Abstract
Achieving substantial reductions in Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of floating wind turbines (FWTs) requires robust reliability assessment that accounts for inherent design uncertainties. A key aspect of such reliability assessment is the definition of limit states. In this regard, load effects need to be evaluated accurately. This paper presents a computational framework for evaluating load effects on FWT support structures. The computed load effect is subsequently characterized. A high fidelity finite element model of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5MW reference turbine mounted on the OC3-Hywind spar buoy was developed and validated for this purpose. The loads from fully coupled time domain aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations are transferred for detailed finite element (FE) load effect computation in Abaqus. Matlab® and Python are used as the computational tools for automating the whole analysis from start to finish. The initial part of this study addresses the amount of run-in-time to be excluded from response statistics. Based on convergence studies carried out, recommendations are made for run-in-time to be excluded from response statistics. The maximum von Mises stress in the tower as a measure of yielding is the load effect investigated in this study.
Highlights
Floating support structures are the most viable option for deep water deployment of wind turbines
Designing floating wind turbine systems to withstand these loads throughout their service life at minimal cost requires robust engineering design that ensures the system is neither over-designed nor under-designed but just designed at the optimal level leading to substantial reductions in their Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)
The wind loads acting over the rotor, gravitational loading as well as acceleration forces resulting from the contribution of the Rotor and Nacelle Assembly (RNA) in the full turbine system dynamics are reduced to 3 forces and moments at the tower top
Summary
Floating support structures are the most viable option for deep water deployment of wind turbines. This paper presents a computational framework for evaluating load effects on FWT support structures. The loads from fully coupled time domain aero-hydroservo-elastic simulations are transferred for detailed finite element (FE) load effect computation in Abaqus.
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