WECfarm dataset: Experimental modelling of an array of two wave energy converters at the wave basin of Aalborg University

The presented dataset covers the experimental modelling of a row of two ‘WECfarm’ heaving point absorber wave energy converters (WECs) at the wave basin of Aalborg University (AAU).

The dataset is linked to the following article, which covers the description:

Vervaet, T., Quartier, N., Carpintero Moreno, E., Verao Fernandez, G., Ferri, F., Stratigaki, V., Troch, P., 2024.
System identification and centralised causal impedance matching control of a row of two heaving point absorber wave energy converters.
Ocean Engineering 309, 118399. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801824017372, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.118399.

The ‘WECfarm’ dataset directory is structured in two folders.

The 01_𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘_𝐿𝑜𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 folder contains the .mat files corresponding to each test. The name of the .mat file starts with the unique test identification number 𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑡_𝐼𝐷, followed by additional test type related descriptive info, and the start time of the test in the format year–month–day–hour–minutes–seconds, as retrieved from the Speedgoat target machine. The .mat file can be opened in MATLAB, or alternatively, these files can be opened and analysed in other analysis tools, as for example Simulink Data Inspector, Python, or Marple. Within the .mat file structure, the logged signals can be retrieved as timeseries with a timestep of 0.001 s, by using their unique MATLAB assigned index. The signal name starts with a reference to WEC A or WEC B, followed by a numbering, and description of the signal.

The 02_𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑆𝑦𝑠_𝐿𝑜𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 folder contains the AwaSys wave generation input and output files from the AAU AwaSys PC. The name of the file start with the 𝑇𝑒𝑠𝑡_𝐼𝐷, followed by a description of the wave in the format wave height-wave period. The wave generation input files ‘.aws’ are re-used for multiple tests, allowing replay of identical wave trains. The wave gauge file ‘.awg’ contains the measured surface elevations at the 30 wave paddles as used for active absorption. The modified demand file ‘.awd’ contains the modified steering signals, including mechanical transfer, active absorption correction, and clipping (Meinert et al., 2017).