Star-Shaped Cabling for Floating Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind farms with floating single-point mooring turbines face challenges in material and labor costs due to the need for thick, rigid cables and multiple switchgear, which hinder the floating properties and durability of the turbines.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a star-shaped cabling topology where each wind turbine connects directly to a collection station with its own submarine cable, reducing overall cable length and eliminating the need for multiple switchgear, allowing for thinner, more flexible cables and simplified installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If ring cabling or line topology is used to connect offshore wind turbines, then power transmission capability is improved, but cable thickness and rigidity increase, which impairs floating properties and self-alignment of floating wind turbines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power transmission system into multiple independent star-shaped networks, each serving a specific group of wind turbines. Instead of using a single thick cable to transmit aggregate power from all turbines, each turbine connects individually to the collection station through separate cables, segmenting the power transmission paths and reducing the required thickness and rigidity of each individual cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional ring or line topologies to a three-dimensional star-shaped configuration where cables radiate from the collection station to multiple turbines. This spatial reconfiguration allows for more direct, shorter cable paths and enables the use of thinner, more flexible cables while maintaining adequate power transmission capability.
2Power
If thick, rigid cables are used to transmit combined power from multiple turbines, then power transmission capability is improved, but installation complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power transmission system into multiple independent star-shaped networks, with each turbine connected individually to the collection station. This segmentation allows for the use of thinner, more manageable cables that are easier to install and maneuver, reducing installation complexity while maintaining adequate power transmission capability through the combined effect of multiple parallel connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The star-shaped topology provides dynamic flexibility in system configuration and expansion. Individual cable connections can be independently installed, removed, or replaced without affecting other parts of the system, enabling more adaptable and less complex installation processes compared to rigid ring or line topologies.
3Reliability
If multiple switchgear units are installed at each turbine for ring or line topology, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switching and control functions into the centralized collection station rather than distributing multiple switchgear units at each turbine. The star-shaped topology allows all cable connections to converge at the collection station, consolidating the switching infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through centralized control and monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection station serves as a universal hub that handles power reception, switching, and distribution functions for all connected turbines. This multi-functional centralized facility replaces the need for multiple specialized switchgear units at each turbine, reducing device complexity while preserving system reliability through the collection station's comprehensive control capabilities.
4Power
If floating wind turbines are connected with heavy submarine cables, then power transmission capability is improved, but the floating properties and self-alignment of turbines are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power transmission into multiple individual turbine-to-collection-station connections rather than using a single heavy cable system. Each individual cable carries only the power from one turbine, allowing for the use of lighter, more flexible cables that do not significantly impact the floating properties and self-alignment of the turbines, while the aggregate power transmission capability remains adequate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cable parameter from thick and rigid to thin and flexible by reconfiguring the topology. The star-shaped arrangement allows each cable to be optimized for flexibility and lightness since each cable serves only one turbine, fundamentally changing the cable specification parameters from heavy-duty transmission cables to lighter, more flexible connectors that preserve turbine floating characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Offshore wind farm (100) comprising a plurality of floating single-point mooring wind turbines (10) arranged within tessellated sub-areas (40) and a collection station (20) connected to the floating single-point mooring wind turbines (10) and connected to a power grid by means of a transmission line (220), characterized in that at least a subset of the floating single-point mooring wind turbines (10) is directly connected to the collection station (20) by its own submarine cable (30) in a star-shaped power grid, wherein the sum of the lengths of the direct connections between the floating single-point mooring wind turbines (10) and the collection station (20) is less than the length of an imaginary line connecting the collection station (20) and the floating single-point mooring wind turbines (10).