Controller for a wave energy converter
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsDavid G. Wilson, Diana L. Bull, Rush D. Robinett, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims20
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.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a signal that is indicative of an excitation force of a wave that is to impact a wave energy converter (WEC);
- estimating the excitation force based upon the signal;
- and
- controlling operation of a power take off (PTO) of the WEC,
- wherein the operation of the PTO is at least partially determined by the estimation of the excitation force, and
- wherein controlling operation of the PTO comprises causing the PTO to act as a motor, and
- wherein the controlling of the operation of the PTO comprises implementing a nonlinear model of the WEC, the nonlinear model being a Hamiltonian model of the WEC.
A wave energy converter (WEC), comprising:
- a power take off (PTO) that is configured to generate electrical energy responsive to waves impacting the WEC, the WEC structurally designed to have a particular resonant frequency associated therewith;
- and
- a controller circuit, the controller circuit selectively causing the PTO to act as a motor,
- wherein the controller circuit receives at least one sensor signal, and
- wherein the controller circuit implements a nonlinear model of the WEC, the nonlinear model being a Hamiltonian model of the WEC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.