Symmetrical duty cycle control for FCSC converter for wave energy applications

Wave energy converters generally suffer from a low operating power factor due to the nature of the long wavelength water wave and the inductance of the electrical generator employed in the conversion process. A Forced Commutated Series Capacitor (FCSC) converter can be connected between the generator and the load circuit to prevent power factor degradation. This paper describes the effectiveness of a new FCSC control strategy developed for operation at low and variable frequencies corresponding to the nature of the water waves. Simulation results show that the proposed symmetrical duty cycle control strategy is capable of maintaining almost unity power factor over the required frequency range.