Maine Marine Composites (MMC) uses sophisticated simulation software and optimization techniques to analyze motions and loads on ships and barges, and design mooring systems to balance cost and performance. MMC has participated in many ocean-based renewable energy projects including providing motion/power predictions for the Resolute Marine Energy’ SurgeWEC system and for the Healy Wave Energy Converter. MMC analyzed moorings for MHK systems including ORPC’s TidGen ® / RivGen ® systems, and developed the mooring system for the Univ. of Maine VolturnUS 50% design.
MMC was formed in 2009 in order to perform shock and vibration analyses of high speed boats for USSOCOM (SEALs). Using software including WAMIT, ANSYS Aqwa, and Orcina's OrcaFlex and OrcaWave, MMC analyzes the motions and loads on moored platforms such as floating wind and floating wave energy converters. Specifically, MMC models the vessel, mooring system and umbilical lines or riser to find the loads in the coupled anchor-line-platform system. MMC has worked on mooring analysis projects for NOWRDC, the Univ. of Maine, and BSEE among others. Under a grant from BSEE, MMC analyzed the fatigue life of mooring components including chains, fairleads and anchors (https://www.bsee.gov/research-record/tap-758-fatigue-design-methodologies-applicable-complex-fixed-and-floating-offshore).
MMC performed motion and load analyses for the Healy Wave Energy Converter (HWEC), a 49-ton point absorber designed for deployment in New Hampshire waters (https://mainemarinecomposites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Healy-Wave-Energy-Converter_1pg.pdf). MMC began by developing metocean survival conditions for the HWEC and then analyzed the preliminary mooring design provided by Healy. MMC continued to redesign the system, specifying all of the parts in the mooring system and working with the marine contractor to develop deployment plans. MMC became the HWEC project manager, working with the USACE, US Coast Guard, NOAA Fisheries, and New Hampshire state authorities to obtain permits for the deployment site. At the end of the project, MMC managed the decommissioning and final disposal of the full-size HWEC prototype.
Recently, MMC participated in a project funded by NOWRDC to investigate the characteristics of a reference 10MW floating wind turbine deployed in shallow water. MMC performed OrcaFlex analyses of various mooring configurations to demonstrate that it was possible to create cost-effective catenary systems for shallow water deployment, and to demonstrate the benefits of using multi-material lines to balance distributed line weight (heavy/light chain, synthetic rope). versus motion and load mitigation.
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