Dynamic response analysis of floating wind turbines with emphasis on vertical axis rotors

Abstract

Large floating wind turbines are feasible for offshore application. Due to the commercial success onshore and nearshore, floating horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are now being widely studied. However, floating vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have an excellent potential in the cost of energy reduction compared with floating HAWTs. This paper deals with the integrated modeling and dynamic response analysis of typical floating VAWT concepts. A fully coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic method is presented for numerical modeling and dynamic response analysis of floating wind turbine systems. Considering a two-bladed 5 MW Darrieus rotor, the dynamic response characteristics of typical floating VAWT concepts are studied. In addition, comparative studies of floating HAWTs and VAWTs are performed.