Control-Informed Optimal Array Layout for Wave Farms

Somewhat similar to wind farms, commercial wave energy will be realized using farms of devices. However, for wave farms, both constructive and destructive interference may occur between individual devices; whereas, for wind farms, only destructive interference occurs. In order to maximize constructive interference, the layout of the wave farm must be optimized. In addition, power absorption may be improved by applying a control system technology to the farm of devices. As with many applications, there is a tendency in wave energy to separate the design of the array layout from the design of an energy maximizing control system. In this paper, we show that integrating the activities of optimal array layout design and control design are crucial if the full potential of the wave farm is to be realized. In particular, we show that a layout optimized without knowledge of the control system to be used can be inferior to the extent of recovering 40% less energy than a farm layout optimized with knowledge of the control system. This loss is significantly more than the difference in performance between a simple and a very complex control strategy.