Latching Control of Wave Energy Converters Using Tunable Electrical Load

• Published in: Volume 8: Ocean Renewable Energy
• Main Authors: Tahir, Uzair Bin, Zhang, Jingxin, Manasseh, Richard
• Other Authors: Swinburne University of Technology
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2023
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/473969; https://doi.org/10.1115/OMAE2023-104774

Frequency of ocean waves varies over the time, and maximum power generation is only possible when wave energy converters (WECs) and incoming waves are at resonance. Adaptive control strategy is required for an optimal power absorption, which is impractical using available mechanical models. Electrical load control strategy can help to achieve the resonance condition without any structural change. WEC studied in this paper is a heaving bouy connected to the electrical power take off (PTO) having tunable passive load at the output. Electrical load based compensation has been presented to achieve the resonance during varying ocean wave frequencies. Many control strategies have been investigated in the past, but always required complex mechanical and electrical implementation. The only notable electrical control strategy is complex conjugate match, which is misleading as it requires external power to be implemented. Mechanical latching control is known for decades that can provide optimal tuning of excitation wave with WEC device for maximum power absorption. Electrical load based latching control has been used which regulates movement of the bouy according to the input wave force. An electromechanical mathematical model has been presented for the control conditions, and MATLAB/Simulink is used for the simulation of WEC’s operation under regular input waves. Results shows the use of passive electrical damping can control velocity, displacement, and improve power absorption compared to conventional latching control.