Comparative numerical and experimental study of two combined wind and wave energy concepts

With a successful and rapid development of offshore wind industry and increased research activities on wave energy conversion in recent years,there is an interest in investigating the technological and economic feasibility of combining offshore wind turbines(WTs)with wave energy converters(WECs).In the EU FP7 MARINA Platform project,three floating combined concepts,namely the spar torus combination(STC),the semi-submersible flap combination(SFC)and the oscillating water column(OWC)array with a wind turbine,were selected and studied in detail by numerical and experimental methods.This paper summarizes the numerical modeling and analysis of the two concepts:STC and SFC,the model tests at a 1:50 scale under simultaneous wave and wind excitation,as well as the comparison between the numerical and experimental results.Both operational and survival wind and wave conditions were considered.The numerical analysis was based on a time-domain global model using potential flow theory for hydrodynamics and blade element momentum theory(for SFC)or simplified thrust force model(for STC)for aerodynamics.Different techniques for model testing of combined wind and wave concepts were discussed with focus on modeling of wind turbines by disk or redesigned small-scale rotor and modeling of power take-off(PTO)system for wave energy conversion by pneumatic damper or hydraulic rotary damper.In order to reduce the uncertainty due to scaling,the numerical analysis was performed at model scale and both the numerical and experimental results were then up-scaled to full scale for comparison.The comparison shows that the current numerical model can well predict the responses(motions,PTO forces,power production)of the combined concepts for most of the cases.However,the linear hydrodynamic model is not adequate for the STC concept in extreme wave conditions with the torus fixed to the spar at the mean water level for which the wave slamming on the torus occurs and this requires further investigation.Moreover,based on a preliminary comparison of the displacement,the PTO system as well as the wind and wave power production,the STC concept will have a lower cost of energy as compared to the SFC concept.However,the cost of energy of either the STC or the SFC concept is higher than that of a pure floating wind turbine with the same floater.

Hydrodynamic Characteristics of New Floating Wind-Wave Energy Combined Power Generation Devices Under Typhoon-Wave-Current Coupling

The South China Sea is rich in wind and wave energy resources,and the wind-wave combined power generation device is currently in the concept research and development stage.In recent years,extreme sea conditions such as super typhoons have frequently occurred,which poses a serious challenge to the safety of offshore floating platforms.In view of the lack of safety analysis of wind-wave combined power generation devices in extreme sea conditions at present,this paper takes the OC4-WEC combined with semi-submersible wind turbine(Semi-OC4)and the oscillating buoy wave energy converter as the research object,and establishes a mesoscale WRF-SWANFVCOM(W-S-F)real-time coupling platform based on the model coupling Toolkit(MCT)to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of wind-wave-current in offshore wind farms during the whole process of super typhoon“Rammasun”transit.Combined with the medium/small scale nested method,the flow field characteristics of OC4-WEC platform are analyzed.The results show that the simulation accuracy of the established W-S-F platform for typhoon track is 42.51%higher than that of the single WRF model.Under the action of typhoon-wave-current,the heave motion amplitude of OC4-WEC platform is reduced by 38.1%,the surge motion amplitude is reduced by 26.7%,and the pitch motion amplitude is reduced by 23.4%.

Concept Design and Coupled Dynamic Response Analysis on 6-MW Spar-Type Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

Tower, Spar platform and mooring system are designed in the project based on a given 6-MW wind turbine. Under wind-induced only, wave-induced only and combined wind and wave induced loads, dynamic response is analyzed for a 6-MW Spar-type floating offshore wind turbine （FOWT） under operating conditions and parked conditions respectively. Comparison with a platform-fixed system （land-based system） ofa 6-MW wind turbine is carried out as well. Results demonstrate that the maximal out-of-plane deflection of the blade of a Spar-type system is 3.1% larger than that of a land-based system; the maximum response value of the nacelle acceleration is 215% larger for all the designed load cases being considered; the ultimate tower base fore-aft bending moment of the Spar-type system is 92% larger than that of the land-based system in all of the Design Load Cases （DLCs） being considered; the fluctuations of the mooring tension is mainly wave-induced, and the safety factor of the mooring tension is adequate for the 6-MW FOWT. The results can provide relevant modifications to the initial design for the Spar-type system, the detailed design and model basin test of the 6-MW Spar-type system.

Design and Performance Analysis of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines with Double-Stator Dislocation Using a Combined Wye-Delta Connection

Conventional fractional slot concentrated winding three-phase axial flux permanent magnet machines have an abundance of armature reaction magnetic field harmonics which deteriorate the torque performance of the machine.This paper presents a double-stator dislocated axial flux permanent magnet machine with combined wye-delta winding.A wye-delta(Y-△)winding connection method is designed to eliminate the 6 th ripple torque generated by air gap magnetic field harmonics.Then,the accurate subdomain method is adopted to acquire the no-load and armature magnetic fields of the machine,respectively,and the magnetic field harmonics and torque performance of the designed machine are analyzed.Finally,a 6 k W,4000 r/min,18-slot/16-pole axial flux permanent magnet machine is designed.The finite element simulation results show that the proposed machine can effectively eliminate the 6 th ripple torque and greatly reduce the torque ripple while the average torque is essentially identical to that of the conventional three-phase machines with wye-winding connection.

Resource assessment for combined offshore wind and wave energy in China

The development of offshore wind farms has experienced rapid growth during the past decade. In particular, China has the highest number of installations worldwide, but some challenges exist for further development. Consequently, some researchers suggest combining wave energy with offshore wind energy. To fully implement this plan, a comprehensive resource assessment of combined offshore wind and wave energy systems is needed. Investigations of the parameters, such as the spatial and temporal distribution of wind and wave energy, aggregate resource reserves, available technical potential, and total capacity factor, are vital for designing the required wind turbines and wave energy converters. To assist scientific development and governmental decision making, this paper aims to evaluate offshore wind and wave energy resources from a technological perspective. The results show that theoretical offshore wind and wave energy resources are abundant in China's ocean territory, with a potential of approximately 3 TW. Technically, of the three most popular offshore wind turbines, i.e., 6, 8, and 10 MW, 10 MW is overall the most suitable in China. However, of the three wave energy converters, i.e., 120, 250, and 750 kW, 120 kW is the best candidate for Liaoning Province, and 750 kW is the most suitable for the remainder of its region. Overall, the total annual energy production is approximately 7000 TWh.

Extreme Responses of An Integrated System with A Semi-Submersible Wind Turbine and Four Torus-Shaped Wave Energy Converters in Different Survival Modes

Offshore wind power is a kind of important clean renewable energy and has attracted increasing attention due to the rapid consumption of non-renewable energy.To reduce the high cost of energy,a possible try is to utilize the combination of wind and wave energy considering their natural correlation.A combined concept consisting of a semi-submersible wind turbine and four torus-shaped wave energy converters was proposed and numerically studied under normal operating conditions.However,the dynamic behavior of the integrated system under extreme sea conditions has not been studied yet.In the present work,extreme responses of the integrated system under two different survival modes are evaluated.Fully coupled time-domain simulations with consideration of interactions between the semi-submersible wind turbine and the torus-shaped wave energy converters are performed to investigate dynamic responses of the integrated system,including mooring tensions,tower bending moments,end stop forces,and contact forces at the Column-Torus interface.It is found that the addition of four tori will reduce the mean motions of the yaw,pitch and surge.When the tori are locked at the still water line,the whole integrated system is more suitable for the survival modes.