The dynamic motion of floating wind turbines is studied using numerical simulations. The full three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations are solved on a regular structured grid using a level set method for the free surface and an immersed boundary method for the turbine platform. The tethers, the tower, the nacelle, and the rotor weight are included using reduced-order dynamic models, resulting in an efficient numerical approach that can handle nearly all the nonlinear hydrodynamic forces on the platform, while imposing no limitation on the platform motion. Wind speed is assumed constant, and rotor gyroscopic effects are accounted for. Other aerodynamic loadings and aeroelastic effects are not considered. Several tests, including comparison with other numerical, experimental, and grid study tests, have been done to validate and verify the numerical approach. The response of a tension leg platform (TLP) to different amplitude waves is examined, and for large waves, a nonlinear trend is seen. The nonlinearity limits the motion and shows that the linear assumption will lead to overprediction of the TLP response. Studying the flow field behind the TLP for moderate amplitude waves shows vortices during the transient response of the platform but not at the steady state, probably due to the small Keulegan–Carpenter number. The effects of changing the platform shape are considered, and finally, the nonlinear response of the platform to a large amplitude wave leading to slacking of the tethers is simulated.
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December 2013
Research-Article
A Nonlinear Computational Model of Floating Wind Turbines
David J. Olinger,
David J. Olinger
Associate Professor
Mem. ASME
e-mail: olinger@wpi.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Mem. ASME
e-mail: olinger@wpi.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
,Worcester, MA 01609
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Gretar Tryggvason
Gretar Tryggvason
Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: gtryggva@nd.edu
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556-5684
e-mail: gtryggva@nd.edu
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Ali Nematbakhsh
David J. Olinger
Associate Professor
Mem. ASME
e-mail: olinger@wpi.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Mem. ASME
e-mail: olinger@wpi.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
,Worcester, MA 01609
Gretar Tryggvason
Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: gtryggva@nd.edu
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556-5684
e-mail: gtryggva@nd.edu
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received December 4, 2012; final manuscript received July 24, 2013; published online September 12, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Zvi Rusak.
J. Fluids Eng. Dec 2013, 135(12): 121103 (13 pages)
Published Online: September 12, 2013
Article history
Received:
December 4, 2012
Revision Received:
July 24, 2013
Citation
Nematbakhsh, A., Olinger, D. J., and Tryggvason, G. (September 12, 2013). "A Nonlinear Computational Model of Floating Wind Turbines." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. December 2013; 135(12): 121103. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025074
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