A Comparison of Control Strategies for Wave Energy Converters

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2017

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Abstract

In this study, we employ a numerical model to compare the performance of a number of wave energy converter control strategies. The controllers selected for evaluation span a wide range in their requirements for implementation. Each control strategy is evaluated using a single numerical model with a set of sea states to represent a deployment site off the coast of Newport, OR. A number of metrics, ranging from power absorption to kinematics, are employed to provide a comparison of each control strategy's performance that accounts for both relative benefits and costs. The results show a wide range of performances from the different controllers and highlight the need for a holistic design approach which considers control design as a parallel component within the larger process WEC design.

Publisher's Statement

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd

Publication Title

International Journal of Marine Energy

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