STUDY ON ACCESSIBILITY AND DESIGN CONDITION OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE BASED ON FIELD OBSERVATION OFF KITA-KYUSYU CITY

Abstract

This paper introduces results of a field study using the offshore observation tower system constructed Off Kita-Kyusyu City. The purpose of the study is to clear-up the influence of wave characteristics for the rational design and maintenance of offshore wind turbine support structures. For efficient maintenance of offshore structures such as wind turbines and observation towers, wave conditions were proved to be critical for accessibility evaluation and an empirical diagram was proposed. By using the diagram, it was clarified that there exists a great difference of the accessibility between for the Pacific side and for the Sea of Japan side, in both winter and summer. The characteristics of co-occurrence of high waves and strong winds were also clarified based on offshore simultaneously observed data. The results will be useful for more reasonable design condition setting.