TY - JOUR
T1 - MPPT Reactive Control Algorithm for Heaving Wave Energy Converters with Power Setpoint Capabilities
AU - Elamin, Abdin Y.
AU - Wahyudie, Addy
AU - Hashfi, Tuanku Badzlin
AU - Shareef, Hussain
AU - Errouissi, Rachid
AU - Laghari, Mohammad Shakeel
AU - Mubin, Marizan Binti
AU - Mekhilef, Saad
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Reactive control is a popular method for maximizing wave energy absorption in wave energy converters (WECs). This technique involves adjusting the damping and stiffness coefficients of the WEC to align its natural frequency with the frequency of incoming waves. Unfortunately, wave variability and complex hydrodynamics have posed challenges in accurately determining these coefficients. This paper proposes a model-independent approach for reactive control based on a variable step size maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The MPPT algorithm tunes the WEC's damping and stiffness coefficients toward maximum generated power. Furthermore, a power curtailment control (PCC) strategy is integrated, based on a proportional-integral (PI) controller that modifies the MPPT control force to follow power generation references below its maximum generation capacity. This capability is essential for grid integration, where power generation must match demand. Finally, a hardware-in-The-loop experimental setup was constructed to evaluate the proposed control strategies under monochromatic and polychromatic wave conditions. An analysis comparing MPPT and damping control under various polychromatic wave conditions revealed that MPPT achieves substantially higher electrical power, outperforming damping control by 55.4% to 70.6%. The experimental results demonstrated the efficacy of the PCC strategy in reducing the WEC power output to track specific power setpoints.
AB - Reactive control is a popular method for maximizing wave energy absorption in wave energy converters (WECs). This technique involves adjusting the damping and stiffness coefficients of the WEC to align its natural frequency with the frequency of incoming waves. Unfortunately, wave variability and complex hydrodynamics have posed challenges in accurately determining these coefficients. This paper proposes a model-independent approach for reactive control based on a variable step size maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The MPPT algorithm tunes the WEC's damping and stiffness coefficients toward maximum generated power. Furthermore, a power curtailment control (PCC) strategy is integrated, based on a proportional-integral (PI) controller that modifies the MPPT control force to follow power generation references below its maximum generation capacity. This capability is essential for grid integration, where power generation must match demand. Finally, a hardware-in-The-loop experimental setup was constructed to evaluate the proposed control strategies under monochromatic and polychromatic wave conditions. An analysis comparing MPPT and damping control under various polychromatic wave conditions revealed that MPPT achieves substantially higher electrical power, outperforming damping control by 55.4% to 70.6%. The experimental results demonstrated the efficacy of the PCC strategy in reducing the WEC power output to track specific power setpoints.
KW - Complex conjugate control
KW - hardware-in-The-loop
KW - maximum power point tracking
KW - permanent magnet linear generator
KW - perturb and observe algorithm
KW - power curtailment control
KW - wave energy converter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210905657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3505422
DO - 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3505422
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210905657
SN - 2169-3536
VL - 12
SP - 176779
EP - 176798
JO - IEEE Access
JF - IEEE Access
ER -