Maximizing Output Power in Oscillating Water Column Wave Power Plants: An Optimization Based MPPT Algorithm

Abstract: This paper proposes an optimization based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for selection of appropriate external rotor resistances of wound rotor induction generator (WRIG). The generator coupled with a Wells turbine is used in oscillating water column (OWC) wave power plants. The Wells turbine suffers with stalling behaviour that reduces the average output power significantly. Hence, the objective is to prevent aerodynamic stalling of the Wells turbine and hence maximizing the output power simultaneously. But inappropriate selection of rotor resistance leads to excessive power loss. Therefore, two approaches have been applied: (i) the rotor resistance values are selected manually by trial and error method or non-optimized approach (ii) a performance index has been derived and minimized using particle swarm optimization technique to obtain the optimized values of rotor resistance. Simulation results have been performed for turbine efficiency, output power and power loss in external rotor resistance. Finally, the proposed control approach is illustrated for two particular cases of regular and irregular waves.