Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage

The increasing global need for renewable energy has rendered the development of offshore wind energy extremely significant. In areas where ocean depths exceed 50 meters, conventional permanent foundations become economically unfeasible, becoming floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) a superior alt...

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Main Authors: Peng Xu, Jing Xu, Yuan Zhang, Changqing Jiang, Zhaode Zhang, Zhanbin Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1563530/full
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author Peng Xu
Jing Xu
Yuan Zhang
Changqing Jiang
Zhaode Zhang
Zhanbin Meng
author_facet Peng Xu
Jing Xu
Yuan Zhang
Changqing Jiang
Zhaode Zhang
Zhanbin Meng
author_sort Peng Xu
collection DOAJ
description The increasing global need for renewable energy has rendered the development of offshore wind energy extremely significant. In areas where ocean depths exceed 50 meters, conventional permanent foundations become economically unfeasible, becoming floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) a superior alternative. Simultaneously, the development of marine resources in offshore areas has failed to meet increasing market demand, necessitating the urgent expansion of aquaculture fisheries into deeper waters. This research developed a fully integrated model of a cage platform, net system, and mooring system, compatible with the NREL 5MW wind turbine. Numerical simulation methods, based on potential flow theory and Morrison’s equation, are utilized to examine the motion response characteristics of the coupled system under various sea conditions. The study results demonstrate that the net, acting as a damping element, significantly decreased the system’s motion response and enhanced its stability. The system’s dynamic response is influenced by wave height and period in both regular and irregular wave circumstances, particularly under extreme sea conditions. Furthermore, the net’s presence minimally affects the wind turbine’s power output while contributing to the mitigation of power fluctuations. The examination of complex environmental circumstances influenced by wind, waves, and currents reveals that a rise in current velocity markedly changes the system’s surge motion trend, although it has little impact on power output. The work establishes a theoretical framework for the design and optimization of deep-sea wind-fishery integrated systems, providing insights into the maximization of marine resource utilization and the commercial deployment of wind energy.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-cca09edd2b8d4257bbd6a31d0d1d0b3a2025-08-20T03:04:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-04-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15635301563530Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cagePeng Xu0Jing Xu1Yuan Zhang2Changqing Jiang3Zhaode Zhang4Zhanbin Meng5School of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, ChinaSchool of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, ChinaSchool of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, ChinaInstitute of Sustainable and Autonomous Maritime Systems, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, GermanySchool of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Marine Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou, ChinaThe increasing global need for renewable energy has rendered the development of offshore wind energy extremely significant. In areas where ocean depths exceed 50 meters, conventional permanent foundations become economically unfeasible, becoming floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) a superior alternative. Simultaneously, the development of marine resources in offshore areas has failed to meet increasing market demand, necessitating the urgent expansion of aquaculture fisheries into deeper waters. This research developed a fully integrated model of a cage platform, net system, and mooring system, compatible with the NREL 5MW wind turbine. Numerical simulation methods, based on potential flow theory and Morrison’s equation, are utilized to examine the motion response characteristics of the coupled system under various sea conditions. The study results demonstrate that the net, acting as a damping element, significantly decreased the system’s motion response and enhanced its stability. The system’s dynamic response is influenced by wave height and period in both regular and irregular wave circumstances, particularly under extreme sea conditions. Furthermore, the net’s presence minimally affects the wind turbine’s power output while contributing to the mitigation of power fluctuations. The examination of complex environmental circumstances influenced by wind, waves, and currents reveals that a rise in current velocity markedly changes the system’s surge motion trend, although it has little impact on power output. The work establishes a theoretical framework for the design and optimization of deep-sea wind-fishery integrated systems, providing insights into the maximization of marine resource utilization and the commercial deployment of wind energy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1563530/fullsemi-submersible floating wind turbineaquaculture cagemooring systemhydrodynamic responsesOrcaFlex
spellingShingle Peng Xu
Jing Xu
Yuan Zhang
Changqing Jiang
Zhaode Zhang
Zhanbin Meng
Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
Frontiers in Marine Science
semi-submersible floating wind turbine
aquaculture cage
mooring system
hydrodynamic responses
OrcaFlex
title Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
title_full Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
title_fullStr Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
title_full_unstemmed Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
title_short Numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
title_sort numerical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of a submersible floating offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture cage
topic semi-submersible floating wind turbine
aquaculture cage
mooring system
hydrodynamic responses
OrcaFlex
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1563530/full
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AT yuanzhang numericalstudyonhydrodynamiccharacteristicsofasubmersiblefloatingoffshorewindturbineintegratedwithanaquaculturecage
AT changqingjiang numericalstudyonhydrodynamiccharacteristicsofasubmersiblefloatingoffshorewindturbineintegratedwithanaquaculturecage
AT zhaodezhang numericalstudyonhydrodynamiccharacteristicsofasubmersiblefloatingoffshorewindturbineintegratedwithanaquaculturecage
AT zhanbinmeng numericalstudyonhydrodynamiccharacteristicsofasubmersiblefloatingoffshorewindturbineintegratedwithanaquaculturecage