Parametrisation Scheme for Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimisation of a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Substructure – OC3 5MW Case Study

The development of novel energy technologies is considered imperative in the provision of solutions to meet an increasing global demand for clean energy. Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) is one of the emerging technologies to exploit the vast wind resources available in deeper waters. To lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) or optimise the performance response associated with a FOWT system, a detailed understanding of the different disciplines (Aero-Hydro-Servo-Elastic) within the system and the relationship between the FOWT system and the dynamics of the marine environment is required. This requires an efficient Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis and Optimisation (MDAO) framework for FOWT systems to reduce the capital cost and increase dynamic performance. A key component of any MDAO framework is the shape parameterisation scheme, as it enables the modelling of a large array of platform designs with different geometric shapes using limited number of parameters. This work focuses on the B-Spline parameterisation modelling technique of OC3 spar-buoy and the use pattern search optimization algorithm to select the optimal design variants. The parametrisation technique is implemented in an analysis framework, where a B-spline library from Sesam GeniE is used to model each design representation, and a potential flow frequency domain analysis solver (HydroD/Wadam) is used for the hydrodynamic analysis. Validation of the selected designs within the design space is conducted with a benchmark NREL5MW spar-buoy hydrodynamic response results in literature with the hydrodynamic response of the frequency domain modelling approach using Sesam GeniE and HydroD/Wadam. This analysis process shows a high accuracy in response results between the OC3 spar-buoy in literature and the OC3 spar-buoy model design using B-Spline parametrization technique. Key performance metrics like the cost of materials and root mean square (RMS) of the nacelle acceleration also show improvement with the design variants compared to estimation from OC3 design in literature.