•Described model predictive control algorithm for photovoltaic panel orientation.•Anticipated weather forecast with its uncertainty, panel model and constraints.•Evaluation via numerous scenarios in ...a year-scale simulations with benchmarks.•Mild action towards the positioning systems which improves the overall reliability.•Statistical properties of the future power profile facilitate smart grid integration.
In this paper we develop and verify a model predictive control algorithm for photovoltaic panel orientation with the aim to maximize the photovoltaic system netto power production. Thereby we take into account local weather forecast with its uncertainty, thermal behavior of the panel, and the positioning system energy consumption with its technical constraints. The model predictive control synthesis procedure comprises two basic steps: (i) identification of solar irradiance model and development of the photovoltaic system model and (ii) development of predictive control algorithm for the photovoltaic panel active surface orientation, based on the obtained models. Performance of the developed algorithm is verified through year-scale simulations based on a large number of solar irradiance and other weather data patterns. It turns out that the proposed algorithm is fully competitive with the mostly used sun tracking or maximum irradiance seeking controls, and that it outperforms them. The other advantages of the proposed algorithm are: (i) the positioning system is controlled smoothly and (ii) prediction of energy yield one day ahead is available together with its uncertainty for easier photovoltaic system integration into the electricity distribution network.
This paper deals with the problem of robust tire/road friction force estimation. Availability of actual value of the friction force generated in contact between the tire and the road has significant ...importance for active safety systems in modern cars, e.g. anti-lock brake systems, traction control systems, vehicle dynamic systems, etc. Since state estimators are usually based on the process model, they are sensitive to model inaccuracy. In this paper we propose a new neural network based estimation scheme, which makes friction force estimation insensitive to modelling inaccuracies. The neural network is added to the estimator in order to compensate effects of the friction model uncertainties to the estimation quality. An adaptation law for the neural network parameters is derived using Lyapunov stability analysis. The proposed state estimator provides accurate estimation of the tire/road friction force when friction characteristic is only approximately known or even completely unknown. Quality of the estimation is examined through simulation using one wheel friction model. Simulation results suggest very fast friction force estimation and compensation of the changes of the model parameters even when they vary in wide range.
The ceramic tiles industry has a significant environmental impact due to consumption of raw materials, energy and environmental emissions. There are numerous activities on global level in accordance ...to the principles of sustainable development. This paper presents the development and application of mathematical models of manufacturing processes based on static neural networks for prediction and control of environmental impact of ceramic tiles production process. The neural network learning is made based on known input and output values from the production process. The control of the environmental impact is made on the basis of the output values from the process amounts of correct and faulty ceramic tiles. The model for prediction of correct amount of tiles and percentage of waste with an average error of 1.7% is presented in this paper. It could be successfully used to estimate and control the environmental influence. A simple model of production process has been applied in the manufacturing process of ceramic tile factory KIO Keramika d.o.o. Orahovica. It produced ceramic tiles using monofiring process according to EN 14 411 B III group Part L. The company has introduced and certified management systems according to ISO-9001. and ISO 14001
The use of wind power for generating electricity has experienced an uninterrupted and accelerating growth over last few decades and this growth is likely to continue. In order to enable even greater ...role of wind energy in power production it is necessary to increase the size and unit power of wind turbines. As wind turbines grow in size they are subjected to extreme loads and fatigue caused by nonuniform turbulent winds. Therefore, control algorithms that can assure load and fatigue reduction become a necessity. In this paper the individual pitch control for reduction of the periodic blade and hub loading is explored. To avoid problems related to the required blade loads measurements a method for their estimation based on other process variables is proposed. The performance of the individual pitch controller that uses such load estimations instead of measurements is tested and compared to the collective pitch control and the individual pitch control based on measured loads.
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to elaborate a robust model-based protective control algorithm for multi-mass motor drives that are subjected to physical and safety constraints on their ...variables.Design methodology approach - The algorithm relies on the off-line computed maximum robust controlled invariant set or its approximation for the given drive system and imposed constraints. It can be used to patch any existing drive control scheme with a firm constraints satisfaction guarantee. The online patch implementation is actually a simple correction of the control signal computed with the existing control scheme, with a mandatory state observer.Findings - Performance of the patch is tested on a two-mass drive system in combination with classical two-mass drive speed controllers - P+I and reduced state controller. All constraints violations that exist in the presented responses obtained without the protection patch are suppressed by using the patch which shows the effectiveness of the approach. A brief implementation analysis shows that a digital signal processor could be used for online implementation of the controller with the protective patch.Originality value - Robust invariant sets theory is efficiently and effectively used in a new application area - protection of multi-mass electrical drives.
Model Reference Controller (MRC) for contribution of Variable Speed Wind Generators (VSWG) in inertial response of Electrical Power System (EPS) is presented and analyzed in this paper. MRC is ...synthesized based on a model of Generating Unit With non-Reheat Steam Turbine (GUNRST) thus enabling VSWG to emulate GUNRST response during the initial stage of dynamic frequency response
inertial phase. Very important property of conventional steam generating units is that its contribution to inertial phase response is independent from the initial generating power. By using MRC in VSWG it is accomplished that in most common wind speed region (3-12 m/s) VSWG inertial support is almost independent from wind speed. Since in most EPSs VSWG replaces conventional steam generators, application of MRC algorithm provides that the characteristics of EPS in terms of inertial response are preserved, regardless of the growing trend of introducing VSWG. Evaluation analysis of the proposed MRC is performed on modified nine bus power system when VSWG with MRC is connected to one of the power system buses.
An electronic throttle is a dc-motor-driven valve that regulates air inflow into the combustion system of the engine. The throttle control system should ensure fast and accurate reference tracking of ...the valve plate angle while preventing excessive wear of the throttle components by constraining physical variables to their normal-operation domains. These high-quality control demands are hard to accomplish since the plant is burdened with strong nonlinear effects of friction and limp-home nonlinearity. In this paper, the controller synthesis is performed in discrete time by solving a constrained time-optimal control problem for the piecewise affine (PWA) model of the throttle. To that end, a procedure is proposed to model friction in a discrete-time PWA form that is suitable both for simulation and controller design purposes. The control action computation can, in general, be restated as a mixed-integer program. However, due to the small sampling time, solving such a program online (in a receding horizon fashion) would be very prohibitive. This issue is resolved by applying recent theoretical results that enable offline precomputation of the state-feedback optimal control law in the form of a lookup table. The technique employs invariant set computation and reachability analysis. The experimental results on a real electronic throttle are reported and compared with a tuned PID controller that comprises a feedforward compensation of the process nonlinearities. The designed time-optimal controller achieves considerably faster transient, while preserving other important performance measures, like the absence of overshoot and static accuracy within the measurement resolution