Overall project description
To develop and solve mathematical models that can be used as decision support when planning the installation of foundations in a new wind farm.
Detailed project description
DONG Energy builds and operates a number of offshore wind farms and each wind farm can contain more than a hundred wind turbines. Installation of offshore wind turbines is a difficult task. In order to install a wind turbine one first need to get the foundation in place. The foundation is a cylindrical steel tube (called a monopile) that can weigh more than 800 tons. The foundation needs to be driven into the seabed and only very specialized ships (heavy lift vessels) can handle this task. Unfortunately these ships are extremely expensive, costs are as high as 250,000 Euro per day, and therefore it is important to use them as efficiently as possible.
Some of the choices that impact the cost of the installation process are:
- where the monopiles are produced (the production cost may vary from site to site and so will transportation costs)
- if the monopile is transported directly from production site to installation site or if it is transported to an intermediate port where it transhipped to the heavy lift vessel
- if monopiles are transhipped then the choice of transhipment port impact sailing distances and thereby costs
- if several monopiles are transported on the heavy lift vessel then it may be worthwhile to group the monopiles in a way to minimize sailing distance
- the use of same vessel for several farms
The topic of this project is to develop and solve mathematical models that can be used as decision support when planning the installation of foundations in a new wind farm.
The project will include
- understanding the problem in depth
- developing mathematical models and appropriate solution methods
- visualizing and analysing the solutions found
The project is to be carried out in collaboration with DONG Energy.
Category:
Engineering - Foundations
Type:
Theoretical study
Requirements
Good command of mathematical modeling. Programming skills would be an advantage.
No. Students: 1-2
Academic level B.Sc. / M.Sc.:
Master
Counsellor / Department
Jesper Skov Gretlund
Contact us
Please do not hesitate to contact windthesis@dongenergy.dk if you have further questions.
|
