Research Categories / Renewable Energy

Assessment of Partially verses Fully Coupled Dynamic Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbines

To compare partially and fully coupled dynamic analyses of offshore wind turbines.

Offshore wind turbines are designed and analyzed using simulation methods (computer codes) capable of predicting the coupled dynamic loads and responses of the systems. A partially coupled analysis using load exchange may be desirable due to intellectual property rights issues between designers of the various components. The validity of this partially coupled analysis method should be investigated for offshore wind turbines with various types of foundations.

Development of Guidelines for Structural Health Monitoring for Offshore Wind

The guidelines for structural health monitoring will be based on the experience from various long term monitoring schemes conducted in Europe for offshore wind turbine foundations and other platform structures within the more mature offshore oil and gas industry. The guidelines will be organized by monitoring topics relevant for different types of foundations including monopiles, pre-piled jackets, bucket and gravity base foundations and anchored floaters, recommended arrangement for monitoring systems will be described for each topic.

Breaking Waves

The goal of this proposed work is to develop superior methods for determining the onset of breaking waves and their impact loads on offshore support structures for wind turbines in shallow waters, using high-fidelity CFD simulations. To accomplish this goal, we will partner with Fishermen's Energy LLC, who will provide metocean data and structural models that will inform our activities. We will examine breaking wave conditions in the U.S. for proposed offshore wind turbine support structures.

TAP-747-Offshore Wind Energy Inspection Procedures Assessment Project

The offshore wind power industry is at an early stage here in the US. While the future of offshore wind is uncertain due to economic and other external forces, the potential is quite high from a resource and demand perspective. There is a great deal of strong wind resources very close to high demand centers on both coasts. As costs come down, and if the economic factors surrounding wind power improve, offshore wind energy could become a major source of energy for the US in the future.

TAP-758-Fatigue Design Methodologies Applicable to Complex Fixed and Floating offshore Wind Turbines

This study aims to: (a) Evaluate fatigue design criteria for offshore wind turbine support structures; (b) Study fatigue design methodologies applicable to complex fixed and floating offshore wind turbine support structures; and (c) Recommend a rational, practical, fatigue design method for offshore wind turbine support structures.

TAP-701-Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - Oversight of Design, Fabrication, and Installation

The study will provided guidance to BOEMRE on the direction and intent of its proposed approach to overseeing the development and safe operation of offshore wind turbines.

The study will provided findings regarding:

Task 1 - Standards and Practices: The applicability and adequacy of existing standards and practices for the design, fabrication, and installation of offshore wind turbines.

TAP-705-Design Guideline for Station Keeping Systems of Floating Wind Turbines

The main objectives of this project are to: Conduct a state-of-the-art review of the existing methods, applicable guidelines and software tools for the design of station keeping systems of floating wind turbines as well as oil and gas platforms. Evaluate and develop design procedures and methods for global performance analysis for the station keeping systems of floating wind turbines. Propose a design guideline for the station keeping systems of floating wind turbines on the US OCS.

Pages