Tipping Bow Hinge for Wave-Adaptive Aquaculture Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Net-pen vessels in coastal areas face issues with fish escape, salmon lice infestations, disease spread, and environmental degradation due to high nutrient concentrations and sediment buildup, which affect fish welfare and productivity.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting, floating net-pen vessel with a hingedly attached bow that tips up and down with wave movements, featuring an adjustable anchor attachment behind the balance point, a structural member with a front oblique rod, and a passive propelling skirt to reduce wave damage and improve seaworthiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bow is rigidly attached to the vessel, then structural strength is improved, but damage from wave forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bow is divided into a modular structure with a hinge connection separating the bow segment from the main vessel body. This segmentation allows the bow to move independently relative to waves while maintaining structural integrity through the hinge connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bow connection transitions from a rigid static attachment to a dynamic hinged connection that allows rotational movement. The hinge enables the bow to tip up and down with wave movements, converting static structural strength requirements into dynamic adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the anchor attachment is positioned at the balance point, then structural stability is improved, but ability to counteract wave forces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor attachment is positioned behind and lower than the balance point to create a counterbalancing torque. This torque acts as a restorative force that tips the bow back to its neutral position after wave forces push it upward, effectively counteracting wave forces through gravitational leverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor attachment position is moved from the horizontal balance point to a position that incorporates vertical displacement (lower than balance point). This dimensional change creates a lever arm that generates rotational torque, adding a rotational control dimension to the bow's wave response.
3Ease of operation
If coastal areas are used for farming, then accessibility is improved, but fish escape and disease spread increase
Solution Approach 1:
The farming system is divided into modular net-pen vessels that can be deployed in different locations. This segmentation allows selective placement of farming units in offshore locations that balance accessibility with reduced environmental risks compared to concentrated coastal facilities.
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 solution reduces fish escape and disease spread by maintaining distance from rivers and other facilities, minimizes environmental impact through sediment drainage, and enhances fish welfare and productivity by adapting to wave forces, thus increasing production volume while adhering to licensing regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The fact that the anchor attachment for the anchoring/mooring is located behind and lower than the balance point of the structure induces a tipping motion because of the torque (force times length of lever arm) that this represents.
Implementation Method 2
The bow segment has a structural member below the waterline, to which an anchoring is attached
Data Source
AI summary
A tipping bow has at least one articulated connection to a vessel behind and is connected to an anchoring. The tipping bow has a structural member attached to one or more attachment points at the bottom edge of the tipping bow. The anchoring is attached to an anchor attachment positioned behind and lower than the balance point of the tipping bow.