Wave Energy Apparatus Buoyancy Control for Seabed Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wave energy recovery solutions require extensive and costly installation and maintenance processes, involving heavy vessels and cranes, which are often unavailable when needed, leading to slow and expensive operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular apparatus with a concrete body, capable of being installed and serviced using small fixtures like a trawler, allowing for easy deployment and maintenance by lifting onto the surface, and featuring a modular design for quick replacement and integration of measuring instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heavy vessels and cranes are used for installation and maintenance, then the apparatus can be installed and serviced, but the operation becomes slow and expensive due to unavailability and preparation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a barge with buoyant capacity that counterweights the apparatus module, enabling lifting from the seabed to the surface without heavy cranes. The barge's buoyancy provides the counterbalancing force needed to raise the concrete-based apparatus module, replacing traditional mechanical lifting systems with a fluid-based counterweight system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a barge as an intermediary element between the apparatus module on the seabed and the service vessel on the surface. The barge acts as a mobile platform that can be positioned under the apparatus, providing both lifting capacity through buoyancy and a stable working platform for maintenance operations, eliminating the need for heavy-duty crane vessels.
2Ease of operation
If heavy vessels and cranes are used for installation and maintenance, then the apparatus can be installed and serviced, but the costs become extensive due to equipment rental and preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a barge with buoyant capacity that counterweights the apparatus module, enabling lifting from the seabed to the surface without heavy cranes. The barge's buoyancy provides the counterbalancing force needed to raise the concrete-based apparatus module, replacing traditional mechanical lifting systems with a fluid-based counterweight system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a conventional barge that can be rented or acquired at much lower cost than heavy-lift crane vessels. The barge serves as a temporary, task-specific platform for installation and maintenance operations, after which it can be returned or reused for similar tasks, avoiding the high capital expenditure and rental costs of specialized heavy equipment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the apparatus is installed separately on its own base on the sea bottom, then each recovery unit is stable, but the installation process becomes slow and requires extensive preparations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wave energy recovery system into separate modular units, each with its own concrete base and recovery components. This segmentation allows each module to be installed independently using the same barge platform, enabling parallel installation processes and eliminating the need for sequential installation of large integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus modules are pre-assembled on land with their concrete bases and recovery units configured before deployment. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for complex on-site construction operations, allowing the modules to be simply transported and lowered into position, significantly accelerating the installation process.
4Ease of repair
If heavy fixtures are used for lifting the recovery unit onto the surface, then the recovery unit can be accessed for maintenance, but the same heavy fixtures are needed again after servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a barge with buoyant capacity that counterweights the apparatus module, enabling lifting from the seabed to the surface without heavy cranes. The barge's buoyancy provides the counterbalancing force needed to raise the concrete-based apparatus module, replacing traditional mechanical lifting systems with a fluid-based counterweight system.
Solution Approach 2:
The barge serves multiple functions: it provides buoyant lifting capacity to raise the apparatus module from the seabed, offers a stable working platform for maintenance operations, and can be reused for subsequent lifting operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized single-purpose heavy-lift equipment and reduces overall system complexity.
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 faster, cheaper, and more efficient installation and servicing of wave energy recovery apparatuses, reducing the need for heavy equipment and allowing for easy integration of instruments, with the ability to perform maintenance at sea and replace modules without heavy fixtures.
Implementation Method 1
The lifting of the apparatus takes only about one hour... because the body of the apparatus is made of concrete it does not rust. One advantage is also the fact that a heavy concrete body protects the components of the apparatus from water and external elements of danger.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The object of the invention is a method for installing and servicing an apparatus module (1) recovering the kinetic energy of water; and the apparatus module (1) itself. The apparatus module (1) with wave energy recovering units (3) is descended into the sea bottom (12) and is kept steady at the sea bottom (12) by the help of its own mass and the mass of the water filled into the compartments (2a and 2c) in the body (2) of the apparatus module (1). Correspondingly the apparatus module (1) is lifted into the surface of the water and made floating by the help of air that is blown to the compartments (2a) and (2c) in order to replace the water.