Predictive Control for a Wave-Energy Converter Array Based on an Interconnected Model

Abstract

This paper proposes a model predictive control (MPC) method based on an interconnected model to maximize the ocean wave energy extracted by a wave-energy converter (WEC) array. In the proposed method, a formally uniform interconnected model is applied to represent the dynamics of an array consisting of an arbitrary quantity of WECs, simultaneously considering the hydrodynamic interaction among all the WEC devices. First, the WEC devices and their hydrodynamic interaction are represented in an interconnected model that describes the networked dynamics of a variety of WEC arrays with distinct spatial geometry layout of the WEC devices deployed in the sea field. Second, based on the presented model, an MPC method is applied to achieve the coordinated control of the WEC array to improve its energy conversion efficiency under the constraints of buoy position and control force. Third, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform is developed to simulate the WEC array’s physical operating conditions, and the proposed method is implemented on the platform to test its performance. The test results show that the proposed MPC method using the interconnected model has a higher energy harvesting efficiency than the classic MPC method.