The Wavescan buoy
THE WAVESCAN BUOYA metocean data collection buoy that provides wave height, wave direction and meteorological parameters, sea surface temperature, salinity and temperature profiles. It is the ideal buoy for deep-water measurements, remote locations and strong current conditions.Additionally, the buoy can be equipped with numerous other sensors, satisfying the customer’s specific configuration needs, such as oxygen, hydrocarbon, gamma radiation measurement and an optical sensor for algae detection. The buoy hull design is based on the dynamic response and stability requirements from comprehensive wave tank testing. DIRECTIONAL WAVE SENSORThe buoy is fitted with an MRU, Motion Reference Unit, for wave direction measurements, based on the heave/slope measuring principle. This sensor offers the unique advantage of not being sensitive to either high or low temperatures, and also being insensitive to spinning and rough handling.The MRU incorporates an accurate 3-axis fluxgate compass for buoy orientation measurements. This is important for high quality wind and wave directional data. THE HULLThe WAVESCAN buoy has a discus shaped hull which can be separated into two parts for easy transport. A keel with counterweight is mounted under the hull to prevent capsizing of the buoy. A cylinder at the centre of the buoy hull contains all electronic modules, the power package and the wave sensor. The different electronic modules are mounted into special splash-proof compartment boxes to secure safe handling of the sensitive electronics. The buoy is equipped with a mast to support the meteorological sensors and the antennae.The mechanical design objective was to construct a strong but lightweight buoy. The materials are polyethylene, aluminium and stainless steel. DATA PRESENTATIONOceanInfo is a PC-based system for the presentation of metocean data collected by the buoys or other data sources and has the following functions: time series plots, simple univariate statistics, univariate and bivariate distribution tables and curves, wind roses, print, copy or export of graphs, maps and data, extreme analysis (based on a 3-parameter Weibull distribution fit), gamma spectrum and TS diagram (temperature/salinity).POWER SUPPLYMaintenance free solar panels and sealed lead-acid backup batteries enable long-term unattended operations. For low sun radiation conditions, lithium batteries can be supplied.DATA COMMUNICATIONThe WAVESCAN buoy allows two-way communications either via satellite or radio. The buoy position can also be monitored by means of one-way satellite position tracking.MOORINGThe WAVESCAN buoy can be equipped with two kinds of mooring depending on the customer’s specification. A single point taut mooring is recommended for normal conditions and heavily trafficked areas whilst an s-mooring is used for deep water hostile environments. The specific mooring design and choice of materials also takes into consideration factors such as current conditions and even the danger of fish bite on the mooring line.Both mooring types are specially designed to minimize the effect of the mooring on the wave following performance of the buoy. APPLICATIONS
WAVESCAN AROUND THE WORLDMore than 30 WAVESCAN buoys are presently operating and providing data around the world. Some customer references:
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A metocean data collection buoy measuring wave and meteorological parameters