Output details
15 - General Engineering
University of Exeter
Wave energy converter control by wave prediction and dynamic programming
Early sea wave energy research, (Falnes 1970s), suggested non-causal control exploiting deterministic predictions of future wave forces could dramatically improve the power output of wave energy converters (WECs). Belmont’s paper is the first work to realise such optimal control of WECs based upon deterministic wave predictions. This wave predictive control forms the basis of the next generation of WEC controllers produced by the leading WEC developer, Ocean Power Technology Ltd., (OPT), and is being trialled at full scale under a 9M euro FP7 Demonstrator grant in which Belmont is the sole science provider. (Dr.P.Hart, Chief Technology Officer at OPT: phart@oceanpowertech.com).