SubSea Quieter
A disruptive underwater noise and turbidity abatement system
The SubSea Quieter (SSQ) reduces the harmful underwater noise and turbidity pollution generated by human maritime activities like coastal and pile driving works.
Twice patented, the underwater noise abatement system is made with an innovative membrane in 3D with a layer of coating providing resistance and waterproofness. This membrane is used for building inflatable panels. Once inflated, the break in impedance between the water and the introduced air dramatically attenuates sounds. The 3D membrane structure and the specially formulated coating also contribute to this very high acoustic efficiency.
Advantages of the SubSea Quieter
A simple and modular design
A design that adapts to the types of work and characteristics of the site:
- A modular design to adapt to multiple configurations of type of works and maritime conditions
- An installation that does not require heavy means, nor extra cranes or vessels
Acoustic performance
An underwater noise reduction between 10 and 45 dB depending on frequencies. Our system has the best performance on the market and can meet regulatory requirements ranging from a reduction of 7db to 15 db at 750 m from the source:
- 60 Hz: 12 – 14 dB
- 100 Hz: 12 – 15 dB
- 200 Hz: 10 – 14 dB
- 500 Hz: 18 – 21 dB
A technical innovation
The SubSea Quieter membrane is the “double glazing principle” adapted to maritime constraints:
- A solution with a double capacity: noise mitigation system and barrier against turbidity
- A system designed and tested to resist maritime constraints: swell, currents, pressure, corrosion
- A reusable and eco-designed system
An automatic or manual inflation
The air management system for automatic or manual inflation/deflation of each panel:
- A membrane inflated with air with only 2 compressors
- An air management system to distribute, monitor, and manage individually air pressure for each raw of panels depending on water depth
We propose a range of type of our SubSea Quieter (SSQ):
- SubSea Quieter Pile Driving for coastal pile
- SubSea Quieter Pile Driving for offshore Jacket
- SubSea Quieter Pile Driving for offshore monopile
- SubSea Quieter Blue Shield for zone containment for harbors and rivers
SubSea Quieter Pile Driving for coastal works
The SSQ Pile Driving for coastal works is used to abate underwater noise from pile driving operations in coastal conditions. The system can confine piles ranging from 1m to 2.5m in diameter.
It is particularly adapted when the maritime conditions are difficult: important tidal range, current, swell, depth.
The system is fixed under the piling tool and is deployed with winches around the piles. Once our innovative noise abatement system is deployed and inflated, the driving operation can take place.
The inflation process of the SubSea Quieter Pile driving can be managed from the dock or on a barge carrying on the pressure management and supervision system in a simple container.
Installation Process
Installation under piling tool
SSQ membrane folded over in the basket
Deployment of the basket with its own winches
The SSQ is deployed / Inflation of the panels. Pile Driving operations
Recovery of the system after deflation with its own winches
Technical sheet
System characteristics:
- Pile diameter: up to 2,5 m
- SSQ diameter: 7 m
- SSQ height: 5 to 25 m
- Height of a panel: 2 m
- Deployment and inflation time: <15 minutes
- 2 compressors: one of 50 kW (for inflation) and of 30 kW (to maintain the air level in the membrane)
- Peak capacity: 100 tons
- Mass of the SSQ: 20 to 40 tons
- Mass of the system at “water exit”: 50 to 80 tons
Hydrodynamic conditions:
- Maximal water depth: 25 m
- Current speed limit: 1 m/s
- Significant Wave Height: 1,25 m
- Tidal range: no limit
- Recommended distance between the barge and the pile: 4 m
SubSea Quieter Pile Driving for coastal works in video
SSQ Pile driving for offshore Jacket
The SSQ Pile Driving for Offshore Jacket is used to reduce underwater noise from pile driving operations with a Jacket template. The system can confine piles ranging from 2 m to 4 m in diameter.
The system is fixed under the piling tool or by using a dedicated outrigger and is deployed with winches around the piles. Once the noise abatement system is deployed and inflated, the driving operation can take place.
The inflation process of the SubSea Quieter Pile driving can be managed from the dock or on a barge carrying on the pressure management and supervision system in a simple container.
This is a SubSea Quieter version where the noise abatement system is positioned on each leg of the pre-pilling template and then deployed from the template to the surface is under development
Installation Process
Installation
Deployment
Deployment of the basket by its own winches & Basket hanging on the pilling jacket template
The SSQ is deployed / Inflation of the panels
Pile Driving operations
Recovery of the system
Technical sheet
System characteristics:
- Pile diameter: 2,5m to 4m
- SSQ diameter: 10m
- SSQ length: up to 60m
- Height of a panel: 2m
- 2 compressors: one of 50 kW (for inflation) and of 30 kW (to maintain the air level in the membrane)
- Deployment and inflation time: <30 minutes
- Mass of the system: 50 tons
Hydrodynamic conditions:
- Maximal water depth: 50m
- Current speed limit = 1,25m/s
- Significant Wave Height: 1,75m
- Tidal range: no limit
SubSea Quieter Pile driving in video
SSQ Pile Driving Monopile
The SubSea Quieter Pile Driving Monopile is used to reduce underwater noise from monopile for offshore conditions. The system can confine piles ranging from 6 m to 12 m in diameter.
It is particularly adapted to pile driving operations for the installation of offshore wind turbines at depths between 20 and 50 m.
The SubSea Quieter is stored in a basket that is plugged under the pile guiding gripper or independently. The basket is then lowered by winches before pile installation then the SSQ is automatically deployed around the pile before being inflated with air. Once deployed, the driving operation can take place. Our innovative noise abatement system can be managed in masked time in parallel to the pile and hammer manipulation.
The inflation and deflation process of the SubSea Quieter Pile Driving can be managed from the boat carrying on the air pressure management and supervision system in 2 containers.
This noise abatement system can be managed in masked time: move the crane, and move the pile to put it in the guidance system.
The SubSea Quieter Pile Driving Monopile can be adapted to different pile-driving grippers or independently as an added separate tool under the gripper.
Installation Process
Preparation for operation / skidding
Gripper opening
Orientation of Monopile in gripper ring
Monopile lowering/touchdown
SSQ system deployment / lowering
Piling / hammering operation
Deflation of SSQ panels SSQ system retrieval/lifting
SSQ system under gripper catchers
Opening of gripper
Back to transit
Technical sheet
System characteristics:
- Pile diameter: 6 to 12 m
- SSQ diameter: 11 to 17 m
- SSQ length: up to 50 m
- Height of a panel: 2 m
- 2 compressors: adapted to depth, pile diameter, and Inflation required time
- Deployment and inflation time: <45 minutes
- Mass of the system: 200 tons
Hydrodynamic conditions:
- Maximal water depth: 50 m
- Current speed limit = 1,5 m/s
- Significant Wave Height: 2,5 m
- Tidal range: no limit
SubSea Quieter Pile driving in video
SubSea Quieter Blue Shield
The SubSea Quieter Blue Shield system takes the form of a wall made up of 2 layers of membrane that are inflated with air and that act as a noise abatement system and a barrier against turbidity.
Each row of panels is managed independently to manage the quantity of air to be inserted according to the depth level and to be able to inflate/deflate automatically certain rows according to the tidal range or to let a ship pass through the containment area.
The inflation process of the SubSea Quieter Blue Shield can be managed from the shore or on a barge carrying on the pressure management and supervision system in a simple container. The advantage of using a flexible membrane is that the design of the system can easily be adapted to the work area. The noise abatement system can also contain only a dredging or pile driving workshop.
Installation Process
Anchoring adapted to soil conditions
Chain connecting the screw anchors
Moving the SSQ to the area with boats
Mooring of the SSQ in the chain
Inflation of the SSQ panels
Technical sheet
System characteristics:
- SubSea Quieter length: up to 300m
- Height of a standard panel: 2m
- Space between rows of panels: usually 40cm to 1m
- Air gap inside the panels: 30mm
- Inflation time for 300m: <1h30
- 2 compressors: one of 50 kW (for inflation) and of 30 kW (to maintain the air level in the membrane)
Hydrodynamic conditions:
- Maximal water depth: 15m
- Orthogonal speed current limit = 0.4m/s
- Significant Wave Height: 0,75m
- Tidal range: no limit
SubSea Quieter Blue Shield in video
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