Research Article
Wake Evolution and Deflection of a Floating and a Monopile Wind Turbine Under Varying Sea States and Yaw Angles
Jie Zhang,
Shuyu Shen,
Wenzhong Shen*
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
64-71
Received:
9 June 2026
Accepted:
14 July 2026
Published:
13 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.jenr.20261503.11
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Abstract: As offshore wind power development continues to expand into deeper waters, floating offshore wind turbines have attracted widespread attention due to their excellent adaptability to varying water depths and their significant potential for harnessing wind energy resources. Yaw control, as a key technical means for improving the overall energy utilization efficiency of wind farms, can enhance the power generation performance of the entire wind farm by actively altering the direction of the wake to improve the inflow conditions for downstream turbines. However, the mechanism of a platform motion affecting the yaw control remains unclear, particularly the coupled effects of platform motion and yaw action under varying sea conditions, which have yet to be systematically studied experimentally. This study utilizes a combined wind and wave experimental platform, using a downscaled NREL 5 MW wind turbine as a prototype, to investigate wake characteristics under different sea conditions and yaw angles. This study examines wake characteristics from two perspectives: the evolution of wake morphology and wake displacement analysis. By comparing the differences in wake loss and displacement between the floating and the monopile wind turbine, the effects of yaw angle and platform motion are analyzed, and further the modulating role of sea state variations on wake development patterns is explored. The results indicate that changes in sea conditions primarily influence the wake mixing process through the platform motion. Compared to monopile wind turbines, the wake cross-section of floating wind turbines is more likely to exhibit widening and flattening characteristics under stronger sea conditions. A yaw operation effectively enhances the lateral wake displacement and forms an asymmetric wake structure. Overall, the platform motion exerts a significant influence on the wake recovery process, altering the differences in wake evolution between the floating and the monopile wind turbine. The findings of this study provide an experimental evidence and reference for optimizing yaw control strategies and managing wakes in floating offshore wind farms.
Abstract: As offshore wind power development continues to expand into deeper waters, floating offshore wind turbines have attracted widespread attention due to their excellent adaptability to varying water depths and their significant potential for harnessing wind energy resources. Yaw control, as a key technical means for improving the overall energy utiliz...
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