Collaborative Research: Large-Scale Wave Energy Arrays -- Integrated Control/Array Design in Random Seas

PI：Sruggs，Jeffrey/Taflanidis，Alexandros建议编号：1235732/1235768机构：密歇根大学安娜堡大学/圣母大学标题：合作研究：大规模波浪能阵列--随机季节的集成控制/阵列设计在美国能源经济从传统技术向可再生能源的转型中，海浪能技术有重要的作用。然而，我们对如何最好地利用资源的理解仍在发展中。为了使波能转换(WEC)技术在实用规模上具有相关性，有必要在广阔的海洋上分布大量的能量收集浮标阵列。大规模WEC阵列的发电最大化需要最优控制和最优几何技术的综合。目前的理解仅限于单个浮标和小阵列尺寸。它也没有考虑到电力转换系统的局限性，或者海况是随机和不确定现象的事实。这一合作项目通过对两个完全不同的研究思路--稳健控制理论和大规模随机优化--的新颖综合，构成了一个旨在纠正这些问题的e&amp；ort。拟议的工作将侧重于评估和优化给定地理位置和给定阵列周长的发电潜力的准确技术。这将为这项技术向前发展提供一些必要问题的答案：(1)在给定阵列周长、海况的概率特征和发电机的技术特征的情况下，WEC浮标的最佳数量是多少，它们应该如何安排？(2)浮标和浮标的最佳数量如何取决于所使用的转换技术？(3)浮标配置如何取决于将阵列与电网连接的能量存储和传输系统的效率？PI将把他们各自的方法(水资源控制系统的最优发电控制算法和随机抽样方法)整合到一个单一的计算框架中，该框架在每次迭代时同时重塑阵列并重新设计控制器。这将使精确评估给定阵列大小的最大发电能力所需的时间减少几个数量级。在这项工作中，PI将利用稳健控制理论的技术和高性能计算的进展，为大规模WEC阵列设计创新通用技术。这一合作项目将提供对大规模WEC阵列满足未来能源需求的真正潜力的清晰洞察。此外，该项目有可能消除技术采用障碍，并在公众中促进宣传。这将通过加强学生形象大使和利益相关者意识的宣传机制来实现。投资促进机构将采取双管齐下的战略，包括：1.开发开放获取的在线资源评估软件；2.以海洋能源为重点的教育推广举措。在该组件中，在线应用程序在友好的用户界面的支持下，将针对用户特定的地理位置和阵列周长评估优化的年度功率输出和阵列配置。面向WEC开发人员的更具技术性的o&amp；ine版本也将免费提供。第二个组成部分将通过针对任职人数不足群体的跨学科区域教育联盟举措以及利用拟议的在线评估工具开发以项目为基础的学习模块来实现。这将激励和授权学生参与者在他们的专业和公众中推动这项研究，从而传播这项研究的更广泛的影响。

PI: Scruggs, Jeffrey / Taflanidis, AlexandrosProposal Number: 1235732 / 1235768Institution: University of Michigan Ann Arbor / University of Notre DameTitle: Collaborative Research: Large-Scale Wave Energy Arrays -- Integrated Control/Array Design in Random SeasIn the transition of the US energy economy from traditional technologies to renewables, ocean wave energy technology has a significant role to play. However, our understanding of how to best harness the resource is still evolving. For Wave Energy Conversion (WEC) technologies to be relevant on a utility scale, it will be necessary to distribute vast arrays of energy-harvesting buoys across a wide expanse of ocean. Maximization of power generation from large-scale WEC arrays requires a synthesis of optimal control and optimal geometry techniques. The present state-of-understanding is limited to single buoys and small array sizes. It also does not account for the limitations of power conversion systems, or the fact that sea states are random and uncertain phenomena. This collaborative project constitutes an effort to rectify these issues, through a novel synthesis of two disparate research threads: robust control theory and large-scale stochastic optimization.The proposed work will focus on accurate techniques for assessing and optimizing the power generation potential for a given geographic location and a given array perimeter. This will provide answers to some necessary questions for this technology to move forward: (i) Given an array perimeter, a probabilistic characterization of the sea state, and a technological characterization of the generators, what is the optimal number of WEC buoys, and how should they be arranged? (ii) How do the optimal number of buoys and configuration depend on the conversion technology used? (iii) How does the buoy configuration depend on the efficiency of energy storage and transmission systems that interface the array with the grid? The PIs will integrate their respective approaches (the optimal power generation control algorithm for a WEC system, and stochastic sampling methods) into a single computationally-efficient framework, which simultaneously reshapes the array and redesigns the controller upon each iteration. This will reduce the time necessary to accurately evaluate the maximum power generation capability for a given array size by several orders of magnitude. In this work the PIs will innovate generic techniques for large-scale WEC array design using techniques from robust control theory and advances in high-performance computing. This collaborative project will provide a clear insight into the true potential of large-scale WEC arrays to meet future energy needs. Also the project has the potential to lift technology adoption barriers and to promote advocacy among the public. This will be accomplished via diffusion mechanisms that enhance ambassadorship among students and awareness among stakeholders. The PIs will adopt a two-pronged strategy, involving: 1. development of open-access online resource assessment software, and 2. educational outreach initiatives focused on ocean energy. In the first component, the online application, supported by a friendly user-interface, will assess the optimized annual power output and array configuration for a user-specified geographic location and array perimeter. A more technical offline version targeted at WEC developers will also be made freely available. The second component will be achieved through interdisciplinary REU initiatives that target underrepresented groups and through the development of project-based learning modules, leveraging the proposed online assessment tools. This will motivate and empower the student participants to advance this research both within their profession and the public at large, thus propagating the broader impacts of this research.