Digital Twin for Ocean Engineering Ⅱ

Aims & Scope

The rapid advancement of Digital Twin technology is transforming the field of ocean engineering, enabling smarter, more efficient, and safer marine operations. As the challenges such as extreme weather conditions, complex offshore activities, and the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, Digital Twins offer a powerful tool for simulation, monitoring, and predictive analytics. 

From marine equipment and offshore renewable energy systems to disaster prevention and automated exploration, Digital Twin technology is reshaping the way we design, operate, and maintain critical ocean infrastructure. The integration of data-driven learning, real-time simulations, and intelligent risk assessment is paving the way for smarter and more resilient marine systems. This session is organized to bring together researchers, engineers, and industry leaders to explore the latest advancements in Digital Twins for ocean engineering. With discussions on cutting-edge research, platform architecture, and real-world applications, this session will provide valuable insights that will shape the future of digital and intelligent ocean. 


The session will focus on the following points

▪ Digital twin in oncean renewable energy

▪ Digital twin in maritime operations, and disaster prevention

▪ Digital twin in automated ocean exploration and offshore platform equipment

▪ Digital twin in intelligent marine equipment design, real-time monitoring, operational simulation, smart decision-making, and risk control

▪ Digital twin in architecture for ocean engineering: data-driven online learning and standardization of data exchange



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Your valuable insights are welcome! 

We cordially invite interested researchers to contact us for details and presentation applications at: secretariat@idea-global.net

Session Chairs

Presentations

  • Professor
    Qingdao Marine Engineering Survey and Design Research Institute
    Title: Study on Orifice Outflow Characteristics of Liquid Level and Pressure Balance Circuit for Polar Thermoelectric Power Generation Device
    Abstract In a polar thermoelectric power generation system, the flow rate through the liquid-level balancing orifice must be maintained below that of the condensing circuit to preserve the liquid level and internal pressure differential of the R134a working fluid within the power generation unit.. a discharge coefficient of 0.72 is recommended for the orifice outflow, under which the relative error in flow measurement can be kept within 10%. To stabilize the pressure difference and ensure reliable opening and closing of the float valve, it is suggested that the actual operating flow rate be set to approximately 30% of the the equipment's rated condensing flow rate.
  • Assistant Professor
    Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
    Title: Digital Twin-driven Autonomous Surface Manipulator System for Ocean Operations
    Abstract Autonomous surface manipulator systems (ASMS) are novel, versatile robotics platforms consisting of robotic manipulators and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) on the water. It is challenging to grasp floating objects, one of ASMS’s major tasks, safely and efficiently. To address these issues with digital twin technology, this work first develops a 12-degree-of-freedom ASMS model that considers the dynamic coupling between the manipulator and the USV, and proposes a normalized stability index for ASMS. Then, an optimized VSC method is proposed, which employs the joint angles of the manipulator as control targets and can adjust the control gains according to ASMS’s stability. After that, a digital twin-driven hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform is developed for experiments. The experimental results validate that the optimized VSC method can improve the grasping success rate and stability of ASMS while maintaining high grasping efficiency. Applications of ASMS for different ocean operations are also demonstrated.
  • Professor
    Ocean University of China
    Title: Experimental study on two-body interaction of a floating multi-degree-of-freedom buoy wave energy converter under various degree of freedom configuration: Energy conversion and motion response characteristics
    Abstract Floating multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) wave energy converter (WEC) represents one of the promising options for high-efficiency exploitation, cost reduction and commercialization of wave energy in deep and open seas. The motion characteristics of the supporting floating platform and the power capture performance of the WEC under complex influencing factors serve as critical indicators governing the operational safety and energy-harvesting efficiency of the WEC. This study investigates the energy conversion and motion response characteristics of floating multi-DOF buoy WEC via physical model tests. The DOF configurations of the buoy are divided into seven parts: heave, surge, pitch, heave-surge, heave-pitch, surge-pitch, and heave-surge-pitch. The effect of wave condition, DOF configurations, and PTO setup on the energy conversion and motion response characteristics of the WEC is analyzed. In addition, the correlation between motion response and energy conversion are revealed. This study can provide a reference for exploring the stability design of floating multi-DOF WECs.
  • Professor
    Zhejiang University
    Title: Research on optimal control based on dynamic deformation monitoring of wind turbine blades
    Abstract With the development of wind turbine capacity above 10MW, the increase in rotor diameter leads to a continuous decrease in blade relative stiffness. Under some extreme conditions, wind turbine blades may even collide with the wind turbine tower, causing serious accidents. In addition to wind turbine blade striking tower accident, the significant deformation of wind turbine blades caused by wind loads can also affect the efficiency of wind energy capture by the blades, which directly impacts the economic benefits of wind farms. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a low-cost method for monitoring the dynamic deformation of wind turbine blades in real time. Based on the dynamic deformation of the wind turbine blades, the angle of attack of the wind turbine blades is adjusted to ensure safe operation and improve the power generation efficiency of the wind turbine.
  • Associate Professor
    Dalian University of Technology
    Title: CFD Numerical Modelling for Marine Renewable Energy Applications
    Abstract In this presentation we will explore a range of CFD numerical models for investigating marine renewable energy systems and we will discuss various modelling parameters and their importance in developing high fidelity numerical simulations. The advantages of CFD modelling over other forms on numerical modelling will be touched upon. The significance of model verification and validation will be examined. A range of numerical simulations will be presented including multiphase models, phase-compressible models and dual-phase dynamic-mesh models. Simulations investigating wave energy converters and point-absorber type oscillating buoys will be investigated. OpenFOAM CFD software will be the modelling platform selected for the analyses. Finally, the presentation will briefly discuss the modeling of second-generation compliant wave energy converters, and the process of coupling CFD software with Finite Element codes to achieve the numerical models.
  • Associate Research Fellow
    The First Institute of Oceanography of China
    Title: Theoretical Analysis of Battery Capacity for Marine Observation Instruments Utilizing Ocean Thermal Energy in Polar Winter Waters
    Abstract Targeting the winter power demand of 24V thermoelectric power marine buoy monitoring devices, this paper calculates battery capacity via buoy field data, industrial standards and engineering experience under worst-case northern icy sea winter conditions with nearly no thermoelectric supplementary power. Using energy balance, it devises a six-month overwintering battery scheme based on buoy low-power sleep mode, incorporating -40℃ capacity attenuation, safe discharge depth and redundancy coefficients for verification. The optimal setup is an 8-series 25.6V low-temp lithium iron phosphate battery (2200Ah nominal, adjustable to 2600Ah), retaining over 65% capacity at -40℃. It also presents matching power, thermal insulation and monitoring schemes, with reliable, highly redundant configurations. Field tests on standby current, thermoelectric output and cabin temperature are suggested for better battery selection.
  • Ph.D. candidate
    Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai
    Title: Study on the energy harvesting and hydrodynamic stability characteristics of a novel floating bridge with wave energy conversion modules
    Abstract Integrating floating bridges with wave energy converters offers a viable solution to high wave energy device costs and unstable floating bridge motions.This paper proposes a novel wave energy floating bridge with an integrated wave energy conversion module (WECM), and its energy capture and hydrodynamic stability problems are investigated. A nonlinear stiffness power take off (PTO) mechanism is used.A validated hybrid dynamics model is established to compare linear and nonlinear PTO performances under regular and irregular waves. Results show that WECM enhance the floating bridge with wave power generation capability and motion stability in waves. Linear PTO reduces motion responses via appropriate damping under regular waves, while nonlinear PTO broadens the energy capture frequency band. Nonlinear PTO is more suitable for low-frequency wave sea conditions, while the linear PTO is more suitable for high-frequency sea conditions. This article provide favorable reference data for floating bridge design and application in the future.
  • Ph.D. Student
    Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai
    Title: Short-Term Morphological Response of the Haikou West Coast Beach Nourishment Project Based on Integrated Multi-Dimensional Monitoring
    Abstract To investigate the effects of beach nourishment on sandy shoreline erosion and the differentiated responses of local coastal sections, an integrated subaerial–subaqueous topographic monitoring system combining UAV photogrammetry, RTK beach profile surveying, and single-beam bathymetry was established along the west coast of Haikou. Multi-year topographic and bathymetric data were analyzed using geographic information technology, the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), and a Kalman prediction model to reveal short-term shoreline morphological responses under artificial intervention. The results indicate that shoreline stability remained poor after nourishment, with intensified erosion in later stages. Shoreline orientation was significantly correlated with erosion intensity, and obliquely incident waves enhanced erosion. Artificial intervention disturbed the natural relationship between shoreline erosion and beach morphological change, while elevation-related correlations recovered more rapidly. Significant spatial clustering was also observed. These findings suggest that beach restoration should adopt small-scale, high-frequency nourishment and strengthen post-nourishment monitoring.
  • Postgraduate Student
    Shandong University
    Title: Adaptive Penetration Device for Deep-Sea Sediment CPT
    Abstract Cone penetration testing is an important in-situ method for marine geological investigation and sediment characterization. This speech presents an adaptive penetration device for a deep-sea sediment CPT platform. The device integrates a hydraulic cylinder, variable pulley blocks, wire-rope traction, and a clamping manipulator to realize force-drive redundancy and stroke complementarity. After each penetration stroke, sensing data from the probe are fed back to the control system, which estimates penetration resistance and selects the appropriate penetration force according to a preset force table. By switching pulley states and adjusting the velocity ratio between the actuator and the probe rod, the device can increase force in hard sediments or extend stroke in softer sediments. The mechanism improves operational continuity, energy efficiency, and adaptability for deep-sea in-situ exploration.