Title: A binary ACO for controlling all-electric power take off system in wave energy converters

Authors: Phen Chiak See; Vin Cent Tai; Marta Molinas

Addresses: Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491-Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491-Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Electric Power Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491-Trondheim, Norway

Abstract: This paper describes a metaheuristic algorithm for controlling all-electric power take off (PTO) system of wave energy converters. It provides optimal parameter values to the controller following the instantaneously changing sea state. The output of the algorithm is used to tune the electrical control systems in the PTO system in order to provide sufficient time for the point absorber to achieve desired heaving resonance compare with the ocean wave. This maximises the power extraction capability of WECs. The method consists of a binary ant colony optimisation algorithm capable of performing optimisation in continuous space. A binary encoding method is introduced to enhance its search exploration feature, hence allowing it to find optimal solution in short time.

Keywords: binary ACO; ant colony optimisation; wave energy conversion; all-electric power take off; real-time control; optimal power extraction; wave power conversion; renewable energy technology; metaheuristics; converter control; heaving resonance; ocean waves.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2013.052980

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2013 Vol.4 No.2, pp.172 - 190

Received: 23 Feb 2012
Accepted: 16 Oct 2012
Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

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