Experimental Validation of a Fast-Tracking FOCV-MPPT Circuit for a Wave Energy Converter Embedded into an Oceanic Drifter

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) are an ideal solution for expanding the autonomy of surface sensor platforms such as oceanic drifters. To extract maximum amount energy from these fast-varying sources, a fast power point tracking (MPPT) technique is required. Previous studies have examined management units (PMU) with MPPT circuits, but none them demonstrated their feasibility in real-world scenario. In this study, performance fast-tracking fractional open circuit voltage (FOCV)-MPPT (sampling period TMPPT 48 ms) compared commercial slow-tracking PMU (TMPPT 16 s) monitored sea area while using small-scale, pendulum-type WEC. A specific low-power relaxation oscillator designed to control circuit. The results demonstrate that by speeding up sampling frequency circuit, harvested can be increased factor three.