Computation of Wave Loads under Multidirectional Sea States for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: Preprint

Computation of Wave Loads under Multidirectional Sea States for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: Preprint
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper focuses on the analysis of a floating wind turbine under multidirectional wave loading. Special attention is given to the different methods used to synthesize the multidirectional sea state. This analysis includes the double-sum and single-sum methods, as well as an equal-energy discretization of the directional spectrum. These three methods are compared in detail, including theergodicity of the solution obtained. From the analysis, the equal-energy method proved to be the most computationally efficient while still retaining the ergodicity of the solution. This method was chosen to be implemented in the numerical code FAST. Preliminary results on the influence of these wave loads on a floating wind turbine showed significant additional roll and sway motion of theplatform.

A comparison of methods for computation of wave forcing

A comparison of methods for computation of wave forcing
Author: Olga Glöckner
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Total Pages: 137
Release: 2018-05-17
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3668705224

Diploma Thesis from the year 2014 in the subject Engineering - Civil Engineering, grade: 1,0, University of Hannover (A&M University Texas, Ludwig-Franzius-Institut für Wasserbau, Ästuar- und Küsteningenieurwesen), language: English, abstract: Unlike fossil fuels (for example oil, coal and natural gas), wind energy is a renewable energy resource. Since winds at sea are stronger and more consistent than onshore winds, the demand for offshore wind turbines has increased over the last years. As energy can be produced more efficient in deeper water, several floating offshore wind turbine constructions, such as the OC3 Hywind spar-buoy, have been proposed. The design of floating wind turbines depends on the simulation of the system behavior caused by exciting forces. This thesis deals with the comparison between different methods for calculating wave forces and resulting platform motions of a floating offshore wind turbine. On the one hand, wave exciting loads computed with Morison’s equation are compared to the hydrodynamic forces simulated by the open source code FAST on the basis of the diffraction theory. On the other hand, response motions of the floating structure are simulated by the commercial offshore software SESAM in the frequency domain and compared with the motions calculated by FAST in the time domain.

Wave Loads on Offshore Wind Turbines

Wave Loads on Offshore Wind Turbines
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 65
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

Ocean energy is one of the most important sources of alternative energy and offshore floating wind turbines are considered viable and economical means of harnessing ocean energy. The accurate prediction of nonlinear hydrodynamic wave loads and the resulting nonlinear motion and tether tension is of crucial importance in the design of floating wind turbines. A new theoretical framework is presented for analyzing hydrodynamic forces on floating bodies which is potentially applicable in a wide range of problems in ocean engineering. The total fluid force acting on a floating body is obtained by the time rate of change of the impulse of the velocity potential flow around the body. This new model called Fluid Impulse Theory is used to address the nonlinear hydrodynamic wave loads and the resulting nonlinear responses of floating wind turbine for various wave conditions in a highly efficient and robust manner in time domain. A three-dimensional time domain hydrodynamic wave-body interaction computational solver is developed in the frame work of a boundary element method based on the transient free-surface Green-function. By applying a numerical treatment that takes the free-surface boundary conditions linearized at the incident wave surface and takes the body boundary condition satisfied on the instantaneous underwater surface of the moving body, it simulates a potential flow in conjunction with the Fluid Impulse Theory for nonlinear wave-body interaction problems of large amplitude waves and motions in time domain. Several results are presented from the application of the Fluid Impulse Theory to the extreme and fatigue wave load model: the time domain analysis of nonlinear dynamic response of floating wind turbine for extreme wave events and the time domain analysis of nonlinear wave load for an irregular sea state followed by a power spectral density analysis.

Offshore Wind Turbine Nonlinear Wave Loads and Their Statistics

Offshore Wind Turbine Nonlinear Wave Loads and Their Statistics
Author: Yu Zhang (Ph.D.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 91
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

Due to the large influence of lateral flexible vibrations on offshore wind turbine foundations and the higher natural frequencies of the offshore wind turbine foundation relative to the dominant frequencies of the linear wave load model, the modeling of the dynamic behavior of the foundation under nonlinear wave loads and analysis of their statistical characteristics have become an important issue for offshore wind turbine design. This thesis derives an approximate model of the nonlinear wave loads in the time domain by Fluid Impulse Theory, verifies it with a boundary element method software WAMIT and validates it with experimental measurements. The load level crossing rates and the load power spectral density is obtained in multiple sea states. The simulated nonlinear wave loads are applied as the forcing mechanism on the offshore wind turbine and its foundation, and the mudline bending moments are computed and compared with experimental measurements. The system identification is conducted by fitting the model with the experimental data using linear regression method. The analytical extreme and fatigue prediction of the offshore wind turbine system are derived and evaluated in waters of finite depth and in multiple seastates. Key words: Nonlinear wave loads, nonlinear wave loads statistics, system identification, extremes and fatigue

Frequency Domain Modeling and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Frequency Domain Modeling and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
Author: Meysam Karimi
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Offshore floating wind turbine technology is growing rapidly and has the potential to become one of the main sources of affordable renewable energy. However, this technology is still immature owing in part to complications from the integrated design of wind turbines and floating platforms, aero-hydro-servo-elastic responses, grid integrations, and offshore wind resource assessments. This research focuses on developing methodologies to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of a wide range of floating offshore wind turbine support structures. To achieve this goal, interdisciplinary interactions among hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, structure and control subject to constraints on stresses/loads, displacements/rotations, and costs need to be considered. Therefore, a multidisciplinary design optimization approach for minimum levelized cost of energy executed using parameterization schemes for floating support structures as well as a frequency domain dynamic model for the entire coupled system. This approach was based on a tractable framework and models (i.e. not too computationally expensive) to explore the design space, but retaining required fidelity/accuracy. In this dissertation, a new frequency domain approach for a coupled wind turbine, floating platform, and mooring system was developed using a unique combination of the validated numerical tools FAST and WAMIT. Irregular wave and turbulent wind loads were incorporated using wave and wind power spectral densities, JONSWAP and Kaimal. The system submodels are coupled to yield a simple frequency domain model of the system with a flexible moored support structure. Although the model framework has the capability of incorporating tower and blade structural DOF, these components were considered as rigid bodies for further simplicity here. A collective blade pitch controller was also defined for the frequency domain dynamic model to increase the platform restoring moments. To validate the proposed framework, predicted wind turbine, floating platform and mooring system responses to the turbulent wind and irregular wave loads were compared with the FAST time domain model. By incorporating the design parameterization scheme and the frequency domain modeling the overall system responses of tension leg platforms, spar buoy platforms, and semisubmersibles to combined turbulent wind and irregular wave loads were determined. To calculate the system costs, a set of cost scaling tools for an offshore wind turbine was used to estimate the levelized cost of energy. Evaluation and comparison of different classes of floating platforms was performed using a Kriging-Bat optimization method to find the minimum levelized cost of energy of a 5 MW NREL offshore wind turbine across standard operational environmental conditions. To show the potential of the method, three baseline platforms including the OC3-Hywind spar buoy, the MIT/NREL TLP, and the OC4-DeepCwind semisubmersible were compared with the results of design optimization. Results for the tension leg and spar buoy case studies showed 5.2% and 3.1% decrease in the levelized cost of energy of the optimal design candidates in comparison to the MIT/NREL TLP and the OC3-Hywind respectively. Optimization results for the semisubmersible case study indicated that the levelized cost of energy decreased by 1.5% for the optimal design in comparison to the OC4-DeepCwind.

A Nonlinear Wave Load Model for Extreme and Fatigue Responses of Offshore Floating Wind Turbines

A Nonlinear Wave Load Model for Extreme and Fatigue Responses of Offshore Floating Wind Turbines
Author: Sungho Lee (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 173
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:

Ocean energy is one of the most important sources of alternative energy and offshore floating wind turbines are considered viable and economical means of harnessing ocean energy. The accurate prediction of nonlinear hydrodynamic wave loads and the resulting nonlinear motion and tether tension is of crucial importance in the design of floating wind turbines. A new theoretical framework is presented for analyzing hydrodynamic forces on floating bodies which is potentially applicable in a wide range of problems in ocean engineering. The total fluid force acting on a floating body is obtained by the time rate of change of the impulse of the velocity potential flow around the body. This new model called Fluid Impulse Theory is used to address the nonlinear hydrodynamic wave loads and the resulting nonlinear responses of floating wind turbine for various wave conditions in a highly efficient and robust manner in time domain. A three-dimensional time domain hydrodynamic wave-body interaction computational solver is developed in the frame work of a boundary element method based on the transient free-surface Green-function. By applying a numerical treatment that takes the free-surface boundary conditions linearized at the incident wave surface and takes the body boundary condition satisfied on the instantaneous underwater surface of the moving body, it simulates a potential flow in conjunction with the Fluid Impulse Theory for nonlinear wave-body interaction problems of large-amplitude waves and motions in time domain. Several results are presented from the application of the Fluid Impulse Theory to the extreme and fatigue wave load model: the time domain analysis of nonlinear dynamic response of floating wind turbine for extreme wave events and the time domain analysis of nonlinear wave load for an irregular sea state followed by a power spectral density analysis.

Simulating The Hydrodynamics Of Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Platforms In A Finite Volume Framework

Simulating The Hydrodynamics Of Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Platforms In A Finite Volume Framework
Author: Maija Benitz
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

There is great potential for the growth of wind energy in offshore locations where the structures are exposed to a variety of loading from waves, current and wind. A variety of computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools, based largely on engineering models employing potential-flow theory and/or Morison's equation, are currently being used to evaluate hydrodynamic loading on floating offshore wind turbine platforms. While these models are computationally inexpensive, they include many assumptions and approximations. Alternatively, high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics models contain almost no assumptions, but at the cost of high computational expense. In this work, CFD simulations provide detailed insight into the complex fluid flow that has not been captured experimentally, nor can be attained with reduced-order models. This work includes a thorough validation of the various CFD toolboxes necessary for simulating offshore floating wind turbine platforms in the ocean environment, from numerical wave propagation to fluid-structure interactions. The fundamental physics of flow around complex structures is examined through various studies to better understand the effects of a fluid interface, truncated ends, structure size, multi-member arrangements and environmental conditions. These factors are explored in terms of drag, lift and frequency of the loads. Additionally, motion of structures in free decay tests and waves are investigated. The work provides insight into the complex fluid flow around floating offshore structures of small draft in a variety of environmental conditions. CFD simulations are used to assess assumptions and approximations of reduced-order engineering models, and explain why, and in which conditions, these models perform inaccurately. Finally, the work provides suggestions for improvements to engineering tools often used for hydrodynamics modeling of floating offshore wind turbines.

Effects of Second-Order Hydrodynamic Forces on Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Effects of Second-Order Hydrodynamic Forces on Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 18
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

Relative to first-order, second-order wave-excitation loads are known to cause significant motions and additional loads in offshore oil and gas platforms. The design of floating offshore wind turbines was partially inherited from the offshore oil and gas industry. Floating offshore wind concepts have been studied with powerful aero-hydro-servo-elastic tools; however, most of the existing work on floating offshore wind turbines has neglected the contribution of second-order wave-excitation loads. As a result, this paper presents a computationally efficient methodology to consider these loads within FAST, a wind turbine computer-aided engineering tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The method implemented was verified against the commercial OrcaFlex tool, with good agreement, and low computational time. A reference floating offshore wind turbine was studied under several wind and wave load conditions, including the effects of second-order slow-drift and sum-frequency loads. Preliminary results revealed that these loads excite the turbine's natural frequencies, namely the surge and pitch natural frequencies.