Offshore Spring Closer – Beatrice Wind Farm
Gatemaster was commissioned to construct and supply specially designed closing hinges to fit to the internal and external access decks of the Beatrice wind farm project.
Image credited to ‘SSE’
The Project
Placed off the north-east coast of Scotland is the Beatrice offshore wind farm consisting of 84 7MW turbines. The project required a number of closing springs for the internal and external access decks on the turbines and Gatemaster was approached by design consultant Atkins Global to supply rising hinges.
The Process
After the initial brief and consultations, it became clear that the standard rising hinges requested could be an issue for offshore use. After several tests in simulated conditions, the conclusion was that the bevel on the rising hinge was not providing enough torsion in these surroundings.
The Solution
Drawing on previous experience, Gatemaster conducted in-depth research to design the offshore spring closer. This included evaluating several key considerations such as maximising the corrosion resistance of the design and the required weight and torsion for dealing with the wind and weather conditions.
The Project
Placed off the north-east coast of Scotland is the Beatrice offshore wind farm consisting of 84 7MW turbines. The project required a number of closing springs for the internal and external access decks on the turbines and Gatemaster was approached by design consultant Atkins Global to supply rising hinges. The specifications for the hinges were:
- Highly weatherproof to withstand the harsh marine conditions.
- Reliable self-closing ensured over a 27-year period.
- Include a heavy-duty stainless-steel spring for consistent closing.
Liaising with the principal contractors, Atkins Global asked Gatemaster to come up with a solution, which met the specific project requirements set out.
Drawing on previous experience supplying the Dudgeon Project, Gatemaster reviewed the initial brief in order to make it suitable for offshore application.
The Process
After the initial brief and consultations, it became clear that the standard rising hinges requested could be an issue for offshore use. This type of hinge does not have adjustable force and with the added challenge of wind loading, rising hinges struggle to maintain a consistent closing speed. After several tests in simulated conditions, the conclusion was that the bevel on the rising hinge was not providing enough torsion in these surroundings.
To reinforce the torsion, Gatemaster developed a bespoke spring assister, which would help push the rising hinges together and thus close the gate effectively. These prototypes were transported to the construction site in Aalborg, Denmark to test on the access deck gates.
Although the assister worked as intended in the actual conditions, the client decided to instead commission Gatemaster to engineer a fully bespoke adjustable offshore spring closer.
THE SOLUTION
Drawing on previous experience, Gatemaster conducted in-depth research to design the closer. This included evaluating several key considerations, such as:
- How to design the body of the closer to prevent corrosion or fracturing in the tough conditions.
- The required weight and torsion of a spring capable of closing the gates reliably.
- What fixing methods to use in order to ensure maximum strength and longevity.
After researching, developing, and testing, the solution was as following:
- An adjustable offshore spring closer made from all 316L stainless steel components and fixings to ensure maximum corrosion resistance.
- A robust body with an incorporated spring, ensuring easy opening for operators and reliable closing.
- The integrated spring adjuster meant that the spring could be tightened as much or little as needed to ensure the desired effect.
These hinges proved a great solution for the Beatrice OWF as they were not only durable and reliable, but easy to install and adjust due to the innovative design. The reliability and consistency of these closing devices on offshore platforms can help prevent accidents and gives the operators one less thing to worry about when on board.
