Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Point Absorber Device with a Tubular Linear Switched Reluctance Generator

• Main Authors: Rui Mendes, Maria do Rosário Calado, Sílvio Mariano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: tubular linear generator; switched reluctance machine; ocean wave energy; direct drive conversion
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2192

This paper addresses the control of a Tubular Linear Switched Reluctance Generator (TLSRG) with application in a point absorber device. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) strategy is proposed to maximize the power extraction from ocean waves. The generator is characterized by average maximum force of 120 kN and a maximum velocity of 1.3 m/s. The proposed MPPT is achieved by changing the generator damping load according to the excitation force induced by a regular wave. A hysteresis controller is applied to regulate the phase current intensity which allows the control of the linear force provided by the generator. The conversion system direct current (DC) bus voltage is adjusted by an isolated DC/DC converter with a proportional integral controller to define the appropriate duty-cycle.