Submit to Energies Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F: Electrical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2021) | Viewed by 27271

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jarosław Konieczny

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Process Control, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Ave. 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: control systems theory; active vibration control; dynamic and control of structures; signal analysis; system identification; measurement systems; industrial automation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of global production due to the application of robotic systems in industry and everyday life entails a constant increase in energy demand. Advances in automation systems and robotization arouse the interest of many scientists, including those dealing with energy systems. With advances in Industry 4.0, software engineering, hardware and technology improvements based on robotics automation and systems integration can solve ever more complex problems related to the management, optimization, uniform distribution, and diagnostics of energy systems. Along with the development of control techniques and information processing algorithms, it is possible to manage the energy used by actuating systems.

This Special Issue is devoted to selected topics related to automation and robotics applied to energy systems in order to optimize the demand for external energy. I would like to invite authors dealing with the subjects of this Issue to share the latest research, developments and new trends they have observed.

Prof. Dr. Jarosław Konieczny

Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Optimization algorithms of energy consumption
Control algorithms in renewable energy systems
Control of intelligent buildings
Self-powered control and measurement systems
Energy aspects in active vibration control methods
Neural network approach to energy systems
Hydraulic power technology
Energy sensing and measurement systems
DSP techniques in energy systems
Control management in electric vehicles

Published Papers (14 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

20 pages, 5216 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Control System for Multi-Input and Simple-Output Piezoelectric Beam Actuator Based on Macro Fiber Composite

by Dariusz Grzybek

Energies 2022, 15(6), 2042; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15062042 - 10 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

A control system for a piezoelectric beam actuator, which had one or two control inputs, was a subject of numerical and laboratory research. The actuator had a prismatic shape with a rectangular cross-section and consisted of one layer of carrying substrate made from PCB-FR4 and two patches of Macro Fiber Composite of P1 type. MFC patches were glued on both sides of the carrying substrate. An article presents a comparison of the control quality of piezoelectric actuator with one control signal (one-input actuator) and the control quality of piezoelectric actuator with two control signals (two-input actuator). An application of two-input actuator led to a reduction of control voltage compared to the control voltage of one-input actuator. The decrease in the maximum voltage was approximately from 30% to 39% in conducted laboratory experiments. An application of two-input actuator causes a reduction of an overshoot value compared to one-input actuator. An application of limit of maximum control voltage leads to a greater decrease of the control quality for one-input actuator compared to two-input actuator. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 2709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Matrix for Air Pollution Detection with a Neural Predictor

by Krzysztof Lalik, Jakub Kozak, Szymon Podlasek and Mateusz Kozek

Energies 2022, 15(6), 1962; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15061962 - 08 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1485

Abstract

Predicting the status of particulate air pollution is extremely important in terms of preventing possible vascular and lung diseases, improving people’s quality of life and, of course, actively counteracting pollution magnification. Hence, there is great interest in developing methods for pollution prediction. In recent years, the importance of methods based on classical and more advanced neural networks is increasing. However, it is not so simple to determine a good and universal method due to the complexity and multiplicity of measurement data. This paper presents an approach based on Deep Learning networks, which does not use Bayesian sub-predictors. These sub-predictors are used to marginalize the importance of some data part from multisensory platforms. In other words—to filter out noise and mismeasurements before the actual processing with neural networks. The presented results shows the applied data feature extraction method, which is embedded in the proposed algorithm, allows for such feature clustering. It allows for more effective prediction of future air pollution levels (accuracy—92.13%). The prediction results shows that, besides using standard measurements of temperature, humidity, wind parameters and illumination, it is possible to improve the performance of the predictor by including the measurement of traffic noise (Accuracy—94.61%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 9484 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Skyhook Control Law Extension for Suspension with Nonlinear Spring Characteristics

by Kamil Zając, Janusz Kowal and Jarosław Konieczny

Energies 2022, 15(3), 754; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15030754 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1798

Abstract

This work aimed to improve the vehicle body stability and the ride comfort of the tracked military vehicle crew. For this purpose, magnetorheological fluid dampers were used. This process has made the theoretical model of the tracked platform a semi-active suspension system. This modification allows for the application of different control laws to these systems. The usage of the continuous skyhook control law assumes the influence of three fictitious viscous dampers. Their force in this conceptual model is replicated by the magnetorheological dampers of the suspension in the real system. However, the continuous skyhook control law does not take into consideration the nonlinear stiffness characteristics. In this paper, the continuous skyhook control law has been appropriately modified. The modification takes into consideration the nonlinearity of the stiffness characteristics. Applying the modified continuous skyhook control law improves the stability of the vehicle body and the vehicle crew’s ride comfort. All these goals had to be introduced due to the modernization of the tracked military vehicle suspension by replacing the torsion bars with spiral spring packages with nonlinear characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Path Selection for the Inspection Robot by m-Generalized q-Neutrosophic PROMETHEE Approach

by Romualdas Bausys, Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas and Rokas Semenas

Energies 2022, 15(1), 223; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15010223 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1261

Abstract

Path planning can be considered the most vital task of the autonomous robot. In this task, selecting an optimal route from the starting to the target position becomes an important problem that must be addressed when multiple competing optimization priorities are considered. Thus, a novel route assessment strategy based on a multi-criteria decision-making approach is proposed. The m-generalized q-neutrosophic PROMETHEE (PROMETHEE-mGqNS) method is applied to aggregate the competing route assessment requirements and choose an optimal route. A case study is investigated to explain the proposed strategy for path planning in a typical environment and indicates the method stability when incomplete input data characteristics are present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 3402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictive Maintenance Neural Control Algorithm for Defect Detection of the Power Plants Rotating Machines Using Augmented Reality Goggles

by Krzysztof Lalik and Filip Wątorek

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7632; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14227632 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2112

Abstract

The concept of predictive and preventive maintenance and constant monitoring of the technical condition of industrial machinery is currently being greatly improved by the development of artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms in particular. The advancement of such methods can vastly improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of systems designed for wear analysis and detection of vibrations that can indicate changes in the physical structure of the industrial components such as bearings, motor shafts, and housing, as well as other parts involved in rotary movement. Recently this concept was also adapted to the field of renewable energy and the automotive industry. The core of the presented prototype is an innovative interface interconnected with augmented reality (AR). The proposed integration of AR goggles allowed for constructing a platform that could acquire data used in rotary components technical evaluation and that could enable direct interaction with the user. The presented platform allows for the utilization of artificial intelligence to analyze vibrations generated by the rotary drive system to determine the technical condition of a wind turbine model monitored by an image processing system that measures frequencies generated by the machine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vision Analysis of the Influence of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting on Vibration Damping of a Cantilever Beam

by Dariusz Grzybek and Andrzej Sioma

Energies 2021, 14(21), 7168; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14217168 - 01 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1397

Abstract

A cantilever beam, manufactured from a steel-carrying substrate and two patches of Macro Fiber Composite of P2 type, was a subject of laboratory research. MFC patches were glued on both sides of the carrying substrate and were parallelly connected. An experimental determination of an optimal resistance for both energy harvesting and vibration passive damping of the cantilever beam was the purpose of the conducted laboratory research. The research contained 10 experiments in which courses of the energy-harvesting process and resistive passive damping of vibration were estimated. Energy harvesting was estimated by measurements of the generated current for the given load-resistance values. Resistive passive damping of vibration was assessed by using a vision method that enabled the displacements’ measurements of 10 selected points in the beam structure for the given shunt-resistance values. Values of both load resistance and shunt resistance were chosen on the basis of analytically calculated optimal load resistance and optimal shunt resistance. On the basis of the conducted experiments, the resistance range for which both the energy-harvesting process and the vibration-damping process are most effective was determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 1898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Robust Optimization Approach for Optimal Power Flow Solutions Using Rao Algorithms

by Saket Gupta, Narendra Kumar, Laxmi Srivastava, Hasmat Malik, Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam and Fausto Pedro García Márquez

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14175449 - 01 Sep 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

This paper offers three easy-to-use metaphor-less optimization algorithms proposed by Rao to solve the optimal power flow (OPF) problem. Rao algorithms are parameter-less optimization algorithms. As a result, algorithm-specific parameter tuning is not required at all. This quality makes these algorithms simple to use and able to solve various kinds of complex constrained optimization and engineering problems. In this paper, the main aim to solve the OPF problem is to find the optimal values of the control variables in a given electrical network for fuel cost minimization, real power losses minimization, emission cost minimization, voltage profile improvement, and voltage stability enhancement, while all the operating constraints are satisfied. To demonstrate the efficacy of Rao algorithms, these algorithms have been employed in three standard IEEE test systems (30-bus, 57-bus, and 118-bus) to solve the OPF problem. The OPF results of Rao algorithms and the results provided by other swarm intelligence (SI)/evolutionary computing (EC)-based algorithms published in recent literature have been compared. Based on the outcomes, Rao algorithms are found to be robust and superior to their competitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Architecture of a Real-Time Control System for Heating Energy Management in the Intelligent Building

by Daniel Prusak, Grzegorz Karpiel and Konrad Kułakowski

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5402; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14175402 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1603

Abstract

Very often, constructors and designers of intelligent building and building automation systems have a choice: to create a compact system with a limited configuration and modifying the system’s behavior possibilities or provide a fully configurable solution at the expense of introducing a full SCADA system equipped with an additional knowledge database and inference system equipped with learning capabilities. In the presented work, we show that there is a third solution. Using a multilayer control system composed of programmable FPGAs, small PCs, and cloud computing resources, we can design and implement a fully configurable intelligent control system for the building’s heating. Our solution combines the compactness of the structure and the ease of installation and assembly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 996 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Q-Learning Neural Controller for Steam Generator Station in Micro Cogeneration Systems

by Krzysztof Lalik, Mateusz Kozek, Szymon Podlasek, Rafał Figaj and Paweł Gut

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5334; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14175334 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1670

Abstract

This article presents the results of the optimization of steam generator control systems powered by mixtures of liquid fuels containing biofuels. The numerical model was based on the results of experimental research of steam generator operation in an open system. The numerical model is used to build control algorithms that improve performance, increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and increase safety in the full range of operation of the steam generator and the cogeneration system of which it is a component. In this research, the following parameters were monitored: temperature and pressure of the circulating medium, exhaust gas temperature, oxygen content in exhaust gas, percentage control of oil burner power. Two methods of controlling the steam generator were proposed: the classic one, using the PID regulator, and the advanced one, using artificial neural networks. The work shows how the model is adapted to the real system and the impact of the control algorithms on the efficiency of the combustion process. The example is considered for the implementation of advanced control systems in micro-, small- and medium-power cogeneration and trigeneration systems in order to improve their final efficiency and increase the profitability of implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Analysis of the Arrays of Macro Fiber Composite Patches for Rotational Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from a Shaft

by Piotr Micek and Dariusz Grzybek

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4815; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14164815 - 07 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

Four arrays of three MFC patches, glued onto a rotating shaft, were compared in laboratory research. The first array was based on a delta circuit and equipped with one three-phase rectifier; the second array was based on a star circuit and equipped with one three-phase rectifier; the third array was based on parallel connection and equipped with three full-bridge rectifiers; and the fourth array was based on a series connection and equipped with three full-bridge rectifiers. The array based on a delta circuit generated the highest value of maximal electric power in comparison to the rest of arrays. It was experimentally observed that the arrays based on delta or star circuits of MFC patches and equipped with one three-phase rectifier generated a higher value of maximal power than arrays based on the connections of three full-bridge rectifiers, connected in parallel or in series. The array based on parallel connection generated the highest maximal value of current in comparison to rest of arrays for low values of load resistance (from 10 kΩ to 40 kΩ depending on the experiment). For higher values of load resistance arrays based on delta circuits and star circuits generated higher values of current than the array based on parallel connection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 7408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Sensing Action of the Electromagnetic Vibration-Based Energy Harvester for a Magnetorheological Damper Control

by Bogdan Sapiński and Paweł Orkisz

Energies 2021, 14(10), 2845; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14102845 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1927

Abstract

This study investigated the self-sensing mechanism in the electromagnetic vibration-based energy harvester (EV-EH) prototype specially engineered for a commercial magnetorheological (MR) damper. The objective of the work is to demonstrate that the EV-EH unit with a specific self-powered feature can also be employed as a relative velocity sensor in the system. To do this, the self-sensing action of the unit was experimentally studied over the assumed range of working conditions. The analysis of the test results and the determined self-sensing function indicated that the EV-EH has a highly accurate monitoring capability. The EV-EH self-sensing and self-powered features confirm the potentials and applicability of the unit for MR damper control in a vibration reduction system with energy regeneration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Series and Parallel Connection of Macro Fiber Composite Patches in Piezoelectric Harvester on Energy Storage

by Dariusz Grzybek and Piotr Micek

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2379; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14092379 - 22 Apr 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1831

Abstract

A beam containing a piezoelectric layer or layers is used for piezoelectric harvesting from various processes. The structure of the beam is made by gluing the piezoelectric material on one side (unimorph) or both sides (bimorph) of a carrying substrate. Two piezoelectric layers, glued on both sides of the substrate, may be electrically parallel or series connected. This paper presents an experimental analysis of the impact of parallel and series connections of two Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) MFC patches in a bimorph on the charging of a capacitor. In experiments, the effective charging process of the capacitor was obtained both for parallel and series connection of two MFC patches. The bimorph with a parallel connection generated a larger capacitor charging power than the bimorph with a series connection in the range of voltage across the capacitor from 1 to 18 V. However, the bimorph with a series connection was more effective than a parallel connection for voltage across the charged capacitor from 18 to 20 V. The maximum capacitor charging power generated by the bimorph, in which two MFC patches were parallel connected, was 1.8 times larger than that generated by the bimorph with a series connection and was 3.3 times larger than that generated by a unimorph with one MFC patch. The impact of level of voltage across the capacitor on its discharging process has a significant meaning for the ratio of maximum power between bimorphs and between the bimorph and unimorph. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 3658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Excited Acoustical System Frequency Monitoring for Refractory Concrete under Uniaxial Compression

by Ilona Kieliba, Ireneusz Dominik, Krzysztof Lalik, Thorsten Tonnesen, Jacek Szczerba and Reiner Telle

Energies 2021, 14(8), 2222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14082222 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

The characterization of materials, stress and fatigue state monitoring based on the acoustoelastic principle are gaining widespread attention in recent years, mainly due to their advantages such as high sensitivity and non-destructive character. This article presents the application of a non-destructive acoustic method to test the degree of degradation of materials with which the heating boiler is coated. The combustion chamber is covered in materials when the temperature of the process itself increases, and has a very positive effect on fuel combustion. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, such materials undergo gradation. This article describes an innovative measuring system that has been successfully applied to monitor changes in resonance frequency under uniaxial compression in refractory grade material, which by definition is characterized by a high level of heterogeneity with a network of pre-existing cracks. The paper indicates that both stress and elasticity coefficients have an impact on the vibration frequency of the measuring system. Initial research was conducted to qualitatively determine the influence of these parameters on the measured frequency of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Analysis of Power Flows in the Regenerative Vibration Reduction System with a Magnetorheological Damper

by Bogdan Sapiński, Paweł Orkisz and Łukasz Jastrzębski

Energies 2021, 14(4), 848; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14040848 - 06 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1639

Abstract

The aim of the work is to investigate power flows in the vibration reduction system equipped with a magnetorheological (MR) damper and energy regeneration. For this purpose, experiments were conducted in the test rig compound of the shaker and the vibration reduction system (electromagnetic harvester, MR damper, spring) which are attached to the sprung mass. The experimental data acquired under sine excitations enabled us to analyze instantaneous power fluxes, as well as a rate of inertial energy changes in the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Automation and Robotics Application in Energy Systems

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (14 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI