Control of an oscillating water column wave energy converter based on dielectric elastomer generator

This paper introduces a model-based control strategy for a wave energy converter (WEC) based on dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs), i.e. a device that can convert the energy of ocean waves into electricity by employing deformable elastomeric transducers with variable capacitance. The analysed system combines the concept of oscillating water column WEC with an inflated circular diaphragm DEG (ICD-DEG). The device features strongly nonlinear dynamics due to the ICD-DEG electro-hyperelastic response and the compressibility of the air volume comprised between the water column and the ICD-DEG, while the hydrodynamic loads can be approximated as linear. The optimal control solution that maximises the power extraction of the device is numerically investigated in the case of monochromatic waves over the typical frequency and amplitude ranges of sea waves. The more realistic case of panchromatic waves is also analysed through the implementation, in simulation environment, of a real-time controller. This regulator is based on a simple sub-optimal control logic that is deduced from the monochromatic case. The performance of the proposed control strategy is illustrated in comparison with unoptimised algorithms.