Denmark: DHI Tests Floating Wind Turbines in Its Wave Basins

As a member of the HYDRALAB-IV consortium, DHI offers access to research groups to conduct experimental studies in its wave basins. One of the projects selected by HYDRALAB’s user selection panel for Transnational Access to the facilities concerns ‘Dynamic Response of Floating offshore Structures under Random Waves and Wind Action’.

The project was formulated by researchers from University of Salento, Italy; Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal; RWTH Aachen, Germany; National Technical University Athens, Greece and Cores, Bulgaria. DHI’s tasks included model construction, instrumentation and technical support during execution of the tests.

Tests were carried out with two different floaters, a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) and a SPAR Bouy anchored by chains. The model scale was 1:40 and the model represented a 5MW wind turbine. The tests were carried out in regular and irregular waves, while the wind effect was simulated using the rotor as a fan.

The results of the tests will be used to validate numerical models for the design of floating structures for offshore wind energy production.

The HYDRALAB-IV activities are supported by the European Community’s 7th Framework Programme.

[mappress]

Press release, November 12, 2012; Image: DHI