Experimental Study of the Hydrodynamic Forces of Pontoon Raft Aquaculture Facilities Around a Wind Farm Monopile Under Wave Conditions

The integrated development of offshore wind power and marine aquaculture represents a promising approach to the sustainable utilization of ocean resources. The present study investigates the hydrodynamic response of an integrated wind energy-aquaculture structure. Physical water tank experiments were conducted on pontoon raft aquaculture facilities (PRAF) deployed around a wind farm monopile using the following three configurations: single-row PRAF (1) with and (2) without a monopile, and (3) three-row PRAF without a monopile. The interaction between the aquaculture structure and the wind farm monopile was examined, with a particular focus on the mooring line tensions and bridle line tensions under different wave conditions. The findings indicate that, among all configurations, both the maximum mooring line tension and bridle line tension decrease with increasing wave period and increase with increasing wave height. Utilizing the wind farm monopile foundation as an anchor, the mooring line tension was reduced significantly with the highest reduction of 66% in the single-row PRAF. The multi-row arrangement PRAF experienced lower mooring line tension in comparison to the single-row arrangement PRAF. However, for the bridle line tension, the upstream component enhanced while the downstream one weakened with a monopile, and they both decreased in multi-row arrangement. Finally, the numerical simulation results confirmed the dampening effects of the monopile on wave propagation. These findings provide insights into the hydrodynamic performance of integrated wind-aquaculture systems, offering scientific guidance for the optimal deployment of aquaculture structures within offshore wind farms.