Selection of the electrical generator for a wave energy converter

Abstract

This paper presents the study accomplished to select the electrical generator implemented on a new design of Wave Energy Converter (WEC), identifying the key features that must be taken into account when studying the feasibility of a power plant for a given location and rated power. After introduced the proposed WEC, a review of different solutions adopted by other WEC system is presented. After an introduction of synchronous and asynchronous generator families, their means of working with variable speed and their capability to work connected to grid or isolated is explained. Both of them can work with variable speed, therefore the influence of selected generator in the control strategy and the efficiency gain working with variable speed is studied. The cost of the generation system and the investment return of the facility play an active role when selecting the generator system. After discussed their characteristics advantages and influence in the efficiency, some references will be given to take into account in the design procedures to define a WEC system for a given location.