Wave Energy Converter Direct Drive Power-Take-Off Power Electronic Design to Maximize Power Production

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) are a form of renewable energy that harvests energy from the waves in a large body of water. WEC systems contain both a mechanical and electrical power take-off (PTO). The systems’ mechanical PTO has been theoretically been optimized to absorb the maximum energy in the wave environment. Still, the electrical PTO of WECs has not yet been optimized to maximize power conversion. The optimal bus voltage and switching frequency of the inverter to maximize energy conversion remains largely unstudied. This study uses Typhoon HIL real-time software to model the mechanical and electrical systems of a WEC operating in an irregular wave environment. The switching frequency of the inverter and the bus voltage is varied to determine the optimal operating conditions for the electrical PTO of the WEC.