Providing safe, efficient, and reliable transfer of power for workboats and vessels.
The X-Wave™ Motion Compensation technology offers a comprehensive solution for various offshore applications, including Active Heave Compensation of ROV, AUV, and Trencher LARS, Subsea Cranes, Lift Winches, Deep Water Lowering Systems, Well Intervention Systems, IMR Systems, IWOC Systems, Drill String Compensators, Flying Sheave Compensators, and Survey Equipment. Additionally, it provides stabilization for lifting, helideck, and antenna platforms, as well as walk-to-work and personnel access systems.
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The charging system overview, as depicted in Figure 1, encompasses various components integral to its functionality. These include the turbine/offshore substation power converter, responsible for converting windfarm medium voltage AC power into DC power compatible with the Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) propulsion and battery system. Additionally, the system involves the deployment system 'Reeler' for the turbine mooring/charging cable and connector, facilitating efficient operations. The vessel connection and mooring system, along with a robust control and safety system, further contribute to the comprehensive design and effectiveness of the charging infrastructure.
The real time control system is provided to enable safe control of the charging system from both the vessel and windfarm control room and is designed to embed safety throughout the charging process.
The control & safety system has been developed according to marine classification society rules and standards, using MJR Power & Automation’s 25 years of experience of designing and delivering safety and mission critical systems to the commercial marine and offshore energy industries. A real time deterministic marine grade operating platform is combined with the added functionality of a web portal system used for the booking and monitoring of the wind turbine charging system from the vessel, the windfarm control room and via desktop access.
The control software has been developed for fully automatic, semi automatic and manual control of the charging and vessel connection system to provide maximum flexibility. The high-level control modes are as follows:
Throughout the process of charging the vessel battery system, vessel personnel have full visibility of the status of the charging and deployment systems from the operator control station that is situated on the bridge of the vessel.
The web portal supplements the real time control system on the vessel and the turbine/offshore substation and allows asset owners and operators to access live data and analytics. It provides a means of booking, managing, authorising and remote real time monitoring of charging operations together with energy usage metering, carbon saving and emissions reduction data and billing. It also shows live information on vessel traffic, position and the status of the wind farm turbine chargers.
The secure web-based portal can be reached through mobile devices and desktop computers by users with the correct access privileges and complies with the latest DNV rules for Cyber Security. We appreciate that in a marine environment charge booking, authorisation and operations may be preferred to be carried out by VHF radio communication between the vessel and the windfarm control room. However, the offshore charging portal remains fully relevant in this case as it provides full desktop access to both real time and historical operational data, analytics and reporting.
A booking system via the app or website provides similar functionality to other familiar online booking platforms, whereby the vessel looks for a free charging slot and books it. With the current functionality, the windfarm control room must authorise the booking before the vessel can connect to the charger, however the industry may prefer other functionality. It may be desirable that the functionality is similar to land-based EV charging whereby the vessel approaches the charger and is auto authorised unless the account is blocked.
A screen showing the vessel at the turbine charger and connected to it. This screen displays the vessel position relative to the turbine in real time and the key charging data and system performance parameters.
