Hybrid Dynamic Modelling of Engine Emissions on Multi-Physics Simulation Platform. A Framework Combining Dynamic and Statistical Modelling to Develop Surrogate Models of System of Internal Combustion Engine for Emission Modelling

The data-driven models used for the design of powertrain controllers are typically based on the data obtained from steady-state experiments. However, they are only valid under stable conditions and do not provide any information on the dynamic behaviour of the system. In order to capture this behaviour, dynamic modelling techniques are intensively studied to generate alternative solutions for engine mapping and calibration problem, aiming to address the need to increase productivity (reduce development time) and to develop better models for the actual behaviour of the engine under real-world conditions. In this thesis, a dynamic modelling approach is presented undertaken for the prediction of NOx emissions for a 2.0 litre Diesel engine, based on a coupled pre-validated virtual Diesel engine model (GT- Suite ® 1-D air path model) and in-cylinder combustion model (CMCL ® Stochastic Reactor Model Engine Suite). In the context of the considered Engine Simulation Framework, GT Suite + Stochastic Reactor Model (SRM), one fundamental problem is to establish a real time stochastic simulation capability. This problem can be addressed by replacing the slow combustion chemistry solver (SRM) with an appropriate NOx surrogate model. The approach taken in this research for the development of this surrogate model was based on a combination of design of dynamic experiments run on the virtual diesel engine model (GT- Suite), with a dynamic model fitted for the parameters required as input to the SRM, with a zonal design of experiments (DoEs), using Optimal Latin Hypercubes (OLH), run on the SRM model. A response surface model was fitted on the predicted NOx from the SRM OLH DoE data. This surrogate NOx model was then used to replace the computationally expensive SRM simulation, enabling real-time simulations of transient drive cycles to be executed. The performance of the approach was validated on a simulated NEDC drive cycle, against experimental data collected for the engine case study. The capability of methodology to capture the transient trends of the system shows promising results and will be used for the development of global surrogate prediction models for engine-out emissions

Automation and Control Architecture for Hybrid Pipeline Robots

The aim of this research project, towards the automation of the Hybrid Pipeline Robot (HPR), is the development of a control architecture and strategy, based on reconfiguration of the control strategy for speed-controlled pipeline operations and self-recovering action, while performing energy and time management. The HPR is a turbine powered pipeline device where the flow energy is converted to mechanical energy for traction of the crawler vehicle. Thus, the device is flow dependent, compromising the autonomy, and the range of tasks it can perform. The control strategy proposes pipeline operations supervised by a speed control, while optimizing the energy, solved as a multi-objective optimization problem. The states of robot cruising and self recovering, are controlled by solving a neuro-dynamic programming algorithm for energy and time optimization, The robust operation of the robot includes a self-recovering state either after completion of the mission, or as a result of failures leading to the loss of the robot inside the pipeline, and to guaranteeing the HPR autonomy and operations even under adverse pipeline conditions Two of the proposed models, system identification and tracking system, based on Artificial Neural Networks, have been simulated with trial data. Despite the satisfactory results, it is necessary to measure a full set of robot’s parameters for simulating the complete control strategy. To solve the problem, an instrumentation system, consisting on a set of probes and a signal conditioning board, was designed and developed, customized for the HPR’s mechanical and environmental constraints. As a result, the contribution of this research project to the Hybrid Pipeline Robot is to add the capabilities of energy management, for improving the vehicle autonomy, increasing the distances the device can travel inside the pipelines; the speed control for broadening the range of operations; and the self-recovery capability for improving the reliability of the device in pipeline operations, lowering the risk of potential loss of the robot inside the pipeline, causing the degradation of pipeline performance. All that means the pipeline robot can target new market sectors that before were prohibitive

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

531 s.

Друга міжнародна конференція зі сталого майбутнього: екологічні, технологічні, соціальні та економічні питання (ICSF 2021). Кривий Ріг, Україна, 19-21 травня 2021 року

Second International Conference on Sustainable Futures: Environmental, Technological, Social and Economic Matters (ICSF 2021). Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, May 19-21, 2021.Друга міжнародна конференція зі сталого майбутнього: екологічні, технологічні, соціальні та економічні питання (ICSF 2021). Кривий Ріг, Україна, 19-21 травня 2021 року

Development of solid oxide fuel cell stack models for monitoring, diagnosis and control applications

2011 - 2012In the present thesis different SOFC stack models have been presented. The results shown were obtained in the general framework of the GENIUS project (GEneric diagNosis Instrument for SOFC systems), funded by the European Union (grant agreement n° 245128). The objective of the project is to develop “generic” diagnostic tools and methodologies for SOFC systems. The “generic” term refers to the flexibility of diagnosis tools to be adapted to different SOFC systems. In order to achieve the target of the project and to develop stack models suitable for monitoring, control and diagnosis applications for SOFC systems, different modeling approaches have been proposed. Particular attention was given to their implementability into computational tools for on-board use. In this thesis one-dimensional (1-D), grey-box and blackbox stack models, both stationary and dynamic were developed. The models were validated with experimental data provided by European partners in the frame of the GENIUS project. A 1-D stationary model of a planar SOFC in co-flow and counter-flow configurations was presented. The model was developed starting from a 1- D model proposed by the University of Salerno for co-flow configuration (Sorrentino, 2006). The model was cross-validated with similar models developed by the University of Genoa and by the institute VTT. The crossvalidation results underlined the suitability of the 1-D model developed. A possible application of the 1-D model for the estimation of stack degradation was presented. The results confirmed the possibility to implement such a model for fault detection. A lumped gray-box model for the simulation of TOPSOE stack thermal dynamics was developed for the SOFC stack of TOPSOE, whose experimental data were made available in the frame of the GENIUS project. Particular attention was given to the problem of heat flows between stack and surrounding and a dedicated model was proposed. The black-box approach followed for the implementation of the heat flows and its reliability and accuracy was shown to be satisfactory for the purpose of its applications. The procedure adopted turned out to be fast and applicable to other SOFC stacks with different geometries and materials. The good results obtained and the limited calculation time make this model suitable for implementation in diagnostic tools. Another field of application is that of virtual sensors for stack temperature control. Black-box models for SOFC stack were also developed. In particular, a stationary Neural Network for the simulation of the HEXIS stack voltage was developed. The analyzed system was a 5-cells stack operated up to 10 thousand hours at constant load. The neural network exhibited very good prediction accuracy, even for systems with different technology from the one used for training the model. Beyond showing excellent prediction capabilities, the NN ensured high accuracy in well reproducing evolution of degradation in SOFC stacks, especially thanks to the inclusion of time among model inputs. Moreover, a Recurrent Neural Network for dynamic simulation of TOPSOE stack voltage and a similar one for a short stack built by HTc and tested by VTT were developed. The stacks analyzed were: a planar co-flow SOFC stack (TOPSOE) and a planar counter-flow SOFC stack (VTT-HTc). All models developed in this thesis have shown high accuracy and computation times that allow them to be implemented into diagnostic and control tool both for off-line (1-D model and grey-box) and for on-line (NN and RNNs) applications. It is important noting that the models were developed with reference to stacks produced by different companies. This allowed the evaluation of different SOFC technologies, thus obtaining useful information in the models development. The information underlined the critical aspects of these systems with regard to the measurements and control of some system variables, giving indications for the stack models development. The proposed modeling approaches are good candidates to address emerging needs in fuel cell development and on-field deployment, such as the opportunity of developing versatile model-based tools capable to be generic enough for real-time control and diagnosis of different fuel cell systems typologies, technologies and power scales. [edited by author]XI n.s

Design of a shape memory alloy actuator for soft wearable robots

Soft robotics represents a paradigm shift in the design of conventional robots; while the latter are designed as monolithic structures, made of rigid materials and normally composed of several stiff joints, the design of soft robots is based on the use of deformable materials such as polymers, fluids or gels, resulting in a biomimetic design that replicates the behavior of organic tissues. The introduction of this design philosophy into the field of wearable robots has transformed them from rigid and cumbersome devices into something we could call exo-suits or exo-musculatures: motorized, lightweight and comfortable clothing-like devices. If one thinks of the ideal soft wearable robot (exoskeleton) as a piece of clothing in which the actuation system is fully integrated into its fabrics, we consider that that existing technologies currently used in the design of these devices do not fully satisfy this premise. Ultimately, these actuation systems are based on conventional technologies such as DC motors or pneumatic actuators, which due to their volume and weight, prevent a seamless integration into the structure of the soft exoskeleton. The aim of this thesis is, therefore, to design of an actuator that represents an alternative to the technologies currently used in the field of soft wearable robotics, after having determined the need for an actuator for soft exoskeletons that is compact, flexible and lightweight, while also being able to produce the force required to move the limbs of a human user. Since conventional actuation technologies do not allow the design of an actuator with the required characteristics, the proposed actuator design has been based on so-called emerging actuation technologies, more specifically, on shape memory alloys (SMA). The mechanical design of the actuator is based on the Bowden transmission system. The SMA wire used as the transducer of the actuator has been routed into a flexible sheath, which, in addition to being easily adaptable to the user's body, increases the actuation bandwidth by reducing the cooling time of the SMA element by 30 %. At its nominal operating regime, the actuator provides an output displacement of 24 mm and generates a force of 64 N. Along with the actuator, a thermomechanical model of its SMA transducer has been developed to simulate its complex behavior. The developed model is a useful tool in the design process of future SMA-based applications, accelerating development ix time and reducing costs. The model shows very few discrepancies with respect to the behavior of a real wire. In addition, the model simulates characteristic phenomena of these alloys such as thermal hysteresis, including internal hysteresis loops and returnpoint memory, the dependence between transformation temperatures and applied force, or the effects of latent heat of transformation on the wire heating and cooling processes. To control the actuator, the use of a non-linear control technique called four-term bilinear proportional-integral-derivative controller (BPID) is proposed. The BPID controller compensates the non-linear behavior of the actuator caused by the thermal hysteresis of the SMA. Compared to the operation of two other implemented controllers, the BPID controller offers a very stable and robust performance, minimizing steady-state errors and without the appearance of limit cycles or other effects associated with the control of these alloys. To demonstrate that the proposed actuator together with the BPID controller are a valid solution for implementing the actuation system of a soft exoskeleton, both developments have been integrated into a real soft hand exoskeleton, designed to provide force assistance to astronauts. In this case, in addition to using the BPID controller to control the position of the actuators, it has been applied to the control of the assistive force provided by the exoskeleton. Through a simple mechanical multiplication mechanism, the actuator generates a linear displacement of 54 mm and a force of 31 N, thus fulfilling the design requirements imposed by the application of the exoskeleton. Regarding the control of the device, the BPID controller is a valid control technique to control both the position and the force of a soft exoskeleton using an actuation system based on the actuator proposed in this thesis.La robótica flexible (soft robotics) ha supuesto un cambio de paradigma en el diseño de robots convencionales; mientras que estos consisten en estructuras monolíticas, hechas de materiales duros y normalmente compuestas de varias articulaciones rígidas, el diseño de los robots flexibles se basa en el uso de materiales deformables como polímeros, fluidos o geles, resultando en un diseño biomimético que replica el comportamiento de los tejidos orgánicos. La introducción de esta filosofía de diseño en el campo de los robots vestibles (wearable robots) ha hecho que estos pasen de ser dispositivos rígidos y pesados a ser algo que podríamos llamar exo-trajes o exo-musculaturas: prendas de vestir motorizadas, ligeras y cómodas. Si se piensa en el robot vestible (exoesqueleto) flexible ideal como una prenda de vestir en la que el sistema de actuación está totalmente integrado en sus tejidos, consideramos que las tecnologías existentes que se utilizan actualmente en el diseño de estos dispositivos no satisfacen plenamente esta premisa. En última instancia, estos sistemas de actuaci on se basan en tecnologías convencionales como los motores de corriente continua o los actuadores neumáticos, que debido a su volumen y peso, hacen imposible una integraci on completa en la estructura del exoesqueleto flexible. El objetivo de esta tesis es, por tanto, el diseño de un actuador que suponga una alternativa a las tecnologias actualmente utilizadas en el campo de los exoesqueletos flexibles, tras haber determinado la necesidad de un actuador para estos dispositivos que sea compacto, flexible y ligero, y que al mismo tiempo sea capaz de producir la fuerza necesaria para mover las extremidades de un usuario humano. Dado que las tecnologías de actuación convencionales no permiten diseñar un actuador de las características necesarias, se ha optado por basar el diseño del actuador propuesto en las llamadas tecnologías de actuación emergentes, en concreto, en las aleaciones con memoria de forma (SMA). El diseño mecánico del actuador está basado en el sistema de transmisión Bowden. El hilo de SMA usado como transductor del actuador se ha introducido en una funda flexible que, además de adaptarse facilmente al cuerpo del usuario, aumenta el ancho de banda de actuación al reducir un 30 % el tiempo de enfriamiento del elemento SMA. En su régimen nominal de operaci on, el actuador proporciona un desplazamiento de salida de 24 mm y genera una fuerza de 64 N. Además del actuador, se ha desarrollado un modelo termomecánico de su transductor SMA que permite simular su complejo comportamiento. El modelo desarrollado es una herramienta útil en el proceso de diseño de futuras aplicaciones basadas en SMA, acelerando el tiempo de desarrollo y reduciendo costes. El modelo muestra muy pocas discrepancias con respecto al comportamiento de un hilo real. Además, es capaz de simular fenómenos característicos de estas aleaciones como la histéresis térmica, incluyendo los bucles internos de histéresis y la memoria de puntos de retorno (return-point memory), la dependencia entre las temperaturas de transformacion y la fuerza aplicada, o los efectos del calor latente de transformación en el calentamiento y el enfriamiento del hilo. Para controlar el actuador, se propone el uso de una t ecnica de control no lineal llamada controlador proporcional-integral-derivativo bilineal de cuatro términos (BPID). El controlador BPID compensa el comportamiento no lineal del actuador causado por la histéresis térmica del SMA. Comparado con el funcionamiento de otros dos controladores implementados, el controlador BPID ofrece un rendimiento muy estable y robusto, minimizando el error de estado estacionario y sin la aparición de ciclos límite u otros efectos asociados al control de estas aleaciones. Para demostrar que el actuador propuesto junto con el controlador BPID son una soluci on válida para implementar el sistema de actuación de un exoesqueleto flexible, se han integrado ambos desarrollos en un exoesqueleto flexible de mano real, diseñado para proporcionar asistencia de fuerza a astronautas. En este caso, además de utilizar el controlador BPID para controlar la posición de los actuadores, se ha aplicado al control de la fuerza proporcionada por el exoesqueleto. Mediante un simple mecanismo de multiplicación mecánica, el actuador genera un desplazamiento lineal de 54 mm y una fuerza de 31 N, cumpliendo así con los requisitos de diseño impuestos por la aplicación del exoesqueleto. Respecto al control del dispositivo, el controlador BPID es una técnica de control válida para controlar tanto la posición como la fuerza de un exoesqueleto flexible que use un sistema de actuación basado en el actuador propuesto en esta tesis.Programa de Doctorado en Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y Automática por la Universidad Carlos III de MadridPresidente: Fabio Bonsignorio.- Secretario: Concepción Alicia Monje Micharet.- Vocal: Elena García Armad