The scalable power design of the SeaRAY uses Vicor BCM fixed-ratio bus converters and PRM regulator modules with complex multistage discrete converters to efficiently convert turbulent, unpredictable wave energy and provide controlled power. ![]() The batteries are there to supply power to the onboard equipment in case of calm water and no waves. This process allows for high peak power conversion to supply energy to loads, including a small amount of power for the AOPS wave energy converter (WEC) supervisory control and data acquisition system. The power from the buoy can be used for any application. The energy from the capacitors is used to maintain a charge on the batteries and power auxiliary buoy systems. The power supply converts the energy from the generator and feeds a continuously varying current into a large bank of super capacitors. ![]() The SeaRAY power conversion technology is from Vicor Corp. This included an ultra-wide 30:1 input range, which reflects the unpredictable nature of ocean waves. Using power modules Vicor developed a power delivery network that improved the SeaRAY conversion efficiency from 50% to over 90%. SeaRAY uses the Vicor BCM fixed-ratio bus converter and PRM regulator modules with complex multistage discrete converters to efficiently convert wave energy and provide controlled power. The key power design challenge for C-Power was to reconcile complex ocean wave energy properties with the demanding power conversion requirements of the SeaRAY. The electrical power, voltage and current, is converted to usable energy via power electronics and energy storage. The bigger the wave, the larger the amplitude of the voltage envelope and the larger swing in frequency. The resultant voltage coming out of the generator has a continuously varying amplitude at a continuously varying frequency. This process is cyclical with the stochastic waves. Then it decelerates, stops, and repeats for each wave. This motion causes the generator to turn, accelerating rotationally to some max RPM. The velocity of the arms increases from zero to some peak (based on wave size). The SeaRAY design makes remote, autonomous data communications possible by sending information from the ocean to the cloud.Īt the top and bottom of the wave motion, the generator is not moving. The arms are mechanically coupled to an electric generator. The bigger the wave, the higher the power pulse. Waves move the arms up and down creating relative motion between the float and body of the buoy. Now, the SeaRAY device generates power from waves by acting like a large buoy with arms. SeaRAY replaces electric tethers fed from a ship or diesel generator that have historically powered underwater vehicles, subsea operating equipment and open-ocean sensors. Its systems provide kilowatt-scale power for offshore data communications networks and were initially devised through a Darpa project called Wave Energy Buoy Systems (WEBS).Ĭ-Power’s latest AOPS device is called the SeaRAY. The C-Power SeaRAY.Īn example comes from Columbia Power Technologies, Inc. These converters are most commonly used.Efficient power conversion technology now makes buoy systems practical for powering real-world devices.Īutonomous offshore power systems (AOPS) now capture mechanical wave energy and convert it into usable power for a wide range of oceanic applications such as offshore oil and gas exploration and production, offshore carbon sequestration, oceanographic research, aquaculture and homeland defense. Cost and size of these converters are low. There is no need of intergroup reactors because only one converter is working at a time. This type of operation is known as blocking mode operation and the converters which use this method of operation are termed as blocking mode cycloconverters. During the negative load current, the negative converter will provide the necessary voltage and at that time, the negative converter will be in the blocked condition. At that time, the negative converter will be in the blocked condition. Here, the positive converter will provide the necessary voltage when there is positive load current. Circulating current Cycloconverters Blocking Mode Cycloconverters.There are two main types of cycloconverters: Microcontroller or DSP or microprocessor is used in control circuits. The implementation of the control circuit is complicated due to a large number of SCRs ( Silicon Controlled Rectifiers). ![]() There are no DC stages in between this conversion process. Normally, the output frequency is less than the input frequency. Hence it is also known as a frequency changer. The cycloconverter converts AC to AC whilst changing only the frequency.
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