A spokesperson for the CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co., Ltd. recently revealed that the "Key Technologies for Deep-Sea Ultra-Large-Capacity Semi-Direct Drive Permanent Magnet Offshore Wind Turbines"—one of Hunan's top ten technological breakthrough projects for 2023 led by the company—passed acceptance inspection in early July. This marks the completion of a full, closed cycle of development, from key technology breakthroughs to engineering validation, for the "Qihang" – the world's most powerful floating offshore wind turbine with a capacity of 20 megawatts developed by the company.

Luo Tao, head of the System and Load Technology Department and product system design engineer at CRRC Zhuzhou Institute's Research Institute, introduced that traditional fixed-bottom wind turbines can only be installed in nearshore waters with depths less than 60 meters, where resources are limited and competition for space is intense. Floating wind turbines, which do not rely on seabed pile foundations, can be deployed in deep-sea areas with water depths ranging from 60 meters to over a thousand meters.

"The single-unit capacity has jumped from the previous 2.3 MW to 20 MW. The overall system is more complex, the blades are longer, and the floating platform is larger, making the coupled control of aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and control systems much more difficult. The challenges for structural safety and stability control under extreme operating conditions are unprecedented," Luo Tao said. Thanks to the R&D team's relentless efforts, the drive train for the 20 MW "Qihang" wind turbine has been shortened by 3 to 4 meters and its weight reduced by 20 percent. Supported by a triple control algorithm combining platform stability control, large-wave pass-through capability, and tilt-angle feedback, the "Qihang" wind turbine ensures safe operation under a Category 17 super typhoon. The main control system, carbon fiber blades, and main bearings have achieved 100% domestic production, creating a fully independent supply chain from "materials to components to complete machine."

The "Qihang" wind turbine stands 280 meters tall with a hub height of 151 meters and a rotor diameter of 260 meters, with a swept area equivalent to seven standard football fields. At rated wind speed, one rotation of the turbine generates 40 kWh of electricity, potentially yielding an annual power generation of up to 62 million kWh, far exceeding that of onshore or nearshore turbines. Last January, the prototype was installed in Dongying, Shandong Province; it was connected to the grid in June; and by the end of the year, after a review process, it obtained market access approval. The company has now secured an order for the first phase of the one-million-kilowatt floating offshore wind power project in Wanning, Hainan Province, making it China's first large-scale deep-sea wind power project.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
 
Translator: Xiao Juan
 
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn