Skip to main content

Power capture gains for the WaveSub submerged WEC using active control

Conference Paper

Title: Power capture gains for the WaveSub submerged WEC using active control
Author:
Hillis, A.; Whitlam, C.; Brask, A.; Chapman, J.; Plummer, A.
Publication Date:
Event Name:
13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2019)
Event Location:
Napoli, Rome
Pages:
9
Affiliation:
University of Bath
Technology:
Wave, Point Absorber
Collection Method:
Modeling
Engineering:
Mooring, Power Take Off, Structural
Economics:
Cost Assessment
Signature Project:
WEC-Sim
Language:
English

Document Access

Website:
External Link

Citation

Hillis, A.; Whitlam, C.; Brask, A.; Chapman, J.; Plummer, A. (2019). Power capture gains for the WaveSub submerged WEC using active control. Paper presented at 13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2019), Napoli, Rome.
@conference{Hillis-2019-17293,
author = {Hillis, A and Whitlam, C and Brask, A and Chapman, J and Plummer, A},
title = {Power capture gains for the WaveSub submerged WEC using active control},
year = {2019},
month = {sep},
series = {13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2019)},
pages = {9},
address = {Napoli, Rome},
url = {https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/power-capture-gains-for-the-wavesub-submerged-wec-using-active-co},
keywords = {Wave, Point Absorber, Modeling, Mooring, Power Take Off, Structural, Cost Assessment},
}
Export Citation to BibTex
TY - CONF
TI - Power capture gains for the WaveSub submerged WEC using active control
AU - Hillis, A
AU - Whitlam, C
AU - Brask, A
AU - Chapman, J
AU - Plummer, A
T2 - 13th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2019)
C1 - Napoli, Rome
AB - An active control strategy is applied to the WaveSub Wave Energy Converter (WEC). The purpose of the control strategy is to maximise power capture across a range of seas whilst operating within physical system constraints. WaveSub uses four rotational PTOs attached to drums which are driven by taut tethers connected to a float. The full scale WEC has been modelled in the WEC-Sim environment using a fixed passive damping system for the PTOs, which was optimally tuned for individual sea-states to provide a performance benchmark. An active control system utilising the simple and effective method with a Linear Quadratic Regulator velocity tracking loop is developed. A range of sea states is applied and the performance of the active and passive systems compared. Power gains of 13% to 86% are observed across a wide range of irregular sea states compared to the optimally tuned passive system. This approach shows promise to provide a substantial increase in power capture for a minimal additional device cost and therefore a significant improvement in cost of energy would likely result.
DA - 2019/09//
PY - 2019
SP - 9
UR - https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/publications/power-capture-gains-for-the-wavesub-submerged-wec-using-active-co
LA - English
KW - Wave
KW - Point Absorber
KW - Modeling
KW - Mooring
KW - Power Take Off
KW - Structural
KW - Cost Assessment
ER -
Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

An active control strategy is applied to the WaveSub Wave Energy Converter (WEC). The purpose of the control strategy is to maximise power capture across a range of seas whilst operating within physical system constraints. WaveSub uses four rotational PTOs attached to drums which are driven by taut tethers connected to a float. The full scale WEC has been modelled in the WEC-Sim environment using a fixed passive damping system for the PTOs, which was optimally tuned for individual sea-states to provide a performance benchmark. An active control system utilising the simple and effective method with a Linear Quadratic Regulator velocity tracking loop is developed. A range of sea states is applied and the performance of the active and passive systems compared. Power gains of 13% to 86% are observed across a wide range of irregular sea states compared to the optimally tuned passive system. This approach shows promise to provide a substantial increase in power capture for a minimal additional device cost and therefore a significant improvement in cost of energy would likely result.