Case Overview

Business Goals

Solution

Why Vortex Studio
Success Story Summary
Dutch engineering start-up, Seaqualize, leverages Vortex Studio to conduct virtual prototyping and proof-of-concept testing for offshore lifting stabilization tool
The wind blows steadier at sea than on land, creating more reliable energy conditions for the generation of renewable energy—a major opportunity to combat climate change without disrupting the lives of those people it will benefit the most.
While offshore wind turbines are effective sources of energy, the sheer scale of these massive structures presents significant engineering and installation challenges.
Offshore installation is generally performed by jack-up vessels, which stabilize themselves via extendable legs. However, their use is restricted to shallower water, and the process is time-consuming, slowing installation project schedules.
The alternative, using floating crane-ships for lift operations poses new challenges, including longer lift-times and precision positioning at up to 100- to 200-meter tower heights. With sensitive gearboxes, generators, controllers, and other components pre-installed in turbines, unexpected movements put delicate pieces of instrumentation—not to mention the structure itself—at constant risk of damage.
If output expectations for offshore energy are to be realized, turbine deployment must become more reliable, safe, and cost-efficient.
Balanced Stabilizing Technology
Based in the Netherlands, Seaqualize is a technology start-up with big ideas as to how work can be done safely and efficiently. As such, this innovative organization developed a patented stabilization tool that neutralizes crane and load instability during lifts.
Initially developed and deployed for materials handling—such as industrial carrousels in factories—the technology performed incredibly well in these smaller-scale applications. At about the same time, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs started looking into solutions to support the rapid growth of the offshore wind energy industry. “It became clear that there was an opportunity to help with heavy loads in fiercely dynamic conditions,” explained founder & CEO of Seaqualize, Edouard Schinkel. “Our technology was perfect for the complex and unpredictable challenges of open ocean stabilization.” In theory, vessels and cranes could be adapted with Seaqualize’s “balanced heave compensation” technology to allow loads to remain relatively stationary during a lift, even with vessel movement.Uncharted Waters
Concepts Meet Real-world
“Vortex Studio let us tie all aspects together through simulation.”
Working with the robust, multibody dynamics engine in Vortex Studio also brought some overlooked design issues to light.
Understanding the interactions between the crane and its 200-ton load was vital for uncovering a situation where uncontrolled vibration may have damaged the crane or the ship itself. Left undetected, an issue like this could have proven catastrophic in downstream stages of development, but Seaqualize was able to solve the problem with some minimal design changes and load re-balancing—all verified in the Vortex Studio.
“It was easy in Vortex Studio. The software’s worksite-wide, system-level view of the operations lets you to do anything, see everything, and understand the full effects.”
Astonishing Training Experience

Benefits of Vortex Studio
• Supports proof-of-concept and operational workability simulations
• Provides a better understanding of design issues early in the process
• Interfaces with MATLAB in real-time

Expected Results
• Offshore turbines become operational and money-making quicker than ever before
Ready to Deploy
By 2020, Seaqualize intends on deploying the first stabilization system for field-testing. This is the first step toward large-scale deployment.
Equipped with Vortex Studio, Seaqualize is working to enable renewable energy expansion into previously unattainable areas. With less risk of damage during the installation process, wind farms should become operational and profitable faster than ever.
“By using simulation as part of our projects, I feel like a pioneer, both here in the Netherlands and across the offshore industry,” concluded Schinkel. “We put trust in the software, and that is being validated time and time again.”