Pile Guiding Hydraulic Control for Heave-Tolerant Monopile Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pile guiding devices for monopiles, especially when used with floating vessels, struggle to maintain vertical accuracy and stability during installation due to sea-state induced heave motion, particularly when dealing with non-uniform cylindrical sections like tapered portions of the monopile.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a sphincter control circuit in the hydraulic system of the pile guiding device, which operates the hydraulic cylinders to maintain symmetrical engagement with the tapered section of the monopile by using an accumulator to provide continuous hydraulic pressure, ensuring the pile engaging members stay in contact and symmetrically adjust to heave motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a floating vessel is used to install monopiles, then the installation can proceed without time-consuming leg extension, but the vessel hull is subject to sea-state induced heave motion that compromises vertical alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the position of pile engaging devices and adjusts hydraulic cylinder operations in real-time to compensate for heave motion, maintaining vertical alignment accuracy despite vessel movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the engagement force and position parameters of the pile engaging devices based on detected heave motion, allowing the monopile to remain vertically aligned while the vessel moves
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pile engaging members are made loose to accommodate heave motion, then the device becomes more tolerant of vessel motion, but the pile cannot be kept centered on the center axis
Solution Approach 1:
The pile engaging devices are made dynamically adjustable through hydraulic cylinders, allowing them to move radially to accommodate heave motion while maintaining symmetric engagement and centering through active control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from position sensors to continuously adjust the engagement force and position of pile engaging devices, maintaining both heave tolerance and centering accuracy
3Manufacturing precision
If the pile engaging members are pressed tightly against the monopile to maintain centering, then vertical alignment is improved, but the device becomes sensitive to heave motion and cannot accommodate vessel movement
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinders enable dynamic adjustment of engagement force, allowing the system to press tightly when needed for centering while accommodating heave motion through controlled radial movement of engaging members
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically changes the engagement force parameter based on detected heave motion and centering requirements, pressing tightly to maintain accuracy when stable while allowing movement when heave occurs
4Ease of operation
If the hydraulic system uses only position control for cylindrical sections, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot accommodate the geometric transition at tapered sections during heave motion
Solution Approach 1:
The control system applies different control strategies to different sections of the monopile: position control for cylindrical sections and sphincter control for tapered sections, optimizing performance for each local geometric condition
Solution Approach 2:
The sphincter control circuit pre-pressurizes the hydraulic system with an accumulator before the tapered section engagement, ensuring immediate availability of hydraulic force to accommodate the geometric transition during heave motion
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 sphincter control circuit enhances the device's ability to maintain vertical alignment and stability of the monopile during installation, even in severe sea conditions, thereby improving installation accuracy and expanding the weather window for pile installation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic circuit associated with the pair of first and second hydraulic cylinders
Implementation Method 2
an accumulator that is connected to said third line
Data Source
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AI summary
A heave tolerant pile guiding device for guiding a pile comprising a cylindrical section and above said cylindrical section a tapered section that narrows in upward direction. The device comprises a frame to be mounted to a vessel having a hull subject to sea-state induced motion during installation of a pile. At least one pair of first and second pile engaging devices is arranged on the frame diametrically opposed relative to a center axis. Each pile engaging device comprises a pile engaging member and a hydraulic cylinder to move the member radially relative to the center axis. A hydraulic system comprises a position control circuit and a sphincter control circuit. The sphincter control circuit is configured to operate the pair of first and second hydraulic cylinders in particular when the pile engaging members engage on the tapered section of the pile. The sphincter control circuit a rotary flow divider.