A Numerical Study on Optimal Latching Control of Multi-body WEC with Hydraulic PTO System

초록

The aim of this study is to develop a latching control scheme of heaving-buoy power take-off (PTO) system for maximum wave power in irregular waves. Among many control strategies for PTO system, the latching control scheme is simple and easy but has never been fully applied to actual sea condition. The hydrodynamic analysis of heaving multi-buoy wave energy converter was performed in the time domain. The PTO system was modelled as an approximate coulomb damping force. Under various irregular waves, the developed latching control scheme was applied to multi-buoy motion control in the hydraulic PTO system. The characteristic latching duration was chosen to maximize wave power generation. The effect of latching control on energy efficiency was also presented.