Wake Aerodynamics of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
Experimental Wake Characterization under Imposed Motions
C. Miron Vidal (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
F. Taruffi – Mentor (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
Daniele Ragni – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
A. Sciacchitano – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerodynamics)
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Abstract
As offshore wind energy expands into deeper waters, Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) are essential. This thesis investigates how complex floating motions affect wake behavior and recovery, addressing a key gap in experimental data. A 1:148 scale DTU 10MW turbine was mounted on a six-degrees-of-freedom Hexapod and tested in the Open Jet Facility at TU Delft. Using 3D Particle Tracking Velocimetry with Helium-Filled Soap Bubbles and high-speed imaging, detailed flow fields were reconstructed. Results show that the tested low-frequency surge motion improves wake recovery by 40% compared to static conditions at a distance of 5D, while high-frequency pitch has the least benefit. Turbulence, vorticity, and spectral analyses confirm enhanced mixing and earlier vortex diffusion under motion, offering valuable insights for farm layout optimization.