Analysis of Wind-wave Effect on Short-term FOWT Power Loss

Abstract

The paper analyses the effects of wind misalignment, wave oscillatory movement and wind-wave misalignment onto the performance of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) and how they affect the power generation. The study focuses on short term prediction to match network requirements for electric energy management avoiding overloads or consumers demand mismatching. The research studies individual as well as combined effects to determine the reduction in power generation due to these effects. The predictive model is based on meteorological data for different marine stations where wind farms are either located or considered for feasible installations. The results of the modelling predict the wind misalignment is more important than wave motion effects. Power loss due to wind-wave misalignment increases with wave height and with misalignment angle. The effects are negligible for wave heights of 0.4 and 1.25 m, with almost null effects for wave height of 2.5 m., with a power reduction less than 4%. The effects, however, are significant for wave heights of 4 and 6 m, especially in this latter case, where power loss varies from 11% for wind-wave misalignment angle of 15° to more than 96% for an angle of 45°. Experimental results match theoretical predictions within 96% accuracy.