Abstract
Sustainable Marine Energy have developed a floating surface platform that hosts four SCHOTTEL Hydro Instream Turbines, with a combined platform rated power of 280kW. The PLAT-I platform has been undergoing Sea Acceptance Tests (SATs) in Scotland to determine performance across the range of operational modes.
A numerical method for the evaluation of platform position limits and simulation results for mooring line loads are found to match well with SAT results, providing confidence for future platform deployments.
The platform’s loads and motions are found to be directly related to velocity and thus drag. Loads are strongly affected by mode of operation, with the platforms peak loadings and axial motion in the thrust-dominated operating regime. Maximum lateral motion occurs when in maintenance mode due to reduced side-damping.
The platform performed well, and as expected, during the SATs and is due to be redeployed for the second phase of testing in 2018.