WEC Arrays with Power Packet Networks for Efficient Energy Storage and Grid Integration

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-15-2022

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

This paper develops a power packet network (PPN) for integrating wave energy converter (WEC) arrays into microgrids. First a simple AC Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor (RLC) circuit operating at a power factor of one is introduced and shown to be a PPN. Next, an AC inverter-based network is analyzed and shown to be a PPN. Then this basic idea is utilized to asynchronously connect a WEC array to an idealized microgrid without additional energy storage. Specifically, NWECs can be physically positioned such that the incoming regular waves will produce an output emulating an N-phase AC system such that the PPN output power is constant. In the final example, the benefits of utilizing PPN phasing is demonstrated that analyzes a grid to substation to WEC array configuration. The numerical simulation results show that for ideal physical WEC buoy phasing of 60 and 120 degrees the energy storage system (ESS) peak power and energy capacity requirements are at the minimum.

Publication Title

Oceans Conference Record (IEEE)

ISBN

9780692935590

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