Jump bifurcation phenomenon during varying wind speeds in floating offshore wind turbines

Author(s):  
Alwin Jose ◽  
Jeffrey M. Falzarano

Abstract Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) are susceptible to an instability which has come to be called negative damping. Conventional land based wind turbine controllers when used with FOWTs may cause large amplitude platform pitch oscillations. Most controllers have since been improved to reduce motions due to this phenomenon. In this paper, the motions induced using one of the original controllers is studied. The current study is performed using the coupled time domain program FAST-SIMDYN that was developed in Marine Dynamics Laboratory (MDL) at Texas A&M University. It is capable of studying large amplitude motions of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines. FOWTs use various controller algorithms of operation based on the available wind speed depending on various power output objectives i.e., to either maximize or level out power absorption. It is observed that the transition region for controllers is often chaotic. So most studies focus on operations away from the transition region below and above the transition wind speeds. Here we study the transition region using the theoretical insight of non-linear motion response of structures. This study reveals the presence of a very interesting and potentially hazardous nonlinear phenomenon, bifurcation. This finding could help explain the chaotic motion response that is observed in the transition region of controllers. Understanding the nature and cause of bifurcation could prove very useful for future design of FOWT controllers.

Author(s):  
Alwin Jose ◽  
Jeffrey Falzarano

Abstract Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) are susceptible to an instability which has come to be called “negative damping”. Conventional land based wind turbine controllers when used with FOWTs may cause large amplitude platform pitch oscillations. Most controllers have since been improved to reduce motions due to this phenomenon. In this paper, the motions induced using one of the original controllers is studied. The current study is performed using the coupled time domain program FAST-SIMDYN that was developed in Marine Dynamics Laboratory (MDL) at Texas A&M University. It is capable of studying large amplitude motions of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines. FOWTs use various controller algorithms of operation based on the available wind speed depending on various power output objectives i.e., to either maximize or level out power absorption. It is observed that the transition region for controllers is often chaotic. So most studies focus on operations away from the transition region i.e., both below and above the transition wind speeds. Here we study the transition region using the theoretical insight of non-linear motion response of structures. This study reveals the presence of a very interesting and potentially hazardous nonlinear phenomenon, bifurcation. This finding could help explain the chaotic motion response that is observed in the transition region of controllers. Understanding the nature and cause of bifurcation could prove very useful for future design of FOWT controllers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 543
Author(s):  
Jiawen Li ◽  
Jingyu Bian ◽  
Yuxiang Ma ◽  
Yichen Jiang

A typhoon is a restrictive factor in the development of floating wind power in China. However, the influences of multistage typhoon wind and waves on offshore wind turbines have not yet been studied. Based on Typhoon Mangkhut, in this study, the characteristics of the motion response and structural loads of an offshore wind turbine are investigated during the travel process. For this purpose, a framework is established and verified for investigating the typhoon-induced effects of offshore wind turbines, including a multistage typhoon wave field and a coupled dynamic model of offshore wind turbines. On this basis, the motion response and structural loads of different stages are calculated and analyzed systematically. The results show that the maximum response does not exactly correspond to the maximum wave or wind stage. Considering only the maximum wave height or wind speed may underestimate the motion response during the traveling process of the typhoon, which has problems in guiding the anti-typhoon design of offshore wind turbines. In addition, the coupling motion between the floating foundation and turbine should be considered in the safety evaluation of the floating offshore wind turbine under typhoon conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alwin Jose ◽  
Jeffrey Falzarano ◽  
Hao Wang

Abstract Non-linear hydrostatic and wave forces on floating structures are very important during large amplitude waves. The computer program simdyn is a blended time domain program developed by Marine Dynamics Laboratory at TAMU and is capable of capturing the role of non-linear fluid forces. simdyn has previously been used to demonstrate that nonlinear hydrostatics have become very important in the problem of parametric excitation. In the current work simdyn is coupled with the computer program fast developed by U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for numerical simulation of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). fast-simdyn is now a tool that is capable of studying large amplitude motions of FOWTs in extreme seas. fast-simdyn was then used to study the classic instability of negative damping that occurs in FOWTs that use conventional land-based control. The development of platform pitch and platform surge instability are studied in relation to different wave and wind scenarios. The intent was to do an analysis to see if the non-linear forces do play a significant role in large amplitude motions induced by negative damping. This study gives an indication of whether the development and application of higher fidelity hydrodynamic modules are justified.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Lin ◽  
Xiaolei Liu

As offshore wind turbines are moving to deeper water depths, mooring systems are becoming more and more significant for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). Mooring line failures could affect power generations of FOWTs and ultimately incur risk to nearby structures. Among different failure mechanics, an excessive mooring line tension is one of the most essential factors contributing to mooring failure. Even advanced sensing offers an effective way of failure detections, but it is still difficult to comprehend why failures happened. Unlike traditional parametric studies that are computational and time-intensive, this paper applies deep learning to investigate the major driven force on the mooring line tension. A number of environmental conditions are considered, ranging from cut in to cut out wind speeds. Before formatting input data into the deep learning model, a FOWT model of dynamics was simulated under pre-defined environmental conditions. Both taut and slack mooring configurations were considered in the current study. Results showed that the most loaded mooring line tension was mainly determined by the surge motion, regardless of mooring line configurations, while the blade and the tower elasticity were less significant in predicting mooring line tension.


2014 ◽  
Vol 134 (8) ◽  
pp. 1096-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sho Tsujimoto ◽  
Ségolène Dessort ◽  
Naoyuki Hara ◽  
Keiji Konishi

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 475
Author(s):  
Payam Aboutalebi ◽  
Fares M’zoughi ◽  
Izaskun Garrido ◽  
Aitor J. Garrido

Undesired motions in Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT) lead to reduction of system efficiency, the system’s lifespan, wind and wave energy mitigation and increment of stress on the system and maintenance costs. In this article, a new barge platform structure for a FOWT has been proposed with the objective of reducing these undesired platform motions. The newly proposed barge structure aims to reduce the tower displacements and platform’s oscillations, particularly in rotational movements. This is achieved by installing Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) within the barge to oppose the oscillatory motion of the waves. Response Amplitude Operator (RAO) is used to predict the motions of the system exposed to different wave frequencies. From the RAOs analysis, the system’s performance has been evaluated for representative regular wave periods. Simulations using numerical tools show the positive impact of the added OWCs on the system’s stability. The results prove that the proposed platform presents better performance by decreasing the oscillations for the given range of wave frequencies, compared to the traditional barge platform.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athul K. Sundarrajan ◽  
Yong Hoon Lee ◽  
James T. Allison ◽  
Daniel R. Herber

Abstract This paper discusses a framework to design elements of the plant and control systems for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) in an integrated manner using linear parameter-varying models. Multiple linearized models derived from high-fidelity software are used to model the system in different operating regions characterized by the incoming wind speed. The combined model is then used to generate open-loop optimal control trajectories as part of a nested control co-design strategy that explores the system’s stability and power production in the context of crucial plant and control design decisions. A cost model is developed for the FOWT system, and the effect of plant decisions and subsequent power and stability response of the FOWT is quantified in terms of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for that system. The results show that the stability constraints and the plant design decisions affect the turbine’s power and, subsequently, LCOE of the system. The results indicate that a lighter plant in terms of mass can produce the same power for a lower LCOE while still satisfying the constraints.


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