Experimental Study for Understanding the Characteristics of a Floating Axis Wind Turbine under Wind and Wave Conditions

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are suitable for Japan's coastal waters. As one of the unique concepts of FOWTs, the floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is a type of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) that actively uses the features of VAWTs to specialize in an area of the floating type. In this study, FAWT behaviors under wind and wave conditions were experimentally investigated in a water tank to understand its dynamic characteristics. The experimental results reveal that although the floater of the FAWT is relatively small compared to its rotor size, its heave response is comparable to those of the other FOWTs using different floaters. Moreover, the FAWT shows a high stability under rated operation and during sudden changes in the wind.