A project concerning the control of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) based on Dielectric Elastomer Generators (DEGs). DEGs are a class of Power Take-Off (PTO) systems made of polymeric rubber-like materials, which exploit a variable-capacitance electrostatic principle to directly convert wave energy into electrical energy.
View DetailsThe objective of this programme is to design, develop and demonstrate advanced control systems for Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and sub-systems which will deliver improvements in performance, affordability, survivability and reliability.
Sophisticated control systems could be a key enabler to the development of economically viable WEC technology.
The projects below were announced by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Scottish Government on September 13th, 2017. 13 teams originally entered into the programme at Stage 1.
The WEACS Project involved research, design and development of a control system that includes high-level supervisory and diagnostic functions, along with low-level, real-time dynamic-control processes. WEACS is anticipated to serve as the central nervous system for a wave energy conversion device and would be connected to all systems within the device.
View DetailsThe WEQUAD FRAME (Wave Energy converters linear QUADratic control FRAMEwork) project applied the linear quadratic modern control synthesis principles to multiple WEC technologies, in order to build a common control development framework for the PTOs regulating control laws.
View DetailsProject ForeWave aimed at developing a set of methodologies to provide high quality inputs for several types of control methodology. These methodologies are based on the device motions and states alone. Providing better methodologies to generate the inputs required by all type of control methodology will benefit the WEC industry as a whole.
View DetailsThis project demonstrates the feasibility of using nonlinear optimal control methods that have been gaining maturity in other industries (automotive, wind) for wave energy devices. Consideration has been given to how nonlinear control can be extended to the broader range of control challenges, such as optimising fatigue, utilising local energy storage, incorporating incoming wave and sea-state estimates to develop useful control concepts.
View DetailsAn Open Data Architecture (ODA) is a key enabling technology. The adoption of a WEC Open Data Architecture (ODA) will facilitate the development of common, reusable data analytics tools to provide functions such as Diagnostic Processes, Alarm Systems, Decision Support and Operator Situation Awareness tools.
View DetailsReinforcement Learning (RL) is a leading machine learning method that can learn the probabilistic relationship between chosen actions and the device behaviour or 'state'. Desirable states can be assigned 'rewards'. Undesirable states can be penalised with negative rewards. RL calculates the best long-term control strategy by summing the probabilities of future rewards. RL is robust to sensor errors, delay and drift, as well as unidentified non-linear response.
View DetailsThe project aim was to develop a reliable and efficient control strategy to improve the wave energy converter (WEC) conversion efficiency and survivability over a wide range of sea states. This was to be achieved by integrating some enabling technologies in control and wave prediction into a hierarchical control framework, so that it can be equipped with several important features: maximum energy output, robustness to modelling uncertainties, and survivability at different sea sates.
View DetailsThe Integrated Marine Point Absorber Control Tool (IMPACT) project developed software tools to enhance and accelerate the design and implementation of advanced control systems for point absorber type wave energy converters (WECs).
View DetailsThe control system consists of a 3-layer global solution, each one having its clearly defined goal. The control methodology as developed here is generic and applicable to any WEC type. It is meant to set a new approach in terms of WEC control design, encapsulating WEC technology specificities and placing it in a broader framework.
View DetailsThis project investigated the feasibility of applying an adaptive control methodology to the Mocean Wave Energy Converter (WEC) in conjunction with a fully electrical rotary Power Take Off (PTO) system.
View DetailsThe project investigates the feasibility of applying an adaptive control methodology to the WaveSub Wave Energy Converter (WEC) in conjunction with the Romax electro-mechanical Power Take Off (PTO) system.
View DetailsThe SURF-MATIC project targets development of a control system that is focused on device survival and achieving reduced loading and harshness in Wave Energy Conversion technology.
View DetailsThe CEORL project uses reinforcement learning (RL) to learn good control policies for several classes of wave energy converters (WECs). The policy has been learnt in simulations of a WEC, and then transferred to a real WEC where further learning can occur.
View DetailsThe project aim was to develop a reliable and efficient control strategy to improve the wave energy converter (WEC) conversion efficiency and survivability over a wide range of sea states. This was achieved by integrating some enabling technologies in control and wave prediction into a hierarchical control framework.
View DetailsThe IMPACT project created a toolbox that could be used to apply a control methodology easily, allowing controllers to be designed early in the WEC development process, making the design of the WEC and the controller concurrent activities.
View DetailsThe CEORL project will use reinforcement learning (RL) to learn good control policies in simulations, and will then be transferred to a scaled WEC device where further learning can occur.
View DetailsStage 3 will experimentally validate the efficacy of the control techniques developed in Stages 1 and 2 by implementing them on a representative, scaled wave energy converter (WEC) system in real-time in a wave tank.
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