WecOptTool

The WEC Design Optimization MATLAB Toolbox (WecOptTool) allows users to perform wave energy converter (WEC) device design optimization studies while including different control strategies. In particular, this tool’s key feature is the usage of a pseudo spectral solution method capable of dealing with both constraints and nonlinear dynamics. This allows for the optimization study to find the best possible power capture performance within the system constraints (e.g., maximum power take-off force).

Applications of WecOptTool include design optimization studies of the WaveBot point absorber and RM3 point absorber (see the Optimizing an Existing WEC Model section for further details). These examples illustrate how WecOptTool can be applied to arbitrary devices of the user’s choosing (see the WEC Model Architecture section).

Developers

WecOptTool is developed by Sandia National Laboratories, with support from Data Only Greater. The developers would also like to acknowledge benefit from past collaborations with the Oregon State University Design Engineering Lab.

User Guide

• 1. Setup
• 2. Optimizing an Existing WEC Model
• 3. WEC Model Architecture
• 4. Citing WecOptTool
• 5. Resources
• 6. API
• 7. License
• 8. References

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.