WEC Controls-Approaches and Lessons Learned

Previsic, M.; Karthikeyan, A.; Scruggs, J. (2018). WEC Controls-Approaches and Lessons Learned. Report by University of Michigan. Report for US Department of Energy (DOE).

Abstract

Over the past decade, the controls design thinking within the Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) community has evolved from discrete techniques that have been shown to improve performance for specific device topologies, to generic controls approaches where losses and constraints in the system can be handled efficiently when maximizing power. This constrained optimization is an important feature for optimizing realistic and cost-effective WEC device topologies.

Over the past 5-years, Re Vision Consulting has developed optimal control systems for six different WEC topologies in collaboration with device developers. In the process we have developed a set of capabilities to enable optimal constrained control in any WEC device. This text summarizes some of the key lessons learned.