Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Foldable Torpedo Anchor (FOTOAN)
Categories for this Invention
Category – Marine and Subsea Anchoring Systems
Applications – Offshore Energy Installations, Maritime Infrastructure, Underwater Exploration
Industry – Maritime Infrastructure and Transportation
Market – Global offshore mooring systems market is projected to grow from USD 2.08 Billion in 2022 to USD 2.96 Billion by 2032, with a forecasted CAGR of 4%.
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Problem Statement
- Develop advanced anchor technology capable of providing reliable mooring for a range of offshore structures, including floating production systems, offshore wind turbines, and other deep-sea installations.
- Design anchors with an extended lifespan to meet the demands of permanent installations in ultra-deep waters (>3000m) and varying environmental conditions.
- The technology address the need for more efficient and reliable anchoring solutions to support the increasing exploration and extraction of underwater hydrocarbons in deep and ultra-deep waters.
Technology
The present invention relates to a torpedo anchor in combination with movable foldable wings and fins to provide high pull-out resistance with minimum loss of embedment depth.
Method:
- The foldable torpedo anchor features movable wings and fins, designed to provide high pull-out resistance while minimizing embedment depth.
- One embodiment includes a separate pulling shaft connected to the wings through a mechanical hinge. This design allows for lateral movement of the fluke while keeping the anchor in place, reducing embedment depth significantly.
- The anchor incorporates a ballast chamber at the bottom, ensuring stability and restricting vertical movement, contributing to its effectiveness in various soil conditions.
- Another embodiment focuses on enhancing geotechnical resistance and pull-out capacity. After embedment, gradual pulling of the mooring line causes the movable wings to rotate, initiating a keying process. This process enables fins attached to the wings to penetrate laterally into the soil, increasing geotechnical resistance.
Key Features / Value Proposition
Optimized Embedment Depth:
- The foldable torpedo anchor minimizes embedment depth, offering efficient anchoring while reducing the impact on the surrounding environment.
Enhanced Stability through Ballast Chamber:
- The inclusion of a ballast chamber at the bottom ensures anchor stability, allowing it to maintain position and resist vertical movement effectively.
Tailored Geotechnical Resistance:
- The anchor’s innovative keying process increases geotechnical resistance, providing superior holding power in a variety of soil conditions.
Flexible Deployment with Foldable Wings:
- Movable wings enable flexible deployment, allowing the anchor to adapt to different terrains and achieve high pull-out resistance.
Mechanical Hinge Mechanism for Controlled Movement:
- The separate pulling shaft and mechanical hinge mechanism enable controlled lateral movement of the fluke, enhancing the anchor’s performance.
Gradual Pulling for Increased Pull-out Capacity:
- The gradual pulling of the mooring line initiates a keying process, enabling lateral penetration of fins into the soil and significantly boosting pull-out capacity.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. R. Sundaravadivelu
Prof. Nilanjan Saha
Department of Ocean Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 2000
- IN 411169 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 3
Proof of concept stage.