Heavy Lift Research Articles

Process for Real-Time Monitoring of a Turboshaft Engine

For helicopters engaged in sling loads or heavy lift, there is a need to report current turboshaft engine health (e.g., margin) and contingency power available from the engine in realtime. Displaying this information allows the pilot in command of the aircraft to make more informed decisions about the safety of continuing a mission. For engine margin, when aircraft parameter data is recorded by a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) or flight data monitoring system (FDM), this functionality allows maintainers to be notified of the engines’ degraded performance to initiate an inspection/maintenance action to restore the engine to its designed performance. However, this does not help the pilot make mission-critical decisions during the flight. The paper covers the method to use HUMS/FDM data to calculate, in real-time, the power available to the pilot.

Modelled Cost Reductions for the X-Rotor Offshore Wind Turbine

Abstract The XROTOR project is developing an innovative turbine (X-Rotor Concept - XRC) that is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)/Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) hybrid. The objective of this paper is to assess the XRC Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE), applying different sensitivity analysis to determine a realistic LCoE range. This will then be compared with LCoE estimates for three traditional HAWT drivetrain configurations to evaluate the potential cost savings for the XRC. The paper considers a hypothetical farm of 100x5MW XRCs on generic monopiles, 100km from shore and commissioned in 2030 with a 30-year project. Analysis uses the University of Strathclyde Operation and Maintenance (O&M) model and an LCoE tool developed by University College Cork to calculate results. Sensitivity analysis varies key cost driving elements and uncertain inputs including the O&M strategy, distance from shore and the financial assumptions to determine an optimised LCoE estimated range. Results for the XRC are then compared with estimates derived using the same methodology for the HAWT configurations. Analysis indicates that the novel design may facilitate cost reductions, reducing OPEX by removing heavy components that would require costly heavy lift vessels to maintain. It also removes the failure modes around the gearbox, multi-pole generator and yaw system. The XRC could also reduce the capital cost of drivetrains through a power take-off approach that does not require a gearbox or a multi-pole generation but achieves comparable levels of power conversion. Ultimately the XRC could achieve LCoE cost reductions of 10-19%, compared with the traditional HAWTs. Further savings are considered possible but require additional design and analysis that are outside the scope of this paper.

Application of CFRTP with braided structure to heavy lift drone frame

Application of CFRTP with braided structure to heavy lift drone frame

A comparative analysis of side and stern installation of a monopile lifting operation using a heavy lift crane vessel

This paper compares two 2XL monopile installation methods: at the leeward side of the heavy lift crane vessel and in the recess at the stern of the vessel. The multi-body system of the vessel, monopile, crane, and mission equipment induces interaction and resonance behaviour. Operational limits are assessed at the crane tip and pile gripper during upending and lowering of the monopile. Stern installation provides a larger operability window during upending compared to side installation. During the lowering stage, the operability depends on the monopile submergence: side and stern installation provide a comparable operability. Considering both stages, stern installation shows promising results.

Application of Ginni’s mean analysis for identifying the stationary driver enhancing modular construction adoption in the building industry

Modular construction (MC) is recognized as an environmentally friendly and sustainable building method, and it is mandatory for assessing project sustainability. In developed countries, MC is acknowledged as a crucial approach for sustainable development, leading to increased adoption in these nations. However, implementing and incorporating MC in developing nations is a multifaceted task due to infrastructure limitations, economic inequalities, and resource constraints, which limit its widespread adoption. This study aims to find the stationary driver that increase MC usage in developing nations, especially in residential projects. To achieve this objective, a total of 120 building professionals participated in the questionnaire. Following this, the Relative Importance Index and Gini’s Mean analyses were employed to assess the significance of the top 5 ranked drivers and to pinpoint the stationary driver. According to the study results, the five major MC drivers are as follows: Determining the correct weights and dimensions of modules by optimal design; Considering the detailed survey of fabricators’ MC experience and competency; Early screening tests during the selection of fabricators and factories; Early engagement of the heavy lift team in relevant research; and Avoiding suboptimal modular equipment sizes that might restrict transportation options. Additionally, the Gini’s Mean analysis revealed the stationary driver that promotes MC adoption is the need for expert advice for equipment specifications, scheduling, and sequence. The research findings pave the way for the Egyptian construction industry to adopt MC, which will improve the construction sector, particularly residential construction. Furthermore, the results address a knowledge gap about the drivers that enhance the adoption of MC in developing nations.

Requirements for the vessels operation at heavy-lift cargoes carriage

The approaches used by different classification societies to standardize calculated acceleration under ship motion during heavy lift cargoes transportation are analyzed in the paper. The methods of estimating the efficiency of securing devices of “non-standardized cargoes” carried on ships are investigated. The analysis of the parameters taken into account in determining the design accelerations at ship motion is carried out. Five representative vessels, which had previously carried heavy lift cargoes under different conditions, are selected. Computer modelling of these vessels motion at different course angles is performed in “SafeSea” programme, and calculated (conditional) amplitudes of motion regulated by the Rules of the Russian Classification Society are determined by “Stabedit” programme. The forced and own periods of onboard rolling are calculated in the specialised software complex “Anchored Structures” at variation of wave modes, loading states and values of metacentric height. The calculation results for representative vessels have shown a satisfactory matching of own and forced rolling periods. It is noted that in the range of 1.5 m ≤ h3 % ≤ 4.5 m for the considered intervals of metacentric height, in most cases the forced rolling periods are slightly longer than the own ones. Based on the results of the research, the recommendations for determination of rolling amplitudes of inland and mixed navigation vessels of “P”, “O”, “M”, “O-PR”, “M-PR”, “M-SP” classes carrying heavy lift cargoes are given. The proposals on standardised design acceleration at motion of a ship carrying heavy lift cargo are also given for the mentioned classes of ships. The results of the research are included in the draft Guidelines for the assignment of design acceleration at rocking of mixed (river-sea) and inland navigation vessels and safety margins of heavy lift cargoes securing systems, developed for the Russian Classification Society

Small Patients but a Heavy Lift: Workload and Burnout of Advanced Practice Providers and Physicians in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

This study explored the association between workload and the level of burnout reported by clinicians in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A qualitative analysis was used to identify specific factors that contributed to workload and modulated clinician workload in the NICU. We conducted a study utilizing postshift surveys to explore workload of 42 NICU advanced practice providers and physicians over a 6-month period. We used multinomial logistic regression models to determine associations between workload and burnout. We used a descriptive qualitative design with an inductive thematic analysis to analyze qualitative data. Clinicians reported feelings of burnout on nearly half of their shifts (44%), and higher levels of workload during a shift were associated with report of a burnout symptom. Our study identified 7 themes related to workload in the NICU. Two themes focused on contributors to workload, 3 themes focused on modulators of workload, and the final 2 themes represented mixed experiences of clinicians' workload. We found an association between burnout and increased workload. Clinicians in our study described common contributors to workload and actions to reduce workload. Decreasing workload and burnout along with improving clinician well-being requires a multifaceted approach on unit and systems levels.

A customized drone for ocean and atmospheric measurements and its performances

Drones- Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAVs)- have become more significant across the world for a wide range of commercial and terrestrial defense applications in recent years. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)- Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES)- is exploring UAVs with a specific focus on maritime applications. NIOT has customized a heavy lift category drone, operable in marine environments and capable of withstanding coastal wind conditions of up to 40 kmph. It can lift and carry an instrumentation payload of 10 kg, conduct ocean data collection, and even take seawater samplings. The 10 kg payload of the UAV might hold a Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) sensor, a programmable sea water sampler, and a multi-parameter sensor (MPS) for ocean data collections, and a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) device integrated with a high frame rate camera system for coastal mapping and digital elevation model (DEM) developmental applications. The customized hexacopter UAV is capable of withstanding winds of up to 10 m/s and features a waterproof IPX7 thruster with a maximum thrust of 153 N per axis. The UAV system is also interfaced with a Global Positioning System (GPS), a barometric pressure sensor, a compass, a highly accurate gyroscope, a 15 MP surveillance camera, and an accelerometer sensor connected to a reliable cube orange flight controller module with a redundant 32-bit controller through a serial peripheral interface (SPI). The drone structure and frame is composed of carbon fiber composites to provide an excellent weight-to-strength ratio. This paper presents the outcomes of an initial field test, carried out to ensure the drone’s suitability for various marine applications with intended payloads ranging from 5 - 10 kg weight, including coastal demonstrations and ocean data collections performed at Nellore (Andra Pradesh) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) coastal waters. Highlights A drone is customised to with stand elevated wind conditions of coastal regions Design is fully flexible meeting the ease of transport from one location to other Highly stable mechanical design to sustain winds of up to 45 KMPH Redundant flight control mechanism is evolved to assure fail safe operations of drone Drone built in with redundant GPS module to avoid scenario like NO Geo-reference at any time Design is type certified and UIN registered with DGCA - India

Numerical simulation for predicting the respose of an offshore heavy lift barge in regular and irregular waves

This study case concerns the prediction of the hydrodynamic response of an offshore heavy lift barge in the regular and irregular waves. The study focuses on predicting the six degrees of freedom responses for the barge in the operation condition when the ship speed is equal to zero, at various heading angles (0~180˚) and for several wave frequencies (0.02~2.0 rad/s). The numerical simulation is carried out using the 3D diffraction /radiation motion solver Hydrostar software that is based on potential theory to predict the wave-body interactions. All the hydrostatics, loading and sailing aspects are initially estimated, and then introduced as an input in the simulation process corresponding to the ship speed and heading directions. For the irregular sea simulations, the ITTC spectrum is used to describe the wave for a generic study case in the Black Sea to make the study feasible for offshore applications in operational conditions where the ship speed is equal to zero.

BP’s Argos FPU Offers Fresh Lessons for the Future of Deepwater GOM Projects

Tipping the scales at well over 60,000 tons, BP’s Argos platform is a giant among giants in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Standing 27 stories tall, the platform has a deck the length and width of an American football field and is one of BP’s largest in the region. One-time KBR subsidiary GVA designed the semisubmersible, the centerpiece of the supermajor’s $9 billion Mad Dog II project built to unlock additional production potential of the Miocene-aged reservoirs estimated to hold more than 5 billion bbl of oil in place. But that wasn’t always the plan. Over a decade ago, BP’s Mad Dog II looked quite different. On paper, the producer was looking at an all-subsea development tied back to another large spar platform—dubbed Big Dog—to host the additional reserves. The development plan envisioned a massive truss spar. Its topsides would need to be installed via three separate offshore lifts then fully integrated at the field site. Any offshore heavy lift is an execution risk. In 1998, an accident while lifting the south module onto Texaco’s Petronius compliant tower in the GOM resulted in the loss of that section of the topsides and delayed the project for a year and a half. That module weighed 3,600 tons. Another hesitation for BP? The price tag. All-in, the spar-based Mad Dog II solution was estimated to cost around $19 billion. That included 30-plus wells. Ultimately, the spar concept was scrapped, and BP moved back to square one and a blank sheet of paper. “The reserves were there,” said Chris Ruthven, project general manager, Mad Dog II. “We knew the reserves were there. In fact, ironically, the team developed the field with the smallest of the four big platforms that BP did back at that point in time: Thunder Horse, Holstein, Atlantis, and Mad Dog. It was the smallest, but ultimately, it was the second-biggest field. It turned out to be huge. All that appraisal showed we’ve got a lot of reserves. So, we went back and went with an analog to Atlantis. Atlantis was seen as a good fit requiring much less offshore integration work. Operations loved the asset, and it was a very safe design. We landed on that concept, and we tried to keep it almost pretty much the same in terms of the overall layout of the facility, but it’s a little bit bigger footprint.” Mad Dog proper was discovered in 1998 via an exploration well in over 6,100 ft of water located in Green Canyon Block 826. The well was drilled to a measured depth of 22,410 ft and encountered around 215 ft of hydrocarbon-bearing Miocene reservoirs. The discovery was followed by a 1999 well drilled to a total depth of 22,410 ft and a further successful appraisal well in February 2000. Mad Dog, covering Green Canyon blocks 825, 826, and 782, was sanctioned as a spar-based development in 2002. The project came online in early 2005.

Real-time environmental radiation monitoring based on locally developed low-cost device and unmanned aerial vehicle

In this study, a low-cost local device based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for real-time environmental radiation monitoring is proposed. The device consists of a Geiger-Müller ZP 1200 counter for gamma radiation detection and an appropriate electronic circuit for processing and shaping the detected pulses. The Geiger-Müller detector used is low-cost, insensitive to environmental temperature variations, and can be operated continuously over a long period. Two different methods were performed to calibrate the designed device, namely the use of a programmable nuclear pulse generator for electronic calibration and a Cs-137 gamma-ray calibration source. A long flight time UAV is developed locally with suitable characteristics and adapted to carry the radiation detection device. The designed UAV mainly consists of a multi-flight controller having an intelligent switching system associated with a GPS Module for accurate position-keeping and four heavy lift motors. The use of UAVs has the advantage that it allows measurements to be taken over large areas, even those that are difficult to access, and avoids exposing people to radiation. The flight measurement tests were carried out in the urban area of Yaoundé-Cameroon, at an altitude of 15 to 100 meters with a sweeping speed of about 20 km/h for 36 days from January 01, 2023, to February 06, 2023. The tests showed that the concentrations collected varied between 0.00697 μSv/h and 0.8706 μSv/h, of which 85.71% of data have a concentration below the threshold (0.3 μSv/h) and 14.29% above this threshold. These tests confirm that the developed radiation detection system works properly and is suitable for environmental radiation protection and nuclear safety activities.

The Employability of Heavy Lift Class Ships for Logistics and Maintenance and Its Application in Military Means - Part I

The purpose of this article is to present a concept of the Heavy Lift Ship already used in the maritime market, aiming to propose viable alternatives for its employability, taking as its main focus the performance of the same in military operations, however the versatility of this class of ship, allows a wide range of activities. Currently, the theme of docking, maintenance, repair and logistics is in constant evidence due to the high level demanded by operational means of navies around the world, their maintenance is of essential importance for the preparation and use of Naval Power. The implementation of a ship of this class to a fleet or fleet allows its use to perform the function of a floating dock, for example, being able to carry out the transport of other ships or floating structures. Considering the incorporation of a medium with these characteristics, it allows the performance, in addition to services related to maintenance, repair and transport, the possibility of carrying out missions together with other bodies or companies such as Petrobras, for example, in addition to supporting existing military assets and that will still be incorporated. In general, the concept of using a ship with these characteristics can be put to good use, mainly evaluating the plurality that this means can provide to a Navy.

Numerical Analysis on The Effect of Barge Motion to Jacket Lifting Process During Decommissioning

Offshore structure decommissioning is mandatory when an offshore oil and gas platform reaches the end of its service life. There are no less than 450 fixed offshore steel structures in Southeast Asia, and by 2030, more than 200 offshore fields will be terminated and need to be decommissioned. From an operational aspect, the decommissioning process is simply an inverse of installation. However, due to the structures' age and the uncertainties of the structural performance, the simple operation can be an obfuscating process. This paper discusses one of the most crucial processes during decommissioning: lifting. The dynamic performance of a lifted jacket in several rigging variations is investigated. We use a standard stern crane HLV (Heavy Lift Vessel) to simulate the process, with several wave attack angles. Sea condition is according to DNVGL benign wave during marine operation, with random waves generated using the JONSWAP spectrum. Coupled dynamics of HLV and jacket motion are analyzed .

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health.

Feasibility of Extremely Heavy Lift Hot Air Balloons and Airships

State of the art airships and aerostats (air vehicles) use hydrogen and helium as lifting gases. Hydrogen is extremely flammable, while helium is rare and expensive. In the present work, feasibility of air vehicles using hot air, hot nitrogen, and/or hot mixture as lifting gases is demonstrated. Thermal power requirements for air vehicles using hot lifting gases are calculated. 1) It is shown that for extremely heavy aerial vehicles, whose gross takeoff mass exceeding 3,000 tons, required thermal power is proportional to 1/3 Mvehicle where Mvehicle is an air vehicle mass. 2) For lighter aerial vehicles, whose gross takeoff mass is below 100 tons, required thermal power is proportional to 2/3 Mvehicle . Specific thermal power requirement is low for extremely heavy vehicles and high for light vehicles (For 1000 ton gross takeoff weight, specific thermal power requirements are from is 41 W/ kg to 52 W/kg). 3) Using hot nitrogen and/or nitrogenhydrogen mixture decreases thermal power requirements by 10% to 24%.

Research: Learning to Teach Writing by Becoming a Writer: An Examination of Preservice Teachers’ Engagement with the Writing Process

Finding ways to develop preservice teachers (PSTs) as both writers and teachers of writing can be a heavy lift for teacher education programs. This article presents a portion of the data from a larger study undertaken as longitudinal, formative design research. Data were gathered from 410 PSTs over a three-year period across four courses in teacher education and English language arts at a private liberal arts university in a southwestern state. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How do preservice teachers engage in practices grounded in process discourse in the context of their teacher education courses?; and (2) How do preservice teachers’ beliefs about their writing self-efficacy change during a semester of engaging in writing with a focus on process discourse? Key findings of the study included PSTs engaging in prewriting activities (e.g., reading, researching) but engaging less in writing while preparing to write (e.g., quicklist, webs). Furthermore, the PSTs utilized peers in revising writing but did not visit those with the most knowledge and skill in supporting writing (e.g., professor, writing center). Finally, PSTs’ confidence in their writing, which was higher at the start of courses than previous research often indicates, decreased across their time in the courses.

Feasibility study of flopper stoppers as a passive roll compensation system for offshore construction vessels

Heavy lift vessels are used to install offshore infrastructure. For floating vessels, roll responses can significantly limit their operability, especially for offshore sites where multimodal wave spectra are expected. This paper deals with a numerical study of a heavy lift vessel equipped with submerged flopper stopper (FS) templates suspended from the sides of the vessel. Dynamic analyses for various sizes and numbers of FS templates were conducted. A medium-size (28 m × 14 m) template can increase operational limits by shifting the roll’s natural frequency towards lower values and dampening the responses through drag forces. The operability can increase by about 500% when compared with a vessel without FS templates. A preliminary structural design of a critical beam shows an ultimate limit state design safety factor of 1.5 and fatigue damage of 0.32 for 20 years of service. The cost of construction per template is about $1.75 million (U.S. dollars); the total cost of 4 templates could be recovered in a single wind farm installation project. The system is shown to be feasible for construction vessels used in the execution of marine operations, especially heavy lifting.

Evidence of fish following towed oil and gas platforms to a reefing site and rapid colonisation

We investigated the composition and abundance of fish assemblages associated with seven offshore oil and gas platform jackets in the Gulf of Thailand before (pre-lift and pre-tow), and immediately after relocation (post-tow and reefed). Jackets were cut, lifted until partly out of the water, and attached to the rear of a heavy lift vessel. They were towed at speeds of 2.7 – 3.3 knots for between 133.9 and 205.4 km before being placed on the seafloor at an artificial reef site. Sixteen species of fish were observed both before and after jacket towing. We believe these species have sought refuge in the complex structures out of the current and have remained with the jackets. Ten species of fish were observed before towing, but not after. A further seven species of fish were only observed after the jackets were relocated onto the seafloor and were assumed to be early colonisers to the structures. The paper provides empirical evidence of a much-discussed paradigm that fish can swim great distances following moved structures, and further evidence of the ability of fish to rapidly colonise reefed structures.

Heavy lift semi-submersible ships utilization in offshore wind turbines industry

Many technologies and initiatives have been developed across the world to produce power from renewable resources. One of these technologies is offshore wind power that utilize wind turbines established in water to generate electricity. Offshore wind power generates more electricity per unit of capacity installed due to offshore wind velocity is higher than on land. Wind turbines are difficult to transport because of their huge towers and nacelles, as well as their long, delicate blades, hub, and generator. In order to transport these huge parts specialized ships to handle it and help in its transportation safely with the minimum costs and hazards are needed. Semi-submersible heavy-lift ships are primarily designed to transport extremely large and heavy cargoes, which are loaded using the float-on/float-off method, and large non-floating equipment. A high-capacity ballast system is installed on the heavy lift ships. When loading and unloading cargo, a ballast system is needed to manage heeling and trimming moments. Several accidents have occurred during the submerging process, these accidents result was sinking of many ships. Results are presented and discussed.

A light touch intervention with a heavy lift – gender, space and risk in a global vaccination programme

ABSTRACT Frontline workers (FLWs) in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative go door-to-door delivering polio vaccine to children. They have played a pivotal role in eliminating wild polio from most countries on earth; at the same time, they face significant bodily risk. STRIPE, an international consortium, conducted a mixed-methods study exploring the knowledge and experiences of polio staff in seven countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Nigeria). We surveyed 826 polio FLWs and conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 of them. We used a body work framework to guide analysis. Polio workers perform a different kind of body work than many other FLWs. Delivering a few drops of oral vaccine takes a light touch, but gendered spaces can make the work physically dangerous. Polio’s FLWs must bend or break gendered space norms as they move from house-to-house. Navigating male spaces carries risk for women, including lethal risk, particularly in conflict settings. Workers manoeuvre between skeptical community members and the demands of supervisors which generates emotional labour. Providing FLWs with more power to make operational decisions and providing them with robust teams and remuneration would improve the likelihood that they could act to improve their working conditions.