Sandia researchers double wave energy converters’ efficiency

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories recently used classical control theory, robotics, and aerospace engineering design principles to double the amount of energy a wave energy converter can absorb from ocean waves.

Through the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, the Water Power program researchers used a combination of modeling and experimental testing to improve how a wave energy converter captures wave energy and its resiliency in a harsh ocean environment.

“We are working to create methodologies and technologies that private companies can harness to create wave energy devices that will enable them to sell power to the U.S. grid at a competitive price,” Sandia engineer Ryan Coe said. “By getting more energy out of the same device, we can reduce the cost of energy from that device.”

Sandia’s wave energy converter, a one-ton ocean buoy with motors, sensors and an onboard computer, is built at a scaled down size for testing.

Using a numerical model the project developed and validated last fall, the team wrote and applied control algorithms in an effort increase the amount of energy the converter could capture.

“Controls is a pretty big field,” Sandia engineer Dave Patterson said. “You can operate anything from planes to cars to walking robots. Different controls will work better for different machines, so a large part of this project is figuring out which control algorithm works and how to design your system to best take advantage of those controls.”

The team is now analyzing the testing data and considering options for refining the control systems to maximize energy transfer.