Numerical study of inter-array cabling methods for two FOWTs in 150 m water depth

Offshore wind farms transmit power via substations, with turbines interconnected to route electricity efficiently to shore-based substations. This study focuses on the safe transmission of power between two Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWTs) using dynamic power cables. The research utilized FOWT models developed through the 12 MW INO WINDMOOR project. In this study, the models’ reliability was enhanced by comparing experimental data with simulations conducted using OrcaFlex. Subsequently, four different cable connection methods were investigated and analyzed in terms of tension, curvature, and fatigue. The results indicate that the Lazy wave configuration performs best across all aspects. Although the Suspended and W-configurations exhibit lower rates of tension and curvature increase when transitioning from normal to extreme conditions, their absolute values remain significantly higher compared to the Lazy wave configuration. Additionally, the Catenary configuration may experience axial compression, which requires careful consideration during the design phase.