A Comparison on the Dynamics of a Floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine on Three Different Floating Support Structures

Abstract

To increase the competitiveness of offshore wind energy in the global energy market, it is necessary to identify optimal offshore wind turbine configurations to deliver the lowest cost of energy. For deep waters where floating wind turbines are the feasible support structure option, the vertical axis wind turbine concept might prove to be one of these optimal configurations. This paper carries out a preliminary investigation into the dynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine coupled with three generic floating support structures originally intended for horizontal axis wind turbines. The modifications to the original characteristics of the support structures were kept to a minimum to illustrate the use of floating horizontal axis wind turbine platforms for floating vertical axis wind turbines Issues regarding the adequacy of the mooring systems are outlined and an overview of platform responses in a number of varying met-ocean conditions is presented and discussed.

Frequency-domain characteristics of aerodynamic loads of offshore floating vertical axis wind turbines

“…As mentioned previously, the DeepWind 5 MW baseline turbine design [4] is considered mounted on the OC4 semi-submersible floating support structure [12], which has been presented previously by Borg and Collu [5] and depicted in Fig. 1.…”

“…The FloVAWT coupled dynamics design tool, Collu et al [3], is used to numerically simulate the floating VAWT. The DeepWind 5 MW baseline VAWT design [4] coupled with the OC4 semi-submerisble support structure as presented by Borg and Collu [5] shall be considered as a case study here.…”

Multi-Purpose Offshore-Platforms: Past, Present and Future Research and Developments

“…A summary of different types of floater concepts that can provide support for vertical axis turbines is given in Figure 5, see also references [9,10]. …”

Aerodynamics and Motion Performance of the H-Type Floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

“…Borg and Collu calculated the responses of vertical wind turbines by using the enhanced Hawc2 code [4]. Borg and Collu calculated the responses of vertical wind turbines supported by different floating foundations by using the FloVAWT code [8]. Cheng et al implemented the AC method in the Simo-Reflex to conduct the fully coupled aero-hydro-servoelastic simulation of the floating VAWT [6,9].…”

“…Sci. 2018, 8,262 Author Contributions: Ying Guo and Liqin Liu deduced the formulae and carried out numerical calculation; Xifeng Gao analyzed the data; and Wanhai Xu wrote the paper.…”