Periodic Reporting for period 2 - YawSTOP (First stabilisation device to enable rotation-free and rotation-controlled lifting and loading of cargo and goods by cranes or helicopters to make transportation more efficient, reliable and safe)
Période du rapport: 2018-10-01 au 2019-09-30
YawSTOP
In lifting operations, several factors increase the risk for personnel injury and damage to equipment. Some of these factors (e.g. heave) are eliminated, but horizontal rotation around the vertical axis (so called yaw) still constitutes a problem. There is at present no practical solution for controlling the yaw-motion of a cargo. The common solution to this problem is to use taglines, which requires personnel in the lifting zone.
YawSTOP is a device designed to control and stabilize rotation around the vertical axis. With its retrofit design, it is to be mounted between the crane wire and the cargo without any modifications to existing lifting equipment. The YawSTOP is powered by batteries and will continue to control the cargo as long as the system has enough energy. The batteries will provide sufficient power for a full shift, and then the crane operator can alternatively dock the YawSTOP in the docking station for reloading or replace the batteries, thus making the YawSTOP operational again.
In offshore lifting operations, cranes mounted on a rig must compensate for motions created by the waves, current and wind. There has been developed solutions that compensate for nearly all of these motions. If an offshore crane is fitted with a HEAVE compensator and the supply boat has a dynamic positioning system, lifting operations can be performed with a significantly reduced risk for damage to equipment or personnel. However, today, the yaw is controlled by taglines requiring personnel in the lifting zone or by stopping the rotation on the rails of the vessel risking damage to both the vessel and the cargo.
Adding the retrofit YawSTOP to the lifting equipment, eliminates this final risk. As part of the YawSTOP project the special requirements within the offshore industry to use a forerunner, is met by adding additional equipment developed by KCL.
YawSTOP will improve work safety and working conditions in both offshore and in general the work safety and conditions for all kinds of lifting and loading operations in other industries such as construction and manufacturing. By eliminating personnel within the dangerous areas by remote- controlled rotation of the cargo, the risk of accidents and fatal injuries will be significantly reduced. By reducing the overall time for lifting and loading operations, YawSTOP will additionally contribute to environmental savings by reducing CO2/NOx/SOx emissions from the supply vessels and cranes at sea reducing energy consumption (less fuel). The YawSTOP solution will improve transportation and especially the lifting and loading of cargo and goods by sea and in rural and remote areas along the European coast and islands. Thus, YawSTOP will contribute to the European transport and mobility goals defined in the 2011 Transport White Paper by increasing the efficiency of transport and infrastructure, supporting the EU becoming world leader in safety and security of transport.
The objectives can be grouped into three categories and achieving them will bring us global market uptake.
1) Technology maturation objectives to optimize YawSTOP.
2) Pilot and validation objectives to demonstrate and validate the commercial potential of the YawSTOP in actual end-user operating environments. The piloting activities will elevate YawSTOP.
3) Market maturation, communication and innovation management objectives enabling us to successfully bring YawSTOP to market and reach sales transactions during or post project.
In lifting operations, several factors increase the risk for personnel injury and damage to equipment. Some of these factors (e.g. heave) are eliminated, but horizontal rotation around the vertical axis (so called yaw) still constitutes a problem. There is at present no practical solution for controlling the yaw-motion of a cargo. The common solution to this problem is to use taglines, which requires personnel in the lifting zone.
YawSTOP is a device designed to control and stabilize rotation around the vertical axis. With its retrofit design, it is to be mounted between the crane wire and the cargo without any modifications to existing lifting equipment. The YawSTOP is powered by batteries and will continue to control the cargo as long as the system has enough energy. The batteries will provide sufficient power for a full shift, and then the crane operator can alternatively dock the YawSTOP in the docking station for reloading or replace the batteries, thus making the YawSTOP operational again.
In offshore lifting operations, cranes mounted on a rig must compensate for motions created by the waves, current and wind. There has been developed solutions that compensate for nearly all of these motions. If an offshore crane is fitted with a HEAVE compensator and the supply boat has a dynamic positioning system, lifting operations can be performed with a significantly reduced risk for damage to equipment or personnel. However, today, the yaw is controlled by taglines requiring personnel in the lifting zone or by stopping the rotation on the rails of the vessel risking damage to both the vessel and the cargo.
Adding the retrofit YawSTOP to the lifting equipment, eliminates this final risk. As part of the YawSTOP project the special requirements within the offshore industry to use a forerunner, is met by adding additional equipment developed by KCL.
YawSTOP will improve work safety and working conditions in both offshore and in general the work safety and conditions for all kinds of lifting and loading operations in other industries such as construction and manufacturing. By eliminating personnel within the dangerous areas by remote- controlled rotation of the cargo, the risk of accidents and fatal injuries will be significantly reduced. By reducing the overall time for lifting and loading operations, YawSTOP will additionally contribute to environmental savings by reducing CO2/NOx/SOx emissions from the supply vessels and cranes at sea reducing energy consumption (less fuel). The YawSTOP solution will improve transportation and especially the lifting and loading of cargo and goods by sea and in rural and remote areas along the European coast and islands. Thus, YawSTOP will contribute to the European transport and mobility goals defined in the 2011 Transport White Paper by increasing the efficiency of transport and infrastructure, supporting the EU becoming world leader in safety and security of transport.
The objectives can be grouped into three categories and achieving them will bring us global market uptake.
1) Technology maturation objectives to optimize YawSTOP.
2) Pilot and validation objectives to demonstrate and validate the commercial potential of the YawSTOP in actual end-user operating environments. The piloting activities will elevate YawSTOP.
3) Market maturation, communication and innovation management objectives enabling us to successfully bring YawSTOP to market and reach sales transactions during or post project.
The YawSTOP concept was conceived many years back by Kolberg Caspay Lautom AS (KCL), the project owner. The present project, supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, commenced October 1 2017.
The project has been divided into several work packages which again are divided in to tasks. Each work package was given a specific completion date and a plan for what the product of the work package should be. As all development projects, YawSTOP is a dynamic, and not static project. However, overall the scheduled plans were kept for the first reporting period (RP 1). The development work during the first year comprised:
• develop test plans
• requirements and specifications for the YawSTOP system
• mechanical development of the YawSTOP load bearing construction and mechanism
• development of electrical components and control system, and test and validation in near real environment
Although exploitation and dissemination was originally scheduled for the 2nd year of the project, pre-launches were been made at the ONS in Stavanger, Norway in August 2018. The objective of the pre-launch was to get solid feedback from potential end-users. The feedback received has been of significant value.
During the 2nd year of the project, the YawSTOP concept was displayed at the Nor-Shipping fair in Oslo in June 2019. Previous contacts were updated on the project progress and a number of new potential clients were registered.
The project has been divided into several work packages which again are divided in to tasks. Each work package was given a specific completion date and a plan for what the product of the work package should be. As all development projects, YawSTOP is a dynamic, and not static project. However, overall the scheduled plans were kept for the first reporting period (RP 1). The development work during the first year comprised:
• develop test plans
• requirements and specifications for the YawSTOP system
• mechanical development of the YawSTOP load bearing construction and mechanism
• development of electrical components and control system, and test and validation in near real environment
Although exploitation and dissemination was originally scheduled for the 2nd year of the project, pre-launches were been made at the ONS in Stavanger, Norway in August 2018. The objective of the pre-launch was to get solid feedback from potential end-users. The feedback received has been of significant value.
During the 2nd year of the project, the YawSTOP concept was displayed at the Nor-Shipping fair in Oslo in June 2019. Previous contacts were updated on the project progress and a number of new potential clients were registered.
The technology behind the YawSTOP project is on gyro control. However, a number of factors have made it needed to develop special and unique solutions. By try and failure a functional device proving the concept is developed. The standard 20 tons capacity version was originally planned to be commercially ready late spring 2019. During the time up to the end of the grant project period (end September 2019), there have been multiple challenges in order to maintain the inertial energy. These challenges are mainly of a mechanical engineering nature (gears) and by the end of the grant project period various solutions were being developed.
When the gear issues are resolved, down- or up-scale versions will be available with a range of capacities.
Special challenges related to off shore applications have been solved, e.g. the requirement for forerunner (a wire or string under the lifting hook saving the connecting crew from impact injuries). The KCL/YawSTOP forerunner is a separate KCL project bringing YawSTOP to beyond the state of the art. All solutions are patented or with patents pending.
By the end of the grant project period, it is expected that line production will start (for the standard unit) in spring 2020.
The project has a considerable impact in the local area. The R & D department of KCL has recruited most of the developers from the local area (situated about 90 km south of Oslo, Norway). The post project production will require between 20 – 30 new employees, which in Norwegian terms is a considerable impact. The wide and strong Norwegian expertise particularly within the offshore industry is a favorable factor for the development.
When the gear issues are resolved, down- or up-scale versions will be available with a range of capacities.
Special challenges related to off shore applications have been solved, e.g. the requirement for forerunner (a wire or string under the lifting hook saving the connecting crew from impact injuries). The KCL/YawSTOP forerunner is a separate KCL project bringing YawSTOP to beyond the state of the art. All solutions are patented or with patents pending.
By the end of the grant project period, it is expected that line production will start (for the standard unit) in spring 2020.
The project has a considerable impact in the local area. The R & D department of KCL has recruited most of the developers from the local area (situated about 90 km south of Oslo, Norway). The post project production will require between 20 – 30 new employees, which in Norwegian terms is a considerable impact. The wide and strong Norwegian expertise particularly within the offshore industry is a favorable factor for the development.