The Influence of Aerodynamic Load Extraction on System Response in Real-Time Hybrid Test for Floating Wind Turbine: An Experimental Study

Abstract With the development trend of floating wind turbine (FWT) towards deeper waters and larger size, the existing model test technology faces limitations in complex environmental excitations simulation, full-functional model wind turbine design and multi-level system monitoring. Introducing real-time hybrid test (RTHT) method into the model test can be a proven approach to breakthrough. In the RTHT system, the full physical model system is divided into numerical subsystem and physical subsystem. The 2 subsystems are linked by the data interface. Such test system can be categorized into wave basin route and wind tunnel route, based on which part is replaced by numerical code. The RTHT in wind tunnel owns the advantages of model mass limitation free, high quality wind field, aeroelasticity study and full functional nacelle application possibilities, and so on. However, this route highly relies on the real time aerodynamic load extraction from direct measurement for accurate motion calculation. The work in this paper focuses on the influence of the errors during the aerodynamic load extraction procedure. Firstly, the RTHT system in wind tunnel is set up. Then the aerodynamic load extraction method based on real-time data acquisition is adopted. Finally, a series of cases are conducted to study the influences of aerodynamic load extraction on the RTHT system motion results.