Search results for " optimization."

Designing a Sustainable University Recharge Area for Electric Vehicles: Technical and Economic Analysis

2017

This article addresses the technical and economic challenges regarding the design of a “green” recharge area for electric vehicles at the University of Palermo in order to reduce costs and pollution connected to the charging process. Based on the behaviour of the student population, the electrical load is identified and two possible solutions are evaluated to manage the peak load: an orientation of the panels increasing the power at defined time and the use of a storage system. The main strength and weakness points of two systems are investigated by taking into account the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), which reaches 75.3 €/MWh for the orientation of panel and 103 €/MWh for the storage sy…

Proof of Concept of an Irradiance Estimation System for Reconfigurable Photovoltaic Arrays

2015

In order to reduce the mismatch effect caused by non-uniform shadows in PV arrays, reconfigurable interconnections approaches have been recently proposed in the literature. These systems usually require the knowledge of the solar radiation affecting every solar module. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of three irradiance estimation approaches in order to define which can be well suited for reconfigurable PV arrays. It is presented a real-time solar irradiance estimation device (IrradEst), implementing the three different estimation methods. The proposed system is based on mathematical models of PV modules enabling to estimate irradiation values by sensing a combination …

Evaluation of the Water Scarcity Energy Cost for Users

2013

Abstract: In systems experiencing water scarcity and consequent intermittent supply, users often adopt private tanks that collect water during service periods and supply users when the service is not available. The tank may be fed by gravity or by private pumping stations depending on the network pressure level. Once water resources are collected, the tank can supply users by gravity if it is located on the rooftop or by additional pumping if underground. Private tanks thus increase the energy cost of the water supply service for users by introducing several small pumping structures inside the network. The present paper aims to evaluate this users’ energy cost for different private tank con…

2013

Today, integration of supply networks (SNs) out of heterogeneous entities is quite challenging for industries. Individualized demands are getting continuously higher values in the global business and this fact forces traditional businesses for restructuring their organizations. In order to contribute to new performances in manufacturing networks, in this paper a collaborative approach is recommended out of modularity structure, cloud computing, and make-to-upgrade concept for improving flexibility as well as coordination of entities in networks. A cloud-based framework for inbound and outbound manufacturing is introduced for complying with the production of individualized products in the tu…

Slotted Blades Savonius Wind Turbine Analysis by CFD

2013

In this paper a new bucket configuration for a Savonius wind generator is proposed. Numerical analyses are performed to estimate the performances of the proposed configuration by means of the commercial code COMSOL Multiphysics® with respect to Savonius wind turbine with overlap only. Parametric analyses are performed, for a fixed overlap ratio, by varying the slot position; the results show that for slot positioned near the blade root, the Savonius rotor improves performances at low tip speed ratio, evidencing a better starting torque. This circumstance is confirmed by static analyses performed on the slotted blades in order to investigate the starting characteristic of the proposed Savoni…

Time-Optimal Synthesis for Three Relevant Problems: The Brockett Integrator, the Grushin Plane and the Martinet Distribution

2015

We construct the time-optimal synthesis for 3 problems that are linear in the control and with polytopic constraints in the controls. Namely, the Brockett integrator, the Grushin plane, and the Martinet distribution. The main purpose is to illustrate the steps in solving an optimal control problem and in particular the use of second order conditions. The Grushin and the Martinet case are particularly important: the first is the prototype of a rank-varying distribution, the second of a non-equiregular structure.

Composite nonlinear feedback control for path following of four-wheel independently actuated autonomous ground vehicles

2015

This paper studies the path following control problem for four-wheel independently actuated (FWIA) autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) through integrated control of active front-wheel steering (AFS) and direct yaw-moment control (DYC). A modified composite nonlinear feedback (CNF) strategy is proposed to improve the transient performance and eliminate the steady-state errors in the path following control considering the tire force saturations, in the presence of the time-varying road curvature for the desired path. The path following is achieved through vehicle lateral and yaw control, i.e., the lateral velocity and yaw rate are simultaneously controlled to track their respective desired valu…

Scalable and Privacy-Preserving Admission Control for Smart Grids

2015

International audience; Energy demand and production need to be constantly matched in the power grid. The traditional paradigm to continuously adapt the production to the demand is challenged by the increasing penetration of more variable and less predictable energy sources, like solar photovoltaics and wind power. An alternative approach is the so called direct control of some inherently flexible electric loads to shape the demand. Direct control of deferrable loads presents analogies with flow admission control in telecommunication networks: a request for network resources (bandwidth or energy) can be delayed on the basis of the current network status in order to guarantee some performanc…

Frequency stability in microgrid: control strategies and analysis of BESS aging effects

2016

In order to ensure a thorough analysis, all components placed in a microgrid would have to be considered to guarantee an effective energy management. To this aim, various algorithms are used both to preserve and restore power systems after significant disturbances. However, these models frequently do not evaluate components performance decline with the age and, consequently, they don't consider actual values during microgrid analysis, potentially affecting obtained results. In particular, evaluating energy storage systems aging and their effects has rarely been addressed in prior works. The present article proposes a model to maintain power system/microgrid stability after disturbances usin…

Design and optimization of bonded patch repairs of laminated composite structures

2015

International audience; The present study proposes a method for design optimization of external patched repairs. The tensile behavior of notched specimens with patched repair was studied using finite element analysis and compared with experimental results. It was found that high stress concentrations along the transverse edges of circular patches and/or at the longitudinal edges of the hole leads to early damage initiation in the parent plate. The damage initiation site and its propagation depend on the patch in-plane stiffness. The optimal patch design can be characterized by a strength ratio R*. The overall design of the patch repair can be considered using a dimensionless design paramete…