Self-Elevating Floating Platform for Offshore Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating offshore wind turbine systems face high installation costs and complexity due to increased wind and wave forces, requiring heavy materials and complex control systems, and struggle with transportation limitations and environmental impact, especially in deep water installations.
Innovation Solution
A floating platform with a tower, buoyant outriggers, and an articulated arm that can be assembled and raised into position using a winch system, allowing for natural wind alignment without active control systems, reducing the need for large cranes and specialized ships, and featuring a keel structure for stability, which is scalable to large sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If active control systems with pumps and water ballast are used to provide stability, then stability is improved, but hardware cost and operating cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform uses passive stability through its geometric design and buoyancy distribution, eliminating the need for active control systems. The platform's shape and center of gravity are configured to provide inherent stability without requiring pumps, ballast systems, or other active stabilization hardware.
2Ease of manufacture
If floating wind turbines are transported in upright position, then installation is simplified, but multiple boats or ships are required to provide stability during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform is designed to be transported in a horizontal configuration rather than upright, allowing it to be towed by a single vessel. The platform can then be deployed vertically at the installation site using its own winch system, eliminating the need for multiple stability-providing vessels during transport.
3Manufacturing precision
If large cranes and specialized vessels are used for assembly, then assembly precision is improved, but installation cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform incorporates an integrated winch system that enables self-elevation and self-assembly. The platform can raise itself from horizontal transport position to vertical operational position using its own onboard winch, eliminating the need for external large cranes and specialized assembly vessels.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the floating platform is designed for deep water installations, then application range is improved, but material cost and structural weight increase due to severe wind and wave forces
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform uses a semi-submersible design with adjustable draft and buoyancy distribution that can be optimized for different water depths and sea conditions. This allows the same basic platform design to serve both shallow and deep water installations without requiring completely different structures, controlling weight while maintaining 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
This solution reduces assembly and installation costs, minimizes environmental impact, lowers material costs, and enhances stability during transport and operation, while being applicable to both shallow and deep water installations, and allows for natural wind alignment, optimizing the structure for lighter weights and lower costs.
Implementation Method 1
buoyant outriggers
Implementation Method 2
winch system that supports the tower in a nearly horizontal position during assembly at shore and during transport. The winch and articulated arm elevate the system into its operational position at sea.
Data Source
AI summary
A floating platform comprised of a tower, buoyant outriggers, and an articulated arm can be used in one embodiment to support an offshore wind turbine. The buoyant articulated arm is positioned with a winch system that supports the tower in a nearly horizontal position during assembly at shore and during transport. The winch and articulated arm elevate the system into its operational position at sea. The tower may include a keel structure to reduce motions and stresses on the system. The floating platform may rotate about an area surrounding an anchor system without active wind alignment equipment. The natural alignment with the wind allows for optimization of the structure, resulting in lighter-weight, less material mass and ultimately lower cost. The horizontal transport alleviates clearance restrictions of many bridges. Requiring neither large cranes nor specialized ships during installation, its ability to raise itself is scalable to large sizes lowering cost.