A floating platform concept is introduced in this paper for offshore wind turbine. A vertical cylinder on the top of an elliptical sphere forms the principal configuration of the platform. The analysis of the dynamic performance of an example platform with 5 MW wind turbine by means of the well-established linear theory for the dynamics of marine constructions in waves shows that the platform is able to secure the normal function of the wind turbine in waves up to rough sea state and has the required dynamic performance for survival in extreme waves by adopting a survival ballast condition. An important feature of this concept is that reinforced concrete can be used as cost-efficient construction material so that the service life, several times longer than similar steel constructions can be obtained despite of the marine corrosive and erosive environment. Thus, this kind of platform can become competitive in the economical, sustainable, and environment-friendly aspect.
An integrated energy conversion and storage facility based on a floating foundation is introduced. It consists of an on-board 10 MW wind turbine and eighteen wave energy capturing buoys along the front of a floating foundation, with pumped hydro-energy storage. The proposed floating foundation is designed for waters off the west coasts of North America and Europe, where strong winds and high waves prevail. To operate the wind turbine safely, the design provides viable performance in waves and possesses the hydrodynamic attribute of being a wave amplifier such that the buoys may capture twice as much wave energy as in open water. The proposed wave energy capture and conversion design provide both protection against breaking wave impacts and good access for repair and maintenance, heretofore two major technical obstacles in the way of offshore wave energy exploitation. As shown by rough assessment of the proposed floating facility, its improved cost effectiveness may allow a major move from onshore to offshore wind turbines. Since the levelized cost of onshore wind farms is about equal to conventional coal plants and roughly 30% lower than an advanced coal plant with carbon dioxide capture and storage, the proposed offshore facility may prove a viable, large scale alternative to coal plants since available land and wind resource are somewhat limited for onshore wind farms.
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