MARIN and INORE organize unique floating wind turbine challenge
25 international PHD students and young researchers of the international offshore wind industry gathered on June 24 at the floating wind turbine challenge, organized by the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) and International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy (INORE). At this event 7 teams had to develop a floating structure for a 1/100 scale wind turbine in only 24 hours. Winner is the concept with the lowest construction weight in combination with the lowest acceleration at the nacelle.
25 international PHD students and young researchers of the international offshore wind industry gathered on June 24 at the floating wind turbine challenge, organized by the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) and International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy (INORE). At this event 7 teams had to develop a floating structure for a 1/100 scale wind turbine in only 24 hours. Winner is the concept with the lowest construction weight in combination with the lowest acceleration at the nacelle.
The different floating offshore wind turbines in action in the MARIN facilities during the floating wind turbine challenge (picture: MARIN, publication free).
MARIN’s has a lot of expertise in the field of testing offshore structures and floating wind turbines. Ir. Erik-Jan de Ridder, head of MARIN’s Renewable ENergy Team (RENT): ‘MARIN wants to contribute to the development of reliable offshore renewable energy by sharing its knowledge in hydrodynamics and experience with floating structures. Organizing this workshop for young researchers is a nice way to do so.”
Sebastien Gueydon of MARIN who has been in close contact with INORE during the preparation of this event emphasizes:”The goal of this event is not to thoroughly test any existing concept or to come up with a new concept; this would require more than 24h... The goal is to promote team work and creativity. It also shows that with a little budget for the construction of the model and a lot of fun some very rewarding tests can already be done!” Indeed all participants were provided with the same choice of basic materials (PVC pipes, foam blocks, weights, tapes) and they had to build the model by themselves.
Samuel Harding, member of the steering committee of INORE adds: “It also gives the opportunity to young researchers to meet and work together while they develop their floater, build it and test it in the basin.”
The concepts were tested in extreme waves up to 10m full scale, for a duration of more than 2 hours. All concepts passed the first check point as all survived this shack down. The winner of the challenge is the concept with the lowest construction weight in combination with the lowest acceleration at the nacelle. The first price was won by the “Wind hammer” with a weight of only 3.5 kg. The winner of the innovation price was the “Cradle”, which had the lowest acceleration at the nacelle but a bigger weight of 6 kg.
Sebastien Gueydon of MARIN who has been in close contact with INORE during the preparation of this event emphasizes:”The goal of this event is not to thoroughly test any existing concept or to come up with a new concept; this would require more than 24h... The goal is to promote team work and creativity. It also shows that with a little budget for the construction of the model and a lot of fun some very rewarding tests can already be done!” Indeed all participants were provided with the same choice of basic materials (PVC pipes, foam blocks, weights, tapes) and they had to build the model by themselves.
Samuel Harding, member of the steering committee of INORE adds: “It also gives the opportunity to young researchers to meet and work together while they develop their floater, build it and test it in the basin.”
The concepts were tested in extreme waves up to 10m full scale, for a duration of more than 2 hours. All concepts passed the first check point as all survived this shack down. The winner of the challenge is the concept with the lowest construction weight in combination with the lowest acceleration at the nacelle. The first price was won by the “Wind hammer” with a weight of only 3.5 kg. The winner of the innovation price was the “Cradle”, which had the lowest acceleration at the nacelle but a bigger weight of 6 kg.
Wind hammer, the overall winner of the floating wind turbine challenge (picture: MARIN, publication free).
Craddle, second overall and winner of the innovation price (picture: MARIN, publication free).
More information
Movie of floating wind turbine challenge
Press release MARIN_INORE Floating wind turbine challenge
Movie of floating wind turbine challenge
Press release MARIN_INORE Floating wind turbine challenge
July 8, 2011