ISWEC toward the sea - Development, Optimization and Testing of the Device Control Architecture

The work performed in this thesis is part of the ISWEC project. This is a floating device devoted to the conversion of the kinetic energy owned by the sea waves. The passage between a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 up to a TRL of 6 is covered. The existing numerical model has been revised, validated and upgraded. The experimental data used come both from previous collected data and both from the one gathered during a MARINET founded project in Hydraulics and Maritime Research Center (HMRC) in Cork, Ireland (2014). During the last year also the data coming from the full scale experiments in Pantelleria, Italy, (2015) has been processed. The design and implementation of the device Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system has been a relevant part of the doctorate activities. Several power harvesting control strategies for the ISWEC have been investigated and their productivity for the Pantelleria installation site computed. A comparison is presented. Some preliminary results of the 2015 experimental campaign are presented and a first comparison with the data obtained with the numerical models has been carried on

I processi a catalogo. L’ontologia storica e le sue implicazioni

Processes Under Cataloging: Historical Ontology and Its Consequences. This paper moves from the discussion about the debate on the nature and the tasks of ontology in last decades. Then, we focus on the research program that goes under the name of “Historical Ontology”, claiming that it poses the exigence of the articulation of a “ProcessMetaphysics”: an ontology which is able to give an account of the emergence of novelties in the world and of the transformation of things. Going in search of the possibility of such an ontology in the history of ontology, we suggest that it can be found in the perspective of the Stoicism. Thus, finally, we offer an interpretation of the Stoicism which is filtered by some contemporary readings and theories, and we highlight the ground features of a possible Process Metaphysics through the presentation of four main Stoicism’s topics: Logic, Physics, Language, and Ethics

Wave Tank Testing of a Pendulum Wave Energy Converter 1:12 Scale Model

Wave Energy is a widespread, reliable renewable energy source. The early study on Wave Energy dates back in the 70's, with a particular effort in the last and present decade to make Wave Energy Converters (WECs) more profitable and predictable. The PeWEC (Pendulum Wave Energy Converter) is a pendulum-based WEC. The research activities described in the present work aim to develop a pendulum converter for the Mediterranean Sea, where waves are shorter, thus with a higher frequency compared to the ocean waves, a characteristic well agreeing with the PeWEC frequency response. The mechanical equations of the device are developed and coupled with the hydrodynamic Cummins equation. The work deals with the design and experimental tank test of a 1:12 scale prototype. The experimental data recorded during the testing campaign are used to validate the numerical model previously described. The numerical model proved to be in good agreement with the experiments

Elettropneumatica per l'articolazione dell'anca

L'articolo descrive una modellazione di tutore atto alla neuroriabilitazione robotizzata. In particolare è stato modellizzato il controllo e l'articolazione dell'anca. Sono stati confrontati alcuni risultati sperimentali con alcuni risultati teorici e i primi risultati sono buon

Elettropneumatica per l’articolazione dell’anca

L’articolo descrive una modellazione di tutore atto alla neuroriabilitazione robotizzata. In particolare è stato modellizzato il controllo e l’articolazione dell’anca. Sono stati confrontati alcuni risultati sperimentali con alcuni risultati teorici e i primi risultati sono buoni

Tuning a linear quadratic regulator for point absorber wave energy converters

A Wave Energy Converter deployed in Italy uses Proportional—Derivative control to optimise its Power Take-Off system. Different controllers were obtained for different sea states, but this cumbersome process takes a long time. This paper explores the alternative possibility of a time invariant control law (a Linear Quadratic Regulator) based upon optimal control theory, relying upon simulations of a simpler heaving point absorber

ISWEC linear quadratic regulator oscillating control

Wave energy is one of the most promising technologies for the future of renewable energy. Its steady, even if not dashing, development, both in theoretical and applied solutions, will bring the field, in the mid-term, to the point of being a viable, economical and sustainable technology, competitive when compared to more mature ones. This paper deals with the ISWEC (Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter) power take off (PTO) technology and control strategies. In particular it focuses on the control strategy used for harnessing energy during its first deployment, and presents the development of a new controller designed using optimal control theory. The approach to the problem of this work is not to seek for the theoretical optimal control strategy. In fact, during the test period of the ISWEC into the sea, limitations of a model-optimized control strategy came out, due to well known shortcomings of hydrodynamics modeling theory for wave energy devices, and the idea of an easy-to-tune in the field controller arose. This work points out in the direction of developing a practical and effective strategy for industrial application, with the main objective of increasing the power production while simplifying the control law by which the device harnesses energy