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Mar. Res. 2024/12
Vol.4. Iss.2
:17-29
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Study on the Maximum Power Point Tracking of a Point-absorber Wave Energy Converter
Bo-Han Wang 1, Tzu-Hung Huang 1, Yang-Chi Chung 1, Yang-Chi Chung 1, Yu-Chi Chang 1 and Wen-Yang Hsu 2*
1 Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Tainan, Taiwan
2 Department of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean Universality, Keelung, Taiwan
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Abstract:
Ocean energy has been identified as an innovative energy source and is expected to play a crucial role in Taiwan's pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. One of the challenges in developing wave energy converters (WECs) arises from the intermittency of wave energy, in which the incident wave energy can fluctuate significantly within several seconds. This study focuses on the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of a point-absorber wave energy converter (PA-WEC) under irregular wave conditions. To assess the PA-WEC's performance under specific sea conditions, a wave-to-wire model using the ANSYS AQWA software was developed. The model integrated frequency-domain hydrodynamics and time-domain PTO damping, allowing the authors to obtain the drive rope tension, drive rope velocity, floater motion, and power output of the PA-WEC. The simulated results were further applied to design the MPPT algorithm. Large-scale physical model tests were conducted to validate the numerical model using data from irregular wave conditions in a wave flume. Both numerical simulations and experiments demonstrated that optimal PTO damping exists for each wave condition and it significantly influences power output. These findings provide essential insights for designing MPPT algorithms and enhancing power efficiency for PA-WECs.
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Keywords: wave energy converter, point absorber, maximum power point tracking.
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*Corresponding author; e-mail:
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©
2024
Marine Research , ISSN 2709-6629
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