Hydrodynamics meet wind turbines: Specification and development of a simulation tool for floating wind turbines with Modelica

The research presented in this paper aims at improving hydrodynamics modelling for floating offshore wind turbines, as part of a broader effort to develop a fast, modem, more flexible aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulation tool utilizing state-of-the-art modelling software. A review of floater concepts proposed in recent years leads to the definition of a set of requirements and specifications for a novel hydrodynamics simulation module within the aforementioned tool, including wave and load models and validation. An outline of the entire dynamic simulation tool is presented, which takes advantage of prospects offered by the modelling language Modelica, developed specifically to model large, heterogeneous, complex physical systems. As a first implementation step, the development and validation of the wave kinematics module are detailled together with a benchmark against existing tools. Further optimisation and integration steps are discussed, followed by an outlook on futu re developments.