Control-aware co-design of a wave energy converter for the Argentine sea conditions

D. GARCÍA-VIOLINI; Y. PEÑA-SÁNCHEZ; A. D. OTERO; R. SOSA; M. PENALBA; J. V. RINGWOOD

Oberá

Congreso; XX Reunión de Trabajo en Procesamiento de la Información y Control; 2023

Despite the favourable energy conditions in theArgentine sea (South Atlantic Ocean), the country has not yetactively participated in the development and utilisation of waveenergy resources. Control co-design (CCD) is a novel control-aware design paradigm that integrates the energy-maximisingcontrol from early stages of system design, allowing for opti-misation driven by the considered control strategy to achievean overall optimal design. In this study, considering an overallcontrol-aware design perspective, a wave energy converter systemis specifically tailored for the Argentine sea conditions, analysingdifferent WEC structural configurations (geometry and dimen-sions). The performance of different control structures, includinga spectral-based control methodology and a reactive controller,are assessed for each configuration. Realistic operating condi-tions, specifically tailored to the ocean wave modes prevalent inthe Argentine sea, are taken into account during the performanceanalysis. The results obtained from the study are thoroughlydiscussed, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of theconsidered control strategies in the context of the Argentine sea.