Development of a flexible turntable for storage of subsea cable : A Systems Engineering approach

Abstract: Infrastructure for electricity and telecommunication, such as subsea cables, are critical in modern society. Future estimates also indicate an increased demand. Subsea cables enable the use of offshore wind power farms, transnational energy distribution and global data transfer. It is therefore considered important for a continuous development toward a sustainable future. Consistently, long and seamless cables, with complex inner structure, are requested. This makes the manufacturing and recurrent storing process challenging. Present cable storage systems, namely carousels, are a vital part of the manufacturing.  In this case study, a present manufacturing system of subsea cables was presented, whereby a possible improvement for a more flexible manufacturing process was suggested. The work focused on developing a new turntable, which is a subsystem, within the main system, the carousel. A Systems Engineering approach was used in order to develop the manufacturing system. This development resulted in three conceptual turntable solutions with improved flexibility and resource efficiency. The solutions generated consist of a turntable with two independently rotatable compartments. Although the focus of this case study was to develop a solution toward the subsea power cable industry, it is possible to up- or downscale depending on the required weight capacity, area and number of compartments.