Reusable Offshore Installation Template for Monopile Orientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore installation templates for monopiles are not suitable for uneven seabeds and are prone to installing monopiles at undesirable angles due to water currents and vessel movements, leading to difficulties in vertical installation.
Innovation Solution
An offshore installation template with adjustable positioning members and spherical hinge elements that reorient the sleeve direction based on applied forces, ensuring vertical installation of monopiles, even on uneven seabeds, and includes hydraulic cylinders for damping movements and modular design for adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed template is used on uneven seabeds, then the template structure is simple, but the monopile installation orientation becomes non-vertical
Solution Approach 1:
The template employs dynamic positioning members that can adjust their length in response to applied forces from uneven seabeds, water currents, and vessel movements. This allows the template to adapt its configuration real-time, maintaining vertical monopile installation orientation despite changing environmental conditions and seabed topography.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning members utilize hydraulic cylinders that change their operational parameters (pressure, extension length) based on detected force thresholds. When forces exceed predetermined thresholds, the system activates positioning members to adjust the sleeve orientation, thereby maintaining precise vertical installation orientation through parameter-based adaptive control.
2Manufacturing precision
If positioning members are added to adjust sleeve orientation, then the monopile installation orientation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The template system incorporates force sensors that automatically detect when applied forces exceed predetermined thresholds, triggering the positioning members to activate without external intervention. This self-monitoring and self-adjusting mechanism maintains precise monopile orientation while minimizing the need for complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs force sensors that continuously monitor forces applied to the template and provide feedback to the control system. When forces exceed predetermined thresholds, the feedback loop activates the positioning members to correct the sleeve orientation, ensuring continuous maintenance of vertical monopile installation orientation through closed-loop control.
3Productivity
If the template is designed for reuse, then the economic efficiency improves, but the adaptability to different seabed conditions requires more complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The template is designed as a universal system that can operate on various seabed conditions through its adjustable positioning members. The same template structure can adapt to different seabed topographies, water current conditions, and vessel movement patterns, making it a multi-functional solution that eliminates the need for multiple specialized templates while maintaining high adaptability.
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 template ensures vertical installation of monopiles by dynamically adjusting to forces from water currents and vessel movements, maintaining stability and reducing the risk of non-vertical installations, while allowing for reuse and adaptability to different seabed conditions.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic cylinders for damping movements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a reusable offshore installation template for the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations, in particular monopiles. The template comprises a sleeve 100 adapted to receive the monopile and guide it in the sleeve direction through the sleeve, and a support assembly (300) comprising a base (310) defining a landing surface and a support frame (320) extending from the base. The installation template is adapted to reorient the sleeve direction S relative to the landing plane of the base based on a force applied to the sleeve.