US 11,703,027 B1
Self-tuning wave energy converter (WEC) controller for changing sea states
Giorgio Bacelli, Albuquerque, NM (US); David G. Wilson, Tijeras, NM (US); Dominic Forbush, Billings, MT (US); Steven J. Spencer, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Ryan G. Coe, Taos, NM (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/866,083.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/222,108, filed on Jul. 15, 2021.
Int. Cl. F03B 13/14 (2006.01); F03B 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/14 (2013.01) [F03B 15/00 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling the energy production of a wave energy converter (WEC) platform on a body of water, the method comprising:
monitoring motor energy output and at least one energy parameter of one or more motors of the WEC platform, each motor of the one or more motors actuated by wave motion;
monitoring sea state of the body of water using device impedance models that receive inputs from sensing and measuring WEC platform motion and monitoring the frequency spectrum of the WEC platform motion;
analyzing motor energy output of the one or more motors and sea state to determine a controller gain that optimizes the energy production of the WEC platform; and
applying a control law at the one or more motors to set torque at the one or more controllers;
wherein the controller gain determines motor torque of the one or more motors based on the WEC platform motion and provides the controller gain to motor drive circuits of the one or more motors to set torque delivered to the motor based on the determination of controller gain;
wherein the at least one energy parameter is frequency of WEC platform motion or motor velocity.