive movement and fatigue in power transfer cables, and the water column becomes congested with mooring lines, increasing the risk of clashes and failures.
Innovation Solution
A floating power-generation group comprising a floating hub anchored to subsea foundations by anchor lines, with power producer units connected mechanically and electrically to the hub via inward and outward mooring lines, and a set of groups connected via subsea energy storage units, sharing subsea foundations and utilizing dry splice connections for umbilicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional mooring arrangements are used in deep water, then the system can be deployed, but stability deteriorates leading to excessive movement and cable fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The mooring system is segmented into multiple independent mooring lines radiating from the hub to different anchor points on the seabed, allowing each line to independently bear load and reducing the impact of movement on any single cable
Solution Approach 2:
The mooring arrangement transitions from shallow-water vertical anchoring to deep-water radial patterning, where anchor points are distributed in a radial pattern around the hub at greater horizontal distances, creating a more stable geometric configuration in the water column
2Productivity
If multiple floating wind turbines are grouped together, then power generation capacity increases, but the water column becomes congested with mooring lines increasing clash risk
Solution Approach 1:
The hub structure serves multiple functions: it acts as the central connection point for power collection, the anchoring reference for mooring lines, and the platform for housing electrical equipment, reducing the need for separate structural elements
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from linear array configurations to radial or clustered arrangements around a central hub, distributing mooring lines in a radial pattern that reduces water column congestion compared to parallel linear configurations
3Ease of manufacture
If straight-line arrays are used for floating wind turbines, then installation is simplified, but stability in deep water deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The array is segmented into multiple independent floating units (hubs with associated turbines) that can be installed and anchored independently, allowing flexible deployment strategies that maintain stability in deep water while preserving installation simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration transitions from one-dimensional straight-line arrays to two-dimensional radial or clustered patterns around central hubs, improving deep-water stability through better geometric distribution while maintaining modular installation procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A floating power-generation group comprises a floating hub such as a spar buoy that is anchored to subsea foundations by anchor lines. Floating power producer units such as wind turbines are connected electrically and mechanically to the hub. The power producer units are each moored by mooring lines. At least one mooring line extends inwardly toward the hub to effect mechanical connection to the hub and at least one other mooring line extends outwardly toward a subsea foundation. The groups are combined as a set whose hubs are connected electrically to each other via subsea energy storage units. Anchor lines of different groups can share subsea foundations. The storage units comprise pumping machinery to expel water from an elongate storage volume and generating machinery to generate electricity from a flow of water entering the storage volume. The pumping machinery can be in deeper water than the generating machinery.