Coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic analysis of 10MW TLB floating offshore wind turbine

Abstract

This paper presents a fully coupled aero-hydro-servo elastic analysis of a 10MW offshore wind turbine supported by a tension leg buoy (TLB) platform, with a taut mooring system. The study investigates the TLB's dynamic response characteristics under the northern North Sea environmental conditions with water depths of 110 metres, comparing the performance of steel, polyester, and nylon mooring line configurations. Innovating floating wind turbines requires a cost-effective system that achieves reliable performance in operational and survival conditions. The innovative system should compete with other existing FOWT types and fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines in terms of LCOE. The dynamic responses of the relatively less complex TLB platform in terms of construction and installation showed small motion and accelerations for all available mooring materials from the current supply chain, enabling the wind turbine to be installed without significant modifications to their control systems. The mooring materials' elasticity is essential in the system achieving motion response.