Ensuring wind farms can withstand the harsh conditions above and below sea is critical for offshore developers.
Whether it’s turbine components or the cabling and infrastructure supporting them, developers need to be confident their assets can overcome the toughest operational challenges.
TECOSIM, a global specialist in computer-aided engineering (CAE) and simulation, is well-positioned to deliver this reassurance.
For over 30 years, the company has used its advanced software and extensive experience to help clients in many sectors reduce their engineering time and cost.
With over 650 engineers at its disposal, it can replicate real-life structures, vehicles and materials to very high levels of accuracy, assisting with anything from a tension test on a bolt to high-speed crashes on the latest hyper cars.
TECOSIM was even asked to develop an “extremely robust” Olympic torch for the London Olympics in 2012, having been commissioned by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). More recently, the business has been applying its expertise to the energy sector, with a particular focus on renewables.
In 2022, it was appointed by Lowestoft-based Max Nicholas Renewables to test its patented Continuous-Thrust Turbine Technology™, which generates power from moving water in rivers, pipes and tidal streams.
TECOSIM’s real-world testing led to several early adjustments being made to maximise the efficiencies of the technology. The company then provided further support with computer-aided design (CAD) as it progressed from a concept to a prototype.
Its additional expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) – which can accurately simulate water, air flow and thermal activity – makes the business an ideal partner for offshore wind developers.
“TECOSIM has been using the latest technology to advance engineering for over 30 years, whether it is for cars, trains, planes or rockets,” said Geoff Camps, engineering director at TECOSIM.
“These tools can be used for any physical situation, and the energy sector is an area that we believe can benefit significantly – to reduce development time and cost, to improve safety and increase clients’ confidence in their products.
“From early planning right through to operational maintenance and decommissioning, our diverse skillsets and experience mean where a solution is possible, we will find it."
Subsea cables
According to the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, cable failures account for 80% of insurance claims for the offshore wind industry in the UK, with the average cost of repairing a subsea cable approximately £2-5 million per kilometre.
The move towards floating offshore wind in deeper waters requires cables to be more robust in terms of gravitational loadings and the dynamics of being attached to a moving platform. With its specialist software, TECOSIM can accurately model cables to calculate their performance during transport, laying and operation – in addition to loading and unloading at all stages.
It can identify issues with fatigue due to cable movement – resulting from platform motion and ocean currents – as well as damage from extreme events like weather, cable snagging, and transport or installation mishaps.
This data allows developers to select, design and optimise cables at the earliest stage possible, while also evaluating the strength of various cable tensions, curvatures and twists.
Fasteners
TECOSIM applies the same technology to wind turbine fasteners and wind installation vessels, creating precise models to calculate the performance and reserve factors in all scenarios – for example, during high winds and rough seas.
This could be the structural fasteners for critical bolted joints, such as those connecting the rotor to the main shaft, the main bearing housings to the nacelle bedplate or the yaw bearing to the underside of the nacelle bedplate.
TECOSIM is able to support complex designs for multiple or heavy loads – providing early assessments at concept stage and analysing joint design and loading conditions in a virtual operating environment. It can also offer data-based recommendations on the best materials for harsh environments.
“With proper assessment, issues can be identified in the planning and design phases, increasing confidence and reducing failures and costs,” said Geoff.
“We are passionate about engineering and utilising our tools and experience to benefit our customers and the wider world.”
For more information, call 01268 889550, visit tecosim.co.uk or email info@uk.tecosim.com
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