Abstract
This study investigates the hydrodynamic and structural behavior of floating photovoltaics (FPV) equipped with floaters made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in marine environments. A comprehensive time-domain dynamics simulation of coupled FPV is executed to analyze the interactions among floaters, connectors, mooring lines, and PV modules. The HDPE floater is represented by a 6-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) non-diffracting buoy, interconnected by beam elements to capture elastic behavior. The PV module is positioned on the floater and modeled as a wing component with consideration for wind drag and lift forces. Multiple mooring lines, strategically placed on all sides of the FPV, serve the purpose of station-keeping. The study evaluates the tension in mooring lines and the bending moments of floaters using statistical values, response amplitude operators (RAOs), time histories, and spectra. The findings indicate that low-frequency excitation emerges as a pivotal factor influencing structural dynamics, primarily due to significant flexibility. The proposed design demonstrates superior performance in low-sea states.
