Integrated dynamic analysis of a spar floating wind turbine with a hydraulic drivetrain

2022

Conventional drivetrains with gearbox failures are associated with major downtime in offshore wind turbines. This impacts the maintenance cost and cost of energy. A hydraulic transmission eliminates the need for gearbox and potentially improves the turbine reliability. This paper explores the application of a novel high-pressure transmission machinery to a utility-scale spar floating wind turbine. We present a dynamic model of a hydraulic system consisting of a hydraulic pump, pipelines, a hydraulic motor, and an induction generator. The motor is placed inside the spar platform and operates at a fixed displacement. The hydraulic system is coupled with the aero-hydro-elastic code HAWC2 throu…