Wave power extraction with constrained power take-off: Single capture vs. double capture point absorbers

This paper aims at quantifying how the power extraction assessment of a point absorber with an all-electric Power Take-Off (PTO) is affected by taking into account the real constraints due to the limited rating of the PTO. The two different cases of single-capture and double-capture point absorbers are analysed and directly compared, which are both relevant for practical applications in the wave energy industry. Moreover, a simplified control strategy is considered for the point absorber, which is based on a constant torque reference. The performance of the considered wave energy converter (WEC) is first evaluated in selected sea states and then the analysis is extended to assess the impact of the different solutions on the expected yearly wave energy production of the point absorber, when deployed at a specific location. The European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) is selected as a target site for such analysis.