Experimental Modelling of an Isolated WECfarm Real-Time Controllable Heaving Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter

To offer point absorber wave energy converters (WECs) as a bankable product on the marine renewable market, multiple WECs will be installed together in an array configuration. The community (research and industrial) has identified urgent need for available realistic reliable data WEC tests order to perform better optimization approach validate recently developed (non-linear) numerical models. ‘WECfarm’ project is initiated cover this scientific gap necessary experimental data. setup consists of five generic heaving point-absorber WECs. are equipped with permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), addressing accurate actively controllable power take-off (PTO). control acquisition realized Speedgoat Performance real-time target machine, offering possibility implement advanced strategies MATLAB-Simulink environment. presented article describes setup, performed results test campaign using single, isolated April 2021 at basin Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark. A Coulomb viscous friction model determined partly compensate drivetrain (motor, gearbox, rack pinion) friction. system identification (SID) adopted considering composed two single input output (SISO) models, radiation excitation model. Radiation yield intrinsic impedance. Excitation frequency response function. Adopting impedance matching approach, parameters resistive reactive controller from complex conjugate Both controllers tested selection regular conditions. allows full evaluation design prior extending Within project, five-WEC Coastal Ocean Basin (COB) Ostend, Belgium, under preparation.