Use of wave forecast for the regulation of ISWEC

The ISWEC (Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter) is a gyroscopic based WEC developed at the Politecnico di Torino. The system is composed of a sealed hull carrying a gyroscopic system connected to the PTO. The rocking motion of the hull is converted into an internal precession driving the PTO. In this work the “Wave to wire model” model of ISWEC is used together with the wave forecast information to optimize the algorithms of the ISWEC gyro control unit. The availability of the wave forecast is discussed in relation to the dynamics of acceleration of the gyroscope and the effect on the ISWEC productivity. The work is carried out referring to the parameters of the 100 kW full scale ISWEC demonstrator currently under deployment at the Island of Pantelleria and going to be operational by July 2015.