Presentations

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) sector, understanding how to effectively operate and maintain wind parks is crucial for ensuring their long-term viability and efficiency. With the targeted densification of wind farm, the probability of having to replace heavy components is significant and the cost of towing turbines to port for maintenance is considerable. For these reasons, the development and validation of Heavy Lift Maintenance (HLM) systems in floating configuration will be essential in the coming years to ensure the sustainability of these wind farms. This need has been driving the FLOWTOM project, which aimed to enhance and evaluate HLM operations for offshore wind turbines by selecting and validating such a solution. The project selected one HLM solution from various concepts and aimed to assess its efficiency to operate on two types of floaters designed for a 15MW turbine: A semi-submersible concept and a TLP concept. Numerical models were built to understand the different floating systems behavior and conclude on their operability depending on the weather forecast and the operation type. Results from these simulations provided insights into three key operations: blade replacement, hub replacement, and heavy component transfers. The simulations and tests identified criteria that most affect system operability, such as tugger tension, package velocity, and crane-induced pendulum motion. In addition, a basin test campaign was carried out to validate the numerical models developed. Ultimately, by combining simulation data with site-specific environmental information, the FLOWTOM project provided a comprehensive understanding of the feasibility and efficiency of HLM operations for FOWTs.