Development and Wave Tank Demonstration of a Fully Controlled Permanent Magnet Drive for a Heaving Wave Energy Converter

Nick J. Baker, Ahmed Almoraya, Mohammad A. H. Raihan, Steve McDonald and Luke McNabb
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Nick J. Baker: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Ahmed Almoraya: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Mohammad A. H. Raihan: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Steve McDonald: School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Luke McNabb: School of Engineering, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: One option for converting the energy in sea waves into renewable electricity is the development of floating wave energy converters coupled to electrical generators. For this to work, bespoke slow-speed electrical machines coupled to bidirectional power smoothing power electronic converters are required. This paper reports on the successful design and wave tank validation of an electric machine, power converter and fully controlled direct drive power take-off system coupled to two small scale heaving wave energy converters. The design, development and demonstration of linear generators and power converters is presented including some simulated and laboratory results. Demonstration of wave energy converters with pure electric drives, fully automated control, bidirectional power flow and active force management is almost unique and essential for future wave energy development. The results presented prove that direct-drive power take-off for wave energy devices is technically possible and can be used to implement an automated control system with bidirectional power flow in both resonant and non-resonant wave energy systems.

Keywords: wave energy; linear generator; direct drive; vernier hybrid machine; current source converter (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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