Abstract: Assessing the performance of the power generation system of a wave power generation device accurately before being deployed is important for its development. Two ways to achieve this aim are computer simulation and wave tank test or open sea test. Computer simulation deeply relies on the accuracy of the mathematical model, while wave tank test or open sea test costs largely, and the test results obtained by using a small-scale model sometimes cannot represent those of the prototype. To tackle this problem, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation platform that can replicate the action of waves is studied. The real power generation system is inserted in the simulation loop, and a hydraulic power pack system is used to reproduce the wave-induced motion of the rafts. Thus, the performance of the power generation system can be assessed before the device being deployed in the absence of wave tank or open sea environment. To verify the feasibility of the HIL scheme, a HIL simulation test rig is designed and manufactured for the raft-type wave power generation device based on China Sea states. On this basis, the tracking ability of the hydraulic power pack system and the performance of the power generation system are studied. Results show that the hydraulic power pack system can replicate the wave-induced relative pitch motion of the rafts, and the test results obtained in the HIL simulation test rig can reflect the performance of the power generation system. It is found to offer a reasonably realistic and relatively inexpensive approach to simulate wave power generation and assess the performance of its power generation system.

Key words: wave energy, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, power generation system, hydraulic power pack system