Active Mooring Damper Control for Floating Anchor Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anchoring devices, such as ropes and mooring springs, are difficult to adjust, leading to unwanted movement of floating objects relative to anchor structures, causing potential damage and are affected by varying stiffness and damping due to weather conditions, aging, and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
An anchoring device with adjustable attachments and a damping member that includes a sliding piston, damper, and control unit to manage oscillatory motion, using a kinematic mechanism and electric damper to adapt damping based on wave motion, with a control system for predicting future oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional ropes and mooring springs are used for anchoring, then the device structure is simple, but the device is difficult to adjust and allows considerable movement of the floating object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by implementing an actively controlled damping system that can adjust its characteristics in real-time. The control unit modifies the damping coefficient based on measured oscillation parameters, transforming a static anchoring system into a dynamic one that adapts to changing sea conditions. This resolves the contradiction by providing adjustability (improving ease of operation) through controlled dynamics while maintaining a manageable device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to measure oscillation parameters and feeding this information back to the control unit, which then adjusts the damping force accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables precise adjustment of the anchoring characteristics, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation (through automatic adjustment) and device complexity (by using intelligent control rather than mechanical adjustment mechanisms).
2Reliability
If constant stiffness and damping features are used in anchoring devices, then the device structure is simple, but the device performance varies with weather conditions, aging, and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors oscillation parameters and adjusts damping forces to maintain consistent performance. This active compensation counteracts the effects of weather conditions, aging, and corrosion by adapting the system's response in real-time, thereby ensuring reliability without requiring the physical components to maintain constant properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the damping parameter dynamically based on measured oscillation characteristics. By adjusting the damping coefficient according to actual sea conditions and system state, the system maintains optimal performance consistency regardless of external factors like weather changes, aging, or corrosion that would otherwise require complex protective structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If actively controlled damping systems are implemented, then adjustability and performance consistency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically measuring its own oscillation parameters and adjusting its damping characteristics without external intervention. The control unit uses feedback from sensors to autonomously optimize performance, providing adaptability to various sea conditions while minimizing the complexity of manual control systems or external adjustment mechanisms.
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 device provides stable anchoring by adjusting to sea conditions, minimizing unwanted movement, and optimizing energy production while ensuring smooth operation across varying weather and environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
a damping member (4) allowing said relative motion between said attachments (2, 3) by defining a sliding axis (4a) between said attachments (2, 3), in particular by varying its length along said axis (4a)
Data Source
AI summary
An anchoring device for anchoring a floating object to an anchor structure, including a first attachment for being constrained to the floating object; a second attachment for being constrained to the anchor structure; a damping member for damping the relative motion between the attachments for securing the first attachment to the second attachment and including a sliding chamber, a piston for sliding in the sliding chamber according to a relative motion between the attachments and a damper for damping the sliding of the piston in the sliding chamber; and a control unit including a measurement sensor for measuring the sliding of the piston; and a control board for varying the damping of the damper according to the sliding of the piston detected by the measurement sensor.