Optimal Electric Power Take-off Strategy for Surface Riding Wave Energy Converter

Surface Riding Wave Energy Converters (SR-WEC) are energy conversion devices that utilize a linear generator to harness wave energy at a low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The SR-WEC has its own set of challenges in terms of power take-off (PTO). This paper discusses the optimization of various types of electric power take-off (PTO) strategies, such as passive, reactive, and binary PTO, for the SR-WEC. A novel and optimal PTO strategy called the binary-reactive PTO, is proposed for the SR-WEC. The performance of each strategy is compared using results based on a given wave elevation dataset. A Simulink model is built to validate the time domain simulations with non-idealities of the linear generator. The PTO strategies are also implemented using a testbed with a permanent magnet linear generator. From the simulation results, it is seen that the novel binary-reactive provides the most optimal PTO for the SR-WEC application.