The effects of wind-induced inclination on the dynamics of semi-submersible floating wind turbines in the time domain

Abstract:

This study focusses on the coupling effects arising from the changes in the hydrodynamic behaviour of asemi-submersible floating wind turbine when it undergoes large inclinations under wind loading. By means of a range of time-domain simulations, it is shown that both the hull geometric nonlinearity effect and the alteration of viscous hydrodynamic forces can significantly affect the dynamics of a typical floating wind turbine operating in waves at rated conditions. The consequences of said effects for both aligned and misaligned wind and waves are explored. In general terms inclinations are found to increase motions, where the modes that are more affected depend on the relative direction between incident wind and waves. Understanding the sources of aero-hydrodynamic coupling is key to providing sound design and modelling guidelines for the coming generation of floating wind turbines. <br /><br />This work was partly funded via IDCORE, the Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy, which trains research engineers whose work in conjunction with sponsoring companies aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal-current technologies

Author(s):

Antonutti, R., Peyrard, C., Johanning, L., Incecik, A. and Ingram, D.