OPTIMIZING THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE HULLS FOR FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES
Journal
Journal of Taiwan Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
Journal Volume
41
Journal Issue
4
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Author(s)
Abstract
As wind energy developers begin to venture into deep-sea waters exceeding 65 meters, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) are gradually replacing bottom-fixed structures as a better solution. This paper proposes a semi-submersible platform design for carrying a 15 MW turbine. Although semi-submersible floating platforms originated from the oil and gas industry and have matured, their use for carrying floating wind turbines will require different design foundations and constraints. Furthermore, compared to fixed wind turbines, existing or planned floating wind turbine platforms have the drawbacks of excessive steel usage and oversized dimensions. Therefore, this paper aims to optimize the structure of the semi-submersible platform to make it as cost-effective as possible, while meeting the following design considerations: strength, ship stability under static and dynamic conditions, constructability, operability, and compliance with major classification societies' rule requirements. Through literature review, data from existing semi-submersible projects were collected and analyzed. The ratio between displacement and steel weight was presented to show recent trends. Finally, the demonstration platform, TaidaFloat, designed for carrying a 15 MW turbine, was introduced. Its application targets water depths from 65 meters to 100 meters and considers deployment in the Taiwan Strait. The platform was designed based on local construction limitations and conditions in Taiwan. Its internal structural arrangement has been preliminarily completed, and the advantages and features of the design were summarized.
Subjects
Hull Form | Hydrodynamic Coefficients | Maneuvering Characteristics | Underwater Vehicles
SDGs
Type
journal article