Aerodynamic verification and optimization of a model of an offshore floating wind turbine

Abstract

Offshore wind power technologies are still developing. Floating systems represent the future of wind energy as they provide sites with better wind characteristics. Nowadays they are under intensive study and experimentation, with, for example, the large Denmark investment or the FORWARD project in Japan. The aim of this thesis is the verification of an existing numerical model of a small offshore floating wind turbine: PIGAL, a project of Politecnico di Torino. First of all, the existing model is going to be explained. This numerical model concerns the modelling of hydrodynamic, aerodynamic, mechanical and mooring forces. The verification of the model is going to be done comparing it with the adaptation of the model and experimental data of another small floating wind turbine. The validation of the numerical model is important for the development of larger machines. Afterwards, it is going to be considered the optimization of blades to match the wind conditions of the experimentation.