Complete record of the strong typhoon "Sura", how did "Guanhai No. 1" do it

On September 2, 2023, Typhoon No. 9 "Sura" developed westward along the coastal waters of Guangdong. During the passage of "Sura" through Zhuhai waters, the maximum wind force on the sea surface reached the super typhoon level 18, and the wind speed reached 61.5 meters/second, which caused huge waves of 5 to 6 meters high on the sea surface. The marine meteorological forecast department issued a red warning for sea waves, and many structures at sea suffered serious damage.

At this time, the "Guanhai No. 1" wave energy power supply observation platform, located about 1.5 kilometers north of Dong'ao Island in Zhuhai City, was also facing the threat of "Sura".

"Guanhai No. 1" was put into operation

The "Guanhai No. 1" after the passage of Typhoon "Sura"

Comparison of "Guanhai No. 1" before and after typhoon, image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

"Guanhai No. 1" is located in the center of Zhuhai, on the path of super typhoon "Sura", but it not only successfully resisted the damage of the typhoon, but also recorded relevant ocean observation data and real-time sea conditions video during the passage of super typhoon "Sura", and fully recorded the formation, development and retreat process of the super typhoon passing through the area, and obtained valuable real-time data and video materials.

Screenshot of the video of the huge waves recorded by Guanhai No. 1 when Sura was approaching. Image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Huge waves caused by "Sura" when it passed through Zhuhai waters (the waves have submerged the upper platform). Image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

How does “Guanhai No. 1” achieve a stable posture?

"Guanhai No. 1" is an ocean buoy platform that uses wave energy as the main power supply and solar energy as a supplement to power ocean observation instruments. The platform is about 14 meters high, 6 meters in diameter, and 8 meters in draft. It uses a 4-point mooring system to ensure that the platform will not lose anchor under strong waves. At the same time, it provides convenience for the installation of underwater instruments and equipment, and the mooring lines of the device will not be entangled with the cables of underwater instruments.

The "Guanhai No. 1" platform is also equipped with a ballast system, which adjusts the platform's draft and ensures that the platform has a stable posture in the ocean. Even under large waves, the platform posture remains stable. These designs have enabled the "Guanhai No. 1" to successfully withstand the attacks of several typhoons in the summer of 2023. In addition to Typhoon No. 9 "Sura", it also experienced Typhoon No. 4 "Tali".

Figure 4 Overview of Guanhai-1 (Source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

What other “magical powers” ​​does “Guanhai No. 1” have?

In addition to its excellent typhoon resistance, "Guanhai No. 1" also has excellent power supply capabilities. It uses wave energy in the ocean to power the platform's observation system.

The key to this wave energy power supply system is the use of Eagle-type wave energy capture and hydraulic energy conversion technology. Based on the research results of the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences in wave energy technology for many years, the Eagle-type wave energy absorbing float is combined with the ocean platform to form the shape of the entire observation platform. The relative movement of the Eagle-type wave absorbing float and the platform is used to convert wave energy into the mechanical energy of the wave absorbing float. A hydraulic energy conversion system is installed inside to efficiently and stably convert the mechanical energy of the wave absorbing float into hydraulic energy, which finally drives the permanent magnet generator to rotate, converts the hydraulic energy into alternating current and stores it in the battery through power conversion processes such as rectification and inversion.

Hawk-type wave-absorbing floating body, hydraulic energy conversion and power conversion system cabin, three-dimensional model diagram of "Guanhai No. 1", physical model test diagram, image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

In addition, in order to make up for the problem of insufficient power supply of the wave energy generation system when the waves are small, the platform is also equipped with solar energy as a supplement to ensure that the observation instruments on the platform have a stable and sufficient power supply at all times.

Because of its sufficient power supply, the "Guanhai No. 1" is equipped with many ocean observation instruments. It can not only observe the sea surface, such as water videos, meteorological parameters (including wind speed, wind direction, temperature, radiation, etc.), and environmental parameters, but also observe some parameters in the sea water (such as waves, currents, etc.) and video data. As shown in the figure below, this is a video of the "Guanhai No. 1" installed underwater to observe the growth of fish schools in the East Australia Marine Ranch.

Screenshot of underwater fish activity video transmitted by the underwater observation system on board the "Guanhai No. 1". Image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Therefore, "Guanhai No. 1" has the ability to conduct three-dimensional observations in the air, on the water surface, and on the seabed, and can carry out data communication through wireless networks to transmit the observed data and videos in real time. The following figure is the screen of the real-time data display system of "Guanhai No. 1". In addition, "Guanhai No. 1" is also equipped with many backup interfaces of voltage levels, including 380V/220V/48V/24V/12V, etc., to facilitate the addition of more different types of observation equipment.

Figure 7 Real-time display of ocean observation data from the “Guanhai No. 1” (Source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The ocean occupies 70% of the earth's surface and is an important source of production and living materials for human beings. In order to better develop marine resources, we must have a deep understanding of and explore the ocean. Ocean observation is a necessary means to understand and explore the ocean. However , one of the most critical issues restricting ocean observation from going to the deep sea is the shortage of energy supply for various observation equipment, which makes it difficult for ocean observation to go to the deep sea and to observe the ocean for a long time, uninterruptedly, and over a large area.

In response to the current power supply shortage problem in the field of ocean observation, the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a new approach to power ocean observation equipment using marine renewable energy such as wave energy, and has successively developed a number of wave energy power supply devices including the "Guanhai No. 1", "Hai Ling" and "Haixing", with a power supply capacity of 100W-10kW to meet the power needs of different observation instruments and equipment in different sea areas, realizing a new mode of in-situ power supply for ocean observation by using ocean energy in the sea and obtaining energy locally, providing energy guarantee for my country's ocean observation cause.

Wave energy-powered ocean observation buoys developed by Guangzhou Institute of Energy (750W and 150W Hailing buoys on the left and Haixing buoy on the right), Image source: Guangzhou Institute of Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Planning and production

Author: Ye Yin, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Produced by Science Popularization China

Producer丨China Science Expo

Editor: Lin Lin