Controller for a wave energy converter

摘要

A wave energy converter (WEC) is described, the WEC including a power take off (PTO) that converts relative motion of bodies of the WEC into electrical energy. A controller controls operation of the PTO, causing the PTO to act as a motor to widen a wave frequency spectrum that is usable to generate electrical energy.

主权项

1. A wave energy converter (WEC) intended to be deployed in a body of water and subjected to wave motion of varying amplitude and frequency, the WEC having a resonant frequency associated therewith, the WEC comprising:
a float; a spar, wherein waves impacting the float cause relative motion between the float and the spar, a power take off (PTO) that is configured to convert the relative motion between the float and the spar to electrical energy; and a controller that reactively controls operation of the PTO based upon a sensed condition pertaining to the WEC and a nonlinear model of the WEC, wherein the controller causes the PTO to exert a force on at least one of the float or the spar, and wherein the nonlinear model comprises a Hamiltonian model of the WEC, the Hamiltonian model comprising nonlinear terms.