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Title: Time-Varying Linear Quadratic Gaussian Optimal Control for Three-Degree-of-Freedom Wave Energy Converters
The model of a three-degree-of-freedom Wave Energy Converter can be simplified as a linear time-varying system. In this model, the heave mode parametrically excites the pitch mode, which in turn excites the surge mode. The heave mode, however, is independent to the other two modes when the motion is small. The purpose of this paper is to design a controller to maximize the energy harvested over a receding time horizon. We also want to demonstrate that, with proper design of the control, it is possible to exploit this nonlinear coupling between the modes so as to harvest more energy. The controller selected is the linear quadratic Gaussian optimal control. The prediction of excitation forces is constructed based on the estimation where the estimations are obtained by using extended Kalman Filter. The prediction of excitation force is fed into the controller to compute the time-varying linear quadratic optimal control. Constraints on the WEC motion are accounted for in computing the control. The results show that the energy captured by three-degree-of-freedom Wave Energy Converter is 3:56 times the energy extracted in heave mode only. Higher energy harvesting is demonstrated when the linear time-varying model is used in control design.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1635362
NSF-PAR ID:
10059763
Author(s) / Creator(s):
Date Published:
Journal Name:
European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 2017
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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