Defence Diago F. Bernal Camacho: "Floating platform design for offshore wind turbines"
Promotors: 1st promotor: Prof Antonis Vakis, 2nd promotor: Prof. E.G. Mendoza Baldwin, 3rd promotor: Prof. B. Jayawardhana
Abstract: Floating offshore wind turbines enable the harnessing of wind resources in marine regions where conventional fixed-bottom foundations are not feasible. However, the motions of floating platforms under combined wind and wave loading remain a major challenge. This thesis investigates strategies to improve the performance of a semisubmersible floating wind turbine platform through passive motion reduction systems and the co-location of wave energy converters. The OC4 DeepCwind semisubmersible platform is used in this investigation. First, offshore wind conditions in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico, were analysed to characterise representative marine environments and simulate a floating wind turbine. Subsequently, experimental tests were conducted in an enclosed wave-wind flume to evaluate the effectiveness of a passive motion-reduction system comprising a centreboard and a heave plate. These experiments are complemented with numerical simulations in WEC-Sim. Additional analyses investigate the interaction between the floating wind turbine and different WEC array configurations positioned at the platform bow, including arc-shaped and honeycomb layouts. The results show that the proposed motion-reduction system reduces platform motions, while the co-location of WEC arrays can further influence hydrodynamic performance and energy capture.