Wave Sheltering Vessel Hull Design for Offshore Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind farm installation vessels, such as jack-up and heavy lift vessels, are limited by significant wave height, leading to inefficient and costly operations due to the need for larger, more expensive vessels or restricted operation times, as existing solutions fail to effectively reduce wave-induced vessel motion.
Innovation Solution
A wave sheltering vessel with a hull design featuring a specific length-to-breadth-to-draft ratio, equipped with anchors and a steerable propeller system, which reduces wave height and facilitates vessel movement, allowing for extended operation periods and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a larger vessel with a stronger structure is built to withstand higher waves, then the vessel strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly and operation time cannot be significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wave sheltering vessel as an intermediary object between the waves and the installation vessel. This mediator reduces wave heights in the operational area, allowing the installation vessel to operate in previously unusable sea conditions without requiring the vessel itself to be strengthened or more expensive
2Reliability
If installation is proceeded only when weather is good and sea condition allows, then vessel safety is maintained, but operation time is significantly reduced and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wave sheltering vessel acts as a mediator that creates a protected operational zone, allowing the installation vessel to maintain safety while operating in higher wave conditions that would otherwise be prohibited, thereby significantly increasing productive operation time
3Ease of operation
If the significant wave height exceeds 1.5 meters, then the vessel motion response becomes too large, but the jack-up system may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The wave sheltering vessel serves as a protective intermediary that reduces wave heights to below 1.5 meters in the operational area, preventing excessive vessel motion that could damage the jack-up system while allowing operations to proceed in higher sea states
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides a wave sheltering vessel used to reduce the significant wave height of waves. The wave sheltering vessel includes a hull, a plurality of anchors, and a propeller system. A length of the hull is greater than or equal to 60 meters. A ratio of the length to a design draft of the hull is less than or equal to 6.5. A ratio of the length to a breadth of the hull is less than or equal to 3.5. A ratio of the breadth to the design draft of the hull is less than or equal to 2.3. The anchors are installed at the hull along a longitudinal direction of the hull. The propeller system is disposed at the hull.