Hydrodynamic Performance of a Multi-Cylinder LiDAR Buoy Prototype for Wind Assessment

This paper introduces an innovative multi-cylinder LiDAR buoy prototype, designed to overcome the limitations of traditional wind towers in the realm of deep-sea wind energy assessment. Through rigorous physical model experiments, we have investigated the hydrodynamics of this novel buoy under various wave conditions, including free decay in calm water, regular wave exposure, and irregular wave simulations. Our analysis reveals that the multi-cylinder buoy's natural frequency effectively evades resonance with primary wave frequencies, offering a significant advancement in technology. In regular wave tests, the buoy showed minimal motion, highlighting the impact of wave height on its dynamic behavior. In irregular wave tests, a pronounced response peak was observed near the natural frequency, yet the overall motion amplitude remained low, indicating excellent wave resistance. Comparatively, the multi-cylinder buoy demonstrated a lower motion response and superior stability than traditional single-cylinder buoys. This study not only facilitates the development and deployment of multi-cylinder buoys but also lays the groundwork for future hydrodynamic performance studies through numerical simulations, enriching the scientific understanding of buoyancy technology in wind energy applications.