Floating Offshore Structure Cable Isolation After Anchor Break Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Floating offshore structures face the risk of anchor connections breaking, leading to snapped live submarine power cables and potential safety hazards due to high currents and voltages, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A floating offshore structure equipped with a detection arrangement to identify anchor connection failures and a switching device to immediately disconnect the electrical connection to the submarine power cable upon detection, preventing anchor connection breakage and avoiding short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If floating offshore structures are used to enable installation in deep water areas, then installation capability in deep water is improved, but the risk of anchor connection breaking increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation capability in deep waterVSAvoidanchor connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection arrangement continuously monitors anchor connection status before failure occurs, enabling early detection of loosening or damage. The switching device is pre-configured to automatically disconnect power cables upon detecting anchor failure, preventing catastrophic failures before they happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection arrangement provides real-time feedback on anchor connection status to the control system. When anchor connection parameters (tension, position, integrity) fall outside acceptable ranges, the system receives feedback signals and triggers the switching device to disconnect power cables, closing the control loop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If anchor connections are made more robust to prevent breaking, then anchor connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor connection reliabilityVSAvoidanchoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection arrangement acts as an intermediary between the anchor connection and the control system. Instead of making anchor connections themselves more complex, sensors and detection devices monitor their status and transmit information to the switching device, which then takes protective action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical reinforcement of anchor connections with an automated detection and control system. Rather than using more robust mechanical anchor designs, the system uses sensors, signal processing, and automated switching to prevent cable damage from anchor failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of anchor connections is implemented, then detection capability is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor connection failure detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of monitoring system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The detection arrangement performs monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuous high-power operation. The system can switch between active sensing modes at regular intervals, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection capability for anchor connection status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors only critical parameters of anchor connections (tension, position, integrity) rather than all possible variables. This partial monitoring approach achieves sufficient detection capability with reduced energy consumption compared to comprehensive monitoring of all system parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4511283B1Floating offshore structure

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 RWE OFFSHORE WIND GMBH

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AI summary

The application relates to a floating offshore structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), comprising at least one submarine power cable connection point (106, 606) designed for connecting a submarine power cable (116, 616), at least one anchor connection point (114, 314, 414, 514, 614) designed for connecting at least one anchor connection (122, 322, 422, 522, 622) for anchoring the floating offshore structure (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) to subaquatic floor, at least one detection assembly (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608) designed to detect an anchor connection break indication, and at least one switching device (112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612) designed to at least electrically disconnect the electrical connection to the submarine power cable (116, 616) connected to the submarine power cable connection point (106, 606) upon or after detection of an anchor connection break indication.