Final Technical and Scientific Report: Advanced Control of the Azura Wave Energy Device
The objective of the project was to develop a model predictive controller and associated hydraulic PTO for the Azura wave energy device to improve the annual energy production (AEP) and reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the device. Performance of the controller and hydraulic PTO were validated in a 1/15th scale wave tank test performed at the University of Maine. Three controllers, with three corresponding PTOs, were developed and tested as part of the project. The three controllers are an ideal MPC controller paired with an ideal PTO, an MPC controller with a heuristic paired with a directional force control hydraulic PTO, and a preliminary study of an MPC controller applied to a variable force hydraulic PTO. Experimental data was used to estimate the controller paired with the directional force control would increase the annual energy production of the Azura at WETS by 12%, with a corresponding reduction in LCOE of 10.8%. Preliminary testing of the variable force hydraulic PTO paired with a MPC shows this configuration has the potential to increase the AEP of the Azura at WETS by at least 33%. Further design and development work is necessary to develop the PTO technology to achieve these gains. Additionally, all control schemes require additional work to address the short-term wave prediction method needed to implement the control. In addition to validation of these control methods, NWEI demonstrated careful design of a wave tank test model, PTO, and instrumentation yields high quality test data, and the ability to test advanced control algorithms and include complex PTO dynamics via hardware-in-the-loop testing techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Northwest Energy Innovations, Portland, OR (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office
- Contributing Organization:
- Energy Hydraulics Ltd.; Williwaw Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0007693
- OSTI ID:
- 1608489
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-NWEI-07693-2; 2316332723
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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