Dynamic performance optimization of a floating offshore wind turbine based on fractal-inspired design principles

Huang, H, Liu, Q ORCID: 0009-0001-1925-652X, Bashir, M ORCID: 0000-0002-4331-4275, Malkeson, S ORCID: 0000-0002-1756-3462, Li, C, Yue, M, Miao, W and Wang, J ORCID: 0000-0003-4646-9106 (2025) Dynamic performance optimization of a floating offshore wind turbine based on fractal-inspired design principles. Energy, 324. ISSN 0360-5442

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Abstract

As the development of onshore and fixed offshore wind turbines approaches saturation, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are increasingly gaining attention due to their ability to operate in deeper waters and harness more stable wind resources. However, the dynamic responses of FOWTs are amplified significantly under the complex sea conditions, posing challenges to the overall system stability. This study proposes a novel semi-submersible platform featuring fractal structure inspired by Victoria Amazonica as solutions to the overall system stability of FOWTs. The computational fluid dynamics method, integrated with dynamic fluid-body interaction and volume of fluid wave model, is used to examine the aero, hydro, and mooring dynamics of the FOWT. A parametric model of the fractal structure with different branch levels is constructed by recursive method. Firstly, the hydrodynamic performance of the novel platforms with multi-level branch structures is examined under single wave conditions. The results show that vortices in fractal structures present higher velocity gradients and greater viscous dissipation, thereby effectively absorbing wave energy. The stability of the platform improves progressively as the branch levels increase. Subsequently, the dynamic responses of the full-configuration FOWT mounted on the platform with 8-level fractal structure (8LFS-FOWT) are further evaluated under wind-wave coupling conditions. The results reveal that 8LFS-FOWT achieves superior hydrodynamic performance with the most notable improvement in pitch amplitude of 25.22 % decrease. This enhancement also brings a 12.75 % reduction in the standard deviation of power output, forming positive feedback to ensure safe and stable operation of the system. The findings provide a valuable reference for promoting the innovative platform design of FOWTs.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	4015 Maritime Engineering; 40 Engineering; 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; 0913 Mechanical Engineering; 0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy; 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering; Energy; 4008 Electrical engineering; 4012 Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering; 4017 Mechanical engineering
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) V Naval Science > VM Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
Divisions:	Engineering
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	1 April 2025
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2025 13:52
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 13:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.energy.2025.135963
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26587

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