Non-stationary dynamic analysis of a wind turbine power drivetrain: Offshore considerations

Abstract

This paper presents a multi-body model for studying the non-stationary dynamic behaviour of a wind turbine power drivetrain. The model includes some offshore considerations, such as the extra degrees of freedom and boundary conditions that installation on an offshore floating platform can add. The studied problem is an offshore implementation, with seafloor depths of the order of a hundred metres, making it necessary to use a floating platform. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of the combined offshore buoy support and detailed model of the power train, in order to assess the impacts of buoy movement on forces on gears and bearings. A multi-body analysis code was used to develop the model, and a conventional wind turbine set-up was implemented as an example. Gearbox dynamic behaviour was simulated for common manoeuvres such as a start-up and an emergency stop, and the results are presented and discussed.