Motion-Compensated Pile Holder for Floating Wind Turbine Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing offshore wind turbine piles are time-consuming due to the need to lower and raise jack-up vessels, which are affected by wave-induced motion, especially when handling large and heavy piles in deeper waters.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a wave-induced motion compensated pile holding system that allows piles to be transported and installed horizontally, rotated vertically on a vessel while maintaining stability through active compensation, and lowered into the water without the need to lower vessel legs, using a system with a base frame, support frame, active motion compensation, and a pile holder with rollers and actuators to manage wave-induced motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If jack-up vessels are used to install piles, then stability against wave-induced motion is improved, but installation time increases due to leg lowering and raising operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static jack-up configuration to a dynamic floating configuration with active motion compensation. The vessel remains in floating condition throughout operations, using an active compensation system that dynamically adjusts the pile holder position to counteract wave-induced motions, enabling faster operations without sacrificing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical leg-lowering system is replaced with an active motion compensation system using actuators and sensors. Instead of physically raising and lowering legs to achieve stability, the system uses controlled mechanical compensation to maintain pile holder stability while floating, eliminating time-consuming leg operations.
2Productivity
If piles are handled in floating condition, then installation speed is improved, but wave-induced motion affects precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the position and motion of the pile holder and pile. This feedback is processed by a control system that commands actuators to make real-time adjustments, maintaining precise pile placement despite wave-induced vessel motions. The closed-loop control ensures both speed and precision are achieved simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The active motion compensation system acts as an intermediary between the floating vessel and the pile. It isolates the pile handling operations from wave-induced motions through compensated actuators and positioning mechanisms, allowing precise pile placement while maintaining the benefits of floating operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If pile holder compensates for wave-induced motion, then location precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active motion compensation system is integrated with the existing pile holder structure, combining multiple functions into a unified system. The same actuators and positioning mechanisms serve both pile handling and motion compensation functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high location precision.
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 approach significantly speeds up the installation process by maintaining stability and location precision during pile placement, reducing the impact of wave-induced motion and weight shifts, thus enabling faster and more efficient installation of larger piles.
Implementation Method 1
the pile holder is compensated for wave-induced motion of the vessel to maintain a predetermined X-Y location independent of the wave-induced motion of the vessel
Implementation Method 2
the pile holder engages with a circumference of the pile at a lower side thereof to hold the pile in order to limit movement of the lower side of the pile in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pile
Implementation Method 3
the pile holder engages with a lower end of the pile in order to limit movement of the pile in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pile
Implementation Method 4
lifting an upper end portion of the pile with the lower side in the pile holder thereby rotating the pile from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation about a substantially horizontal rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine in which the piles are transported horizontally, positioned in a pile holder, rotated to a vertical orientation while being held by the pile holder, and subsequently lowered into the water while being held by the pile holder. The installation vessel is in a floating condition, and the pile holder is compensated for wave-induced motion of the vessel to maintain a predetermined X-Y location independent of the wave-induced motion of the vessel. A pile holding system, a pile holder, and a vessel comprising a pile holding system are also disclosed.