Optimal scheduling strategy of O&M task for OWF

Abstract

As the offshore wind farm (OWF) is often difficult to access due to weather restrictions, the scheduling strategy of operation and maintenance (O&M) becomes a highly complex task. This study presents an O&M scheduling strategy model considering the priority of O&M task and practise constraints of O&M scheduling. First, the two‐stage maintenance division method is introduced to consider the priority of O&M task. The initial division of wind turbines to be maintained is obtained by considering operation status. The second‐stage maintenance division considering the available maintenance resources is formed adopting the cluster analysis, which the warning and delayed maintenance wind turbines have become a priority. Then, the practise constraints such as the O&M vessels, technicians, daily working time, maintenance route and others are taken into account in the O&M task scheduling model. The proposed model aims to provide the optimal sequence and routeing of maintenance task such that the maintenance scheduling cost is minimised. Simulation results in the scheduling of O&M task for an OWF confirm the feasibility of the proposed model. Sensitivity analysis is undertaken with respect to daily maintenance time, vessel and technician configuration and weather condition.