A framework for the assessment of the maximum convertible power of wave energy converters with an all-electric power take-off

In this paper we investigate the joint impact of loss factors of both mechanical and electrical nature on the theoretical maximum performance of a wave energy converter (WEC) with an all-electric power take off (PTO) system, subject to different control strategies and operational constraints. Despite resorting to a simple mathematical formulation, we can identify the limiting factors of the PTO system at preliminary design stages, thus gaining useful insights for its final selection and/or optimization. We extend our analysis to modular PTO configurations consisting of multiple generators working in parallel, considering different approaches to the system upscaling. By assessing the relative weight of different loss terms, we highlight the relevance of early evaluations of the WEC-PTO maximum power performance to achieve an informed and effective design of the system.