Model analysis of a mooring system for an ocean current turbine testing platform

In response to Florida's growing energy needs and drive to develop renewable power, Florida Atlantic Universitys Center for Ocean Energy Technology (COET) plans to moor a 20 kW test turbine in the Florida Current. No permanent mooring systems for deepwater hydrokinetic turbines have been constructed and deployed, therefore little if anything is known about the performance of these moorings. To investigate this proposed mooring system, a numeric model is developed and then used to predict the static and dynamic behavior of the mooring system and attachments. The model has been created in OrcaFlex and includes two surface buoys and an operating turbine. Anchor chain at the end of the mooring line develops a catenary, providing compliance. Wind, wave, and current models are used to represent the environmental conditions the system is expected to experience and model the dynamic effects on the system. The model is then used to analyze various components of the system. The results identify that a mooring attachment point 1.25 m forward of the center of gravity on the mooring buoy is ideal, and that the OCDP and turbine tether lengths should be no shorter than 25 and 44 m, respectively. Analysis performed for the full system identify that the addition of the floats decreases the tension at the MTB attachment location by 26.5 to 29.5% for minimum current, and 0.10 to 0.31% for maximum current conditions.