Open Access

REVIEW

A Review of Research Status and Scientific Problems of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

by Zhen Lei¹, Xinbao Wang^2,*, Shuni Zhou³, Zekun Wang², Tengyuan Wang², Yingjian Yang²

1China State Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100097, China
2 Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
3 CSIC Haizhuang Windpower Co., Ltd., Chongqing, 401122, China

* Corresponding Author: Xinbao Wang. Email:

Energy Engineering 2022, 119(1), 123-143. https://doi.org/10.32604/EE.2022.016034

Received 02 February 2021; Accepted 24 June 2021; Issue published 22 November 2021

Abstract

With the continuous utilization of offshore wind resources, the installation depth and capacity of offshore wind turbines are increasing. In order to meet construction requirements of renewable energy, offshore wind farms are bound to develop further and deeper into the sea. As a result, a novel kind of power generation equipment, Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT), emerges as the times require. Consequently, this paper provides an objective comment on some key scientific difficulties. Firstly, The statistics and forecast of the market demand and installed capacity of offshore wind energy show a steady growth. After that, the advantages of constructing FOWT and most floating projects in various countries are summarized. And then, the reconstruction design of blades is reviewed under “Reynolds number” and “Froude number” similarity criterion, which is a prerequisite for achieving specific aerodynamic performance. So far, this paper focuses on aerodynamic researches, including aerodynamic forces and flow fields. On this basis, pitch angle control strategies are proposed to reduce aerodynamic forces on the premise of ensuring power generations. Finally, some other joint science problems to be solved are listed. Whether theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, ocean engineering basin tests, wind tunnel experiments or prototype sea measurements, FOWT is expected to break through various obstacles and finally achieve efficient and stable commercial operations.

---

Keywords

---