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When waves move a floating wind turbine, they drive fluid motion inside the MTLCD. This forces air in the vertical tanks through an orifice, increasing pressure much like a spring. As the air discharges, the fluid’s motion is damped and energy is dissipated. The MTLCD also incorporates added damping elements, such as an orifice or variable-aperture reciprocating reed valve, that create resistance to air flow, further controlling fluid motion and dissipating energy. By integrating these modifications, the MTLCD is easily tuned to the platform’s motions, reducing dependency on platform geometry. Eliminating damping elements from the fluid removes the need for marine-grade hardware, reducing system costs. The MTLCD can also be integrated into existing ballast tanks, maximizing space efficiency with minimal added parts. While initially developed for NASA’s Floating Wind Turbine Development project, this invention can support vibration mitigation applications across multiple industries, such as infrastructure, maritime systems, and aerospace. By enabling precise tuning of dynamic response characteristics, the MTLCD offers a compact solution for platforms requiring vibration suppression. The technology has completed preliminary design and simulation, is at a TRL 3 (proof-of-concept), and is available for patent licensing.

NASA MSFC&#8217s Fluid-Filled Frequency-Tunable Mass Damper (FTMD) technology implements a fluid-based mitigation system where the working mass is all or a portion of the fluid mass that is contained within the geometric configuration of either a channel, pipe, tube, duct and/or similar type structure. A compressible mechanism attached at one end of the geometric configuration structure enables minor adjustments that can produce large effects on the frequency and/or response attributes of the mitigation system. Existing fluid-based technologies like Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLD) and Tuned Liquid Column Dampers (TLCD) rely upon the geometry of a container to establish mitigation frequency and internal fluid loss mechanisms to set the fundamental mitigation attributes. The FTMD offers an innovative replacement since the frequency of mitigation and mitigation attributes are established by the compressible mechanism at the end of the container. This allows for simple alterations of the compressible mechanism to make frequency adjustments with relative ease and quickness. FTMDs were recently successfully installed on a building in Brooklyn, NYC as a replacement for a metallic TMD, and on a semi-submersible marine-based wind turbine in Maine. The FTMD technology is available for non-exclusive licensing and partially-exclusive licensing (outside of building construction over 300 feet).