Sandia rolls out WEC design optimisation tool

Sandia National Laboratories has developed an open-source MATLAB Toolbox for wave energy converter (WEC) design optimization studies.

The WecOptTool allows users to perform wave energy converter (WEC) device design optimization studies while including different control strategies.

In particular, this tool’s key feature is the usage of a pseudo spectral solution method capable of dealing with both constraints and nonlinear dynamics.

This allows for the optimzation study to find the best possible power capture performance within the system constraints.

The initial release of the WecOptTool allows the user to perform design optimization studies on the Reference Model 3 point absorber, an open source WEC design used to benchmark marine energy technology performance and costs.

Subsequent releases will provide a generalized framework that enables users to consider other types of WECs.

Data Only Greater has supported Sandia in the development of WecOptTool.

The developers also benefited from past collaborations with the Oregon State University Design Engineering Lab.

Sandia is a multiprogram engineering and science laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia.

It is also one of three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories in the United States.

The Sandia Wave Energy Power Take-off (SWEPT) Lab tests wave energy converter power take-off (PTO) systems.

It is a mobile system that can test wave energy power take-offs at the most convenient location.