Building on our expertise in engineering and offshore structures, Vulcain launched a research programme on offshore wind energy in 2018.
The R&D centre is developing a calculation tool capable of assessing the stresses on a floating wind turbine seen as a whole (effects of waves, currents, wind, anchoring tensions). In 2019, a hydrodynamic calculation module was completed. It allows the calculation of wave forces and current forces on the float.
The aim is to develop a calculation tool that is sufficiently accurate within reasonable calculation times with an optimized modular data structure.
OUR CONTRIBUTION
Collaborations and partnerships :
- Collaboration with the International Wind Energy Agency
- Offshore code comparisons
- Validation of calculation tools for floating wind turbines, tests and comparisons before validation of calculations
Contribution :
- Offer support and R&D expertise to our customers’ needs
- Develop and carry out robust simulations in fluid mechanics
- Create a training incubator on floating wind turbines for our employees
