Test and monitoring means
Mooring demonstrator for floating wind turbines
An instrumented demonstrator for the study of mooring lines
It is based on a 7‑tonne buoy with a diameter of 3.70 m, an autonomous power generation system, an inertial navigation unit, and a data acquisition system for sensor measurements. The buoy can be equipped with up to three mooring lines. These lines may be composed of different components such as chain, wire rope, synthetic fibres, as well as tension and elongation sensors. The demonstrator makes it possible, among other things, to test the offshore performance of synthetic mooring systems over the medium to long term, as well as the robustness and reliability of monitoring technologies, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable solutions for floating wind energy.
Why work with us?
A unique service offering
We support you in the testing and validation of new mooring line technologies, associated innovative components, and monitoring technologies for these lines. We also assist you in the development of sensors dedicated to in‑service monitoring and biofouling measurement.
- Definition of your requirements
- Support for the design of your innovative solution
- Adaptation of the demonstrator to your specific project
- Management of deployment operations and project monitoring while the demonstrator is at sea
- Analysis of data and results, and comparison with data from other installed sensors
- Advice on adapting your solution based on the results obtained
Conducting cutting-edge R&D
Since 2017, we have been carrying out studies and experimental work dedicated to synthetic mooring lines for offshore wind energy. Through a transdisciplinary approach, we design comprehensive R&D projects whose results are directly exploitable by industrial stakeholders in the sector.
Our added value lies in the development of a specific constitutive law for polyamide (nylon). Our results have also been incorporated into the Bureau Veritas NI432 guidance note.
In parallel, we have developed a meso‑scale 3D finite element model of a sub‑rope. This model provides an in‑depth understanding of the mechanical behaviour and ageing of synthetic mooring lines.
An operational and scientific team
Engineering
This team stands out for its expertise in design, sizing and in‑service monitoring. It also has an in‑depth understanding of the offshore wind market and its innovation needs. The team defines and delivers innovative multidisciplinary projects, providing technical leadership and carrying out engineering studies; Its activities focus on physical and numerical characterisation and modelling tools for in‑service monitoring, operations and maintenance. Finally, it leverages machine learning methods to process and analyse the data collected.
Find out where our test and monitoring means are located
Thanks to our unique at-sea test and monitoring facilities, long-term observations and experiments can be carried out in offshore environments. It is crucial for stakeholders in the sector to have access to data acquired in the field, under real-life conditions.
They test their mooring solutions on our demonstrator
The evaluation process is not simply a box-checking exercise, it’s a real opportunity to discuss the content.
Another key strength of this Committee was that it is made up of researchers from different backgrounds, laboratories and countries. This leads to very rich and stimulating discussions.
We often tend to work on individual projects. The DRACCAR-MMERMAID research project gives us the opportunity to be involved in studying cumulative effects at the scale of an entire coastline.
