Showing papers by "Adrian Ilinca published in 2017"

A selection process for genetic algorithm using clustering analysis

Abstract: This article presents a newly proposed selection process for genetic algorithms on a class of unconstrained optimization problems. The k-means genetic algorithm selection process (KGA) is composed of four essential stages: clustering, membership phase, fitness scaling and selection. Inspired from the hypothesis that clustering the population helps to preserve a selection pressure throughout the evolution of the population, a membership probability index is assigned to each individual following the clustering phase. Fitness scaling converts the membership scores in a range suitable for the selection function which selects the parents of the next generation. Two versions of the KGA process are presented: using a fixed number of clusters K (KGAf) and via an optimal partitioning Kopt (KGAo) determined by two different internal validity indices. The performance of each method is tested on seven benchmark problems.

Study of an optimized wind-diesel hybrid system for canadian remote sites

Abstract: Diesel generators are the main source of electrical energy that supply most of the remote isolated areas in the world. Unfortunately, these motors still pose enormous technical, financial, and environmental challenges. Therefore, the combination of these generators with renewable sources like wind energy in a wind-diesel hybrid system (WDS) could reduce these deficits by reducing the fossil fuel consumption and the operating time of diesel engines, and by reducing the operation costs and environmental harm. In addition, because the intermittency of wind energy and its dissipation during windy periods require an energy storage system, the WDS combined with compressed air energy storage (CAES) seems to be a good solution for this problem. Many recent studies have shown that the optimal management of the stored air reserve would be to overcharge an existing diesel engine with compressed air. Based on this concept, a new wind-diesel hybrid system with adiabatic air compression and storage at constant pressure has been proposed (ACP-WDCAS). This concept combines CAES and hydro-pneumatic energy storage technologies with a wind-diesel system. In this paper, we will present the operative principle of this system and propose a numerical model of each of its components. Moreover, we studied the effect of the pressure intake and temperature on the thermodynamic cycle of the diesel engine to determine the optimal values of the parameters that will optimize fuel consumption. Finally we will compare this system with available technologies in order to demonstrate its performance.

Curriculum Development into Renewable Energies Through Coupled Research and Applied Projects

Abstract: The Wind Energy Research Laboratory (WERL) has been a pioneer in promoting renewable energies by spinning off breakthroughs in research led by the laboratory experts to applied commercial and academic projects. The WERL has, over the years, promoted research and supported numerous academic and commercial ventures in renewable energies in diverse fields such as wind turbine aerodynamics, blade aeroelasticity, ice accretion modeling and mitigation, wind forecasting and wind turbine control. This chapter focuses on projects that aim at promoting a new training method in renewable energies which makes use of developments made in research to be applied in real-life projects through WERL-harbored laboratory ECO-UQAR. ECO-UQAR, a subsidiary of the WERL, is presently conducting research in diverse fields: wind potential assessment, wind turbine design, wind turbine control, multi-source energy coupling. Simultaneously, the ECO-UQAR is setting up a complete wind turbine-wind tunnel and solar panel-coupled energy source bench test to put forward both a physical renewable laboratory and a virtual laboratory based on the former one. The breakthroughs in these researches will be used in diverse projects. In this chapter we focus on research being conducted on the different quoted disciplines and the application of the different concepts in solving a water distribution problem via a humanitarian project. The concept of the whole laboratory is to promote research and training in the domain of renewable energies to incite a new curriculum development which triggers learning interest in complex research issues via applied projects.