Determining anchoring systems for ocean energy harvesting devices off the coast of southeast Florida

Abstract

Confirmed ocean current and thermal resources off the coast of south east Florida have the potential to mitigate Florida's increasing energy needs with the deployment of marine renewable energy (MRE) technologies. Potential anchors have been selected in this work for use in mooring MRE systems in specific energy dense locations. Simulations of single point moored hydrokinetic turbines were created to extract anchor loading data for prototype to commercial sized systems enduring hurricane conditions. A basis for the environmental conditions occurring during storms with 100-year return periods was created for this location with the combination of offshore standards in the Gulf of Mexico and local maximum current measurements. High uplift angles and large vertical anchor loads of the taut moorings used in simulation create a difficult anchoring scenario in a location assumed to have stratified seafloors. As MRE systems move from prototype to commercial systems, increased drag due to increasing turbine rotor diameters create anchor loads that require anchor embedment or multiple anchor systems.