Instrumentation central to keeping floating wind platforms on track

Offshore wind farms are gaining traction as a renewable energy source, with substantial growth predicted over the next few decades. Freedom from physical barriers and higher wind speeds at sea offer increased opportunities for higher energy generation. Closer inland too, new advances in platform design offer a solution to challenging seabed conditions which may prohibit the use of conventional fixed platforms. Careful monitoring, however, is essential to ensure efficient and safe operation of these costly assets and to maintain optimal energy production in service.

Marine solutions provider PSM has been instrumental in developing reliable monitoring and control systems that can optimise platform stability and monitor performance in remote locations, supporting a range of offshore projects. These include engineering a flood detection system for Ideol’s Floatgen project and supplying a number of instrumentation sets for the Windfloat Atlantic project.

The company’s latest Connect System exploits the advantages of digital technology to deliver true dynamic monitoring. Connect is built around a central processing module that interfaces directly with PSM’s APT1000 intelligent tank level and pressure sensors via a multidrop network and receives other input signals via a range of smart interface cards. Multiple input ports offer scope for limitless scalability.

Cabling requirements have been reduced, offering cost savings during construction. The system provides continuous accurate monitoring in real time of ballast and service tank level and multiple point draught measurements, while also monitoring wave height, temperature and pressure. Connect allows multiple display points to be connected via a single ethernet link, presenting information according to application or operational area and available to be read by the platform’s management system at any time. Internet connectivity additionally allows remote updating and configuration from anywhere.

Based on the popular VPM system, which comprises a modular and flexible family of tank monitoring and flood detection systems, Connect’s digital design is helping cut maintenance costs and provide reliability to help secure the future of floating wind farms as a major renewable energy alternative.