H 2 production based on RDG and assisted by a weak grid: System topology, operation and control

The Renewable Distributed Generation (RDG), such as production of electricity in the vicinity of the load, it is particularly beneficial when the distribution network is "weak" facing specific demands, as in hydrogen production systems connected to rural electrification networks. In these areas, the wind resource may be suitable for this type of generation. This work proposes the topology and the operation and control strategy for a hydrogen production station, "assisted" by a weak AC grid and "powered" by a variable speed wind turbine based on a three-phase double stator induction machine. The wind energy conversion is optimized through adequate control of the generator. The electrolyzer current is regulated for the maximum utilization of the generated power. The high-speed power fluctuations by turbulence are compensated through a controlled energy storage system based on a flywheel. In addition, the system configuration, its operation mode and control, and simulation results are presented.Fil: Camocardi, Pablo Andrés. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrotecnia. Laboratorio de Electrónica Industrial, Control e Instrumentación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Toccaceli, Graciela Mabel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrotecnia. Laboratorio de Electrónica Industrial, Control e Instrumentación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Battaiotto, P. E.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrotecnia. Laboratorio de Electrónica Industrial, Control e Instrumentación; ArgentinaFil: Cendoya, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Electrotecnia. Laboratorio de Electrónica Industrial, Control e Instrumentación; Argentin

Torque-fill control and energy management for a 4-wheel-drive electric vehicle layout with 2-speed transmissions

This paper presents a novel 4-wheel-drive electric vehicle layout consisting of one on-board electric drivetrain per axle. Each drivetrain includes a simplified clutch-less 2-speed transmission system and an open differential, to transmit the torque to the wheels. This drivetrain layout allows eight different gear state combinations at the vehicle level, thus increasing the possibility of running the vehicle in a more energy efficient state for the specific wheel torque demand and speed. Also, to compensate the torque gap during gearshifts, a ‘torque-fill’ controller was developed that varies the motor torque on the axle not involved in the gearshift. Experimental tests show the effectiveness of the developed gearshift strategy extended with the torque-fill capability. Energy efficiency benefits are discussed by comparing the energy consumptions of the case study vehicle controlled through a constant front-to-total wheel torque distribution and conventional gearshift maps, and the same vehicle with an energy management system based on an off-line optimization. Results demonstrate that the more advanced controller brings a significant reduction of the energy consumption at constant speed and along different driving cycles

Electric vehicle driving range extension using photovoltaic panels

This paper investigates the potential benefits of photovoltaic (PV) panels on electric vehicles. In addition to the PV panels on the roof of the car, in this study a PV panel is installed below the windshield to increase energy capture when the car is parked. An electro-mechanical actuator makes the PV panel disappear under the roof when the passengers are in the vehicle. The paper presents the simulation model of the overall PV architecture, including the DC/DC converter and the energy storage system. Based on recorded temperature and solar irradiance profiles, the model calculates the energy input and the corresponding range extension. The resulting values are discussed for a prototype four-wheel-drive urban electric vehicle operating in five European locations

On the vehicle state estimation benefits of smart tires

Smart tires are systems that are able to measure temperature, inflation pressure, footprint dimensions, and, importantly, tire contact forces. The integration of this additional information with the signals ob-tained from more conventional vehicle sensors, e.g., inertial measure-ment units, can enhance state estimation in production cars. This paper evaluates the use of smart tires to improve the estimation performance of an Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) based on a nonlinear vehicle dynam-ics model. Two UKF implementations, excluding and including smart tire information, are compared in terms of estimation accuracy of vehicle speed, sideslip angle and tire-road friction coefficient, using experi-mental data obtained on a high performance passenger car

On the vehicle state estimation benefits of smart tires

Smart tires are systems that are able to measure temperature, inflation pressure, footprint dimensions, and, importantly, tire contact forces. The integration of this additional information with the signals ob-tained from more conventional vehicle sensors, e.g., inertial measure-ment units, can enhance state estimation in production cars. This paper evaluates the use of smart tires to improve the estimation performance of an Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) based on a nonlinear vehicle dynam-ics model. Two UKF implementations, excluding and including smart tire information, are compared in terms of estimation accuracy of vehicle speed, sideslip angle and tire-road friction coefficient, using experi-mental data obtained on a high performance passenger car

Linear Frequency Domain Method for Load Control by Fluidic Actuation

Simulations of periodic fluidic excitations in the context of active flow control are per- formed using a frequency domain solver for the efficient prediction of global air loads. Frequency domain methods have become a viable choice whenever the disturbance of the flow is small and periodic, and can reduce the computational effort substantially in compar- ison to time-accurate unsteady simulations. Although time-accurate unsteady simulations resolve the entire spectrum of the flow, they suffer from a long transient phase and thus require an extensive use of computational resources. The goal is to extend the time- linearized frequency domain method of the DLR TAU-code toward load control by blowing fluidic actuators. This paper presents the set of discretized unsteady equations and as- sociated boundary conditions for both the time accurate and frequency domain method. The applied time-linearized frequency method decouples each harmonic, forming a linear approach, which renders the sequential calculation of the individual harmonics to evaluate the time response of air loads. At first, blowing actuation for a two-dimensional airfoil with a single slot is considered for which constant as well as periodic excitations are used for validation and investigation purposes of air loads between the time-accurate and nonlinear frequency domain method. In addition, a 2-element high-lift wing with a flow separation on the trailing edge flap is simulated that demonstrates the good prediction quality of air load derivatives with the frequency domain method

Light electric vehicle enabled by smart systems integration

For the first time in history, the majority of people live now in urban areas. What is more, in the next four decades, the number of people living in the world's urban areas is expected to grow from 3.5 billion to 5.2 billion. At the same time, populations around the world are rapidly ageing. By 2050, the global population of people aged 60 years and over is expected to reach almost 2 billion, with the proportion of older people doubling between 2006 and 2050. This growth and ageing of the population will pose great challenges for urban mobility, which will be addressed within the SilverStream project. In particular, it will develop and demonstrate a radically new light and affordable Light Electric Vehicle concept for the ageing population in congested European cities with scarce parking space