Offshore Wind Farm Availability Modeling Under Weather Access Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current operation and maintenance (O&M) models for offshore wind farms do not adequately consider environmental constraints, leading to inefficiencies in production availability due to weather conditions affecting accessibility and maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining production availability of offshore wind farms by obtaining wind farm, strategy, and meteorological data to calculate motion parameters, which quantify the impact of environmental conditions on accessibility and maintenance, allowing for a more precise evaluation of production availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simplified environmental considerations are used in O&M models, then model complexity is reduced, but production availability determination becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The method segments the determination of production availability into multiple independent components: obtaining wind farm data, obtaining strategy data, obtaining meteorological data, determining motion parameters, and determining production availability. This segmentation allows each component to be processed separately with appropriate complexity, improving overall accuracy without requiring the entire system to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The method dynamically adapts the level of environmental consideration based on the specific conditions. By obtaining meteorological data and determining motion parameters that reflect actual environmental conditions, the model dynamically adjusts its accuracy to match the prevailing conditions, rather than using a static simplified approach.
2Measurement precision
If detailed environmental constraints are considered in O&M models, then production availability determination becomes accurate, but model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The method divides the complex task of accurate production availability determination into manageable segments: data acquisition (wind farm, strategy, meteorological), motion parameter determination, and final availability calculation. This segmentation reduces model complexity by processing each aspect separately rather than simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The method performs preliminary actions by obtaining and processing meteorological data and determining motion parameters before calculating production availability. This preliminary processing of environmental data prepares the model to accurately assess availability without requiring complex real-time calculations during the final determination step.
3Loss of energy
If weather conditions are not considered in maintenance operations, then operational expenditure is reduced, but production availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary assessment of weather conditions and motion parameters before scheduling maintenance operations. By evaluating meteorological data and its impact on accessibility in advance, the system can plan maintenance activities during favorable conditions, avoiding costly delays while ensuring production availability is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The method incorporates feedback from meteorological data and motion parameter determination into the production availability calculation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously adjust maintenance planning based on actual environmental conditions, optimizing the balance between operational expenditure and production availability.
4Loss of time
If vessel access is attempted during adverse weather, then intervention time is reduced, but technician safety and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The method determines motion parameters and assesses accessibility conditions before dispatching vessels for maintenance interventions. By preliminarily evaluating whether weather conditions allow safe and efficient technician operations, the system avoids unnecessary vessel deployments during adverse conditions, preventing safety issues while minimizing intervention time delays.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a method for determining the production availability of an offshore wind farm comprising at least one floating wind turbine, the method comprising: obtaining wind farm data, obtaining strategy data relative to operation and maintenance resources to carry out an action on the floating wind turbine(s), obtaining meteorological data relative to an offshore environment for the offshore wind farm over a given period of time, determining motion parameters as a function of the wind farm data and of the meteorological data, and determining the production availability of the offshore wind farm in the offshore environment over the given period of time on the basis of the wind farm data, of the strategy data, of the meteorological data, and of the determined motion parameters.