Loads and Response of a Tension Leg Platform Wind Turbine with Non-Rotating Blades: An Experimental Study

Abstract

This paper describes model testing of a Tension Leg Platform Wind Turbine (TLPWT) with non-rotating blades to better understand its motion and tendon responses when subjected to combined wind and unidirectional regular wave conditions. The TLPWT structure is closely based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5 MW concept. Multiple free decay tests were performed to evaluate the natural periods of the model in the key degrees of freedom, whilst Response Amplitude Operators (RAOs) were derived to show the motion and tendon characteristics. The natural periods in surge and pitch motions evaluated from the decay tests had a relatively close agreement to the theoretical values. Overall, the tested TLPWT model exhibited typical motion responses to that of a generalised TLP with significant surge offsets along with stiff heave and pitch motions. The maximum magnitudes for the RAOs of surge motion and all tendons occurred at the longest wave period of 1.23 s (~13.0 s at full-scale) tested in this study. From the attained results, there was evidence that static wind loading on the turbine structure had some impact on the motions and tendon response, particularly in the heave direction, with an average increase of 13.1% in motion amplitude for the tested wind conditions. The wind had a negligible effect on the surge motion and slightly decreased the tendon tensions in all tendons. The results also showed the set-down magnitudes amounting to approximately 2–5% of the offset. Furthermore, the waves are the dominant factor contributing to the set-down of the TLPWT, with a minimal contribution from the static wind loading. The results of this study could be used for calibrating numerical tools such as CFD codes.