Work

Control and Flume Flow Experiments of a Tidal Current Energy Converter With an Infinitely Variable Transmission

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper presents a flume flow experimental investigation of operational performances of a tidal current energy converter (TCEC) with a horizontal-axis tidal turbine (HATT) and an infinitely variable transmission (IVT). A closed-loop speed ratio controller of the IVT is developed to continuously adjust its speed ratio with variable water speeds for a desired constant output speed. Flume flow testing of the TCEC is performed to test validity of the speed ratio controller of the IVT with different water speed conditions. Experimental results show that the speed ratio controller can achieve good control performances with the tracking error less than 2.56% for the given desired output speed. Speed fluctuations of the output speed caused by variable water speeds and turbine turbulence are reduced by more than 91.06% via the continuously varied speed ratio of the IVT and its speed ratio controller. Good operational performances of the IVT can ensure optimal arrangements of operational torques and rotation speeds in the drivetrain of the TCEC with optimal speed ratios under low-speed and high-torque operational conditions.

Source: IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics

DOI: 10.1109/tmech.2024.3398534

Authors: Gang Li, Weidong Zhu

Institutions: Mississippi State University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Language: English

Topic: Wave and Wind Energy Systems

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Science Foundation