Innovation

Maritime innovationfrom researchand development

We run research and development projects for marine and offshore applications. These cover floating foundations for offshore wind turbines, offshore platforms and tank systems for cryogenic media.

Topics: Floating · Deep-water · LNG
Partners: Industry · Research
Funding: Projektträger Jülich
Location: 54°05′N 12°08′E

Research

What we research

We are currently working on, or have recently completed, projects in four areas.

01 · OWSplus

Floating substructures

In this project we investigated floating substructures for wind turbines and converter platforms. We developed and assessed different floating structures for buoyancy, stability and structural behaviour.

A second focus was on existing and new mooring systems. We assessed loads, sizing, fabrication, transport and installation as part of the overall system. These results can inform future client projects.

We have not yet used these results in a client project.

The Offshore Engineering section explains how we apply these findings.

02 · OWS-MV

Deep-water offshore

This project examined structures and installation concepts for offshore applications in deeper water. We assessed self-installing topside sections, floating baseframes, structures for scour protection and technologies for pile-driving noise mitigation.

We looked at loads, design, installation and the technical constraints of each system.

03 · CTS

Cryogenic tank systems

In this project we investigated tank systems for LNG storage at temperatures down to −163 °C. We examined sloshing loads, insulation concepts, serial production, materials and material combinations, and ways to reduce the boil-off rate.

The systems were intended for ships and for container-based storage systems.

04 · Foundations III

Offshore wind foundations

In this project we investigated foundation structures for offshore wind turbines. We assessed environmental conditions, loads, technical rules and standards, and the design of the different foundation types: monopiles, jackets, tripiles, tripods and gravity-based foundations.

We use these findings when developing and assessing foundation concepts.

Warnow Design team member pointing out something on a monitor to colleagues

Three Warnow Design engineers talking at a laptop

Two Warnow Design team members discussing something on a laptop in the hallway

Warnow Design team member explaining something on a laptop to a colleague

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Method

How we workin research projects

01 · Task

A specific technical task

Our research projects start with a specific technical problem that existing methods or concepts cannot resolve adequately. We analyse the available solutions, assess technical approaches and use that assessment to develop our own concepts.

02 · Steps

Calculate, compare, revise

We calculate, compare and revise these concepts through several stages of development. We assess loads, design, fabrication, installation and operation.

03 · Partners

With industry and research

We carried out several projects with partners from industry and research. Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) administered them under public funding programmes.

04 · Documentation

Results that carry forward

We document results, calculations and boundary conditions so that later development and client projects can draw on them.

Buildable from day one

What we want to work on next

We want to explore platforms that convert renewable energy into hydrogen and feed it into a pipeline network. The hydrogen can then be stored in tank farms onshore or distributed through an onshore pipeline network. The engineering scope spans offshore structures, energy infrastructure and marine design.

Warnow Design's role depends on the project and the partners involved.