Dynamic Loads and Response of a Spar Buoy Wind Turbine with Pitch-Controlled Rotating Blades: An Experimental Study

Sara Russo, Pasquale Contestabile, Andrea Bardazzi, Elisa Leone, Gregorio Iglesias, Giuseppe R. Tomasicchio and Diego Vicinanza
Additional contact information
Sara Russo: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Pasquale Contestabile: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Andrea Bardazzi: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Elisa Leone: Department of Engineering for Innovation, EUMER Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Gregorio Iglesias: School of Engineering, University College Cork, College Road, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
Giuseppe R. Tomasicchio: Department of Engineering for Innovation, EUMER Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Diego Vicinanza: Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: New large-scale laboratory data are presented on a physical model of a spar buoy wind turbine with angular motion of control surfaces implemented (pitch control). The peculiarity of this type of rotating blade represents an essential aspect when studying floating offshore wind structures. Experiments were designed specifically to compare different operational environmental conditions in terms of wave steepness and wind speed. Results discussed here were derived from an analysis of only a part of the whole dataset. Consistent with recent small-scale experiments, data clearly show that the waves contributed to most of the model motions and mooring loads. A significant nonlinear behavior for sway, roll and yaw has been detected, whereas an increase in the wave period makes the wind speed less influential for surge, heave and pitch. In general, as the steepness increases, the oscillations decrease. However, higher wind speed does not mean greater platform motions. Data also indicate a significant role of the blade rotation in the turbine thrust, nacelle dynamic forces and power in six degrees of freedom. Certain pairs of wind speed-wave steepness are particularly unfavorable, since the first harmonic of the rotor (coupled to the first wave harmonic) causes the thrust force to be larger than that in more energetic sea states. The experiments suggest that the inclusion of pitch-controlled, variable-speed blades in physical (and numerical) tests on such types of structures is crucial, highlighting the importance of pitch motion as an important design factor.

Keywords: spar buoy; floating wind turbine; pitch control; rotating blades; offshore wind (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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