WINDHDG - High fidelity and cost-effective flow solver for the aerodynamic simulation of floating offshore wind turbines Projects uri icon

type

  • European Research Project

reference

  • 101211424

date/time interval

  • August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2027

abstract

  • Becoming energy independent is what nationsrest on. When environmental concerns are considered, renewable energy harvest isthe clear
    choice. Renewable wind energy can be obtained onshore or offshore. However, offshore harvest offers irresistible advantages, including
    higher output rate, less space constraints, no visual or noise pollution . Currently, EU’s largest offshore wind farms are located in the
    shallow North Sea , due to the fact that current fixed offshore wind turbine technology is suitable only for depths up to 60 meters. To take
    better advantage of EU’s maritime space (including the deeper waters) developing Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) technology
    is utterly necessary. To develop FOWT technology, either astronomically pricey laboratory tests or high-fidelity numerical simulations
    are required. Numerical simulation of FOWTs is quite involved as turbines are subjected to turbulent flow conditions with rapid changes
    in wind speed and direction. When combined with the interaction of rotating blades, aerodynamic simulation (modelling) of FOWTs get
    computationally extremely demanding. The main objective of WINHDG project is to develop a high fidelity and cost-effective numerical
    flow solver for the aerodynamic simulation of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). To achieve this overarching goal, the following
    specific objectives are stated: • Implement beyond-the-state-of-the-art advanced numerical techniques for the aerodynamic simulation
    of FOWTs, on a fully optimized GPU computing platform, TUCANGPU. • Validate this flow solver through the simulation of a 5MW
    NREL turbine (specifically designed for FOWTs) and analyse its performance via comparative benchmarking with OpenFAST, NREL’s
    open-source wind turbine simulation tool. • Use the WINHDG solver to improve the geometric design and the aerodynamic performance
    of the turbine blades via parametric study that count for platform motion and rotations