Adjustable-Ballast Spar Platform for Wave Resonance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating offshore wind turbines experience large wave-induced motions that make installation and maintenance challenging, particularly in open seas, due to resonance with natural periods of the structure, limiting their deployment to sheltered waters.
Innovation Solution
A spar platform design with adjustable ballast tanks, where a higher tank is connected to a lower tank via a flow regulating device, allowing control of the center of gravity and natural periods in pitch and roll by distributing ballast, reducing wave-induced motions through adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed offshore wind turbine design is used, then structural stability is ensured, but adaptability to different water depths and locations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into multiple modular units including floating units, connection units, and platform units that can be assembled in different configurations. Each module can be independently manufactured and then combined to create platforms suitable for various water depths and operational requirements, thereby achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection units serve multiple functions by providing both mechanical connection between floating units and platform units, and by enabling adjustable positioning to accommodate different water depths. This multi-functionality allows a single standardized component to address multiple requirements, improving adaptability while controlling complexity through component reuse.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional fixed platforms are used in deep water, then installation simplicity is maintained, but economic feasibility deteriorates due to high installation costs
Solution Approach 1:
The floating platform utilizes buoyancy forces to support itself and the wind turbine, eliminating the need for complex foundation installation procedures required by fixed platforms in deep water. The modular design allows for simplified assembly operations where units can be connected using standardized procedures, maintaining installation simplicity while achieving economic feasibility through reduced installation complexity and standardized manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular floating platform units are used, then adaptability to different water depths is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into multiple modular units including floating units, connection units, and platform units that can be assembled in different configurations. Each module can be independently manufactured and then combined to create platforms suitable for various water depths and operational requirements, thereby achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform configuration can be adjusted by changing the number of floating units, the arrangement of connection units, and the positioning of platform units. These parameter changes allow the same modular components to be adapted to different water depths and operational requirements without requiring fundamentally different structural designs, thus managing complexity 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
Enables installation and maintenance of wind turbines in rough waters by controlling the natural periods of the spar platform, reducing wave-induced motions and stabilizing the structure for safer operations.
Implementation Method 1
A spar platform for a floating offshore wind turbine comprises a number of modular floating platform units, a number of modular connection units and a number of modular platform units. The modular floating platform units may be used to create spar platforms of different lengths, widths and heights.
Implementation Method 2
The number of modular floating platform units, the number of modular connection units and the number of modular platform units may be selected based on desired lengths, widths and heights of the spar platform.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
A floating spar platform 7 for supporting an offshore wind turbine comprises at least one first ballast tank 15 for holding adjustable ballast and at least one second ballast tank 16 for holding adjustable ballast. The second ballast tank 16 is arranged vertically higher than the first ballast tank 15, allowing a vertical distance between the bottom of the spar platform 7 and the centre of centre of gravity 31 of the spar platform 7 to be controlled by adjusting the amount of ballast held within the first and/or second ballast tanks 15, 16. This provides for control over the resonant response of the floating spar platform 7. During installation of a wind turbine on the floating spar platform 7, ballast associated with the spar platform may be adjusted in order to increase the vertical distance between the bottom of the spar platform 7 and the centre of gravity 31 of the spar platform 7, which reduces wave-induced resonant motions of the spar platform 7.