The Automatic Control Group (ACG) at Basque Country University is pleased to announce the successful visit of researchers from the University of Complutense Madrid (UCM). This visit marked a significant milestone in our collaborative project focusing on reduced scale models of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT).
During their time with us, the UCM team  tested FOWT models at a scale of approximately 1:100. These models enabled us to carry out comprehensive experimental tests of the proposed closed-loop control algorithms. The collaboration aimed to advance our understanding and efficiency of FOWT systems by appropriately scaling physical magnitudes such as mechanical and aerodynamic forces, alongside necessary signal scaling.
Key aspects of the project included emulating certain phenomena, such as the load, and implementing others, like pitch control, in a more approximate manner. The scaled models operated at higher frequencies than real systems, necessitating the use of specialized hardware capable of obtaining the FOWT state, performing real-time control calculations, and acting on the control variables.
The experimental tests, conducted under simulated wave and wind conditions, evaluated the impact of the two marine technologies analyzed in this project. Our primary objective was to compare the outcomes produced by each technology individually and in combination within a hybrid system. We were delighted to observe that the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) system not only complemented the energy production of the FOWT system but also provided mechanical stabilization, thereby increasing the performance and durability of the entire setup.
This successful visit is part of a research project funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033/ and by FEDER "Una manera de hacer Europa." This collaboration with UCM signifies a significant step forward in the development of efficient and robust offshore wind energy solutions. The insights gained from this project are expected to contribute substantially to the future of renewable energy technologies.