Most of the research on wave energy conversion has been focused on the characterization of the dynamic behavior of arrays of uncontrolled wave energy converters (WECs) in specific configurations, in order to quantify changes in the wave fields and absorbed power without active control. To maximize wave energy conversion, however, it is necessary to apply active control techniques to the WECs that conform the array. In this paper, we propose the application of decentralized model predictive control (MPC) to the elements of an array by considering each individual WEC as a subsystem. Each decentralized MPC optimizes the absorbed power of its own WEC under the same input and state constraints that a centralized MPC otherwise would.Index Terms-Model predictive control (MPC), point absorber, wave energy converter (WEC) arrays.
Many recent works on wave energy conversion use a form of model predictive control (MPC) to maximise energy harvest. This active control strategy is generally used because it permits the inclusion of constraints that represent the physical limits of wave energy conversion devices in the optimisation algorithm. In this study, the authors present a centralised MPC design for an array configuration of wave energy converters. Its performance is evaluated via computer simulation and is compared against that of decentralised MPC and linear damping controller for several values of damping in both regular and irregular waves.
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