For some promotional work and to tie in with the recent Floating Offshore Wind 24 conference here in Aberdeen, a set of five concept designs were created each based on a different aspect of offshore renewable energy. The concepts all started with some hand-drawn sketches on paper or Post-it notes to get overall ideas and shapes established. The main aim was to create eye-catching and disruptive thinking designs that would help demonstrate how even the most far-fetched concepts can be visualised through 3D modelling and animation utilising efficient techniques for quickly mocking up objects.
Working from sketches
Very little source detail is required to generate these kinds of models, where the overall form is the focus and no prior CAD details are produced. A rough guide on scale is used to build up the models in keeping with larger offshore wind developments and from there simple techniques such as extruded line objects and renderable splines are used to create those assets.
Short animated sequences help demonstrate the key features and can mostly be achieved with basic key framing. General camera passes and appropriate views utilising different lighting setups give each concept their own tone and help differentiate the visuals.
Including the footage of the sketches being produced also helps demonstrate how simple the source material is for each concept and how those drawings can be the inspiration for something more defined in 3D space.
Tension-Leg Platform with Gravity Battery
This concept was based around augmenting a standard TLP floating offshore wind turbine with the possibility of generating some supplemental or passive energy production through the movement of the sea at the floating foundation. Built into the structure would be a floatation device moving up and down on a column at sea level.
This movement would be transformed into a winching type of mechanism where a Gravity Battery supported in the water column would be lifted towards the surface. The Gravity Battery would be riding on the TLP tether wires for alignment, such as with guide lines and wires used in other subsea activities.
Upon reaching the top of the guide lines at the floating foundation, the Gravity Battery would then be released allowing it to travel back down to the seabed. This movement downward would then drive power generation.
Rotary Balloon with Flexi-neck
A concept looking at the possibility of larger scale airborne wind energy production offshore with a large balloon type structure tethered to a tower and floating foundation. In operation, the balloon would be let out on the tether to a higher altitude, rotating in the wind due to a spiral sail design wrapped around its form.
This rotation would be passed down to the tower where power could be generated. A flexible neck, similar in function to a set of bend restrictors, was shown at the top of the tower to give ‘flexibility’ to the direction of the balloon when operating in the wind.
As always, these concepts are just that, and are more about the process of idea generation and visualisation using 3D software such as Autodesk 3ds Max.
Swivel Tower for easier access
The central design here is in attempting to address maintenance and replacement issues with a swivelling tower pivoted at the floating foundation. This is a direct response to the difficulty in accessing the top of an offshore wind turbine where vessel cranes can not reach.
The advantage of this concept is that it keeps the topsides, nacelle and blades out of the water when lowered making them more accessible to service vessels and heavy lift cranes.
Obvious issues here with controlling the general movement and how to make that work, and work after years of operation in the field. However there could be an advantage over towing the turbine back to port and all that entails.
Renewables FPU
Looking at traditional FPUs or FPSOs this concept aims to maintain the same services and installation techniques used in those existing vessels and fields but applied to a renewables space. The Floating Production Unit here is at a scale in keeping with current vessels of this type and would utilise mooring lines, flexible risers or umbilicals for the subsea architecture but with an arrangement of large wind turbines as the energy source.
Proximity of the turbines may not be optimal but perhaps there are form factors that can be utilised in this fashion. Helical type designs are used in this concept and produce an eye-catching appearance, with the FPU weather veining to suit the wind.
Ferris Wheel
A fun design here, using an arrangement of aerofoil wings mounted on to a large wheel structure, orientated into the wind on barge-like foundations. Turning things on their head with this concept but it nonetheless makes for an interesting model to build and animate.
Communicating ideas, designs and projects
Overall this was a great project to work on, and it is always good challenging yourself to come up with concepts and designs where something useful may arise. The process of bringing simple sketches through to animated 3D models is always beneficial and hopefully something that companies and engineers working in the offshore renewables market can apply to their own projects and concepts.
Striking visuals are key in presentations and marketing material, so transform your sketches and drawings into effective, eye-catching animations to better capture your audience and demonstrate how things work and how they will look.
Check out the rest of the site for more info on the various services available with examples of commercial work and get in touch via the contact page to discuss your next project.