A CFD study on the narrow gap phenomenon at wind turbine docking operation

Crew transfer vessels (CTV) are fast means transportation, providing inspection and maintenance services by transferring engineers from shore to the offshore structures. The relative motion of CTV at docking operation refers to the key factor for safe embarkment which is required to be carefully estimated. However, due to the close placement of two structures, a narrow gap will exist between, with the issue which is not widely concerned in offshore wind industry. The narrow gap effect will cause wave run-up or sloshing, which gradually increase the fluid force and magnitude of vessel motion. Moreover, the wave past platform may also form a vortex wake zone which may violate the vessel motion and threat the docking safety. In consequence, this study takes a new look at the realistic fluid phenomenon occurs at narrow gap between a cylinder-shaped structure and a twin-hull vessel under wave excitation based on a viscous flow model.

Fig. 1. Pressure Field

Fig.2. Velocity Field

For more information about the project contact Dr Tahsin Tezdogan (tahsin.tezdogan@strath.ac.uk), Senior Lecturer at the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering at University of Strathclyde or Yuija Wei (yuija.wei@strath.ac.uk) a PhD candidate.

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