Offshore Crane Extensible Boom Modular Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current offshore wind turbine cranes face challenges in handling heavy components like foundations and nacelles, which require both heavy and tall cranes, and lack versatility for various offshore applications.
Innovation Solution
A crane design featuring a main boom structure with two rigid or modular boom legs of at least 60 meters, an extensible boom structure, and a variable length luffing system, allowing for enhanced reach and adaptability, along with a stay mechanism and locking system for secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a single distal leg design is used, then the crane achieves greater height and reach, but the structural complexity and difficulty of assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The boom is divided into multiple modular sections (proximal portion, intermediate sections, and distal leg) that can be independently manufactured, transported, and assembled. This segmentation allows the crane to achieve great height while maintaining manageable structural complexity through standardized modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic boom sections are nested within each other, with smaller sections fitting inside larger ones. This nested configuration allows the boom to extend to great heights when needed while maintaining a compact form during transport and storage, effectively resolving the contradiction between height achievement and structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed boom length is used, then the crane structure is simpler, but the versatility for different offshore applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The boom incorporates telescopic sections that can dynamically extend and retract to provide variable length configurations. This dynamic capability allows the same crane structure to adapt to different offshore applications requiring different reach distances, from routine maintenance to heavy component installation, without requiring multiple fixed-length booms.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic boom design provides multi-functionality by enabling the crane to perform both routine maintenance tasks with shorter reach and heavy component installation with extended reach using the same structure. This universal design eliminates the need for specialized equipment for different application types.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the crane operates from a vessel positioned at sea level, then mobility is maintained, but the stability required for heavy lift operations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The crane incorporates counterweight mechanisms to balance the heavy loads being lifted, providing stability during operations. The counterweights compensate for the moment created by the load, allowing stable heavy lift operations even when the vessel remains positioned at sea level without requiring jack-up legs to be deployed.
Data Source
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Figure 3a
AI summary
An offshore vessel crane configured for mounting on an offshore vessel, for example for use in the handling of one or more offshore wind turbine components, e.g. for installation and/or maintenance of an offshore wind turbine. The crane comprises a base structure adapted to be mounted on the vessel and a revolving superstructure. The crane a boom that is pivotal up and down. The boom has an extensible boom structure that is slidably mounted between distal sections of the boom legs of a main boom structure, so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position in the direction of the length of the main boom section.