• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2019

Latching control was applied to a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) buoy with direct linear electric Power Take-Off (PTO) systems oscillating in heave direction in waves. The equation of the motion of the WEC buoy in the time-domain is characterized by the wave exciting, hydrostatic, radiation forces and by several damping forces (PTO, brake, and viscous). By applying numerical schemes, such as the semi-analytical and Newmark ${\beta}$ methods, the time series of the heave motion and velocity, and the corresponding extracted power may be obtained. The numerical prediction with the latching control is in accordance with the experimental results from the systematic 1:10-model test in a wave tank at Seoul National University. It was found that the extraction of wave energy may be improved by applying latching control to the WEC, which particularly affects waves longer than the resonant period.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.282-290
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• 2015

In this study, a latching control technology, proposed by Sheng et al.(2015), was applied in order to maximize the extraction efficiency of WEC (Wave Energy Converter), which is the heaving buoy coupled with linear electric generator. The latching control is the phase-control technique for improving the wave energy conversion with appropriate latching duration of keeping the buoy fixed. From the time-domain analysis in regular waves, the latching control technology can significantly improve the heave velocity and extracted power, even though the resonance condition is not satisfied. By using the latching control technology, the draft of buoy as well as the required PTO damping force can be significantly reduced along with increased extracted power, which is a big advantage in manufacturing the WEC.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2015

The wave spectrum was generated from wave data measured at the Chagwi-do site in Jeju, where a 10MW class floating wave-offshore wind hybrid power generation system will be installed. The latching control technology (Sheng et al.[2015]) was applied in order to improve the extracted power from WEC (Wave Energy Converter), which is heaving in corresponding irregular waves. The peak period as a representative value of irregular waves was used when we determined the latching duration. From the numerical results in the time-domain analysis, the latching control technology can significantly improve the extracted power about 50%.