Modeling Of A Power Sharing Transmission In A Wave Energy Converter

The fluctuating behavior of wave energy is a challenge to reach high efficiencies of implemented power takeoff (PTO) systems due to the bidirectional movement and high variable loads. The described PTO based on a power sharing transmission (PST) tackles this by converting the bidirectional rotation into a unidirectional rotation of a generator equipped with a flywheel to reduce fluctuation in the output. The generator can then be operated at or close to its optimum efficiency. An auxiliary machine is in charge of the controls. The PST is modeled and implemented in an existing hydrodynamic model of a heaving buoy. A basic control is realised in the simulation resulting in the confirmation of the conversion to a unidirectional rotation and facilitating assessment of the machine efficiencies.