Mooring Buoy Power Control for Cable Tension Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mooring buoy systems face issues with energy inefficiency and environmental impact due to the need for gensets to operate when vessels are moored, and existing solutions either damage cables or require impractical dynamic positioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A mooring buoy system with a floating body, anchoring lines, a mooring line, and an electric cable connected to an external power supply, featuring a controller and sensors to manage cable tension and power distribution, ensuring efficient energy use and reducing emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed electric cable is used to supply power to a moored vessel, then power can be transmitted reliably, but the cable will be damaged when the vessel moves or turns due to wind shear or sea currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a dynamic positioning system that actively controls the vessel's position and orientation relative to the mooring buoy. The system uses thrusters and propulsion systems to maintain the vessel in a stable position, preventing excessive cable tension and movement that would damage the electric cable. This dynamic control allows reliable power transmission while protecting the cable from mechanical damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mooring buoy as an intermediary element between the shore-based power supply and the vessel. The buoy serves as a floating platform that receives electric cables from the shore and provides connection points for vessel mooring. This intermediary structure absorbs and distributes mechanical stresses, protecting the electric cable from direct damage while enabling power transmission.
2Reliability
If a dynamic positioning system is used to maintain vessel position during power transfer, then cable damage is prevented, but fuel consumption increases due to thruster operation
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic positioning system operates periodically rather than continuously, adjusting the vessel's position as needed to maintain cable safety margins. The system monitors cable tension and environmental conditions, activating thrusters only when corrections are necessary, thereby reducing overall fuel consumption while maintaining cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring vessel position, cable tension, and environmental conditions (wind, currents). Based on this feedback, the dynamic positioning system makes precise adjustments to maintain optimal positioning, minimizing unnecessary thruster operation and fuel consumption while ensuring cable safety.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the vessel is moored close to shore in a low emissions zone, then emissions are reduced, but the vessel still consumes fuel operating gensets for hotel load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power generation function from the vessel by providing shore-based power supply through the mooring buoy. The vessel's gensets are taken out of service during mooring operations, and the hotel load is supplied externally through the electric cable connection. This eliminates the vessel's fuel consumption and emissions during mooring while maintaining all necessary power functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A mooring buoy (100) for a vessel (402) comprises a floating body (102) and at least one anchoring line (108, 110, 112) connected between the floating body and the sea floor (200). At least one mooring line (126) and electric cable (118) are arranged to be coupled between the mooring buoy and the vessel. At least one mooring buoy circuit switch (508) is electrically connected to the at least one electric cable and configured to deenergise power to the at least one electric cable. A controller (500) has a processing unit and is arranged to selectively control the at least one mooring buoy circuit switch. The controller is configured to actuate the mooring buoy circuit switch in response to a received condition signal from at least one sensor and deenergise the at least one electric cable.