Optimisation of bubble screens for offshore wind installations
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 137
Date31 Oct 2023
As the Bubbles JIP successfully concludes, fresh insight has been gained into the understanding of bubble curtains. But given the complex engineering involved, a follow-up JIP is being established.
A consortium of research institutes and industry partners involved in the offshore wind sector set up the Bubbles JIP initiative in 2019. The aim was to achieve more efficient and effective use of bubble curtains deployed for noise mitigation in offshore installation projects by improved engineering of the bubble screen.
During installation of monopiles and jackets at sea, the noise generated by high-energy piling may harm the marine environment. To mitigate the risk of noise for marine life, limits are included in permits for pile driving operations for offshore construction projects.
A consortium of research institutes and industry partners involved in the offshore wind sector set up the Bubbles JIP initiative in 2019. The aim was to achieve more efficient and effective use of bubble curtains deployed for noise mitigation in offshore installation projects by improved engineering of the bubble screen.
During installation of monopiles and jackets at sea, the noise generated by high-energy piling may harm the marine environment. To mitigate the risk of noise for marine life, limits are included in permits for pile driving operations for offshore construction projects.
Contact
ErikJan de Ridder
Senior Project Manager/Teamleider
Fedde Bloemhof
Specialist Meettechnieken
BEST PRACTICE
A looped hose on the seabed - pressurised by air compressors – generates the bubble curtain. Currently, bubble curtain designs are largely based on previous experience, taking into account the complex behaviour of bubbles underwater. However, companies experience large variations in the current performance of bubble curtains. Therefore, the JIP wanted to have an improved understanding of the noise generation and mitigation mechanisms, enabling better engineering of the bubble curtains, leading to screens that are more effective and less expensive.
Bubble curtain in the Offshore Basin (Image GROW)
MARIN - BUBBLE JIP