Introducing the RADAC WaveGuide Wave radar

PLANET OCEAN LTD INTRODUCES:
THE RADAC WAVEGUIDE RADAR
Described by the European Commission in 2008 as 'the energy of the future', the resulting growth in the offshore wind industry helps to ensure security in Europe’s future
energy and a transition into a low carbon economy. Weather however remains a major
risk to offshore operations and knowledge of site conditions assists in determining the
optimum times during which certain procedures can be performed safely. While advances in technology and industry maturity will make offshore wind an increasingly
attractive investment, the industry is always in need for solutions which reduce costs
and increase operational efficiency. Since 1996, RADAC has therefore been developing
the WaveGuide: a very accurate radar based system to measure the sea state, vital in
planning operational and development activities in the offshore environments.
Wave and tide data are of great importance during all stages
of offshore wind farm development and operation as well as
many other sectors. Vessels, such as those used for jacking
operations, crane operations and towing, rely on real-time
wave data. Their operations are typically limited by a maximum wave height of two meters or less. Therefore reliable
and real-time data are essential for maximised exploitation of
weather windows and improved safety during these offshore
activities.
From the development phase onwards, wave data is required
to calculate the wave load in order to define the requirements
of the platform design. In addition, during its operational life,
the actual wave climate is monitored to validate the expected
endurance models and justify the lengthening or shortening
head and which facilitates commissioning, remote servicing,
for the platforms lifetime. Accurate analysis of the possible
data collection, data processing, presentation and logging. It
exploitation period can make an enormous difference in cost.
incorporates an internal web-server so that any web enabled
Over the past 40 years the standard method for obtaining device connected to the same network can access the wave
wave information is by the use of wave directional buoys. The data without the requirement for special software or hardmain advantage of using a buoy is its independence from sup- ware.
port structures. However the disadvantages of this method
The WaveGuide comes as standard in four different models,
include the high maintenance costs and the risk of long peridiffering in functionality from simple water level to a system
ods without measurements when a buoy breaks from its
which measures all directional wave parameters.
mooring or runs out of power. Buy based system are also extremely expensive to deploy and recover for servicing.
Wave Direction
Down-looking Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave
(FMCW) radars for wave measurements have been used for 25
years. The popularity of these systems have grown as prices
for FMCW radars have fallen and the increased use in the field
have proven them to be a very robust and low maintenance
alternative to buoy systems. As such, they are slowly becoming a preferred method for collecting environmental data, and
are now more widely applied for water level, tide, harbour
oscillations and wave direction and height at sea.
RADAC’s showpiece is the WaveGuide Direction. The directional system consists of three downward-pointing radars. With an
array of three radars, the elevations of the sea surface is
measured at three positions. Knowing the slopes and the
phase relations, the directional spectrum can be accurately
calculated. RADAC is the only company that brings this technology to the market.
RADAC has conducted field trials at Prinses Amaliawindpark,
25 kilometres off the Dutch coast. Two versions of the Directional WaveGuide were compared to a Directional Waverider
The WaveGuide
buoy over a period spanning several months. The field trials
RADAC supplies systems for remote monitoring waves and
successfully indicated no statistical difference in the directiontides, including wind farms and installation vessels. The RADAC
al information from the buoy and from the WaveGuide radars.
WaveGuide is an accurate radar system introduced in 1996,
incorporating advanced technologies that make it an easy to
use, reliable and robust device for measurement of level, tide
and waves up to the most extreme conditions.
The WaveGuide radar measures the distance to the water surface several times per second. Mounted high above the water
with no moving parts, preventive maintenance or cleaning is
not required. The system is compact and easy to install, suited
to accurately measure wave direction, heights and tides in all Therefore, the Directional WaveGuide can not only accurately
weather conditions. Recalibration is also never required due to and reliably measure wave direction, but the high quality data
is achieved without the hassle of service operations and break
the long-term stable zero reference.
away buoys.
The WaveGuide control system (data server) is a small low
powered module that can be located distant from the sensor
break waters, not only to determine construction requirements but also to monitor changes in wave climate. Real-time
The same technology can be applied directly to vessels to aid
measurements are also useful for safe vessel guidance and
in their operations. The WaveGuide Onboard installation com(un)loading of ships.
pensates for the vertical motions of the ship, so it measures
the waves the ship actually has to endure. A significant ad- Additionally, collecting data provides insight into natural phevantage of the WaveGuide Onboard is the continuous availa- nomena and patterns. This aids in predicting water levels in
bility of wave data, especially at night, in rough seas and under the future, increasing peace of mind. Especially where the
river flows into the sea, extremely high water levels during
heavy weather conditions with limited visibility.
storm conditions can cause flooding.
Additionally, the WaveGuide Onboard measures the waves as
they are encountered by the ship itself. This data is ideally Besides the danger of flooding, the lack of water is equally
used to determine the operational limitations of the vessel in important. In those situations water level information is cruharsh conditions. Therefore, a vessel in transit can adjust its cial to water distribution planning. River water level data is
speed and course to avoid critical headings. This not only helps essential for shipping as it influences safe passage of vessels
to identify safe heading and speed, but also monitoring the (sea gauge/river clearance).
Onboard
actual wave load to determine the lifetime of the vessel.
In areas such as coastlines, harbours and deltas, various natural phenomena occur including waves, tides, storm surge, tsuAs the distances measured have to compensate for the vertinami and harbour oscillations. Despite this diversity, all are
cal motions of the radar itself, a motion sensor is incorporated
accurately measured by the WaveGuide, without interfering
into the sensor unit. The WaveGuide Data Server takes care of with harbour traffic.
synchronisation, collection and compensation of the data collected. The compensated radar signal is processed in the same
way as the standard WaveGuide mounted on a fixed platform.
Using the available “Wave and Tide Processing Software” raw
data, spectra and parameters can be requested and presented
on the web browser.
Other Applications
It has been and will be important to warn for flood risk due to
storm surge, especially as a result of the rise in sea levels. Additionally, it is of great importance for coastal defence and
harbours to monitor actual stress levels on dikes, dunes and
ABOUT RADAC
RADAC are a fast growing Dutch company, based in Delft. RADAC has a young enthusiastic team, with a vast range of knowledge combining oceanography, physics
and radar technology. By working with the clients in new projects, they develop
their products in real live situations as well as working closely with the Technical
University of Delft, Deltares and others.
They are proud that professional systems have gained industry-wide trust and
recognition. Their client base is made up of oil companies, offshore wind farm operators, port operators, governments, shipping companies and international project
developers.
One of their valued customers is the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat).
After a thorough evaluation spanning several years they adopted the WaveGuide System as the water level and wave height
sensor in their primary measuring network. For wave height Rijkswaterstaat uses the SWAP program, which meets the strict
standards of oil and gas companies (IOGP).
RADAC – ReliAble Durable Accurate
PLANET OCEAN LTD
Planet Ocean is proud to represent some of the world’s leading scientific instrument manufacturers and we bring you the very
best from each of their specialist areas of expertise.
We are also able to provide bespoke and specialist systems not shown here; please contact us with your special project requirements.
For more information please contact us at [email protected].
Acknowledgements
Katja Roose, Marketing & Sales, RADAC