A full scale linear generator for wave power has been experimentally evaluated by measuring the line force and translator position throughout the full translator stroke. The measured line force, in relation to translator speed, generator damping and stator overlap, has been studied by comparing the line force and the damping coefficient, $\mathsf{\gamma }$ , for multiple load cases along the translator stroke length. The study also compares the generator’s behavior during upward and downward motion, studies oscillations and determines the no load losses at two different speeds. The generator damping factor, $\mathsf{\gamma }$ , was determined for five different load cases during both upward and downward motion. The $\mathsf{\gamma }$ value was found to be constant for full stator overlap and to decrease linearly with a decreasing overlap, as the translator moved towards the endstops. The decline varied with the external load case, as previously suggested but not shown. In addition, during partial stator overlap, a higher $\mathsf{\gamma }$ value was noted as the translator was leaving the stator, compared to when it was entering the stator. Finally, new insights were gained regarding how translator weight and generator damping will affect the translator downward motion during offshore operation. This is important for power production and for avoiding damaging forces acting on the wave energy converter during operation.

This paper presents a study on how the power absorption and damping in a linear generator for wave energy conversion are affected by partial overlap between stator and translator. The theoretical study shows that the electrical power as well as the damping coefficient change quadratically with partial stator overlap, if inductance, friction and iron losses are assumed independent of partial stator overlap or can be neglected. Results from onshore experiments on a linear generator for wave energy conversion cannot reject the quadratic relationship. Measurements were done on the inductance of the linear generator and no dependence on partial stator overlap could be found. Simulations of the wave energy converter’s operation in high waves show that entirely neglecting partial stator overlap will overestimate the energy yield and underestimate the peak forces in the line between the buoy and the generator. The difference between assuming a linear relationship instead of a quadratic relationship is visible but small in the energy yield in the simulation. Since the theoretical deduction suggests a quadratic relationship, this is advisable to use during modeling. However, a linear assumption could be seen as an acceptable simplification when modeling since other relationships can be computationally costly.

Ocean can provide an inexhaustible amount of energy. Many marine energy converters have been developed but most of them have not surpassed the experimental phase due to the high costs in installation, operation, and maintenance. Since 2002 Uppsala University has developed and deployed several units of wave energy converters of various designs. The Uppsala University wave energy converter concept consists of a linear generator directly connected to a point absorber buoy that is mounted on a concrete gravity foundation. Uppsala University deployments have been carried out using different deployment vessels and methods. Three main methods were utilized for these deployments that are discussed in terms of cost, manpower, and time efficiency. Depending on the desired outcome—multiple- or single-device deployment, low budget, etc.—one of the proposed methods can be used for the optimal outcome.

In the development of ocean energy technologies, full-scale sea trials have proven technically challenging and expensive. As a contribution to the development of flexible, reliable, and affordable measurement systems for such sea trials, this paper presents and evaluates a portable data acquisition system. The system offers a cheap and flexible option for when and where signal infrastructure at site is not available. It is battery powered and consists of a sensor system and a logger unit. The sensor system is placed inside the object of study, which for this application is a wave power generator standing on the seafloor. The logger unit, which contains a logger with integrated data storage and a battery, is placed outside the object of study in a submersible and retrievable vessel. Sensor output is carried with 4–20-mA current signals between the sensor system and the logger, which makes the system directly compatible with a wide range of industrial sensors. For the specific setup implemented in this paper, the sensor system was used to measure voltage and current inside the generator. Beyond this, the system is designed to be adaptable for a wider range of sensors, with 16 individual signals and a sampling frequency up to 1 kHz. The custom logger is programmable and offers many options to apply different logging schedules and to limit the sensor system power supply accordingly. Evaluations show that the implemented system offers 5–22 weeks of 1-kHz and 16-b monitoring of 16 signals, depending on a chosen logging schedule. Suggestions are also given for how to raise the operation time up to 50 weeks. The system has been tested offshore for the collection of power production data from two wave energy converters, with good results.

This paper presents the design and testing of a measurement system for wave power generators. The work is part of a project to build a robust and cheap measurement system for offshore monitoring of wave power farms. Due to the harsh offshore environment, low accessibility and high cost for installation and maintenance, it is of key importance to minimize power consumption, complexity and cost of each measurement unit. For the first prototype, the objective was to measure voltage, current and translator position inside the linear wave power generator. For this, two printed circuit boards (PCBs) were developed, using a two wire current loop transmitter setup. They were tested separately and in a three phase setup inside a wave power generator during onshore tests. To ensure stability, speed and accuracy in the signal transfer, the PCBs were tested for linearity, frequency response and step response. In addition, power consumption was measured, for operational time evaluation. Results show good agreement between expected and measured performance, with an input range of ±1560 V and ±420 A for alternating current measurements and a bandwidth of 10 kHz and 7 kHz, for voltage and current measurements, respectively. The power consumption was measured to 0.5 W for each measurement unit, at 24 V feed.