Search Results (7)

This study investigated the structural response characteristics of a novel single-point mooring gravity-type deep-water (SPM-GDW) net cage under irregular waves and currents. A hydrodynamic numerical model of the cage was created and validated through model experiments. Based on the validated cage model, the structural response characteristics such as cage motion response, mooring line forces, and floating collar stress were studied, considering the actual operating conditions in the target sea area. The response time history curves, wave height time history, and spectral density statistics were studied and compared. The results showed that the heave motion of the cage was consistent with wave elevation in the vertical direction and mainly influenced by wave conditions. The surge motion of the cage was closely related to the current, with a significant lag effect compared to wave elevation motion. Low-frequency loads under the combined action of waves and currents had a significant impact on the surge motion of the cage. In addition, the mooring line tension and pontoon stress were closely related to the wave elevation, with peak values of tension and stress occurring almost simultaneously with the peak wave elevation. However, the pontoon stress exhibited high-frequency response characteristics while satisfying the wave frequency response trend. It was found that the flow velocity had a significant impact on the spectral density of mooring line tension and pontoon stress in the low-frequency range, with an increase in spectral density values as the flow velocity increased. The structural response characteristics identified in this study provide a computational basis for the optimized design and analysis of single-point mooring gravity-type deep-water cages. Full article

This study presents an inherent buckling issue of SPM (Single Point Mooring) systems for open sea aquaculture and a design method to analyze and solve this issue. The SPM arrangement of a row of cages is very efficient, as it minimizes the anchoring load by masking of the current applied to the downstream cages, hence saves anchors and mooring lines. However, a sudden reversal of the current direction presents a risk of buckling of the row of cages, if it applies a compression load along the array of cages before rotation of the entire cage system takes place. This study presents the concept of Hydrostatic Buckling of a row of cages and a method of design and analysis to control the stability of the system at the situation of sudden current reversal. First, a simple method for preliminarily assessment by applying the principle of virtual work is formulated. Then, an analysis of the structure by a parametric finite elements code is presented. The reversal current limits for the stability of the structure, are parametrically studied, by the analyses of two hypothetical practical scenarios. This study presents practical design tools and results, such as the method of the analysis, simplified loading states for representing the critical events, the scantlings of the structure, as well as guidelines for designing a SPM system of cages that withstand critical situations of reversal current. Full article

There exist vast areas of offshore wind resources with water depths greater than 100 m that require floating structures. This paper provides a detailed analysis on the hydrostatic stability characteristics of a novel floating wind turbine concept. The preliminary design supports an 8 MW horizontal-axis wind turbine with a custom self-aligning single-point mooring (SPM) floater, which is to be constructed within the existing shipyard facilities in the Maltese Islands, located in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The theoretical hydrostatic stability calculations used to find the parameters to create the model are validated using SESAM^®. The hydrostatic stability analysis is carried out for different ballast capacities whilst also considering the maximum axial thrust induced by the rotor during operation. The results show that the entire floating structure exhibits hydrostatic stability characteristics for both the heeling and pitching axes that comply with the requirements set by the DNV ST-0119 standard. Numerical simulations using partial ballast are also presented. Full article

Floating offshore structures (FOS) must be designed to be stable, to float, and to be able to support other structures for which they were designed. These FOS are needed for different transfer operations in oil terminals. However, water waves affect the motion response of floating buoys. Under normal sea states, the free-floating buoy presents stable periodic responses. However, when moored, they are kept in position. Mooring configurations used to moor buoys in single point mooring (SPM) terminals could require systems such as Catenary Anchor Leg Moorings (CALM) and Single Anchor Leg Moorings (SALM). The CALM buoys are one of the most commonly-utilised type of offshore loading terminal. Due to the wider application of CALM buoy systems, it is necessary to investigate the fluid structure interaction (FSI) and vortex effect on the buoy. In this study, a numerical investigation is presented on a CALM buoy model conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in ANSYS Fluent version R2 2020. Some hydrodynamic definitions and governing equations were presented to introduce the model. The results presented visualize and evaluate specific motion characteristics of the CALM buoy with emphasis on the vortex effect. The results of the CFD study present a better understanding of the hydrodynamic parameters, reaction characteristics and fluid-structure interaction under random waves. Full article

Due to the demand for oil production in varying water depth regions, the advantage of flexible buoyant conduits has led to an increase in bonded marine hoses for fluid transfer and (un)loading operations. The fluid transfer system for bonded marine hoses is dependent on floating offshore structures (FOS). This paper presents an overview of different systems for sustainable fluid transfer and (un)loading operations via FOS, such as Single Point Mooring (SPM) systems. SPMs are component aspects of the techno-economic design and FOS operation. This review aims to present sustainable fluid transfer technologies while addressing the subject of bonded marine hoses based on application, configuration, test models, hose selection criteria, hose-mooring configurations and operational views. This paper also includes an overview of the hose dynamics, with the loading and unloading (or discharging) techniques for sustainable fluid transfer via marine bonded hoses, based on operational challenges encountered. To dynamically present the hose performance in this review, an overview of the test methods’ guidance as specified in available industry standards was conducted. The pros and cons of marine hose application were also presented. Finally, this study presents different marine hose types and novel design configurations applied in implementing hose-mooring systems. Some concluding remarks with recommended solutions on the technology were presented in this review. Full article

The application of mathematical analysis has been an essential tool applied on Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoys, Wave Energy Converters (WEC), point absorber buoys, and various single point mooring (SPM) systems. This enables having mathematical models for bonded marine hoses on SPM systems with application with CALM buoys, which are obviously a requisite for the techno-economic design and operation of these floating structures. Hose models (HM) and mooring models (MM) are utilized on a variety of applications such as SPARs, Semisubmersibles, WECs and CALM buoys. CALM buoys are an application of SPM systems. The goal of this review is to address the subject of marine hoses from mathematical modeling and operational views. To correctly reproduce the behavior of bonded marine hoses, including nonlinear dynamics, and to study their performance, accurate mathematical models are required. The paper gives an overview of the statics and dynamics of offshore/marine hoses. The reviews on marine hose behavior are conducted based on theoretical, numerical, and experimental investigations. The review also covers challenges encountered in hose installation, connection, and hang-off operations. State-of-the-art, developments and recent innovations in mooring applications for SURP (subsea umbilicals, risers, and pipelines) are presented. Finally, this study details the relevant materials that are utilized in hoses and mooring implementations. Some conclusions and recommendations are presented based on this review. Full article

In recent years, the SPM (Single-Point Mooring) concept has been widely employed in several branches of the naval architecture and marine engineering field, such as FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading units), offshore oil rigs, etc., but not yet popular in the offshore wind energy. To investigate the response characteristics of an SPM-moored FWT (Floating Wind Turbine), in the present work, we perform a numerical study on the DeepCwind semisubmersible wind turbine, using the state-of-the-art open-source tool FAST. The free-decay test results show that the SPM layout affects the natural periods of the wind turbine in rotational modes, as well as the mooring stiffness of the diagonal rotational and crossing rotational-translational terms, especially in relation to the yaw mode. Comparisons of the RAOs (Response Amplitude Operators) elucidate that the presence of wind influences significantly the sway, roll and yaw motions of the SPM layout. Finally, the weathervane test shows that an asymmetry exists in the free-yaw motion response when the semisubmersible wind turbine is moored by an SPM system. Full article