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Exploring the Potential for Increased Production from the Wave Energy Converter Lifesaver by Reactive Control

Author

Listed:
  • Jonas Sjolte

    (Fred. Olsen, Fred. Olsens Gate 2, N0152 Oslo, Norway
    Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, O.S. Bragstads plass 2E, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Christian McLisky Sandvik

    (Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, O.S. Bragstads plass 2E, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Elisabetta Tedeschi

    (SINTEF Energy Research, Postbox 4761 Sluppen, Trondheim 7465, Norway)

  • Marta Molinas

    (Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, O.S. Bragstads plass 2E, N-7034 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

Fred Olsen is currently testing their latest wave energy converter (WEC), Lifesaver, outside of Falmouth Bay in England, preparing it for commercial operation at the Wavehub test site. Previous studies, mostly focusing on hydrodynamics and peak to average power reduction, have shown that this device has potential for increased power extraction using reactive control. This article extends those analyses, adding a detailed model of the all-electric power take-off (PTO) system, consisting of a permanent magnet synchronous generator, inverter and DC-link. Time domain simulations are performed to evaluate the PTO capabilities of the modeled WEC. However, when tuned towards reactive control, the generator losses become large, giving a very low overall system efficiency. Optimal control with respect to electrical output power is found to occur with low added mass, and when compared to pure passive loading, a 1% increase in annual energy production is estimated. The main factor reducing the effect of reactive control is found to be the minimum load-force constraint of the device. These results suggest that the Lifesaver has limited potential for increased production by reactive control. This analysis is nevertheless valuable, as it demonstrates how a wave-to-wire model can be used for investigation of PTO potential, annual energy production estimations and evaluations of different control techniques for a given WEC device.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Sjolte & Christian McLisky Sandvik & Elisabetta Tedeschi & Marta Molinas, 2013. "Exploring the Potential for Increased Production from the Wave Energy Converter Lifesaver by Reactive Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:8:p:3706-3733:d:27499
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Seung Kwan Song & Yong Jun Sung & Jin Bae Park, 2017. "Numerical Modeling and 3D Investigation of INWAVE Device," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Zheng, Siming & Zhang, Yongliang & Iglesias, Gregorio, 2020. "Concept and performance of a novel wave energy converter: Variable Aperture Point-Absorber (VAPA)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 681-700.
    3. Hayrettin Bora Karayaka & Yi-Hsiang Yu & Eduard Muljadi, 2021. "Investigations into Balancing Peak-to-Average Power Ratio and Mean Power Extraction for a Two-Body Point-Absorber Wave Energy Converter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-24, June.
    4. Li, Xiaofan & Chen, ChienAn & Li, Qiaofeng & Xu, Lin & Liang, Changwei & Ngo, Khai & Parker, Robert G. & Zuo, Lei, 2020. "A compact mechanical power take-off for wave energy converters: Design, analysis, and test verification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    5. José Carlos Ugaz Peña & Christian Luis Medina Rodríguez & Gustavo O. Guarniz Avalos, 2023. "Study of a New Wave Energy Converter with Perturb and Observe Maximum Power Point Tracking Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Wang, LiGuo & Lin, MaoFeng & Tedeschi, Elisabetta & Engström, Jens & Isberg, Jan, 2020. "Improving electric power generation of a standalone wave energy converter via optimal electric load control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    7. Wang, Liguo & Isberg, Jan & Tedeschi, Elisabetta, 2018. "Review of control strategies for wave energy conversion systems and their validation: the wave-to-wire approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 366-379.
    8. Marios Charilaos Sousounis & Jonathan Shek, 2019. "Wave-to-Wire Power Maximization Control for All-Electric Wave Energy Converters with Non-Ideal Power Take-Off," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Faÿ, François-Xavier & Henriques, João C. & Kelly, James & Mueller, Markus & Abusara, Moahammad & Sheng, Wanan & Marcos, Marga, 2020. "Comparative assessment of control strategies for the biradial turbine in the Mutriku OWC plant," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 2766-2784.
    10. Markel Penalba & John V. Ringwood, 2016. "A Review of Wave-to-Wire Models for Wave Energy Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-45, June.
    11. Marcos Blanco & Pablo Moreno-Torres & Marcos Lafoz & Dionisio Ramírez, 2015. "Design Parameters Analysis of Point Absorber WEC via an evolutionary-algorithm-based Dimensioning Tool," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-31, October.
    12. Penalba, Markel & Davidson, Josh & Windt, Christian & Ringwood, John V., 2018. "A high-fidelity wave-to-wire simulation platform for wave energy converters: Coupled numerical wave tank and power take-off models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 655-669.

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