Extension and improvement of synchronous linear generator based point absorber operation in high wave excitation scenarios

The exploitation of marine wave energy resource has led to the design of numerous Wave Energy Converter (WEC) configurations. The power absorption of a WEC is tightly related to its physical properties and the characteristics of the incoming wave front. Additionally, the operational range of a WEC is limited to certain characteristics of the incoming waves. These restrictions are usually related to limitations in the maximum force of the Power Take-off (PTO) system and the safety of the WEC. As a result, the power production of the WEC must be stopped during sea states of high wave elevation. With the objective of improving the operation of a WEC during these sea states, a Field Weakening (FW) control functionality is proposed to be implemented in the control system of a single-body linear in heave oscillating point absorber with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Linear Generator (PMSLG) based electrical PTO system. The aim of the aforementioned functionality is to attenuate the magnetic flux in the PMSLG during sea states of high wave elevation. The influence of the size of a WEC on the benefits of the proposed FW functionality is also studied. To that end, two point absorbers with different size are analysed with NEMOH and a wave-to-wire (W2W) model of each WEC is developed. This W2W model enables analysis of the performance and power production of the WECs at different sea states of interest. The obtained results show a remarkable improvement of the operation of a WEC with the implementation of the FW strategy during sea states of high excitation, which leads to an extension of its operation and subsequent additional energy/hydrogen generation.