Session: 09-09-03 Hybrid Energy: Concept and Analysis

Submission Number: 175596

Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Korean Semi-Submersible and Tlp Platforms for a 15-Mw-Class Floating Offshore Wind Turbine 

This study presents the comprehensive design results of a 15-MW-class floating offshore wind turbine platform that has been developed by the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO). As the demand for large-scale renewable energy continues to rise worldwide, particularly in countries like Korea where offshore wind holds significant potential, KRISO has undertaken the development of two innovative floating platform concepts specifically tailored to the environmental and oceanographic conditions of the Ulsan offshore area. The two platforms under consideration are a semi-submersible platform, known for its excellent stability and adaptability to deep waters, and a tension-leg platform (TLP), which offers the advantage of reduced vertical motion due to its taut mooring system.

To assess the feasibility, reliability, and performance of these concepts, a series of detailed model tests were carried out under a variety of environmental conditions that closely represent the actual offshore site. These experimental campaigns provided valuable data regarding the hydrodynamic behavior, overall stability, and operational safety of both floating systems. Based on the results of the tests and subsequent performance evaluations, the study systematically analyzed the characteristics of each design, identifying their respective strengths as well as potential limitations.

The findings of this research highlight the distinctive design considerations that must be addressed when selecting and developing different floating wind turbine concepts. For instance, while the semi-submersible demonstrates strong resistance to harsh wave conditions, the TLP shows advantages in minimizing pitch and heave motions, making it more efficient in certain operational contexts. These comparative insights are particularly important for optimizing platform selection and design in Korean offshore waters, where site-specific conditions such as water depth, wave climate, and wind resources play critical roles.

By openly disclosing the design outcomes and performance assessments of these indigenous floating platforms, this study provides an important knowledge base for future research and development. Furthermore, it aims to accelerate the technological advancement of floating offshore wind energy in Korea, thereby contributing to the realization of large-scale offshore wind farms that can play a central role in the nation’s transition toward clean and sustainable energy systems.

Presenting Author: Yoon-Jin Ha Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Yoon-Jin Ha received his B.S. degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Inha University in 2009. He earned his M.S. degree in 2011 with a thesis on the effect of bow flare angle on slamming loads due to green water in regular waves. In 2018, he completed his Ph.D. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Inha University, with a dissertation on the bow flare design of FPSOs for reducing slamming loads in waves.

He joined the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) in 2014, where he served as a Special Research Personnel until 2017, and then as research staff in 2018. Since December 2018, he has been a Senior Researcher at KRISO.

His primary research interests include computational fluid dynamics (CFD), hydrodynamic analysis of floating structures (frequency- and time-domain methods), slamming loads, and experimental model testing. He is also engaged in the development of wave energy converters, floating offshore wind turbine systems, and hydrogen production technologies.

Authors:

Yoon-Jin Ha Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Jeong-Seok Kim Korea Research Institue of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Sewan Park Korea Research Institue of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Ji-Yong Park Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Byung-Soo Kim Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Young Jun Kim Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering
Kyong-Hwan Kim Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering