Validated wake model for QBlade capable of modeling turbine interactions

Offshore winds are typically stronger and more steady. To fully exploit potential wind resources, there is growing interest in deploying wind turbines on floating platforms in deep waters. The transition from onshore to floating offshore environ[1]ments implies a significant change in the nature of the wind resource, increasing aerodynamic interaction between turbines in offshore wind farms. In the offshore environment wind is steadier and has lower turbulence levels than in the onshore case, where the inflow is influenced by microscale effects of the terrain around the wind farm. This leads to increased stability of the wake structures, which implies that these structures persist longer and the probability of interaction with the down[1]stream turbines increases [1]. This interaction has been demonstrated to give rise to greater levels of unsteady loading, contributing to reduced blade lifetime and increased drivetrain wear [2]. Furthermore, turbines operating in the wake of an upstream turbine generate reduced power due to the decreased energy flux through the rotor. The exploitation of innovative farm control strategies tailored for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) can help mitigate this effect.