José Luis Guzmán

Bio: José Luis Guzmán is an academic researcher from University of Almería. The author has contributed to research in topics: Model predictive control & Control theory. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 235 publications receiving 3433 citations.

Simulation of greenhouse climate monitoring and control with wireless sensor network and event-based control.

Abstract: Monitoring and control of the greenhouse environment play a decisive role in greenhouse production processes. Assurance of optimal climate conditions has a direct influence on crop growth performance, but it usually increases the required equipment cost. Traditionally, greenhouse installations have required a great effort to connect and distribute all the sensors and data acquisition systems. These installations need many data and power wires to be distributed along the greenhouses, making the system complex and expensive. For this reason, and others such as unavailability of distributed actuators, only individual sensors are usually located in a fixed point that is selected as representative of the overall greenhouse dynamics. On the other hand, the actuation system in greenhouses is usually composed by mechanical devices controlled by relays, being desirable to reduce the number of commutations of the control signals from security and economical point of views. Therefore, and in order to face these drawbacks, this paper describes how the greenhouse climate control can be represented as an event-based system in combination with wireless sensor networks, where low-frequency dynamics variables have to be controlled and control actions are mainly calculated against events produced by external disturbances. The proposed control system allows saving costs related with wear minimization and prolonging the actuator life, but keeping promising performance results. Analysis and conclusions are given by means of simulation results.

A review of studies on central receiver solar thermal power plants

Abstract: The use of central receiver system (CRS) for electricity production promises to be one of the most viable options to replace fossil fuel power plants. Indeed, research and development activities on its basic subsystems have been booming rapidly since 1980s. This paper reviews the most important studies on the major components of central receiver solar thermal power plants including the heliostat field, the solar receiver and the power conversion system. After an overview of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, current status and applications of the CRSs are highlighted. Next, a detailed literature survey of existing design comprising optical, thermal and thermodynamic analysis, and techniques used to assess components have been arranged. This is followed by experimental investigations in which design concepts are established. The last section contains recent subsequent improvement of such key components as heliostat, receiver and hybrid solar gas turbine that are boosting in many R&D activities merging international collaboration during the past 30 years.

Solar assisted sea water desalination: A review

Abstract: Seawater desalination is an important process to meet the increasing demand for fresh water demand; however, it is highly energy intensive due to the high salinity of the source. Studies on using solar energy to drive seawater desalination are very actively being pursued. This paper reviews the current solar desalination research activities first, followed by discussions of solar assisted desalination processes and a variety of possible combinations. Solar assisted desalination has been proved technically feasible; however the combined solar and fossil fuel desalination, and desalination using low grade waste heat could be more cost effective at this time. Though solar assisted desalination processes have not been commercialized as yet, with the current ongoing research, they remain a valid option for future desalination plants.