WHEN FLOATING STRUCTURES COMBINE WIND AND WAVE

Weight (unballasted): 280 t Length: 25 m Width: 37 m Height (excl. turbines): 6 m urbine hub height: !2 m "ra#t (a$g.): %.5 m

&t is b'th a #l'ating su(('rt structure #'r )ind turbines and a )a$e energ* de$ice. he c'nce(t '# the +l'ating ,')er ,lant is s' #ar the 'nl* 'ne -n')n in the )'rld that has c'mbined the t)' energ* #'rms and has an '(erating (r't't*(e. his article )ill describe the design '# a #l'ating su(('rt structure that c'mbines the energ* #'rms. but since the +l'ating ,')er ,lant is the 'nl* 'ne using it. the article )ill m'stl* re#er t' and describe the +l'ating ,')er ,lant. he current (r't't*(e is called ,'seid'n 37 / the number re#ers t' the )idth '# the structure. Definitions When c'mbining )ind and )a$e energ* de$ices. the su(('rt structure acts as asemi0submerged structure. +'r ,'seid'n. the structure is three01uarters submerged. 2emi0submerged structures are s'metimes re#erred t' as barge #l'aters. but t' a$'id c'n#usi'n this term )ill n't be used. he )a$e energ* de$ice c'uld in the'r* be '# $ari'us designs such as the('int abs'rber 'r '$ert'((ing terminat'r. 3ut in the case '# the +l'ating ,')er ,lant the )a$e energ* de$ice is the s'0called Front Pivot Hinged Wave Absorber. he )ind turbines are de#ined b* the height '# the t')er. his height is determined b* the dimensi'ns '# the su(('rt structure. ' (ut it in an'ther )a*: the larger the (lat#'rm. the higher the t')er. he turbines can be either '# the u()ind 'r d')n)ind t*(e carr*ing 'ne. t)' 'r three blades 'n the r't'r. "e(ending 'n cust'mer needs. there can be #r'm ! t' 3 turbines 'n the (lat#'rm. he su(('rt structure is secured using a urret 4''ring 2*stem / described later in this article.

Why com ine !in" #n" !#$e% Whether 'ne has a starting ('int in the )ind industr* 'r in )a$e energ*. the l'gic behind a c'mbinati'n '# the t)' energ* #'rms is that it increases the return. he bene#its '# adding a )a$e energ* de$ice t' a #l'ating su(('rt structure #'r a )ind turbine is stabilit* and the b'at landing. he )a$e energ* de$ice abs'rbs the )a$e m'ti'ns. and thereb* ma-es the structure e$en m're stable. 5cc'rding t' +,,. 70060 (ercent '# the energ* in the )a$e m'ti'n is abs'rbed int' a c'ntr'lled s*stem. his (r'$ides stabilit* c'm(ared t' a n'rmal #l'ating structure )ith'ut an* abs'r(ti'n. 5nd because '# the abs'r(ti'n '# the m'ti'n energ* '# the )a$es. there )ill al)a*s be calm )aters at the rear '# the structure / a lee side. )here b'at landing 'n the structure is ('ssible in harsh )eather. 2ee the sec'nd (icture bel') #'r an illustrati'n '# this. +r'm the 'ther ('int '# $ie). the bene#its '# adding 'ne 'r se$eral )ind turbines t' a #l'ating )a$e energ* de$ice are stabilit* and increased (r'ducti'n. 4easurements #r'm the (r't't*(e ,'seid'n ha$e sh')n that the (ressure #r'm )ind 'n the turbines stabili7es the structure in the )ater. and this stabilit* increases the (')er 'ut(ut '# the )a$e de$ice b* !02 (ercentage ('ints. 5nd since the )a$e energ* de$ice (r'$ides a #l'ating su(('rt structure an*)a*. the c'st '# establishing )ind turbines '##sh're in this s*stem c'rres('nds t' the ex(ense '# establishing the turbines 'nsh're. The st&'ct'&e

8lic- here t' $ie) large image Figure 1: The main components of the Poseidon 37. I ustration: !"#$% F oating Po&er P ant

When using a semi0submerged structure #'r a )a$e energ* de$ice. the structure is m'di#ied radicall* c'm(ared t' a standard barge. 9n the ,'seid'n 37. three secti'ns c'nstitute the barge:

he #r'nt secti'n. )hich c'ntains the turret m''ring. the middle secti'n carr*ing the )a$e abs'rbers. and

the rear secti'n.

he )h'le structure is 37 meters )ide and 25 meters l'ng (excluding the bu'*). he middle secti'n can be disc'nnected #r'm the #r'nt. and the energ* de$ice can thus be sailed t' ('rt )ith'ut inter#ering )ith the m''ring. his is needed since the , 37 is a (r't't*(e and a test #acilit*. he #r'nt and rear secti'ns ensure that the +l'ating ,')er ,lant al)a*s turns against the )a$e #r'nt / and that it d'es s' in a (assi$e )a* )ith'ut c'nsuming energ*. he )a$e abs'rbers (#l'aters) are hinged at the #r'nt. he #l'aters abs'rb the (ressure m'ti'n '# the )a$e b'th #'r)ards and u()ards. :( t' 3% (ercent '# the inc'ming )a$e energ* is c'n$erted t' electricit* in the +l'ating ,')er ,lant. 5cc'rding t' +,,. this has been c'n#irmed b* the research and c'nsultanc* 'rgani7ati'n "H& ("anish H*draulic &nstitute) in the latest )a$e #lume test series. ;ach abs'rber 'n ,'seid'n 37 )eighs %.7 t'nnes )ith'ut ballast and 2% t'nnes #ull* ballasted. he ballast s*stem is an acti$e c'ntr'l s*stem. 5l'ng )ith trimming '# the submerged de(th. these are the 'nl* t)' acti$e c'ntr'ls in the )h'le structure. thus the 'nl* (art )here energ* is c'nsumed. 3allast is used t' secure the '(timum #l'ater m'$ement: in this )a* the #l'aters ha$e high e##icienc* in small as )ell as large )a$es. Moo&in( With a #l'ating structure that turns t')ards the )a$es. an anch'r s*stem )hich all')s #ull 360 degrees r'tati'n is needed. With the ,i$'t Hinged Wa$e 5bs'rber. a standard s*stem #r'm the 'il and gas industr* is used: the urret 4''ring 2*stem. urret m''ring is )idel* used 'n s'0called +,29 $essels (+l'ating ,r'ducti'n. 2t'rage and 9##l'ading). +,29s t*(icall* extract 'il and gas #r'm #ields #ar a)a*. re#ine it and st're it. and then '##l'ad it 'nt' a trans('rt $essel. 3ecause '# the 'il extracti'n (thr'ugh (i(elines). a +,29 has t' remain at the exact same ('siti'n regardless '# )eather c'nditi'ns. +'r this (ur('se. the $essel is secured )ith a urret 4''ring 2*stem. he turret is in its essence a bu'* held in (lace b* three 'r m're m''ring lines. he m''ring lines are secured )ith anch'rs / in ,'seid'n<s case. these are (l') anch'rs. 5 tugb'at drags the anch'rs int' the seabed until a gi$en tensi'n is achie$ed. he m''ring lines ha$e en'ugh slac- #'r the turret t' m'$e u( and d')n )hen )ater le$els rise and #all / but because '# the number '# m''ring lines. the h'ri7'ntal ('siti'n remains the same )ith little de$iati'n. hus. a (lat#'rm installed at m're than %0 meters de(th )ill be able t' #'ll') a rise in the sea le$el '# u( t' 30 meters. he s*stem is n't suited #'r de(ths less than %0 meters because '# the energ* in the )a$es at l') de(ths. &t )'uld n't be c'mmerciall* $iable. )o!e& *&o"'ction he )a$e abs'rbers c'n$ert the #'r)ard and u()ards (ressure #r'm the )a$es t' an u()ard and d')n)ard m'ti'n. he m'$ement '# the #l'aters dri$es a d'uble (ist'n (um( 'n each #l'). (ushing )ater at high s(eed and (ressure thr'ugh a turbine. +l'ating ,')er ,lant is currentl* )'r-ing t'gether )ith 2iemens 5ut'mati'n = "ri$es. 8'ntech 5ut'matic and 'thers. 'n de$el'(ment '# an alternati$e , 9 (,')er a-e09##) s*stem )ere the r'tati'nal m'$ement '# the hinge is c'n$erted directl* int' electricit* thr'ugh a mechanical s*stem 'r h*draulic (ressure. )hich dri$es a generat'r and generates the (')er.

he (r't't*(e ,'seid'n 37 has a rated (')er '# !%0 -W #r'm the )a$es and 33 >W #r'm )ind. a t'tal '# !77 -W.

8lic- here t' $ie) large image Po&er production. 'otice the ca m &aters behind the &ave absorbers. The men near the (e o& containers give an idea of the si)e. Photo: F oating Po&er P ant

9n the ,'seid'n 37 the )a$e abs'rbers start (r'ducti'n at 20 centimeters signi#icant )a$e height (Hs). 8ut0'ut is at !.5 meters )a$e height (Hs). ,lants )ill be dimensi'ned a#ter the s(eci#ic c'nditi'ns at the gi$en site. thus the cut0in and cut0'ut $alues can be $aried. 5(art #r'm the )a$es. the rest '# the energ* c'mes #r'm the three )ind turbines. he si7e and (')er '# the turbines are ch'sen acc'rding t' a single criteri'n: t')er height. he sur#ace area and )eight '# the (lat#'rm de#ines h') high the t')er can be. 5nd the t')er height de#ines )hat turbines are a$ailable 'n the mar-et. &n the case '# the ,'seid'n 37. engineers ch'se a c'mm'n 'nsh're )ind turbine: the ?aia0Wind !330!!-W. he t')er is n'rmall* !8 meters high. but '##sh're !2 meters )as ('ssible. &nstead '# a standard lattice t')er. a tubular t')er )as ch'sen t' im(r'$e c'rr'si'n (r'tecti'n. 5cc'rding t' +l'ating ,')er ,lant. the )ind turbines can be '# an* t*(e and the number )ill $ar* #r'm ! t' 3 turbines. he turbine can be u()ind 'r d')n)ind. and #itted )ith an* number '# blades. 9nl* the t')er height matters. &n #act. the turbines ha$e been (r'$ed t' stabili7e the )h'le c'nstructi'n<s (itching at sea. @'rmall*. the directi'n '# )ind and )a$e are '$erall the same. and this is als' the '(timal scenari' #'r the (lant. +'r the ,'seid'n. the (')er 'ut(ut #r'm the middle )ind turbine declines )hen the )ind turns 'ut '# alignment )ith the )a$e directi'n. &n rare cases )ith cr'ss)inds the (')er 'ut(ut #r'm turbines is at its l')est. 9n a$erage. the middle turbine (r'duces 85 (ercent '# rated (')er. and the t)' #r'nt turbines (r'duce u( t' their rated (')er. sa*s +l'ating ,')er ,lant.

St# i+ity he semi0submerged structure is m're susce(tible t' h*dr'd*namic l'ads than s(ar #l'aters 'r L,s because '# the large sur#ace at sea le$el. With the c'nstructi'n '# the ,'seid'n engineers ha$e c'untered this in three )a*s:

Ha$ing an e$en larger sur#ace area. 3* building a #r'nt secti'n and a rear secti'n 'n the structure. the length is increased and thereb* the structure )ill be m're stable. his is c'mbined )ith a large sur#ace area at the b'tt'm t' secure signi#icant dam(ing. 3eing m'stl* submerged. 3* submerging 75 (ercent '# the structure it bec'mes m're stable. his is the same (rinci(le as an iceberg. riangular c'nstructi'n '# the rear secti'n. he rear secti'n then acts as a tail rudder.

&n additi'n. the a((licati'n '# )ind turbines als' stabili7es the structure as the )ind (ressure 'n the r't'rs has a dam(ing e##ect. 5cc'rding t' +l'ating ,')er ,lant. measurements 'n ,'seid'n 37 '$er t)' 80m'nth (eri'ds ha$e sh')n that the tilt '# the (lat#'rm is at maximum !.5 degrees 'ut '# h'ri7'ntal. his )as measured b* the @ati'nal Lab'rat'r* #'r 2ustainable ;nerg*. AisB " :. 5nd the #re1uenc* is relati$el* l') / it ta-es 2 sec'nds t' s)ing #r'm 0 t' !.5 degrees. 9n larger (lants handling larger )a$es. the )a$e (eri'd )ill als' be l'nger. and this )ill l')er the #re1uenc* #urther. here#'re the su(('rt structure sh'uld be suitable #'r m'st )ind turbines. Ne,t ste*s he next ste( is the c'nstructi'n '# a (')er (lant '# !!0 meters )idth t' be installed in 9reg'n. :25. 5 c'llab'rati'n bet)een +l'ating ,')er ,lant and 5merican $enture ca(italists )as ann'unced in 5(ril 20!!. and the ne) (r't't*(e )ill be installed bet)een 20!% and 20!5. he largest scale '# the +l'ating ,')er ,lant )ill be 230 meters )ide and m'unted )ith three 2 4W turbines. he )a$e energ* de$ice )ill ha$e a rated (')er '# a((r'ximatel* 506 4W. he *earl* (r'ducti'n )ill be 50 ?Wh / '# this 60070 (ercent )ill be (r'duced #r'm )a$e energ*. because the )a$es re(resent a m're stable energ* s'urce. sa*s +l'ating ,')er ,lant.