Submerged Equipment Deployment Coupling Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying and retrieving submerged power generating devices, such as buoyant water current turbines, is hazardous and costly due to the need for complex subsea operations and the inefficiency of winch-based deployment methods, which require heavy lifting equipment and complicate the recovery of winch devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a coupling device that engages with a support structure's engagement plate via a winch tether, allowing passive engagement and disengagement, enabling efficient deployment and retrieval of buoyant equipment by leveraging the tension in the tether and gravity, simplifying the attachment and detachment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a winch-based technique is used to deploy the buoyant power generating device, then the device can be pulled towards the support structure, but the winch device cannot be recovered without heavy lifting equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is divided into two distinct portions: a first portion that remains attached to the support structure and a second portion that is detached and allows the winch device to be recovered. This segmentation enables the deployment function to be maintained while the recovery function is simplified, as the winch device can be retrieved by simply collecting the detached second portion of the tether without requiring heavy lifting equipment.
2Productivity
If the winch tether is attached to the support structure, then the power generating device can be deployed, but the tether cannot be recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The second portion of the tether is extracted from the permanent attachment to the support structure. This portion is designed to be detached during deployment, allowing it to be recovered and reused. The extraction of this tether portion eliminates the need for complex tether recovery operations while maintaining the deployment functionality through the first portion that remains attached.
3Reliability
If heavy lifting equipment is used to retrieve the winch device, then the winch device can be recovered, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tether system is designed to serve itself during the recovery operation. The detached second portion of the tether acts as a guide and retrieval mechanism, allowing the winch device to be recovered simply by collecting the tether portion. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external heavy lifting equipment, reducing both cost and complexity while maintaining reliable recovery.
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 approach simplifies the deployment and retrieval of submerged power generating devices by reducing the need for complex subsea operations and enabling the recovery of winch devices without heavy lifting equipment, thereby lowering costs and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
it has been proposed to make the power generating device 1 buoyant, such that it is able to float to the surface of the body of water when being retrieved
Implementation Method 2
The winch tether 8 is attached to the support structure 2 such that as the winch device 6 operates to wind in the winch tether 8, the power generating device 1 is pulled towards the support structure 2
Implementation Method 3
enabling efficient deployment and retrieval of buoyant equipment by leveraging the tension in the tether and gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
A coupling device for use in deploying submerged equipment (1) is disclosed. The coupling device passively couples to a support structure (2) during deployment of such equipment (1) onto the support structure (2).