Power electronics as grid interface for actively controlled wave energy converters

The Effect of Viscosity on the Maximisation of Electrical Power from a Wave Energy Converter under Predictive Control

“…This subject of co-design has lately been highlighted, where items such as the sea spectrum suitability, (Lenee-Bluhm et al, 2011), the geometry of the WEC, (Garcia-Rosa and Ringwood, 2016), the prediction of the excitation wave, (Fusco and Ringwood, 2010), the rating of the generator, (Aubry et al, 2012), the power electronics needed for high power ratings, (Lovelace et al, 2000), the effects of the DC-link on the power extraction, (O'Sullivan and Lightbody, 2016a,b) and the aggregation of power from multiple WEC's, (Molinas et al, 2007) have been analysed. One category that has been somewhat assumed as insignificant in previous wave energy research, is the importance of including and modelling the non-linear components of the WEC system.…”

Regulating DC link voltage fluctuations on a grid connected wave power system using energy storage

“…In [11] a STATCOM was proposed as a possible grid interface technology for a single WEC and the grid. In [11] the STATCOM is proposed with energy storage capacity to allow it to compensate for fluctuations in active power, alongside providing reactive power compensation.…”

“…The authors in [11] had the flexibility to change the power take off method to enable them to use this to suppress the fluctuations in generated power. At present, linear PMSGs have only been developed for deep water WECs.…”

“…In [11] the STATCOM is proposed with energy storage capacity to allow it to compensate for fluctuations in active power, alongside providing reactive power compensation. The research described in [11] indicated that a STATCOM with some energy storage on its DC link will work to smooth fluctuations in generated power, however it is dependent on some energy smoothing taking place during the power take off from the WEC This was possible with the deep water buoy type WEC considered in [11], where the power take off method used a linear direct drive permanent magnet generator. This generator was controlled to damp some of the fluctuations in the power from the waves, and therefore the STATCOM had a secondary role in compensating for fluctuations in the generated power.…”

“…It will discuss the concept of using energy storage to ensure that the power quality on the distribution network is not compromised by the presence of a wave farm. It has been noted by previous authors that the integration of WECs to the grid is the final stage in their development and therefore has been researched less than other areas of wave power [11].…”