Solar Resource for Urban Communities in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Several studies have determined that Mexico has great renewable energy potential, and one of its most abundant resources is solar energy, a source that could be exploited to provide development opportunities to its population, however it is necessary to calculate the amount of this source available. The aim of this study was to assess solar irradiance at urban communities in the Baja California Peninsula. For this purpose data recorded every 10 min during 6 years (2010–2015) by the Automatic Meteorological Stations (AMSs) and Synoptic Automatic Meteorological Stations (SAMSs) of the National Meteorological System of Mexico (NMS) were analyzed. Satellite data from the Surface and Meteorology Energy System (SMSE) were also used, and a linear regression was performed to compare the measured and satellite data. The highest R-square value found was 0.97 and the lowest was 0.82. Daily patterns show that Cabo San Lucas had the highest average solar irradiation/day, with 1000 W/m2. Considering the urban areas, total solar irradiation reaching the Peninsula is about 447 106 kWh, which represents around 447 times the total Baja California Peninsula yearly energy consumption. Geographic Information System (GIS) helped to identify the zones and months with higher solar resources. May is the month registering the highest irradiation, more than 8.1 kWh/m2/day, while the average solar resource for the whole Peninsula is 5.7 kWh/m2/day

Seasonal Wind Energy Characterization in the Gulf of Mexico

In line with Mexico’s interest in determining its wind resources, in this paper, 141 locations along the states of the Gulf of Mexico have been analyzed by calculating the main wind characteristics, such as the Weibull shape (c) and scale (k) parameters, and wind power density (WPD), by using re-analysis MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2) data with hourly records from 1980–2017 at a 50-m height. The analysis has been carried out using the R free software, whose its principal function is for statistical computing and graphics, to characterize the wind speed and determine its annual and seasonal (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) behavior for each state. As a result, the analysis determined two different wind seasons along the Gulf of Mexico;, it was found that in the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Tabasco wind season took place during autumn, winter, and spring, while for the states of Campeche and Yucatan, the only two states that shared its coast with the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the wind season occurred only in winter and spring. In addition, it was found that by considering a seasonal analysis, more accurate information on wind characteristics could be generated; thus, by applying the Weibull distribution function, optimal zones for determining wind as a resource of energy can be established. Furthermore, a k-means algorithm was applied to the wind data, obtaining three clusters that can be seen by month; these results and using the Weibull parameter c allow for selecting the optimum wind turbine based on its power coefficient or efficiency

Optimal Location and Sizing of Distributed Generators in DC Networks Using a Hybrid Method Based on Parallel PBIL and PSO

This paper addresses the problem of the locating and sizing of distributed generators (DGs) in direct current (DC) grids and proposes a hybrid methodology based on a parallel version of the Population-Based Incremental Learning (PPBIL) algorithm and the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The objective function of the method is based on the reduction of the power loss by using a master-slave structure and the consideration of the set of restrictions associated with DC grids in a distributed generation environment. In such a structure, the master stage (PPBIL) finds the location of the generators and the slave stage (PSO) finds the corresponding sizes. For the purpose of comparison, eight additional hybrid methods were formed by using two additional location methods and two additional sizing methods, and this helped in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed solution. Such an evaluation is illustrated with the electrical test systems composed of 10, 21 and 69 buses and simulated on the software, MATLAB. Finally, the results of the simulation demonstrated that the PPBIL–PSO method obtains the best balance between the reduction of power loss and the processing time

Evaluación de métodos de obtención de curvas IDF para México

En este trabajo se evalúan los métodos de obtención de curvas IDF para México: Wencel modificado, Chen, Chen modificado, Témez y Témez modificado. Los datos proceden de 63 estaciones automáticas (EMAS), distribuidas por todo el país, con registros cada 10 minutos y durante siete años como mínimo. Para el análisis se han diferenciado estaciones de costa cuando están a 50 km o menos de esa zona, y las demás como de interior. Se han valorado para cada una de las estaciones, todos los parámetros de los métodos de cálculo de curvas IDF mencionados, para duraciones entre 10 minutos y 24 horas, y para periodos de retorno de 2 a 500 años. Se ha comprobado que cuando se tienen registros de lluvia cada 10 minutos o menos, se recomienda el método de Wencel; cuando se tienen registros de lluvia horarios, se aconseja el método de Chen; cuando los datos de lluvia son diarios, para duraciones menores de 2 h, se necesita el método de Témez modificado; para duraciones de más de 2 h, el mejor es el de Chen modificado para las zonas del interior y Témez modificados para las zonas costeras

Nonlinear Controller for the Set-Point Regulation of a Buck Converter System

In this paper, we present a nonlinear PID controller based on saturation functions with variable parameters in order to regulate the output voltage of a buck converter in the presence of changes in the input voltage. The main feature of the proposed controller is to bound the control input with a variable parameter to avoid the windup effect generated by the combination of the integral control action and some operation conditions. The main advantages of the proposed nonlinear PID controller are its low computing cost and the simple tuning task to implement the control strategy in an embedded system. The acceptable behavior of the closed-loop system is presented through the simulation and experimental results

DISEÑO Y CONSTRUCCIÓN DE PROTOTIPO DE ENTRENAMIENTO PARA PRÁCTICAS EN INSTRUMENTACIÓN Y CONTROL

ResumenEn base a las encuestas que realiza la Universidad con los alumnos egresados se detectó que tienen problemas al conectar, calibrar y sintonizar equipos de tipo industrial, esto se debe a que en la Universidad existen prototipos didácticos para el control de variables de procesos, pero los alumnos cuando egresan y se emplean en alguna industria, los sensores, actuadores y controladores de los equipos didácticos no se parecen a los equipos industriales. En el presente trabajo se diseñó y construyó un prototipo de entrenamiento para prácticas en instrumentación y control de la variable de proceso Nivel, con la finalidad que los alumnos desarrollen los conocimientos, habilidades y destrezas en el área de instrumentación y control. La variable podrá ser manipulada a través de controladores, PLC y tarjetas de adquisición de datos que permitirán la implementación de Interfaces para comunicarse con software Matlab y LabView.Palabras Claves: Control, entrenamiento, instrumentación, monitoreo, variables. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TRAINING PROTOTYPE FOR PRACTICES IN INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROLAbstractBased on the surveys carried out by the University with its graduates, it was detected that students have problems connecting, calibrating and tuning industrial equipment, this is because in the university there are didactic prototypes for the control of process variables, But the students when they graduate and are employed in some industry, the sensors, actuators and controllers of the didactic equipment do not look like the industrial equipment. In the present work  designed and built a prototype of training for practices in instrumentation and control of the Process variables: Level, with the aim that the students develop the knowledge, skills and abilities in the area of instrumentation and control. The variables can be manipulated through controllers, PLCs and data acquisition cards that will allow the implementation of Interfaces to communicate with Matlab and Labview software.Keywords: Control, instrumentation, monitoring, training, variables

Microscale Wind Assessment, Comparing Mesoscale Information and Observed Wind Data

One of the most common problems in wind resource assessment is that measured data are not always available at the site of interest. That is why, in several studies, reanalysis data have been used as an alternative, which, in some cases, have been validated by measured data. Mexico is no exception, since there are not many measurement towers in the country that provide valid records throughout the country. In view of the above, in this study a comparison was made between the measurements observed in six anemometric towers, located in different locations in the United Mexican States; data from the MERRA-2 and ERA-5 reanalysis; and data from the generalized wind climates (GWC), available in the Global Wind Atlas. The study was conducted at 80 m, which is the highest height at which data were recorded on the measurement towers at each site. In the case of the MERRA-2 and ERA-5 data, extrapolation of the data series to 80 m was required. In the case of the towers, a comparison of the two data sets measured at 80 m and the height at which two anemometers were available, was performed. This analysis was supported by Windographer version 4 software designed by the company UL solutions, from which *.tab files were exported at 80 m, which were then imported from the WAsP 10.0 program to perform the microscale modeling. The comparison variable was the mean power density, for which the relative deviations between the measured values and those obtained from the reanalysis data and the GWCs were determined. For a better interpretation of the relative errors calculated, an analysis of the orographic characteristics of all the sites was performed using the roughness index (RIX). The results obtained showed that the behavior of the reanalysis and the GWC data was not homogeneous in the sites studied; therefore, an adequate relationship between the magnitudes of the ΔRIX and the relative deviations was not observed, especially for the ERA5 and GWC. The ERA5 data were the furthest from the measured data, with relative deviations greater than 50% at five of the six sites; however, the MERRA-2 and GWC data were the closest to the measured data. The MERRA-2 data showed deviations of less than 11%, except at the La Venta site, where it was 29.5%—a site where the GWC also had a high deviation of 139.4%. The latter is attributable to the effects caused by the nearby wind farms on the wind flow measured by the La Venta station. In general, the MERRA-2 data are an alternative to performing a pre-analysis of the wind resource in Mexico

Harnessing Offshore Wind Energy along the Mexican Coastline in the Gulf of Mexico—An Exploratory Study including Sustainability Criteria

Mexico has more than 40 years of researching, investing, and obtaining electric power through wind energy. Within the country, there are highly windy areas, such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or the state of Tamaulipas, and there are about 2500 MW installed and 70,000 MW tested, all onshore. There are still no offshore wind farms in Mexico, despite having two main coasts, the East and the West, with the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. Although the Mexican coastal states of the Gulf of Mexico are Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán, this work focuses on the study and feasibility of offshore wind energy use on the coasts of the states of Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán. This is because of the availability of data in that region; however, sustainability criteria that can be used in other regions are also presented. MERRA-2 and ERA5 data were used employing WAsP and Windographer software. It was found that the capacity factor in the area of Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán is 32%, 37%, and 46%. It can be noted that, in the WF100% scenario, each of the wind farms could contribute more than 35% of the region’s electricity consumption; those of Campeche and Yucatán stand out with contributions of more than 70%

Dimensioning Optimization of the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator for Direct Drive Wind Turbines

In the present work, a methodology that allows optimizing the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) design by establishing limit values of magnet radius and length that maximize efficiency for the nominal parameters of the wind turbine is developed. The methodology consists of two fundamental models. One model calculates the generator parameters from the radius of the magnet base, and the other optimization model determines two optimum generators according to the optimization criteria of maximum efficiency and maximum efficiency with minimum weight starting from the axial length and the radius of the magnet base. For the optimization, the numerical method of the golden section was used. The model was validated from a 10 kW PMSG and the results of two optimum generators are presented according to the optimization criteria. In addition, when the obtained results are compared with the reference electric generator, an increase in efficiency of 1.15% and 0.81% and a reduction in weight of 30.79% and 39.15% of the optimized generators are obtained for maximum efficiency and minimum weight, respectively. Intermediate options between the maximum efficiency generator and the minimum weight generator allows for the selection of the optimum dimensioning for the electric generator as a function of the parameters from the wind turbine design

Vibration Measurement Using Laser Triangulation for Applications in Wind Turbine Blades

The blades in a wind turbine are currently manufactured with flexible and light materials, which make them more susceptible to the effects of vibrations when the wind speed is high enough, causing fatigue damage, affecting the functionality of its structure and aerodynamic efficiency. This work presents a comparison of the modal vibration parameters, applied to a cantilever beam, determined with two experimental methods—the use of accelerometers and a proposed optical non-contact method—based on the principle of laser triangulation and photogrammetry techniques. This technique uses the geometric symmetry of the equidistant displacements along the z axis of the beam to obtain the amplitude data. Parameters such as natural frequency and modal form are obtained by fitting the data to a nonlinear equation with a solution which is an exponential/harmonic equation. Also, analytically, these parameters are determined, and a comparison is made between the experimental methods. The result shows that the relative error of the first-order natural vibration frequency is below 1%. The proposed method is simple, efficient, reliable, and it is also a method that has not been applied to the test of wind turbine blades, so its implementation as this type of wind turbine component is an area of opportunity for the validation of modal vibration parameters in the wind industry. An analysis of results is presented showing benefits of the proposed method and its limitations