Floating Marine Platform Assembly for Precise Remote Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of large floating marine platforms for offshore wind turbines is inefficient and costly due to the need for precise alignment of components, thermal expansion issues, and the scarcity of large shipyards, making it difficult to economically support larger wind farms.
Innovation Solution
A method using templates to manufacture floating marine platforms by aligning and assembling components at different temperatures, allowing for precise alignment and assembly at remote locations, reducing the need for highly accurate tools and minimizing thermal expansion impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If prefabricated parts are welded together at a final assembly site, then the structural strength is improved, but the manufacturing time and cost increase due to adjustments and inspections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling the floating platform components at a shipyard location before final deployment. The platform is constructed in a controlled environment with all necessary adjustments made in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site welding adjustments and inspections at the final assembly location.
2Manufacturing precision
If flanges are aligned with high accuracy (1mm tolerance) to connect components, then the connection precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing all precise alignment and assembly operations at the shipyard before the platform is transported to its final location. The flanges and connection points are precisely positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for complex high-precision alignment tools and procedures at the final assembly site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses templates as physical copies or patterns to guide the positioning and alignment of components during assembly. These templates ensure consistent and accurate placement of flanges and connection points without requiring expensive laser-based measurement tools at the final assembly location.
3Device complexity
If thermal expansion or contraction is not corrected in dimensional survey, then the assembly process is simplified, but the risk of parts not fitting properly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting all assembly operations while the platform components are at controlled temperatures at the shipyard. Thermal expansion and contraction are accounted for in advance during the assembly process, ensuring parts fit correctly without requiring complex real-time thermal compensation procedures at the final assembly location.
4Quantity of substance
If large floating platforms are manufactured at distant shipyards and transported to wind farm sites, then the manufacturing capacity is sufficient, but the transportation cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the floating platform into smaller, modular components that can be manufactured at standard shipyards. These segmented components are then transported to the final assembly location where they are connected using the template-guided assembly method, reducing transportation time and costs while maintaining the ability to construct large-scale platforms.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of larger floating marine platforms by allowing assembly at varied locations, ensuring precise component fit and reducing the reliance on scarce large shipyards.
Implementation Method 1
Additionally, thermal expansion or contraction of the parts may compromise their ability to be assembled, unless a correction is made in the dimensional survey to account for estimated thermal growth or contraction.
Data Source
AI summary
A floating marine platform and a method for manufacturing a floating marine platform by means of templates are provided. The floating marine platform comprises a central column, multiple peripheral columns circumferentially around the central column, and radially extending outriggers from the central column that connect the peripheral columns with the central column. The templates comprise an inner outrigger template, an outer outrigger template, a central column template and a peripheral column template. On a first location under a first temperature a first pair with the inner outrigger template and the central column template is formed, and on a second location under a second temperature a second pair with the outer outrigger template and the peripheral column template is formed. Subsequently the central column, the peripheral columns and the outriggers are formed by means of the templates, under different temperatures.