Linear wave energy converters generate intrinsically intermittent power with variable\nfrequency and amplitude. A composite energy storage system consisting of batteries and super\ncapacitors has been developed and controlled by buck-boost converters. The purpose of the\ncomposite energy storage system is to handle the fluctuations and intermittent characteristics of\nthe renewable source, and hence provide a steady output power. Linear wave energy converters\nworking in conjunction with a system composed of various energy storage devices, is considered as\na microsystem, which can function in a stand-alone or a grid connected mode. Simulation results\nhave shown that by applying a boost H-bridge and a composite energy storage system more power\ncould be extracted from linear wave energy converters. Simulation results have shown that the\nsuper capacitors charge and discharge often to handle the frequent power fluctuations, and the\nbatteries charge and discharge slowly for handling the intermittent power of wave energy converters.\nHardware systems have been constructed to control the linear wave energy converter and the\ncomposite energy storage system. The performance of the composite energy storage system has been\nverified in experiments by using electronics-based wave energy emulators.
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