Academic literature on the topic 'Semi-Intensive Floating Tank System'

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) have been installed in Europe and Japan with relatively modern technology. The installation of floating wind farms in deep water is recommended because the wind speed is stronger and more stable. The design of the FOWT must ensure it is able to withstand complex environmental conditions including wind, wave, current, and performance of the wind turbine. It needs simulation tools with fully integrated hydrodynamic-servo-elastic modeling capabilities for the floating offshore wind turbines. Most of the numerical simulation approaches consider only first-order hydrodynamic loads; however, the second-order hydrodynamic loads have an effect on a floating platform which is moored by a catenary mooring system. At the difference-frequencies of the incident wave components, the drift motion of a FOWT system is able to have large oscillation around its natural frequency. This paper presents the effects of second-order wave loads to the drift motion of a semi-submersible type. This work also aimed to validate the hydrodynamic model of Ulsan University (UOU) in-house codes through numerical simulations and model tests. The NREL FAST code was used for the fully coupled simulation, and in-house codes of UOU generates hydrodynamic coefficients as the input for the FAST code. The model test was performed in the water tank of UOU.

In order to tap the world wide offshore wind resources above deep waters, cost efficient floating platforms are inevitable. Tension-Leg Platforms (TLPs) could enable that crucial cost reduction in floating wind due to their smaller size and lighter weight compared to spars and semi-submersibles. The continuous development of the GICON®-TLP is driven by computer-aided engineering. So-called aero-hydro-servo-elastic coupled simulations are state-of-the-art for predicting loads and simulating the global system behavior for floating offshore wind turbines. Considering the complexity of such simulations, it is good scientific praxis to validate these numerical calculations by use of scaled model testing. This paper addresses the setup of the scaled model testing as carried out at the offshore basin of the École Centrale de Nantes, as well as the numerical model for the GICON®-TLP. The results of dedicated decay tests of the scaled model are used to validate the computational model at the first stage and to determine the natural frequencies of the system. Besides different challenges to the scaled model during the survey, it was possible to take these difficulties into account when updating the numerical model. The results show good agreements for the tank tests and the numerical model.

Object and purpose of research. This paper describes physical modeling of interaction process of abnormal wave (freak wave) with a marine floating structure in a seakeeping tank of the Krylov State Research Center. Freak wave is extremely dangerous because of the difference from wind waves by an unusually steep front slope and a gentle trough. Freak wave appears suddenly and collapses rapidly. Research of effect process features is necessary for understanding and analysis of the object behavior at extreme sea conditions. As experiment results it was necessary to obtain empirical data of sea object motions and accelerations at interaction with freak wave on different course angles and speeds. The obtained physical experiment results will be the foundation of theoretical studies and numerical calculation methods. Materials and methods. Physical modeling of the interaction process of freak wave with a marine floating structure was conducted in a deep seakeeping tank. Freak wave was generated by the linear superposition method of four twodimensional unidirectional regular waves with variable steepness in frequency range of 2 to 6 rad/s. To create a control signal was using special software. Wave packets were formed consisting of a sequence of a four harmonicas with a given frequency, height and duration. For parameters registration of freak wave were used string probes installed with a certain step along the length of the tank. A marine floating structure model was fixed by elastic fastening system in a window of a tow cart. For measure the motions of marine floating structure and its accelerations in define points at encounter with freak wave the contactless optic system and two-component acceleration sensors (accelerometers) were used. Cases of structure interaction with freak wave at different course angles and speeds were considered. Main results. As result of physical experimental data of floating structure motions in the interaction with freak wave in conditions of regular sea state at five course angles with speed and without speed were obtained. Dependencies of roll, pitch and heave motions at different course angles and various speeds were built. Similar dependencies of vertical and transverse accelerations on a stem also were built. Comparative analysis of results with data, which were obtained on intensive irregular sea state (spectrum JONSWAP) at identical experiment conditions, and also with foreign results was carried out. Conclusions. The greatest roll and maximum accelerations are registered at alongside position to abnormal wave, but cargo vessel has a sufficient reserve of dynamic stability to withstand such an impulse effect. The values of roll motion and accelerations on irregular sea state are close to the parameters measured at freak wave effect. This similarity is explained by rocking effect of periodic impact of irregular sea state, the proximity of natural period of roll oscillations to average period of waves and sufficiently high waves. In comparison with foreign researches, a wider range of heading angles and speeds is considered, and data about accelerations in a stem are obtained.

In several urban and suburban areas, the problem of the disposal and treatment of septic tank liquids has not been solved yet. This paper deals with the primary operational evaluation of a conventional system of ponds used at Tarariras, in the Department of Colonia, Uruguay, as well as the potential use of aquatic macrophytes to enhance such treatment. The conventional system was sampled over a period of approximately one month at the end of the summer in order to determine the main parameters. Groups of up to 20 samples were studied to determine the normal distributions. Correlation coefficients were obtained for the normal probability plot between 0.84 and 0.99. The most relevant statistical characteristics were calculated for each parameter. The removal efficiency was 80.0% of BOD5, 58.5% of COD, 75.8% of NH4+-N, 9.5% of PO4−3-P and 38.5% of TSS. At the same time, batch and semi-continuous trials were carried out at bench scale with Eichhornia crassipes (floating macrophyte) and Typha latifolia (emergent macrophyte). The best efficiencies were obtained for the latter, with values of 96.6% of BOD5, 93.0% of COD, 99.6% of NH4+-N, 95.2% of PO4−3-P and 95.5% of TSS. It was concluded that constructed wetlands could be the answer to a more complete treatment process.

The development of efficient, reliable Wave Energy Converters (WECs) is a prerequisite for wave energy to become a commercially viable energy source. Intensive research is currently under way on a number of WECs, among which WaveCat©—a new WEC recently patented by the University of Santiago de Compostela. In this sense, this paper describes the WaveCat concept and its ongoing development and optimization. WaveCat is a floating WEC intended for operation in intermediate water depths (50–100 m). Like a catamaran, it consists of two hulls—from which it derives its name. The difference with a conventional catamaran is that the hulls are not parallel but convergent; they are joined at the stern, forming a wedge in plan view. Physical model tests of a 1:30 model were conducted in a wave tank using both regular and irregular waves. In addition to the waves and overtopping rates, the model displacements were monitored using a non-intrusive system. The results of the physical model tests will be used to validate the 3D numerical model, which in turn will be used to optimize the design of WaveCat for best performance under a given set of wave conditions.

Dairy sheep farming is a vital sector of the agricultural economy in Greece. Information on the effect of the farming system on sheep milk characteristics is critical for producing dairy products with improved nutritional value according to the current guidelines for healthy food consumption. This study aimed to investigate the basic composition, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid composition, and nutritional indices of milk produced in intensive and semi-intensive sheep farms. Bulk tank milk samples from 20 intensive and 20 semi-intensive sheep farms were examined. Sheep in the intensive farms were kept indoors and were fed with roughage, silage, and concentrates. Sheep in the semi-intensive farms were kept indoors during the night and were moved to the pastures during the day. Sheep were fed with roughage, silage, and concentrates in combination with grazing. Milk composition and somatic cell count were determined with automatic analyzers. The physicochemical characteristics were determined with standard laboratory methods. The fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. The farming system did not affect milk chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics. However, milk fatty acid composition and nutritional value were significantly improved in milk from farms using the semi-intensive production system, and this favorable effect was attributed to the inclusion of pasture in sheep diet.

Aquaponic production combines intensive production with waste recycling and water conservation. Aquaponic join recirculating aquaculture with hydroponics to use nutrient waste from aquaculture as an input to plant growth. Traditional aquaculture systems treat or dispose nutrient-rich wastewater. In aquaponics, the waste products from the fish are converted by a bio-fi lter into soluble nutrients which are absorbed by the plants, and allow “clean” water to be returned back to the fish. Thus, it produces valuable fish protein with a minimal pollution of fresh water resources, while at the same time producing horticultural crops. Fish in aquaponic production systems can be raised in ponds, tanks, or other containers. Plants are grown separately in hydroponic tanks, submerged in water but suspended in gravel, sand, perlite, or porous plastic films, as well as on floating rafts. Systems vary greatly in design and construction, but most perform the following key functions: finfish and plant production, removal of suspended solids, and bacterial nitrification. This review discusses applications, effects and perspective of aquaponics.

Research on wave energy extraction has been conducted in many countries to meet the growing demand for clean energy. To find an efficient and economic way to convert wave energy, an one-base multi-buoy offshore floating Sharp Eagle wave energy converter is designed, consisting of four Eagle head absorbing buoys, one semi-submersible barge, one energy conversion system, buoyancy tanks, underwater appendages and other components. The working principle of the device is described in this paper. To test the hydrodynamic performance of device and make an initial evaluation for the design, a model experiment of 1/13.78th scale was carried out. The influence of wave period, wave height, pressure in hydrocylinders and wave direction is tested. All the efficiencies in different conditions are compared with each other, while the high efficiency and stability of device are verified.

Secondary salinisation has rendered over 100 million hectares of land throughout the world, and over 5 million hectares in Australia, unsuitable for conventional agriculture. The utilization of salinised land and its associated water resources for mariculture is an adaptive approach to this environmental problem with many potential economic, social and environmental benefits. Despite this, inland mariculture is yet to develop into an industrial-scale, rural enterprise. The main aim of this study was therefore to identify and address some of the technical and biological limitations to the development of an inland finfish mariculture industry. Three technical aspects essential to the development of an Australian inland mariculture industry were reviewed; potential sources of water, the species suitable for culture in these water sources and the production systems available to produce them. Based on factors such as their quantity, quality and proximity to infrastructure, the most appropriate water sources were deemed to be groundwater obtained from interception schemes and waters from operational or disused mines. In terms of species, mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) were identified as having many positive attributes for inland mariculture, including being temperate and therefore having the ability to be cultured year-round in the regions where the majority of secondary salinity occurs. Seasonal production of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in ponds in the temperate climatic zones has potential, but may be more appropriate for those salinised water sources located in the warmer parts of the country. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were also identified as having excellent potential provided water temperature can be maintained below the upper lethal limit and also have potential for seasonal production, perhaps in rotation with barramundi. In terms of production systems, pond-based culture methods were found to have many advantages specific to inland mariculture. Static ponds enable culture in areas with low groundwater yield and more cost-effective potassium supplementation compared with flow through ponds. Static ponds also largely overcome the issues associated with the disposal of salt-laden and eutrophied waste water; however yields from static ponds are typically low and limited by the nutrient input into the pond. In response to the yield constraints of static pond culture, a new culture technology known as the Semi-Intensive Floating Tank System (SIFTS) was designed, patented and constructed in collaboration with the aquaculture industry and tested in a static inland saline pond in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. This technology was designed to reduce nutrient input into ponds by the collection of settleable wastes and to provide large volumes of well-oxygenated water to the target species, to ameliorate the loss of fish from low dissolved oxygen during strong microalgal blooms. The three species identified above has having excellent potential for inland mariculture (mulloway, rainbow trout, and barramundi) were grown in SIFTS held within a 0.13 ha static, inland saline water body (salinity 14 ppt) over a period of 292 days, yielding the equivalent of 26 tonnes/ha/year (total for all three species). Rainbow trout were grown with an FCR of 0.97 from 83 to 697 grams over 111 days (SGR, 1.91%/day) between June and September, when average daily water temperatures ranged from 12.3„aC to 18.2„aC. Over the same time period, mulloway grew only from 100 to 116 grams, however, once temperatures increased to approximately 21„aC in October, feed intake increased and mulloway grew to an average size of 384 grams over 174 days with an SGR and FCR of 0.68 %/day and 1.39, respectively. Barramundi stocked in November with an average weight of 40 grams increased to 435 grams in 138 days (SGR 1.73%/day) with an FCR of 0.90. The SIFTS significantly reduced nutrient input into the pond by removing settleable wastes as a thick sludge with a dry matter content of 5 to 10%. The total quantity of dry waste removed over the 292 day culture period was 527 kg (5 tonnes/ha/yr), which was calculated to contain 15 kg of nitrogen (144 kg/ha/yr) and 16 kg of phosphorus (153 kg/ha/yr). The release of soluble nutrients into the pond resulted in blooms of macro- and micro- algae which caused large and potentially lethal diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen within the pond, however, comparatively stable levels of dissolved oxygen were maintained within each SIFT through the use of air lift pumps. It is well documented that saline groundwater is deficient in potassium which, depending on the extent of the deficiency, can negatively impact on the performance of marine species, including fish. The physiological effects of this deficiency on fish, however, have not been previously described. As such, I conducted a bioassay investigating the physiological effects of a hypersaline (45 ppt) groundwater source containing 25% of the potassium found in equivalent salinity seawater (i.e. 25% K-equivalence) on juvenile barramundi. Histopathological examination of moribund fish revealed severe degeneration and necrosis of skeletal muscles, marked hyperplasia of branchial chloride cells and renal tubular necrosis. Clinical chemistry findings included hypernatraemia and hyperchloridaemia of the blood plasma and lowered muscle potassium levels. It was concluded from this study that the principal cause of death of these barramundi was skeletal myopathy induced by unsustainable buffering of blood plasma potassium levels from the muscle. Although such hypokalaemic muscle myopathies have been previously described in mammals and birds, this was the first description of such myopathies in fish. It was hypothesized from the results described above that the physiological effects of potassium deficiency are dependent on salinity and that they would be ameliorated by potassium supplementation. These predictions were tested in a subsequent study which measured the effects of potassium supplementation between 25% and 100% K-equivalence on the growth, survival and physiological response of juvenile barramundi at hyperosmotic (45 ppt), near-isosmotic (15 ppt) and hyposmotic (5 ppt) salinities. Unlike those juvenile barramundi reared at 45 ppt and 25% K-equivalence in the previous study, those reared in 50% K-equivalence water at 45 ppt in this study survived for four weeks but lost weight; whereas at 75% and 100% K-equivalences fish both survived and gained weight. Homeostasis of blood plasma potassium was maintained by buffering from skeletal muscle. Fish reared in 50% K-equivalence at this salinity exhibited muscle dehydration, increased branchial, renal and intestinal (Na+-K+)ATPase activity and elevated blood sodium and chloride, suggesting they were experiencing osmotic stress. At 15 ppt, equal rates of growth were obtained between all K-equivalence treatments. Buffering of plasma potassium by muscle also occurred but appeared to be in a state of equilibrium. Barramundi at 5 ppt displayed equal growth among treatments. At this salinity, buffering of plasma potassium from muscle did not occur and at 25% K-equivalence blood potassium was significantly lower than at all other K-equivalence treatments but with no apparent effect on growth, survival or (Na+-K+)ATPase activities. These data confirmed the hypothesis that proportionally more potassium is required at hyperosmotic salinities compared to iso- and hypo- osmotic salinities and also demonstrated that barramundi have a lower requirement for potassium than other marine and estuarine species being investigated for culture in inland saline groundwater. In addition to ongrowing fish, saline groundwater has potential for hatchery production. Specific advantages include the vertical integration of inland saline farms and the production of disease-free certified stock through isolation from the pathogens and parasites found naturally in coastal water. To determine the potential of utilizing inland saline groundwater for hatchery production, barramundi larvae were reared from 2 to 25 days post hatch in 14 ppt saline groundwater with either no potassium supplementation (38% K-equivalence) or full potassium supplementation (100% K-equivalence). Growth, survival and swimbladder inflation of these larvae were compared against those grown in control treatments of seawater (32 ppt) and seawater diluted to 14 ppt. Those reared in saline groundwater with 38% K-equivalence exhibited complete mortality within 2 days, whilst those held in groundwater with full supplementation survived at a rate equal to both control treatments (pooled average 51.1 ¡Ó 0.5%). At 25 days post hatch, there was no significant difference in larval length or dry weight between those grown in the 14 ppt control treatment and those in the saline groundwater with full potassium supplementation. There were no significant differences in swim bladder inflation between any of the surviving treatments (average 93.3 ¡Ó 2.5%). This is the first description of rearing barramundi larvae both in low salinity seawater and in saline groundwater, and demonstrates that the requirement for potassium by larval barramundi is higher than for juveniles of the same species. In addition to a deficiency in potassium, saline groundwater in Western Australia often contains an elevated concentration of manganese relative to seawater as a result of anaerobic reduction of manganese oxides or the pedogenic weathering of manganese-bearing rock. The effects of elevated manganese on marine or estuarine fish have not been described and a study was therefore conducted to determine if manganese, at a concentration typical of that found in saline groundwater, has any impact on fish. The effects of 5 mg/L of dissolved manganese on juvenile mulloway at salinities of 5, 15 and 45 ppt were determined by comparing the survival, growth and blood and organ chemistry with those grown at the same salinities without manganese addition. Survival of mulloway at 45 ppt in the presence of 5 mg/L of manganese (73 ¡Ó 13%) was significantly lower than all other treatments, which achieved 100% survival. Those fish grown in seawater without manganese exhibited rapid growth, which was not affected by salinity (SGR = 4.05 ¡Ó 0.29%/day). Those fish grown at 5 ppt and 45 ppt in the presence of manganese lost weight over the two week trial (SGR 0.17 ¡Ó 0.42 and -0.44 ¡Ó 0.83%/day, respectively), whilst those at 15 ppt gained only a small amount of weight (SGR 1.70 ¡Ó 0.20%/day). Growth was therefore affected by manganese and by the interaction of manganese and salinity, but not salinity alone. Manganese was found to accumulate in the gills, liver and muscle of the fish. No gill epithelial damage or other significant histological findings were found, however, significant differences in blood chemistry were observed. Blood sodium and chloride of manganese exposed fish were significantly elevated in hyperosmotic salinity (45 ppt) and depressed at hyposmotic salinity (5 ppt) compared with unexposed fish; consistent with manganese causing apoptosis or necrosis to chloride cells. Blood potassium was significantly elevated and liver potassium significantly reduced at all salinities in the presence of manganese. These findings are consistent with manganese interfering with carbohydrate metabolism. There were no differences in blood sodium, chloride or potassium across salinities in fish not exposed to manganese, demonstrating mulloway are capable of efficient osmoregulation across this salinity range.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rising demand of fish due to population growth coupled by stagnation of fish supply from natural capture has led the world to turn to aquaculture to fill in the gap between fish supply and demand. Aquaculture has emerged as the only sustainable way of supplying the rising population with fish. However the rapid expansion of aquaculture has been met with growing concerns over its environmental effects especially waste produced from aquaculture. The net cage system that is currently being used by small scale trout farmers in the Western Cape is an open water based system where release of waste into the water bodies is inevitable and this put into question the long term sustainability of trout farming using net cages in irrigation dams in the Western Cape. This study sought to compare identified production techniques that can be used by aquaculture farmers to reduce accumulation of organic waste in irrigation dams. The proposed ‘clean’ production techniques include use of net cages fitted with Lift-up system, semi intensive floating tank system (SIFTS) and intergrated aquaculture systems. The study revealed that the intergrated aquaculture system is the most effective way of recovering waste that shows great potential of moving aquaculture towards long term sustainability as it fullfills sustainability dimensions such as ‘zero emission’, nutrient recycling and integrated production. Mechanical methods of recovering waste such as Lift-up system and SIFTS are also effective in recovering particulate waste but however dissolved nutrients are lost into the environment. The study went on further to investigate if economic, environmental and social benefits of recovering waste from irrigation dams outweigh the costs of recovering waste using different production techniques. Models of small scale aquaculture farms using the three identified production techniques were developed and compared with a modelled small scale net cage farm where there was no waste recovery. A comparative financial analysis of the modelled small scale trout farms using alternative production techniques carried out showed that trout production using any of the three alternative ‘clean’ production techniques is financially viable with the SIFTS production technique giving the farmer the highest returns, followed by the intergrated system, then the net cage with a Lift-up system and lastly the net cage system without waste recovery. The second part of the study used the contingent valuation method to estimate the environmental and social benefits of removing waste from dams. Households revealed that they were willing to pay (WTP) R40 on average annually to improve water quality from a state where eutrophication had occurred to a state suitable for irrigation and aquaculture. To improve water quality from a state suitable for irrigation to a state suitable for swimming, households were willing to pay R16.67 annually. If water was to be improved from a state suitable for irrigation to a level suitable for domestic purposes, average willingness to pay (WTP) was R26.17 annually. WTP indicate that besides financial benefits associated with using ‘clean’ production techniques there are environmental and social benefits that will arise to the farm community using water from the irrigation dams.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die stygende vraag na vis as gevolg van bevolkingsgroei, tesame met die stagnering van die aanbod van vis vanaf natuurlike vangste het daartoe aanleiding gegee dat die oë van die wêreld op akwakultuur gerig is om die gaping in die voorsiening van vis te vul. Akwakultuur het ontwikkel as die enigste volhoubare manier om aan die groeiende vraag na vis te voldoen. Die vinnige uitbreiding van akwakultuur het egter toenemende besorgdheid in die nadelige omgewingsimpak, veral ten opsigte van akwakultuurafval, tot gevolg gehad. Die nethokstelsel wat tans deur kleinskaalse forelboere in die Wes-Kaap in oop watergebaseerde sisteme gebruik word en die vrystelling van afval in die wateromgewings wat onafwendbaar is, plaas ’n vraagteken oor die langtermyn volhoubaarheid van die nethokstelsel forelboerdery in besproeiingsdamme in die Wes- Kaap. Die studie het ten doel gehad om geïdentifiseerde produksiestelsels wat deur akwakultuurboere gebruik kan word om die akkummulasie van organiese afval in besproeiingsdamme te verminder, te vergelyk. Die voorgestelde “skoon” produksietegnieke sluit in nethokke wat aan ’n opligstelsel gekoppel word, ‘n semi-intensiewe drywende tenk- stelsel (“SIFTS system” in Engels) en ‘n geïntegreerde akwakultuurstelsel. Met hierdie studie is bevind dat die geïntegreerde stelsel die mees effektiewe manier is om afval te herwin en toon potensiaal om akwakultuur op ’n vohoubare pad te plaas aangesien dit aan die volhoubaarheidsdimensies van geen emissie, voedingstofherwinning en geïntegreerde produksie voldoen. Meganiese metodes van afvalherwinning soos die nethokopligstelsel en die SIFTS-stelsel is effektief in die herwinning van vastestofdeeltjies, maar opgeloste voedingstowwe word steeds in die omgewing vrygestel. Die studie het voorts ten doel gehad om te bepaal of die ekonomiese, omgewings- en sosiale voordele om afval uit besproeiingsdamme te herwin, groter is as die herwinningskoste van die verskillende produksietegnieke. Modelle van kleinskaalse akwakultuurplase wat die drie geïdentifiseerde produksiestelsels gebruik, is ontwikkel en aangewend om te vergelyk met ’n nethokstelsel waar geen afvalherwinning gedoen word nie. ’n Vergelykende finansiële ontleding van die gemodelleerde kleinskaalse forelboerderye met die verskillende produksietegnieke is gedoen en daar is bevind dat enige een van die drie “skoon” stelsels finansieel lewensvatbaar is, met die SIFTS-stelsel wat die hoogste vergoeding aan die boer bied, gevolg deur die geïntegreerde stelsel, dan die nethokke aan ’n opligstelsel en dan die nethokstelsel sonder afvalherwinning. Die tweede deel van die studie het van die voorwaardelike (“contingent”) waardasiemetode gebruik gemaak om die omgewings- en sosiale voordele om afval uit besproeiingsdamme te verwyder, te bepaal. Huishoudings het aangetoon dat hulle bereid sou wees om tot R40 per jaar te betaal om die waterkwaliteit te verbeter vanaf ’n toestand waar eutrifikasie plaasgevind het na ’n toestand waar die water vir besproeiing en akwakultuur geskik sou wees. Om die waterkwaliteit vanaf ’n toestand geskik vir besproeiing te verander na ’n toestand geskik om in te swem, sou huishoudings bereid wees om R16.67 per jaar te betaal. Indien water vanaf ’n toestand geskik vir besproeiing verander sou word na ’n toestand geskik vir huishoudelike gebruik, sou huishoudings gewillig wees om jaarliks R26.17 te betaal. Die “gewilligheid om te betaal” dui aan dat daar bo en behalwe die finansiële voordele om van “skoon” produksietegnieke gebruik te maak, ook omgewings- en sosiale voordele vir die plaasgemeenskap bestaan met die gebruik van die water uit die besproeiingsdamme.

The WINFLO project (Wind turbine with INnovative design for Floating Lightweight Offshore) aims at the development of competitive floating offshore wind turbines, by a consortium of 3 industrial partners (Nass&Wind Industrie, DCNS and Vergnet SA) and 2 scientific partners (IFREMER and ENSTA Bretagne). The design of the floater is an innovative semi-submersible free floating platform with particular aspects. Classical steps toward the assessment of the hydrodynamic and energy production performance include numerical modeling, model scale tank testing and intermediate or full scale tests at sea. The present study describes the wave tank tests including wind generation compared to some numerical modeling results of the coupled system composed of the support floater and the wind turbine.

A model of the Dutch Tri-floater semi-submersible platform equipped with the NREL 5MW wind turbine has been tested in the hydrodynamic and ocean engineering tank of École Centrale Nantes under wind and wave loads. This paper aims at comparing the results obtained with numerical simulations with these experimental results. The numerical model is based on the FAST design code from NREL and a user defined platform load model for calculating hydrodynamic and mooring loads. This hydrodynamic model includes non linear hydrostatic and Froude-Krylov forces, diffraction/radiation forces obtained from linear potential theory and Morison forces to take into account viscous effects on the braces and heave plates. First the hydrodynamic model is calibrated against the results of free decay tests without wind. A good agreement is achieved by calibrating mooring properties and heave plates properties of the numerical model. Then a comparison of regular wave cases without wind is realised, and a fair agreement is observed for surge, heave and pitch motions of the floating system. Finally comparisons are realised for regular wave cases with a constant wind speed. A good agreement is observed for the steady state surge and pitch offset. Surge and heave motions also shown a good agreement, these degrees of freedom are not being strongly influenced by wind loading. For pitch motion, numerical simulations show differences around 0.4 rad/s wave frequency, for which model tests have shown a significant influence of wind loading on system motion.

Abstract In the set-net fishery, large amount of manpower is needed for hauling the box chamber to harvest fish. With aging problem and labor insufficiency, the labor-intensive net-hauling method faces the problems of lower production, lower efficiency and higher operational risk. An automated net-hauling system using the flexible hose net which is installed in the box chamber is being developed to solve such problems. With air injected from one edge of the hose net, the hoses are inflated and the buoyancy force increases, the net floats up gradually, cornering the fish in the other edge. To corner and harvest the fish efficiently and safely, the deformation and the motion parameters of the hose net are of significance. This paper presents the results of the water tank experiment using 1/6 scale model, which was conducted to analyze the deformation of the hose net with different volumes of air in, the time spent for floating up and sinking down and the average velocities of sinking and floating processes. The results showed that when the attached weight reached 42.5% of the maximum buoyancy force of the hose net, the net could float up gradually in an ideal form and sink down smoothly through natural exhaust and stretched on the bottom of the water tank. The time spent and average velocities in floating up and sinking down processes varied with air pressure and air flow rate, making it possible to control the motion of the hose net by adjusting the air flow in practical operation.

Abstract A pilot floating offshore wind turbine project of Korea was proposed for installing in the East Sea of Korea. The prototype is a semisubmersible platform supporting a 750-kW wind turbine. A scaled model was tested in the basin tank of the University of Ulsan at scale ratio 1:40. The 750-kW floating offshore wind turbine was modeled by using the NREL-FAST code. Numerical results were validated by comparing with those of the test model. This paper analyzes dynamic responses and loads of the wind turbine system under extreme environmental conditions. Extreme environmental conditions based on metocean data of East Sea Korea. Extreme responses and extreme loads are important data for designing the structure of the 750 kW semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine.

This paper presents the experimental results obtained from the model tests performed at the IPT (State of Sa˜o Paulo Technological Research Institute) towing tank, located in Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil. The model used was the semi-submersible ITTC-SR192, at a scale 1:105. The main focus of this study is the analysis of the risers influence on the floating unit dynamics, taking into account damping effects caused by the lines. In order to establish basis of comparison the tests were performed with and without risers. These were modeled as a group of large diameter hoses that are able to provide a significant increment in the damping of the system. By such approach, it was possible to evaluate the changes on the dynamic behavior of the unit induced by the presence of risers. As an additional investigation tool, these results were analyzed with the aid of the software Numerical Offshore Tank (Tanque de Provas Nume´rico - TPN), which is a dynamic simulator of offshore systems based on parallel-processing developed by means of a partnership between the University of Sa˜o Paulo, Petrobras and other Brazilian research institutions. By means of the comparisons between the model tests results with and without risers and of the results from the numerical tool, TPN, the dynamic behavior of the floating unit was investigated in terms of the effects caused by the presence of risers, which is a very relevant subject as offshore industry walks towards ultra-depth waters.

Definition of air gap is an extremely important issue in the design of floating offshore systems such as semi-submersible or TLP platforms. For these systems, any unnecessary increase in the static value of air gap generally demands the payload to be decreased or leads to a larger buoyant hull, which, in any case, has a negative effect on the project economics. Designers face a difficult challenge since there is no well-established methodology for predicting the air gap demand in the early stages of the design. This is a consequence of the inherent complexity involved in the problem of predicting the free-surface elevation around large structures in steep-waves, such as the largest wave expected during a design storm-sea spectrum. Non-linear diffraction models are usually called for a more consistent evaluation of the wave field under the deck and the wave run-up upon the columns, but even second-order analysis is not free of uncertainties. Therefore, air gap evaluation still relies heavily on experimental analysis. This paper presents some towing-tank results performed for the evaluation of the dynamic air gap of a large-volume semi-submersible platform. Regular wave tests were performed for the small-scale model in both restrained and moored configurations and results were confronted with numerical predictions. Air gap response at different locations of the hull was evaluated under three different sea states and results were compared to some semi-analytical models proposed in literature for preliminary air gap estimation. The role of dynamic coupling provided by a taut-leg mooring system on the air gap results is also discussed based on the experimental results.

Abstract The Flow-Induced Motions (FIM) is an essential topic on multi-column platforms due to the effect on the mooring line fatigue life. Vortex-Induced Motions (VIM) or galloping behavior can be observed for an array of four columns with square sections. The presence of pontoons showed to be important for changing the flow around the array and promoting different amplitude behaviors of the motions in the transverse direction mainly. This article aims to understand the effect of the presence of four pontoons on the FIM of a semi-submersible platform (SS) with four square section columns. Model tests of a floating system supported elastically utilizing four springs were performed in a towing tank. Five different pontoon ratios were tested, namely P/L = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00; where P is the pontoon height (the dimension in the vertical direction), and L is the length of the square column face. The draft condition was kept constant as H/L = 1.5; where H is the draft of the platform. The spacing ratio of the columns was S/L = 4; where S is the distance between column centers. Two incidence angles of the current were carried out, namely 0 and 45 degrees. The amplitudes in the transverse direction (direction perpendicular to the incidence current) decreased by increasing the pontoon ratio for 0 and 45-deg incidences. The pontoons positioned aligned to the flow significantly reduced the amplitudes in the transverse direction since the pontoon presence in this position modified the incident wake in the downstream columns. The pontoon presence needs to be well investigated to choose the best condition to avoid raising the FIM or mitigating the FIM.

This paper summarizes our recent collaborative/competitive works on floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) among four universities including Osaka Prefecture Univ., Osaka Univ., Yokohama National Univ., and Nihon Univ. The tasks assigned to each member were to develop the respective FOWT designs which could support 5MW class wind turbine, then to fabricate a scale model based on their own concept, and finally to evaluate the performance by tank tests under prescribed environmental (wind and wave) conditions. Osaka Prefecture Univ. adopted TLP concept, Yokohama National Univ. semi-submersible concept, Nihon University SPAR concept while Osaka Univ. also adopted semi-submersible, however, with single-point mooring. All the measured data were collected and compared among the four designs. It turned out that: (1) All the proposed deigns suffice criteria in terms of motion performance which were assumed at the beginning of the study. (2) The TLP type shows the most favorable performance among the four while the SPAR type shows largest acceleration in almost all the range of environmental conditions. The large acceleration may pose a problem of maintainability. (3) The SPAR type suffers the gyration effects more than the other types. (4) The RAOs of motions under combined wind and wave loads are almost the same as those under only wave loads for all the concepts but the single-point moored semisubmersible. (5) The difference of the RAOs for the single-point moored semisubmersible may be ascribed to the larger coupling effects between the main floater and the mooring system under the combined loads.

Abstract The Flow-Induced Motions (FIM) is an essential topic on multi-column platforms due to the effect on the mooring line fatigue life. Vortex-Induced Motions (VIM) or galloping behavior can be observed for an array of four columns with square sections. The presence of pontoons showed to be important for changing the flow around the array and promote different amplitude behavior of the motions in the transverse direction mainly. This article aims to understand the effect of the presence of two pontoons on the FIM of a semi-submersible platform (SS) with four columns and square sections. Model tests of a floating system supported elastically utilizing four springs were performed in a towing tank. Five different pontoon ratios were tested, namely P/L = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00; where P is the pontoon height, and L is the length of the square column face. The draft condition was kept constant as H/L = 1.5; where H is the draft of the platform. The spacing ratio of the columns was S/L = 4; where S is the distance between column centers. Three incidence angles of the current were carried out, i.e., 0-deg incidence represents the condition in which the two pontoons are aligned to the current, 45-deg incidence represents the non-symmetric condition in which the pontoons are 45 degrees positioned to the current, and 90-deg incidence represents the condition in which the two pontoons are perpendicular to the current. The transverse amplitudes decreased with increasing the pontoon ratio for 0 and 45-deg incidences. On the other hand, the transverse amplitudes increased with increasing the pontoon ratio for 90-deg incidence. The pontoon presence needs to be well investigated to choose the best condition to avoid raising the FIM.

Abstract The air gap response is crucial for the safe design and operation of large-volume floating platforms such as semi-submersible and tension leg platforms. It is a complex task to perform numerical simulation on the air gap response considering the wave free surface elevation and the motions of the floating vessel. Therefore, the prediction of air gap response still relies heavily on model tests. This paper attempts to investigate the effects of the mooring system, especially the effects of the length of mooring lines, on the air gap response of semi-submersible platform based on model tests results. The scaled model of the semi-submersible platform is supported by a symmetric mooring system composed of 8 mooring lines. A set of model tests with different length of mooring lines was performed in the State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering basin at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the air gap responses of 15 locations were measured using wave probes. The results indicate that the mooring system plays an important role in the air gap response of semi-submersible platform.