Effect of atmospheric stability on the dynamic wake meandering model applied to two 12 MW floating wind turbines

Abstract Current global analysis tools for floating wind turbines (FWTs) do not account for the combined effects of atmospheric stability and wakes from neighboring turbines. This work uses the mid‐fidelity dynamic wake meandering model, together with turbulent wind fields generated based on stable, neutral, and unstable atmospheric conditions, to study the low‐frequency content of the global responses of two semisubmersible FWTs separated by eight rotor diameters. Incoming wind fields based on the Kaimal spectrum and exponential coherence model, the Mann spectral tensor model, and a time‐series input‐based turbulence model are used. The respective input parameters for these models are fitted to high‐fidelity large eddy simulation data. In unstable, below‐rated conditions, meandering leads to an increase in the yaw standard deviation of the downwind turbine of almost three times larger than the upwind turbine. Deficit and the upwards wake deflection affect the mean pitch and yaw, especially for the below‐rated wind speed scenario. The mean pitch of the downwind turbine is reduced up to half the mean pitch value of the upwind turbine, whereas the mean yaw changes direction due to the enhanced effect of shear. The effect of meandering on the structural loading is highest on the standard deviation of the tower‐top yaw moment of the downstream turbine, which increases more than 2.2 times compared to the upwind turbine value. Based on these findings, atmospheric stability affects wake deficit and meandering which in turn have a profound effect on the low‐frequency global motions and structural response of floating wind turbines.