An Iterative Refining Approach to Design the Control of Wave Energy Converters with Numerical Modeling and Scaled HIL Testing

Nicola Delmonte, Eider Robles, Paolo Cova, Francesco Giuliani, François Xavier Faÿ, Joseba Lopez, Piero Ruol and Luca Martinelli
Additional contact information
Nicola Delmonte: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Eider Robles: Energy and Environment Division, Tecnalia, 48160 Derio, Spain
Paolo Cova: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Francesco Giuliani: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
François Xavier Faÿ: Energy and Environment Division, Tecnalia, 48160 Derio, Spain
Joseba Lopez: Energy and Environment Division, Tecnalia, 48160 Derio, Spain
Piero Ruol: ICEA Department, University of Padua, Via Ognissanti, 39, 35129 Padova, Italy
Luca Martinelli: ICEA Department, University of Padua, Via Ognissanti, 39, 35129 Padova, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: The aim of this work is to show that a significant increase of the efficiency of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) can be achieved already at an early design stage, through the choice of a turbine and control regulation, by means of an accurate Wave-to-Wire (W2W) modeling that couples the hydrodynamic response calibrated in a wave flume to a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test bench with sizes and rates not matching those of the system under development. Information on this procedure is relevant to save time, because the acquisition, the installation, and the setup of a test rig are not quick and easy. Moreover, power electronics and electric machines to emulate turbines and electric generators matching the real systems are not low-cost equipment. The use of HIL is important in the development of WECs also because it allows the carrying out of tests in a controlled environment, and this is again time- and money-saving if compared to tests done on a real system installed at the sea. Furthermore, W2W modeling can be applied to several Power Take-Off (PTO) configurations to experiment different control strategies. The method here proposed, concerning a specific HIL for testing power electronics and control laws for a specific WECs, may have a more general validity.

Keywords: wave energy; power conversion; control; wave-to-wire; HIL testing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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