Adaptive Wave Energy Control for Reliable Marine Sensor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power technologies for offshore marine sensors, such as solar panels, batteries, and diesel generators, are inadequate due to cost, maintenance requirements, reliability, and power duration issues, particularly in remote locations with harsh environments, leading to intermittent and unreliable energy supply.
Innovation Solution
A wave energy converter system with adaptive control using machine learning to optimize energy capture across varying wave conditions, combining mechanical energy capture systems with solar power and battery storage to provide reliable and efficient power to marine sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solar panels and wind turbines are used for power generation, then renewable energy is provided, but intermittency and high seasonality occur leading to unreliable power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wave energy converter systems with solar panels and battery storage systems to create a hybrid power generation system. This merging of multiple energy sources compensates for the intermittency of individual sources, ensuring continuous and reliable power supply to marine sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave energy converter employs adaptive control mechanisms that dynamically adjust operational parameters based on real-time wave conditions. This dynamic adaptation optimizes energy capture across varying wave states, ensuring consistent power generation despite environmental variability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If diesel generators are used for power generation, then sufficient power duration is provided, but maintenance requirements increase and operational costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The wave energy converter system is designed for autonomous operation with adaptive control that automatically adjusts to environmental conditions without human intervention. The system includes self-monitoring and self-regulation capabilities, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance commissions and reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical diesel generator systems with a wave energy conversion system that utilizes natural wave motion to drive generators. This substitution eliminates fuel requirements and reduces maintenance needs associated with combustion engines while providing continuous power generation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If batteries are used for power storage, then power duration is extended, but vulnerability to cold temperature and harsh ocean environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges wave energy generation with solar power and battery storage in a hybrid configuration. The diverse energy sources complement each other, with wave energy providing baseline power and solar providing supplemental power, reducing the burden on battery systems and improving overall reliability in harsh environments.
4Productivity
If wave energy converter parameters are fixed, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy capture efficiency decreases under varying wave conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The wave energy converter employs adaptive control mechanisms that dynamically adjust operational parameters based on real-time wave conditions. This dynamic adaptation optimizes energy capture across varying wave states, ensuring consistent power generation despite environmental variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control where sensors monitor wave conditions and system performance, and the controller adjusts operational parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control optimizes energy capture efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through algorithmic decision-making.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides consistent and low-maintenance power generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering operational costs by efficiently converting wave energy into electrical energy, even in dynamic marine environments.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical energy capture system is configured to convert the independent pivoting of the plurality of arm assemblies around the pivots to electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
A wave energy capture system deployed in water converts mechanical motion induced by waves in the water to electrical energy. A controller of the wave energy capture system receives input regarding real-time wave conditions in a vicinity of the wave energy capture system. The controller applies a control model to the received input to select a value of a control parameter for the wave energy capture system, where the control model includes a model that has been trained using machine learning to take wave condition data as input and to output control parameter values selected based on the wave condition data in order to increase an amount of energy captured by the wave energy capture system. The controller implements the selected value of the control parameter on the wave energy capture system.