Abstract
A quasi-static analysis and sensitivity investigation of two different mooring configurations—a single anchor leg mooring (SALM) and a three-legged catenary anchor leg system (CALM)—is presented. The analysis aims to indicate what can be expected in terms of requirements for the mooring system size and stiffness. The two mooring systems were designed for the same reference load case, corresponding to a horizontal design load at the wave energy converter (WEC) of 2000 kN and a water depth of 30 m. This reference scenario seems to be representative for large WECs operating in intermediate water depths, such as Weptos, Wave Dragon and many others, including reasonable design safety factors. Around this reference scenario, the main influential parameters were modified in order to investigate their impact on the specifications of the mooring system, e.g. the water depth, the horizontal design load, and a mooring design parameter.
Highlights
The mooring system is a vital part of offshore wave energy converters (WEC) as it is responsible for the station-keeping of the WEC, but it counts as well for a significant part of the overall cost of the device [1]
This reference load case consists of a horizontal design load at the WEC of kN at a water depth of 30 m, which seems to be representative of large WECs, such as Weptos, Wave Dragon and many others, including reasonable safety factors (II)
This catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) system consists of three catenary mooring lines, three anchors, an intermediate buoy, and a hawser connecting the buoy to the WEC
Summary
The mooring system is a vital part of offshore wave energy converters (WEC) as it is responsible for the station-keeping of the WEC, but it counts as well for a significant part of the overall cost of the device [1]. Additional safety factors might be required, for example, for corrosion protection of catenary chains (in the case of the CALM) or the absence of redundancy (in the case of the SALM) (III) Around this reference scenario, the main influential parameters were modified in order to investigate their impact on the mooring system, e.g., the water depth, the horizontal design load at the WEC and a mooring design parameter. The SALM system was first developed for the mooring and loading of large tankers offshore in severe environments and was first used in 1969 [7] It consists, in this case, of a submerged mooring buoy that is anchored through a tension leg (the tether) by a suction anchor. This results in relatively long mooring lines compared to the water depth
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