Articles | Volume 2, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2-671-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2-671-2017
Research article
 | 
22 Dec 2017
Research article |  | 22 Dec 2017

Modern methods for investigating the stability of a pitching floating platform wind turbine

Matthew Lennie, David Marten, George Pechlivanoglou, Christian Navid Nayeri, and Christian Oliver Paschereit

Abstract. The QBlade implementation of the lifting-line free vortex wake (LLFVW) method was tested in conditions analogous to floating platform motion. Comparisons against two independent test cases using a variety of simulation methods show good agreement in thrust forces, rotor power, blade forces and rotor plane induction. Along with the many verifications already undertaken in the literature, it seems that the code performs solidly even in these challenging cases. Further to this, the key steps are presented from a new formulation of the instantaneous aerodynamic thrust damping of a wind turbine rotor. A test case with harmonic platform motion and collective blade pitch is used to demonstrate how combining such tools can lead to a better understanding of aeroelastic stability. A second case demonstrates a non-harmonic blade pitch manoeuvre showing the versatility of the instantaneous damping method.

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Short summary
Floating platform wind turbines present a challenge for engineers to simulate. This paper explores some better methods for simulating the aerodynamics of wind turbines as they move about on a floating platform. We also derived a new way of investigating whether the aerodynamics of the wind turbine rotor help it stay stable.
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