On the use of the capability polar plots program for dynamic positioning systems for marine vessels

As the capability of polar plots becomes better understood, improved dynamic positioning (DP) systems are possible since the control algorithms greatly depend on the accuracy of the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic models. The measurements and estimation of the environmental disturbances have an important role in the optimal design and selection of a DP system for a marine vessel. The main objective of this work is to present a new software program capable of estimating the environmental forces, thrusters capability calculations, and capability polar plots for marine vessels. A flowchart illustrating the logic and data flow of a developed software program, the Capability Polar Plot Program (CPPP), and the estimated results for two case studies for a scientific drilling vessel and a survey vessel are presented. It is obvious from the obtained results that the developed program has a future potential for the estimation of the Capability Polar Plots for marine vessels. Moreover, the developed software program would be considered as a marine tool for the thrusters' selection and their configuration for marine vessels and floating production units for the Oil and Gas industries.     

An experimental study on an auxiliary towing system for an FPSO using active thrusters

It is ideal to design the best hull shape for a floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) that meets all performance criteria from an engineering point of view. However, in reality, it is difficult to satisfy all the criteria at the same time. If one of the performances cannot meet the criteria, then additional equipment or systems are installed to improve that performance. In this paper, when an FPSO cannot meet the towing stability inherently, we attempt to establish a procedure for determining an auxiliary towing system. Firstly, various systems that can be applied to the FPSO are compared and reviewed to improve the towing stability of the FPSO. Among them, using three active thrusters was chosen as the auxiliary towing system. Improvement of towing stability was verified from a towing model test conducted at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN). However, thruster cavitation was raised as a key problem when using thrusters for a purpose for which they were not intended. A thruster cavitation model test was additionally performed to check the safety of the thrusters. Based on these results, a safe operating range under extreme condition was confirmed by observing the occurrence of thruster cavitation. The predicted maximum unit total thrust of each thruster was compared with the observed safe operating range. Finally, the effectiveness and safety of the auxiliary towing system was verified.     

Temporal significant wave height estimation from wind speed by perceptron Kalman filtering

Significant wave height estimates are necessary for many applications in coastal and offshore engineering and therefore various estimation models are proposed in the literature for this purpose. Unfortunately, most of these models provide simultaneous wave height estimations from wind speed measurements. However, in practical studies, the prediction of significant wave height is necessary from previous time interval measurements. This paper presents a dynamic significant wave height prediction procedure based on the perceptron Kalman filtering concepts. Past measurements of significant wave height and wind speed variables are used for training the adaptive model and it is then employed to predict the significant wave height amounts for future time intervals from the wind speed measurements only. The verification of the proposed model is achieved through the dynamic significant wave height and wind speed time series plots, observed versus predicted values scatter diagram and the classical linear significant wave height models. The application of the proposed model is presented for a station in USA.     

深海半潜浮式生产平台关键理论与技术问题

深海半潜浮式生产平台FPU(floating production unit)是国际海洋油气资源开发的关键基础性装备。针对半潜浮式生产平台的技术特点,系统阐述其各方面特性(包括:总布置、系泊和立管、水动力性能、结构设计与分析等)及相关研究现状和未来发展趋势。并结合我国南海地理、水文和资源环境等特点,对未来半潜浮式生产平台的开发提出了一些建议。     

QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场可靠性分析及其揭示的中国近海风速分布

利用2000—2009年美国国家航空航天局(NASA)在中国近海海域(0°~45°N,105°~135°E)的QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料与近海测风塔(位于上海近海)、海上石油平台(位于东海和渤海)、岛屿站(南海珊瑚岛和西沙海边观测塔)的实测风场资料进行对比分析,检验了QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料在中国近海海域的可靠性。研究结果如下:各站点实测风速与站点位置以及站点附近的QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料相关系数均在0.7以上;QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料与海上石油平台的风速均方根误差较小(约1.5 m/s);其年均值均大于实测值,差值范围是0.1~1.3 m/s;其Weibull形状参数K与海上石油平台以及近海测风塔的K值较为接近,表明QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料各风速段的频次分布形态与观测站的实测值基本吻合,QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料能基本合理地反映出中国近海风速的分布状况。利用QuikSCAT卫星遥感风场资料分析了中国近海及其邻近水域风速的空间分布特征:(1)台湾海峡是中国近海风速最大的区域,从台湾海峡向东北至日本海,往西南至南海北部115°E附近和巴林塘海峡为风速的次大值区;(2)28°N到长江入海口的东海海域年均风速为7.0~7.5 m/s,在黄海和渤海为5.5~7.0 m/s,在南海北部自东向西由8.5 m/s递减为6.0 m/s,北部湾最大风速区位于东方附近海域。     

Prediction of significant wave height using regressive support vector machines

Wave parameters prediction is an important issue in coastal and offshore engineering. In this literature, several models and methods are introduced. In the recent years, the well-known soft computing approaches, such as artificial neural networks, fuzzy and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems and etc., have been known as novel methods to form intelligent systems, these approaches has also been used to predict wave parameters, as well. It is not a long time that support vector machine (SVM) is introduced as a strong machine learning and data mining tool. In this paper, it is used to predict significant wave height (H_s). The data set used in this study comprises wave wind data gathered from deep water locations in Lake Michigan. Current wind speed (u) and those belonging up to six previous hours are given as input variables, while the significant wave height is the output parameter. The SVM results are compared with those of artificial neural networks, multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF) models. The results show that SVM can be successfully used for prediction of H_s. Furthermore, comparisons indicate that the error statistics of SVM model marginally outperforms ANN even with much less computational time required.     

Reliability assessment of multi-megawatt capacity offshore dynamic positioning systems

A reliable Dynamic Positioning (DP) system is the key requirement for critical offshore activities. This paper presents the quantitative reliability assessment for offshore multi-megawatt capacity electric DP systems based on the present technological maturity and the offshore industry-reported component failure rates. It is identified that the International Maritime Organization defined DP1, DP2 DP3 architectures with fully redundant power generators and electric variable speed thrusters could have mean time to fail periods of 0.3, 2.1 and 2.5 years respectively. In the analyzed DP2 architecture, the power generation cum management system, the computer control cum sensors system and the thruster systems contribute to 17%, 42%, and 41% of the total DP system failures. The results presented could be used for reliability-centered design and maintenance planning of multi megawatt capacity DP systems.     

Prediction of wave parameters by using fuzzy logic approach

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between wind speed, previous and current wave characteristics. It is expected that such a non-linear relationship includes some uncertainties. A fuzzy inference system employing fuzzy IF–THEN rules has an ability to deal with ill-defined and uncertain systems. Compared with traditional approaches, fuzzy logic is more efficient in linking the multiple inputs to a single output in a non-linear domain. In this paper, a sophisticated intelligent model, based on Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy modeling principles, was developed to predict the changes in wave characteristics such as significant wave height and zero up-crossing period due to the wind speed. Past measurements of significant wave height values and wind speed variables are used for training the adaptive model and it is then employed to predict the significant wave height amounts for future time intervals such as 1, 3, 6 and 12 h. The verification of the proposed model is achieved through the wave characteristics time series plots and various numerical error criterias. Also the model results were compared with classical Auto Regressive Moving Average with exogenous input (ARMAX) models. For the application of the proposed approach the offshore station located in the Pacific Ocean was used.     

Wave run-up on cylindrical and cone shaped foundations for offshore wind turbines

During the last decade, several offshore wind-farms were built and offshore wind energy promises to be a suitable alternative to provide green energy. However, there are still some engineering challenges in placing the foundations of offshore wind turbines. For example, wave run-up and wave impacts cause unexpected damage to boat landing facilities and platforms. To assess the forces due to wave run-up, the distribution of run-up around the pile and the maximum run-up height need to be known. This article describes a physical model study of the run-up heights and run-up distribution on two shapes of foundations for offshore wind turbines, including both regular and irregular waves. The influence of wave steepness, wave height and water depth on run-up is investigated. The measured run-up values are compared with applicable theories and previous experimental studies predicting run-up on a circular pile.     

南海北部海面风速概率分布特征

利用南海北部的浮标、石油平台观测的海面风资料,分析了0~200 km范围内,不同离岸距离站点的风速的概率分布特征。观测结果指出,各站平均风速一般最大值出现在冬季,最小值出现在夏季,具有明显的季节变化特征,并且平均风速随着离岸距离的增大也逐渐增大。对于离岸距离较近的区域（100 km以内）,海面风基本符合双参数的Weibull分布,但对于100 km以外的海面风速概率分布与Weibull分布存在明显差异,随着离岸距离的增大,平均风速和风速标准偏差也相应增大。风速平均值与风速标准偏差的比值较小时,Weibull分布的偏斜度基本为正值,当比值较大时偏斜度转为负值。随着离岸距离的增大,出现与Weibull分布不一致的情况越来越多,且与对应的Weibull分布相比,其偏斜度越小,风速概率分布越不能用Weibull分布进行较好拟合。     

Neural Network-Based Active Control for Offshore Platforms

1 .IntroductionWiththedevelopmentofoceantechnology ,moreandmoreextremelylargeandlongflexibleoff shoreplatformsusedforoilexplorationanddrillingoperationarebuiltinhostileoceanenvironments .Ingeneral,thiskindofplatformsisanonlineardistributedparametersystemanditsnaturalfrequencyfallsclosertothedominantwavefrequencieswiththeincreaseofwaterdepth .Besides ,itsstructureisverycomplexandtheexternalwaveforceontheplatformisuncertain .Thus ,theseplatformsarepronetoexcessivewave inducedoscillationsunderbot…     

国内外海上风电机组基础结构设计标准浅析

对国内外海上风电机组基础结构设计规范和相关标准进行了对比研究,结合我国海上风电机组基础结构设计开发中遇到的问题,论述海上风电机组基础结构设计中关于安全理念和设计荷载的设计方法和标准;分析对比各国规范对海上风电机组基础结构设计的推荐做法,剖析各国规范的设计理念和方法;比较海上风电机组基础结构与海洋石油平台在设计理念和设计标准方面的异同,并根据海上风电和海洋油气的行业特点,分析海上风电机组基础结构设计规范和海洋石油平台设计规范对于海上风电机组基础结构设计的适用性。在此基础上,基于我国海洋工程技术和海上风电产业的发展水平,提出发展我国海上风电机组基础结构的设计建议,指出我国海上风电开发中应注意和避免发生的问题。     

海上风电场高桩承台群桩基础平台的设计研究

针对国内海上风电基础设计没有统一的规范及标准,为提升海上风电基础设计建设的水平,通过对东南沿海某海域海上风电基础的设计进行了有限元计算分析论证,验证了群桩高承台结构设计方案的设计方法和设计参数。分析结果表明该设计的最大应力主要发生在塔筒底座与承台接触部位及钢管桩与承台连接段,应在连接部位加强措施处理;基础竖直位移较小,水平位移相对较大;分界部位应力较集中,刚度不能顺畅过渡,可考虑填充碎石土等方法加强。本研究对海上风电基础设计技术的研究与探索,可为将来制定中国海上风电行业标准提供可靠的依据,对中国未来大批量的海上风电能源的开发有着重要意义。     

HDPE深水网箱抗风浪流性能的海区验证试验

对HDPE深水网箱2000～2004年间的抗风浪流性能进行了海区验证试验.通过对HDPE深水网箱扶栏、框架、网具以及固泊系统受损率的统计,根据扶栏、框架、网具以及固泊系统在整个深水网系统中的重要程度,分别给予一定的权重统计出深水网箱的整体受损率,能比较客观地反映深水网箱的抗风浪流性能.海区验证试验结果表明,HDPE深水网箱抗风力达35 m/s、抗浪高6 m、抗流速1.0 m/s,与其设计参数基本相同.同时,为了增加HDPE深水网箱的抗风浪流性能,建议扶手管从110 mm改为125 mm、主浮管从250 mm改为300 mm、扶栏高度从1 m降低为0.8 m或0.6 m.风力主要影响扶栏系统,流速主要影响网具系统,而波浪对HDPE圆形浮式深水网箱的框架、网具、固泊系统以及网箱整体结构均有明显影响.     

Incorporating irregular nonlinear waves in coupled simulation and reliability studies of offshore wind turbines

Design of an offshore wind turbine requires estimation of loads on its rotor, tower and supporting structure. These loads are obtained by time-domain simulations of the coupled aero-servo-hydro-elastic model of the wind turbine. Accuracy of predicted loads depends on assumptions made in the simulation models employed, both for the turbine and for the input wind and wave conditions. Currently, waves are simulated using a linear irregular wave theory that is not appropriate for nonlinear waves, which are even more pronounced in shallow water depths where wind farms are typically sited. The present study investigates the use of irregular nonlinear (second-order) waves for estimating loads on the support structure (monopile) of an offshore wind turbine. We present the theory for the irregular nonlinear model and incorporate it in the commonly used wind turbine simulation software, FAST, which had been developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), but which had the modeling capability only for irregular linear waves. We use an efficient algorithm for computation of nonlinear wave elevation and kinematics, so that a large number of time-domain simulations, which are required for prediction of long-term loads using statistical extrapolation, can easily be performed. To illustrate the influence of the alternative wave models, we compute loads at the base of the monopile of the NREL 5MW baseline wind turbine model using linear and nonlinear irregular wave models. We show that for a given environmental condition (i.e., the mean wind speed and the significant wave height), extreme loads are larger when computed using the nonlinear wave model. We finally compute long-term loads, which are required for a design load case according to the International Electrotechnical Commission guidelines, using the inverse first-order reliability method. We discuss a convergence criteria that may be used to predict accurate 20-year loads and discuss wind versus wave dominance in the load prediction. We show that 20-year long-term loads can be significantly higher when the nonlinear wave model is used.     

海上风机吸力式桶形基础承载特性研究综述

风机基础作为海上风机整体结构的重要组成部分,承受着上部风机所受到的风浪流荷载,并且对风机的安全性及可靠性至关重要。吸力式桶形基础由于其安装简单和可重复利用等优点,在海洋平台基础中得到了广泛应用,并逐步应用于海上风机基础中。但由于海上风机与海洋平台在海洋环境中的荷载工况有一定的差别,仍需要通过对其承载特性研究现状进行全面认识,以实现吸力式桶形基础在海上风机基础中的可靠应用。文中通过总结和评价现有研究对桶形基础在不同土体条件以及荷载条件下进行试验及数值模拟分析得到的研究结果,综述了静荷载和循环荷载作用下砂土和黏土中的吸力式桶形基础的承载特性研究现状,以及海上风机吸力式桶形基础的相关研究。文章展望了目前应用于海上风机基础的桶形基础仍缺乏的研究,为海上风机吸力式桶形基础的可靠应用及后续研究提供重要参考。     

Measurements of Wind Loads on Side-by-Side Semi-Submersibles in A Wind Tunnel

The multi-body system has been a popular form for offshore operations in terms of high efficiency. The wind effects are crucial which directly affect the relative positions of floating bodies and operating security. In this study, the aerodynamic characteristics for two coupled semi-submersibles were analyzed in a wind tunnel to fill the gaps in literature related to the wind sheltering on offshore platforms. The influences of separation distance were also investigated. According to the results, substantial shielding effects were observed and wind forces on the shielded vessel decreased dramatically: a reduction in the transverse force could be up to 74%. Moreover, the longitudinal wind load was amplified by the platform abreast in a side-by-side configuration. As expected, the interference level became more pronounced with a decreasing separation distance. For cases in which wind interaction decayed rapidly with distance, logarithmic functions were preferable for describing the relationship between them. Whereas linear fitting was reasonable for the transverse wind force when there was still evident sheltering at a quite large distance.The length of shielding area was another important factor that there was approximately a linear relationship between it and the shielding level for two platforms in close proximity at various wind attack angles. Based on the two parameters, a preliminary wind loads estimation method considering shielding effects was proposed. This approach can aid the industry to have a qualitative assessment of wind sheltering especially at early stages.     

海洋平台优化设计的研究进展

结构优化是结构设计理论的重要发展,随着“十五”渤海大油田勘探开发战略的实施,结构优化技术将在新型抗冰振平台设计中发挥重要作用。从静力优化设计、动力优化设计、基于可靠度优化设计、全寿命优化设计四个方面论述了海洋平台结构优化设计的研究现状,并展望了海洋平台优化设计的研究前景。     

A Global Reliability Assessment Method on Aging Offshore Platforms with Corrosion and Cracks

Corrosion and fatigue cracks are major threats to the structural integrity of aging offshore platforms. For the rational estimation of the safety levels of aging platforms, a global reliability assessment approach for aging offshore platforms with corrosion and fatigue cracks is presented in this paper. The base shear capacity is taken as the global ultimate strength of the offshore platforms. It is modeled as a random process that decreases with time in the presence of corrosion and fatigue crack propagati...     

Feed-forward control for dynamic positioning in random waves based on quadratic impulse function and real-time wave measurement

The real-time estimation of second-order difference-frequency wave forces using real-time random-wave measurement is developed for the FF (feed-forward) control based dynamic positioning of floating offshore vessels and platforms. The efficacy of the developed FF control scheme is validated by using the in-house hull-mooring-riser-thruster fully coupled time-domain computer simulation program through comparisons with the results by the conventional feedback-control-only case. The feedback (FB) control intends to reduce the accumulated position-excursion error, meanwhile the proposed feed-forward control compensates the controllable slowly-varying wave loads by activating thrusters in advance based on the real-time estimation of the second-order difference-frequency wave loadings using the real-time signal of random incident wave. The real-time estimation of the second-order difference-frequency wave loads is done by using the double-convolution integral with pre-calculated QIF (quadratic impulse function). The numerical DP system is successfully implemented with the FF control algorithm in the vessel-thruster fully coupled time-domain simulation program. The developed schemes are applied to a turret-moored FPSO (floating production storage offloading) with six dynamic-positioning (DP) azimuth thrusters in two non-collinear storm conditions. It is clearly demonstrated that the developed FF control scheme performs much better than the conventional feedback-control-only case. The corresponding reductions in horizontal offsets, motions, mooring tensions, and fuel consumptions by using the developed FF control scheme are underscored.