Floating Wind Turbine Heel Control via Dynamic Anchor Line Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current offshore wind turbines installed in deep water face challenges due to excessive heel, which increases structural mass and cost, reduces efficiency, and limits capacity factor, as conventional designs require large, heavy buoyant bodies to counteract heeling moments effectively.
Innovation Solution
A floating wind turbine system utilizing dynamic feedback control of aerodynamic control surfaces and adjustable anchor line force vectors to counteract heeling and other forces, featuring a long, low-mass buoyant body with rotatable aerodynamic control surfaces and anchor line actuators to maintain stability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional floating wind turbine designs use large, heavy buoyant bodies to counteract heeling moments, then stability is improved, but structural mass and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the anchor line force vector by moving the attachment point on the buoyant body using an actuator system. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to actively counteract heeling moments and restore upright position, replacing the need for excessive static mass with active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the anchor line force vector by dynamically adjusting the attachment point position on the buoyant body. This parameter change enables the same anchor line to generate variable righting moments, allowing stability maintenance with reduced structural mass compared to conventional fixed-attachment designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If floating wind turbines operate in deeper water, then operational versatility is improved, but heel and motion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a control system that monitors the orientation and position of the buoyant body and dynamically adjusts the anchor line force vector attachment point in response. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain stability in deeper water by continuously counteracting heeling and other forces, allowing operational versatility without sacrificing stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the center of buoyancy and center of mass are separated by a large distance to generate sufficient righting moment, then stability is improved, but device complexity and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on a fixed, large separation between center of buoyancy and center of mass, the patent uses a dynamic attachment point system that can move to optimize the righting moment. This reduces the need for excessive initial separation and simplifies the overall device design while maintaining sufficient righting moment through active control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces structural mass and cost, enhances capacity factor, and extends the life of wind turbines by minimizing inertial and dynamic loads, reducing heel, motion, and accelerations, allowing operation in deeper waters with reduced construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyant body (4) supporting the tower (10) in water (22)
Implementation Method 2
dynamic feedback control of aerodynamic control surfaces
Implementation Method 3
adjustable anchor line force vectors to counteract heeling and other forces
Data Source
AI summary
A floating offshore wind turbine includes a rotor and a generator turned by the rotor. An elongated buoyant body supports a tower that supports the generator and rotor. The buoyant body or the tower may support aerodynamic features to counteract heeling forces or to steer the floating wind turbine as it swings on its anchor line. The floating offshore wind turbine may be configured to move the anchor line force vector to counteract heeling forces. A control system may control the aerodynamic features and the movement of the anchor line force vector.