Experimental observations of active blade pitch and generator control influence on floating wind turbine response

In this paper, the influence of wind turbine blade pitch and generator controls on the global response of a floating wind turbine is investigated. Several different active turbine controllers are considered and the resulting floating wind turbine global response is compared with that for a baseline configuration employing a fixed blade pitch and a fixed rotor speed. Results from platform pitch free-decay tests as well as a simultaneous dynamic wind and irregular sea state condition are used to understand the controllers' influence on floating wind turbine dynamic behavior. •Experimental assessment of active blade pitch and generator control influence on floating wind turbine response given.•Mathematical explanations provided for observed controller-induced increases in platform pitch damped natural period.•Demonstration of turbine controller alteration of floating wind turbine global response to low-frequency wind excitation.•Demonstration of limited turbine controller influence on floating wind turbine wave energy frequency range response.•Demonstration of trade-off between floating wind turbine global response improvement and increased controller activity.