Analysis of Hydrodynamic Performance and Mooring Dynamic Response of Offshore Dual-Module Floating Photovoltaic Platform

Abstract Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems, as an emerging solar photovoltaic technology, have great development prospects. In order to investigate the adaptability of offshore multi-connected floating photovoltaic platforms under specific sea conditions, hydrodynamic performance research was conducted. A frequency domain hydrodynamic performance analysis of the floating photovoltaic platform was performed using the hydrodynamic analysis software AQWA, which includes platform RAOs (Response Amplitude Operators), hydrodynamic interaction characteristics, and shielding effects. Using the hydrodynamic analysis software Orcaflex, a time domain analysis was performed to investigate the influence of hydrodynamic interactions on the motion response of a multi-connected photovoltaic platform under extreme sea conditions. To ensure model consistency between the AQWA and Orcaflex, the platform model was simulated with six degrees of freedom for free decay under time domain analysis. In shallow water environments, the response generated by mooring dynamics cannot be ignored. In order to investigate the effect of mooring dynamics on the platform in shallow water environments, sensitivity analysis was performed for two cases: considering mooring dynamics and not considering mooring dynamics. Finally, the influence of the wave direction on the floating photovoltaic platform was investigated under normal operating sea conditions. The results show that the peaks of the platform RAOs are mainly clustered in the low frequency range. Hydrodynamic interaction on the two-body platform inhibits the platform motion response. Mooring dynamics have little effect on platform motion response in shallow water environments. Waves in the 60° direction exert the greatest force on the mooring chain and should be avoided as much as possible in practical engineering.