A system and method for optimizing dredging
AssigneeDredging International N.V.
InventorsLuk Verstraelen, Lucien Halleux, Stefaan Vandyke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for optimizing the dredging of an area by a vessel (25) equipped with a cutter head (4), comprising a means to measure local seismic velocity in front of the vessel (25), said means comprising a set of seismic receivers (11, 11′, 11″, 11′″) supported by a frame (10) configured for attachment to and projection from the bow end of the vessel, which frame aligns the seismic receivers (11, 11′, 11″, 11′″) above and in front of the cutter head (4). It also relates to a method for optimizing dredging.
Claims21
1-18. (canceled)
A system for optimizing the dredging of an area by a dredging vessel equipped with a cutter head, comprising a means to measure local seismic velocity in front of the vessel, said means comprising a set of seismic receivers supported by a frame configured for attachment to a bow end of the vessel, which frame aligns the seismic receivers above and in front of the cutter head.
A system for optimizing the dredging of an area by a vessel equipped with a cutter head, comprising a means to measure local seismic velocity in front of the vessel, said means comprising a set of seismic receivers supported by a frame adapted to float.
A system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a means to receive conventional soil data of the area to be dredged;
- a means to optimize dredging parameters for a current and subsequent cutter head position based on the combination of conventional and local soil information to optimize yield and cutter wear;
- and a means to output dredging parameters, thereby adjusting cutter parameters based on the dredging parameters so giving optimum efficiency at a current and subsequent cutter head position.
A method for optimizing, during dredging, the dredging of an area by a vessel equipped with a cutter suction head, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining conventional soil information of the area to be dredged;
- measuring one or more local soil parameters that includes local seismic velocity of the soil in front of the cutter head during dredging;
- calculating dredging parameters for a current and subsequent cutter head position based on the combination of conventional and local soil parameters to optimize yield and cutter wear;
- and using the dredging parameters so obtained to adjust cutter parameters so giving optimum efficiency at a current and subsequent cutter head position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.