Abstract
The development of floating offshore wind turbines opens the way for various new design types, and the platform, tower and turbine can benefit from its floating foundation. Self-aligning platforms, where the entire structure follows the wind direction are a promising concept. A single point mooring with turret system allows for free rotation around the vertical axis. Aerodynamic forces of rotor and tower induce the self-aligning moment. In the present study, the operating principle of a passive platform design with airfoil-shaped tower and downwind rotor is analyzed under steady conditions using a boundary element method (BEM). Rotor cone angle and the tower dimensions have a major influence on the yawing moment. They must be large enough to dominate the hydrodynamic forces induced by seaway and current. The passive self-aligning capability is shown in an integrated simulation for various current velocities and wind-current offset angles.
Highlights
The development of floating offshore wind turbines has rapidly increased in recent years, along with new platform designs
The development of floating offshore wind turbines opens the way for various new design types, and the platform, tower and turbine can benefit from its floating foundation
A single point mooring (SPM) is essential as it allows for free rotation, which means that a yaw bearing is no longer necessary on the tower top
Summary
The development of floating offshore wind turbines has rapidly increased in recent years, along with new platform designs. Other platform designs have attempted to take advantage of the floating condition by introducing a variety of selfaligning platform types, in which the aerodynamic forces passively align the platform in the wind. In these designs, a single point mooring (SPM) is essential as it allows for free rotation, which means that a yaw bearing is no longer necessary on the tower top.
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