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Comparing the Utility of Coupled Aero-Hydrodynamic Analysis Using a CFD Solver versus a Potential Flow Solver for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Author

Listed:
  • Mohd Atif Siddiqui

    (Semar AS, Strandveien 12, 1366 Lysaker, Norway)

  • Finn-Christian Wickmann Hanssen

    (Semar AS, Strandveien 12, 1366 Lysaker, Norway
    Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7049 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Marilena Greco

    (Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7049 Trondheim, Norway
    Institute of Marine Engineering (CNR-INM), Via di Vallerano 139, 00128 Rome, Italy)

  • Eirik Anda

    (Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7049 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

There has been a great effort towards development of renewable energy systems to combat global warming with significant interest towards research and development of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). With commercial projects such as Hywind Scotland, Hywind Tampen and others, there is a shift of industry attention from bottom-fixed offshore turbines to FOWTs. In this work, we focus on comparing industry standard Potential Flow (PF) methods versus Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solvers for a scaled version of the IEA 15 MW turbine and associated FOWT system. The results from the two solvers are compared/validated using experimental thrust values for the fixed turbine. The motions and the thrust for the FOWT system are then compared for the two solvers along with hydrodynamic properties of the floater hull. The wake features downstream of the turbine are analyzed for the fixed and floating turbine using the CFD solver. The wake from the CFD solver is also compared with a simplified PF model. Finally, a simplified cost-benefit analysis is presented for the two solvers to compare the usefulness and utility of a CFD solver as compared to presently used industry-standard PF methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohd Atif Siddiqui & Finn-Christian Wickmann Hanssen & Marilena Greco & Eirik Anda, 2023. "Comparing the Utility of Coupled Aero-Hydrodynamic Analysis Using a CFD Solver versus a Potential Flow Solver for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-30, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:23:p:7833-:d:1289942
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    References listed on IDEAS

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