The existing 'CleanWinTur' (CWT) project targets elimination of biofouling on access ladders of offshore wind turbines (OWTs). Biofouling is a safety risk for engineers needing to climb onto OWTs and in extreme cases, prevents access until costly, time-consuming cleaning has been undertaken - provided usually by service boat-mounted high pressure water jetting . Biofouling of ladders is a _global_ problem. The CWT project addresses the challenge by developing an 'in-situ' antifouling system. Methods of keeping ladders 'always clean' have been confirmed to be of great value by end-users, with the potential to lower OPEX costs and reduce downtimes of an OWT, providing the following benefits:
* Improved safety for engineers using the access ladders.
* Reduced GHG emissions in comparison to pressure jet cleaning from a diesel-powered boat: estimated at 4,438 litres of diesel and 11.1 tonnes of CO2 per access ladder over a 10-year period for a near-shore OWF(arm).
* Reduced turbine downtime due to accessibility problems when OWTs malfunction and ladders are not accessible.
The 'CWT' technical approach under development encompasses exposing ladders' surfaces to a number of mechanical, electromagnetic and thermal excitations to prevent marine growth.
The CWT consortium comprises Brunel Innovation Centre, 3-Sci, InnoTecUK, E.ON (now RWE), European Marine Energy Centre and ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd. These UK-based partners have been focussing on the design, deployment and demonstration of antifouling solutions for UK waters. An original programme aim of demonstrating in other global locations has been thwarted by a combination of COVID-induced delays in setting up UK initial field trials and then learning of some necessary technical modifications. These delays have meant that UK sea water trials have not been comprehensively completed during summer 2021 - and sea water trials are now anticipated to be resumed in mid-2022.. Accordingly, this proposal is for preparation and setting up of trials in South East Asia (Malaysia) which will provide the dual benefit of:
a. As initially planned, allowing the antifouling approaches to be tested in a different marine environment.
b. Allowing field tests to continue during the UK winter - when marine fouling has ceased to occur.
Establishing and subsequent execution of the proposed trials in SE Asia will help accelerate completion of the CWT technical solutions and accelerate subsequent exploitation of CWT products and services 'globally'.
"Offshore wind energy has been instrumental in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and rendering the UK less dependent on imports to cover its energy needs. As such, large investment programmes and favourable legislation have been driving growth in the sector with overall capacity doubling every five years, a trend that is set to continue by 2030. However, offshore wind energy costs remain high and the increasing depth and distance from the shore continue to drive maintenance costs up, particularly those associated with accessing the turbines for maintenance crews. In particular, dealing with marine growth through traditional means (i.e. manually cleaning the access ladders) becomes increasingly costly, challenging, dangerous, and ineffective.
CleanWinTur will automate this process with a permanently installed system that will utilise techniques such as ultrasound, UV-C and thermal sterilisation to prevent marine growth on the access ladders, reducing respective costs and dangers.
Cuitest first full scale deployments
Mitigating the effects of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) has been identified as a significant opportunity for
improved efficiencies in North Sea oil fields. Recent studies have confirmed that there is a lack of high
performance technologies to combat CUI. 3-Sci's new CUITEST is a novel electromagnetic (EM) path loss
measurement technology that monitors approximately 50 metres of pipeline for moisture ingress without
requiring regular protrusions into the insulation. Simulations show that this path loss measurement tool could
detect moisture content distributed over great lengths, which overcomes the shortcomings of many other CUI
monitoring systems. Experimental validation of these results will be obtained within the project, with eventual
integration of this CUITEST tool into 3-Sci's explosive atmosphere certified wireless mesh network. This will
enable synchronised autonomous measurements to be conducted on pipelines located between any two
battery powered CUITEST discrete units.
DAISEE from 3-Sci Ltd is a long-life, extreme-distance, wireless communication system
comprised of a series of miniature, autonomous transceivers. DAISEE can communicate over
distances from metres to tens or hundreds of kilometres - unlike existing, power-hungry,
'mesh' networks there is no limit to the numbers of transceivers that can be used. Each
interchangeable DAISEE transceiver is capable of carrying its own sensors, as needed for any
specific application, so relevant environmental data can be obtained from any point in the
communication network. Third party sensors can be added 'at will'. DAISEE does not need
obtrusive solar power units or small wind-generators - the typical lifetime of a DAISEE
transceiver will approach ten years.
This innovation arises because of the teams' experience in developing new, autonomous
sensor networks. Significant focus on low-energy electronics and our ability to create new
communication protocols for a very wide range of system physical configurations enables
these advances. Many key technology elements have been addressed and this Proof of Market
study will feed into specific design considerations for a field-testable prototype for selected
applications. Where possible, a common design will be derived to meet as many market sector
needs as possible.
DAISEE therefore offers benefits over existing mesh network and Satcomms systems,
providing a low-cost, low-power option. DAISEE will be a compelling alternative to the
installation of wired-sensor systems and fibre optic sensing systems for many monitoring and
security applications. It will provide options for temporary and permanent monitoring of
remote assets, especially where a 'retrofit' monitoring capability is required in short
timescales.
The 'Proof of Market' study is to verify engineering requirements of key sectors and explore
the market justification for further investment in the technology through subsequent
preparation of prototypes for field studies.
"Wi-Corr, patent pending technology - provides advanced ultrasonic measurement which has potential value outside our current sector focus in the oil industry.
Identifying alternative, emergent and novel market applications will lead to a wider exploitation of our core technology, business stability and growth and potential value across a wider range of core UK industries - such as aerospace and medical. This will generate value to our business and also a wider network of stakeholders in the new markets we subsequently target."