Numerical Investigation of a Floating-Type Support Structure (Tri-Star Floater) for 9.5 MW Wind Turbine Generators

Abstract

A numerical investigation of floating-type substructures for wind turbine generators was conducted by using time-domain simulation. A Tri-Star floater for 8–10 MW generators, which was developed by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), was chosen as the floating substructure. To make the anchor system, catenary mooring lines, considering redundancy, were installed on the floater. The main sources of external force on the wind turbine generator are wind, waves, and currents. To consider severe environmental conditions, Design Load Cases (DLCs) 1.6 and 6.1 of the IEC guidelines (IEC 61400-3-1) were chosen. From the measured environmental data for the installation site, the main parameters for the simulation conditions were obtained. The tilt angle and horizontal movement of the floater and the mooring tension for the different mooring systems were checked. The response of the floater during the failure of the mooring was also studied, and the critical failure of the mooring was confirmed. During the failure of the mooring, the redundancy system worked well, in which the movement of the floater was constrained within the criteria for all scenarios.