Performance of Wave Energy Converter using Linear Permanent Magnet Generator under Regular Wave Condition

Abstract

This paper analyzes the performance of point absorber wave energy converter (WEC) system using linear permanent magnet generator (LPMG) under regular wave condition. First, a WEC design was modeled. It consists of a floater as wave's mechanical energy capturer, coupled to an LPMG as power take-off system. Then, operation of the WEC system was simulated. In this case, parametric study was carried out to analyze work of the WEC system under selected wave scenario. Magnitude of some wave parameters including its amplitude, frequency, and wavelength were successively varied, as their particular influences toward output power of the system would be investigated. During each variation, resulted flux linkage from LPMG operations were obtained from simulation using finite element software of FEMM. Later, output electrical power of the LPMG could be analytically calculated and presented. The results show that the wave amplitude is directly proportional to operation speed but is inversely proportional to output continuity. In this case, large wave amplitude produces larger but disjointed output power, while small amplitude results smaller but continuous output power. Moreover, the wave frequency determines magnitude and output power spectrum -or sum of output power during certain time interval-, in positive relation. On the other hand, the wavelength is inversely proportional to the wave frequency, so it has opposite relation to the output power spectrum. However, for equal frequency, the wavelength only affects phase shift of the output power.