Hydrodynamic Control of Wave Energy Devices

For researchers and practitioners, an accessible and integrated treatment of hydrodynamic control of wave energy devices.

Umesh A. Korde (Author), John Ringwood (Author)

9781107079700, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 September 2016

381 pages, 162 b/w illus. 16 tables
26 x 18.3 x 2.2 cm, 0.98 kg

'… the object of the book is a natural marriage between wave energy and control engineering. As a whole, the book can provide those involved in the development of wave energy converters, especially in tasks related to hydrodynamic modelling and power take-off, with the background required to use the tools of control engineering to improve the design and performance of the converter. Conversely, the book gives the control engineer the hydrodynamics and related fundamentals to move forward in his wave energy conversion studies. Boxes and numerical examples can be found along the text for better understanding of the theory. The book is highly recommended for all professionals and researchers involved in the design and control of wave energy converters. It is also suitable as a textbook for postgraduate studies in this field.' António F. O. Falcão, Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy

With this self-contained and comprehensive text, students and researchers will gain a detailed understanding of the fundamental aspects of the hydrodynamic control of wave energy converters. Such control is necessary to maximise energy capture for a given device configuration and plays a major role in efforts to make wave energy economic. Covering a wide range of disciplines, the reader is taken from the mathematical and technical fundamentals, through the main pillars of wave energy hydrodynamic control, right through to state-of-the-art algorithms for hydrodynamic control. The various operating principles of wave energy converters are exposed and the unique aspects of the hydrodynamic control problem highlighted, with a variety of potential solutions discussed. Supporting material on wave forecasting and the interaction of the hydrodynamic control problem with other aspects of wave energy device optimisation, such as device geometry optimisation and optimal device array layout, is also provided.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Wave energy conversion
Part II. The Basics: 2. Introduction to control engineering
3. Bodies oscillating in air
4. Bodies oscillating in water
Part III. The Hydrodynamics: 5. Nature of the wave input
6. A closer look at wave energy hydrodynamics
Part IV. Velocity Control Using a Hydrodynamic Model: 7. Reactive control in time domain
8. A causal real-time controller for WECs
Part V. Control by Optimizing a Performance Index: 9. Non-reactive switching control
10. Optimal numerical control of wave energy converters
11. Control strategies for WEC arrays
12. Wave forecasting for control
Part VI. Towards Overall WEC System Hydrodynamic Optimisation: 13. Position and force constraint analysis and optimisation
14. Interaction between control and optimum system design
Part VII. In Closing: 15. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Marine engineering [TTS], Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Engineering thermodynamics [TGMB], Oceanography [seas RBKC], Hydrology & the hydrosphere [RBK]