Sizing Optimization Methodology of a Surface Permanent Magnet Machine-Converter System Over a Torque-Speed Operating Profile: Application to a Wave Energy Converter

This paper sets forth a sizing optimization methodology of a surface permanent magnet machine-converter system over a torque-speed operating profile. The two optimization objectives are to minimize the cost of the machine-converter system and to minimize (or maximize) electrical energy consumption (or generation). The optimization parameters serve to describe both the machine geometry and the electrical ratings of the electronic power converter. Each operating point of the profile is treated independently, and current control is optimized at every operating point to not only minimize machine drive losses but also satisfy several constraints and then implicitly considering flux-weakening possibility. This optimization methodology is generic and is applied to a particular case: a direct-drive conversion chain for a wave energy converter (WEC). We show that taking into account both the sizing parameters of the converter and the flux-weakening control, in addition to the classical sizing parameters of the machine, has a strong impact on the machine-converter system optimal results. Moreover, the strong coupling with the WEC through damping parameters plays also a crucial role on the sizing results.