Effects of Blade Pitch, Rotor Yaw, and Wind–Wave Misalignment on a Large Offshore Wind Turbine Dynamics in Western Gulf of Mexico Shallow Water in 100-Year Return Hurricane

Abstract

To determine the optimal park configuration of a large offshore turbine in a hurricane, a study is conducted on effects of blade pitch and rotor yaw, and wind–wave misalignment, in a 100-year return hurricane on a 13.2-MW large offshore wind turbine (OWT) in western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shallow water. The OWT structure considered includes a rotor with three 100-m long blades and a monotower support structure. Maximum loads on the wind turbine are determined with blade pitch and rotor yaw, with and without wind–wave misalignment in the 100-year return hurricane. The results show that effects of blade pitch and rotor yaw on turbine structural dynamics are significant, whereas the effect of wind–wave misalignment is small in the context of structural design in strength. The study provides deep insight to wind turbine dynamics and its structural design in the extreme hurricane.