Prizewinners
Robert Macdonald MEng StudIED
SolidSeaTransfer I have recently graduated from the University of Strathcylde with Masters of Distinction in product design engineering. During my five year degree I undertook a number of industrial placements, one of which involved developing a business to service onshore wind turbines. The opportunity gave me an insight into the wind industry and I developed a keen interest in renewable power. This interest, coupled with the knowledge I developed during my placement, allowed me to identify a key problem area within the offshore wind industry; that providing personnel access to offshore turbines for maintenance and repairs is both dangerous and difficult.
The solution I developed was SolidSeaTransfer, an offshore wind turbine access system designed to bridge the gap between access vessels and turbines, which increases both the safety and operational range of personnel transfer.
Research identified that the renewables 12
industry has been subject to exponential growth, focused on maximising power production. Wind farms require regular servicing and maintenance, which requires physical access to the turbines. The current access system involves a technician jumping from the bow of a boat onto the side of a turbine. This has been highlighted within the industry as a key area for improvement, as it relies on personal judgement and therefore poses serious risk of injury.
The wave height under which current procedure can be carried out is limited, meaning often turbines cannot be accessed for extended periods of time, resulting in costly production losses. SolidSeaTransfer standardises the procedure and increases the wave height in which it can be carried out safely; this reduces access restrictions by up to 35% which has been estimated to save the industry over £385m of lost production by 2020.
Opportunities Although the project was initially developed for academic purposes, its potential was recognised at once by the Carbon Trust and has since sparked interest
from major renewable energy companies, encouraging me to further develop the project. The design approach adopted was very hands-on and concept evaluation involved exhaustive prototyping.
A scale model of the transfer system was developed and tested in a wave tank, where the basic principles were proven. The next stages are to further analyse the design before developing a full scale prototype to carry out sea trials. It is hoped that partnerships will be created with external companies to fund this development.
I am currently developing a vessel on which to mount the access system, with funding gained from the Carbon Trust. The vessel is being designed specifically to allow fast transit to and from wind farm sites, whilst still providing a stable platform for personnel transfer on site. The combination of the vessel and the transfer system will further increase the operational range providing a complete access system.
I am delighted to receive the award, as the recognition it provides is extremely encouraging.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36