Bacelli, Giorgio and Gilloteaux, Jean-Christophe and Ringwood, John (2009) A predictive controller for a heaving buoy producing potable water. In: European Control Conference, ECC09, August 23-26 2009, Budapest, Hungary.

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Abstract

A model predictive controller for a wave-powered desalination unit is presented. The desalination unit is composed of a reverse osmosis membrane, and the water is pumped at high pressure through the membrane by a wave energy converter. The wave energy converter is a heaving buoy type connected to an hydraulic circuit that converts the oscillating motion of the buoy into a rectified sea-water flow at high pressure. The controller acts on a throttle valve to regulate the pressure in the reverse osmosis unit in order to avoid damage to the membrane caused by excessive pressure and to improve both its longevity and the overall efficiency of the device. The control is constrained due to the rate and position limits of the throttle valve and the recovery ratio, which is the ratio between the total amount of pumped sea-water and the potable water. The system is also switched and non-stationary because of the check valves used for the rectification of the sea-water flow and the variation of the excitation force dynamic over time, respectively. Results are presented using a nonlinear simulation model for the plant, using both monochromatic and real sea states.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	predictive controller; heaving buoy; potable water;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Electronic Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Centre for Ocean Energy Research
Item ID:	2129
Depositing User:	Professor John Ringwood
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2010 14:49
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the European Control Conference
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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