Impact of Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Farms on the Surrounding Wave Field

摘要

In this paper, the effect of an Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) on the surrounding wave field is numerically investigated in the frequency domain through the use of a Boundary Element Method (BEM) numerical model based on the potential flow theory. The analysis is performed for regular waves of various periods and incident wave directions and for irregular waves with variable peak periods and significant wave heights. Specific cases of regular and irregular waves are compared, revealing the differences between the regular wave model and the real sea states. Through the numerical simulation of the incident wave and the scattering effects caused by the OWF, indications are provided regarding the impact of the OWF on the local wave climate. Finally, the impact of hydrodynamic interaction effects on the forces applied to the offshore wind turbines is examined.