Simulation and experimental study of hydraulic cylinder in oscillating float-type wave energy converter

Hydraulic cylinders play a vital role in the energy output (PTO) system of an oscillating float-type wave Energy converter, whose function is to convert the mechanical energy captured by the float from the waves into hydraulic energy. The performance of the hydraulic cylinder determines the conversion efficiency of mechanical energy to hydraulic energy in the system; therefore, it is necessary to study the working mechanism of the hydraulic cylinder. This paper takes a self-developed oscillating float-type wave energy converter as the research object, and studies the working mechanism of its hydraulic cylinder, and uses the linear analysis method to derive the critical self-excited vibration curve of the hydraulic cylinder. In addition, the effects of the external load, hydraulic cylinder load mass, stroke length, spring stiffness and piston area on the performance of the hydraulic cylinder were studied by AMESim simulation software. According to the simulation results, a physical model of the hydraulic cylinder is established. Finally, the physical model is tested in a hydrodynamic pool. The test results show that the hydraulic cylinder can stably and efficiently convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy even under small waves, thus verifying the rationality of the hydraulic cylinder design.