Mikel Alberdi

• University of the Basque Country

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the effect of the affordances of a virtual learning environment and a personal learning environment (PLE) in the configuration of the students' personal networks in a higher education context. The results are discussed in light of the adaptation of the students to the learning network made up by two un...

The Oscillating Water Column concept consists of two key elements, a turbine located in a pneumatic energy collection chamber and a doubly fed induction generator that converts energy extracted by the turbine into a form that can be returned to the network. Since the turbo-generator control requires the rotor angular velocity, removing the rotor sp...

Wave energy composes a direct and easy way of harnessing power from the Ocean. Among the different techniques used, OWC devices stand as one of the most promising ones. NEREIDA MOWC demonstration project is a breakwater wave plant located in the Basque location of Mutriku, using Wells turbines and Doubly Fed Induction (DFI) generators. Since one of...

The 2009/28/EC Directive requires Member States of the European Union to adopt a National Action Plan for Renewable Energy. In this context, the Basque Energy Board, EVE, is committed to research activities such as the Mutriku Oscillating Water Column plant, OWC. This is an experimental facility whose concept consists of a turbine located in a pneu...

Nowadays, the use of renewable wave energy resources is increasingly being pursued as a supplement and an alternative to traditional energy resources. In this context, the present paper proposes a strategy based on a novel neural control by means of a doubly fed induction generator to improve the performance of the wave energy converter during volt...

The worldwide demand for energy requires alternatives to fossil fuels and nuclear fission, so renewable resources, particularly ocean energy, are called to play a relevant role in a near future. In particular, the oscillating water column (OWC) is one of the most promising devices to harness energy from the sea, as it is the case of the Nereida pro...

There is a worldwide interest in the use of renewable resources for the generation of electrical power. Between all renewable energy sources, ocean energy is the one that still has the furthest to go to achieve commercial maturity. As the most promising ocean energy that can be harnessed in the Basque Country is wave energy, the NEREIDA MOWC projec...

In this paper, an oscillating water column-based wave energy conversion plant is modeled and controlled by means of two complementary control strategies in order to improve the conver- sion of wave energy into electric power. This wave power generation system consists of a capture chamber, a Wells turbine, and an in- duction generator. The improvem...

The increasing use of distributed power-generation systems, as with the case of wave-power-generation plants, requires a reliable fault-ride-through capability. The effects of grid fault include uncontrolled turbogenerator acceleration, dangerous rotor peak currents, and high reactive-power consumption so that the plant may contribute to the voltag...

One of the main problems arising when dealing with Oscillating Water Column-based wave power generation plants equipped with Doubly-Fed Induction Generator, is the need of an adequate Fault-Ride-Through during voltage drops. In this paper it is proposed an innovative Fault-Ride-Through solution consisting of a control scheme that suitably coordinat...

The control and simulation of the power delivered to the grid are becoming an important topic, particularly when the number of distributed power generation systems increases. In this paper, two different control schemes for an oscillating-water-column Wells-turbine-generator module are simulated, implemented, and compared. In the first method, the...

Among the benefits arising from an increasing use of renewable energy are: enhanced security of energy supply, stimulation of economic growth, job creation and protection of the environment. In this context, this study analyses the performance of an oscillating water column device for wave energy conversion in function of the stalling behaviour in...

The control of plasma in nuclear fusion has been revealed as a promising application of Control Engineering, with increasing interest in the control community during last years. In this paper it is developed a control-oriented linear model for the control of plasma current. For this purpose, it is provided a summary of the background necessary to d...

This study analyzes the problem of the stalling behaviour in Wells turbines, one of the most widely used turbines in wave energy plants. For this purpose two different control strategies are presented and compared. In the first one, a rotational speed control system is employed to appropriately adapt the speed of the double-fed induction generator...

The present work deals with the improvement of OWC-Wells turbine-generator systems by adequately choosing the applied control scheme. For this purpose, two different control strategies are presented and compared. In the first one, the control system does appropriately adapt the slip of the induction generator according to the pressure drop entry. T...

The control of plasma in nuclear fusion has been revealed as a promising application of Control Engineering, with increasing interest in the control community during last years. In this paper it is developed a control-oriented linear model for the control of plasma current. For this purpose, it is provided a summary of the background necessary to d...

The suitability of distributed power generation systems working at medium and high capacity as it is the case of wave power generation plants, requires a reliable Fault-Ride-Through capability. When a grid fault occurs on the transmission system, the speed of the turbo-generator group increases uncontrolled, the induction generator injects large pe...

Wave energy is one of the most promising forms of ocean renewable sources because of its high availability. The Wells turbine has been one of the defining technologies in the development of wave energy. In this paper a neural control method for the Wells turbine-generator module is presented. For this purpose, a neural control using the backpropaga...

In this paper the performance of the Wells turbine has been improved, studying its stalling behaviour when the flow coefficient reaches a specific characteristic value. The generator increases its velocity when the flow coefficient of the turbine is approaching the critical point at which the turbine losses power.

In this paper a Wells turbine control is presented. For this purpose, a control scheme for the flow coefficient is derived based on the addition of external resistances in series with the rotor winding of the induction generator connected to the turbine. Due to the stalling behaviour, the generator increases its velocity as the flow coefficient of...

In this paper the performance of the Wells turbine has been improved, studying its stalling behaviour when the flow coefficient (phy) reaches a specific characteristic value. For this purpose, a control scheme for the flow coefficient is derived based on the addition of external resistances in series with the rotor winding of the induction generato...

The development of control techniques for the efficient and reliable operation of a fusion reactor is one of the most challenging issues nowadays and it would provide great advantages over existing energy sources: Unlimited fuel availability, no greenhouse gases, lack of radioactive waste and no risk of a nuclear accident. In this paper it is made...

Nowadays there exists a need of carrying out new features and improvements in the existing and future Tokamak devices as ITER or DEMO. The present capabilities of the control engineering and the development of fusion technologies allow the achievement new plasma configurations. These aspects, jointly with the increased performance of the computer h...

Nuclear fusion has the potential to produce unlimited, clean energy, which presents itself as a reliable energy supply but it also helps to stop the threat of climate change that faces the world nowadays. However, to sustain the pulse duration long enough to produce the necessary energy, new controls have to be developed, composing a new applicatio...