Author(s): Sooyoung Kim; Seohye Choi; Hyungjung Joo; Seungoh Lee
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Floating Solar Energy Generation System; Fluid-Structure Interaction; Wind Waves
Abstract: Solar energy generation system on water has been perceived as eco-friendly technology, which is possible for effective utility of territory by development and usage of public water and production of eco-friendly energy using water resources. Because floating solar energy generation system is placed on public-owned water such as sea, seaside, lakes and reservoirs, the natural circumstance on the water is frequently changeable and mostly unpredictable. It is important to concern with the structural stability of the floating system since such circumstance around that system is hard to be predicted and handled when any problem comes up. In the past, previous studies are mainly focused on large floating structures of which the motion is governed by an oscillation. But, it was not appropriate to predict the behaviors of floating solar energy generation system in this study because this structure is relatively lighter than other floating systems. Accordingly, in this study, the numerical simulation for the displacement behavior of the floating solar energy generation system is performed by using fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis. Since in FSI, fluid force is applied on solid then the deformation of solid changes the fluid domain, it is relevant to analyze floating structures. From numerical results in this study, as the number of underbody floater supporting is higher, the stresses are decreased. It was discovered that the location and magnitude of the maximum stresses of structure would be changed according to mutual relationship between position of floating solar energy generation system and surface wave. Thus, this study suggested that floating structures in lakes and reservoirs should be constructed after analyzing the stresses due to wind wave for structural and hydraulic stability.
Year: 2014