Power collection array for improved wave farm output based on reduced matrix converters

This paper suggests and explores an alternative power electronics interface solution for Wave Energy Converters (WECs) based on series DC power collection. The proposed solution is based on a reduced matrix converter linked to a high frequency transformer and a full bridge rectifier, reducing in this way the conversion stages and switching losses with respect to traditional approaches. The improvement wave farm output is investigated based on both, improved power extraction by the suggested power electronics interface and a smoothing technique. The smoothing technique is based on spatial distribution of the WECs in the sea with respect to the wave front. The improved power extraction is due to the improved efficiency of the direct AC-AC conversion with the reduced matrix converter. In addition, improved reliability and compactness of the equipment can be obtained, which are valuable advantages for offshore applications. Wave farm arrays excited by an ideal sinusoidal sea wave are modelled in PSIM and Matlab to show the consequent pulsating nature of extracted power. The effect of the smoothing technique is investigated and its impact on required energy storage addressed. Simulations results indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solution are presented to discuss the feasibility of a practical implementation.