Self-tuning wave energy converter (WEC) controller for changing sea states
| DWPI Title: Method for controlling energy production of wave energy converter (WEC) platform on body of water, involves providing controller gain to motor drive circuits of motors to set torque delivered to motor based on determination of controller gain |
| Abstract: Systems and methods for a WEC controller that uses a self-tuning proportional-integral control law prescribing motor torques to maximize electrical power generation and automatically tune the controller to maximize power absorption. In an embodiment, the controller may be part of any resonant WEC system. The control law relies upon an identified model of device intrinsic impedance to generate a frequency-domain estimate of the wave-induced excitation force and measurements of device velocities. The control law was tested in irregular sea-states that evolved over hours (a rapid, but realistic time-scale) and that changed instantly (an unrealistic scenario to evaluate controller response). |
| Use: Method for controlling energy production of a WEC platform on a body of water. |
| Advantage: The method enables realizing intelligent control of the WEC to enhance power capture and reduce overall cost of energy. |
| Novelty: The method involves monitoring motor energy output and energy parameter of multiple motors of a WEC platform. Sea state of body of water is monitored by using device impedance models that receive inputs from sensing and measuring WEC platform motion and monitoring frequency spectrum of WEC platform motion. Motor energy output of the motors and sea state is analyzed to determine controller gain that optimizes energy production of the WEC platform. Control law is applied at the motors to set torque at the controller. Motor torque of the motors is determined by the controller gain based on the WEC platform motion. The controller gain is provided to motor drive circuits of the motors to set torque delivered to the motor based on determination of controller gain. |
| Filed: 7/15/2022 |
| Application Number: US17866083A |
| Tech ID: SD 15596.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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