In the marine engineering field, movement of a load from one place to another is required. However, this movement is not always stable due to turbulence, interference of waves and buoyancy. Since humanity started using sea-going vessels, the heaving of ships caused by waves has made it hazardous to handle loads safely without damage. Even today, the waves are still a limiting factor. Every day, ships or offshore platforms must wait until the sea calms to load and unload. Heave Compensation Systems minimize this time-wasting dilemma by enlarging the window of operation (Rexroth 2-3). Solutions for this specific engineering problem are available in the market, but they are high-priced and complex. The price of a regular heave compensation system can vary from $15,000 to over $50,000.
A simplistic heave compensation device has been conceptually conceived and patented by WT Industries (the publication reference of the patent is US 2019/0092610 A1). This project aims to reduce cost and space needed for heave compensation systems, as the system with the load and the control cabin all fit into a 20 ft shipping container . The device is composed of a closed hydraulic system that stabilizes when the load initially contacts the water, and once it is submerged. The passive system consists of two accumulators (energy storage devices that accept, store and release energy as needed) and two actuators, to stabilize the load in the air-water interface. The active system is at work when the load is at working depth and is composed of the previous actuators as well as a hydraulic pump to drive said accumulators to oppose the movement of the waves on the load.
Team Kepler was responsible for the creation of a detailed system design, and the execution of the proof of concept. The patented device by the client did not include system specifications. Team Kepler will be responsible for deciding the final design criteria and will ensure that the device mechanism works as requested by the client.
The start date of the project was September 16, 2019. The end date of the project was May 8, 2020. Team Kepler has currently finalized the updated validation version of the prototype and aims to complete the prototype and original validation once the team and the sponsor can safely meet and all resources become available.
