Centralised model predictive controller design for wave energy converter arrays

Many recent works on wave energy conversion use a form of model predictive control (MPC) to maximise energy harvest. This active control strategy is generally used because it permits the inclusion of constraints that represent the physical limits of wave energy conversion devices in the optimisation algorithm. In this study, the authors present a centralised MPC design for an array configuration of wave energy converters. Its performance is evaluated via computer simulation and is compared against that of decentralised MPC and linear damping controller for several values of damping in both regular and irregular waves.