C. Rus-Casas

High-Concentrator Photovoltaic Power Plants: Energy Balance and Case Studies

High-concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) power plants are inherently different from conventional photovoltaic (PV) power sources due to the use of concentrator modules and two-axis solar trackers. HCPV technology is a relatively new energy source; therefore, there is limited experience in its application in power plants. Bearing this in mind, this chapter aims to provide information about the special features and performance of HCPV power plants under real operating conditions. The analysis of current concentrator modules and solar trackers is addressed to achieve a better understanding of the main characteristics of this kind of systems. In addition, different methods for estimating the energy yield of an HCPV system or power plant are discussed. This is a crucial task to analyse the potential of such emerging technology. Finally, several HCPV power plants and relevant data concerning their energy yield and performance ratio (PR) are described and commented.

Web app for a remote electronics instrumentation lab

In this paper the study, design, development and implementation of an app which manages to control through Internet a basic electronics lab bench, is presented. The app allows the remote control of the main functions of the four instruments that made up an Electronics bench: a power supply, a multimeter, a function generator and an oscilloscope.

Mobile learning: Using QR codes to develop teaching material

In recent years, the presence of mobile devices is increasing significantly in society as well as its potential applications. However, in the field of education, the possibilities offered by augmented reality are still untapped. This paper aims a first approach to the integration of QR codes in teaching engineering subjects. Experience shows the restructuring of the subject “Electronic Instrumentation”, objectives and results in the application of mobile learning through QR codes implemented.

Tool for the design and energy harvesting of grid-connected photovoltaic power installations: PV Excel Jaen 3.0

The software “PV Excel Jaén V3.0: Calculation of the energy harvested by a grid-connected photovoltaic system” is an educational tool which aims to help in the design and sizing of a grid-connected photovoltaic installation. This tool simulates its performance and provides results that enable students to evaluate several aspects such as: generator voltage and current, energy balance, and environmental impact.

Using wikis for collaborative work assessment in an electronic instrumentation course

This work shows how wikis provide an adequate frame for collaborative work, and help to evaluate it. Using the wiki tools available in the educational web platform Ilias, the students of an Electronic Instrumentation course work in teams to accomplish different tasks. After the activity due date, professors use wiki tools such as contributions index, submission history, and changes list, to assess, in an objective way, group and individual progress. The experience demonstrates to motivate student participation.

The social media networking tools for the promotion of the entrepreneurship

Social Networks are platforms usually used for leisuring activities but they present a big potential if they are used by educational ends. For this experience, the social network Facebook has been used to promote and develop the activities related to entrepreneurship in several subjects of the Bachelors Degree in Engineering.

Educational applications that promote Personal Learning Environment (PLE)

Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is a concept that allows the design of teaching around key skills such as learning to learn and digital competence. A group of teachers from the University of Jaen has designed tools, within the framework of different educational innovation projects, which increase the educational possibilities for creating such environments. The goal is to contribute to the incorporation of a new teaching culture that involves innovation and methodological changes focused on practice, skills development and introduction of ICT, according to the guidelines of the EHEA, enhancing the autonomous student work. This paper presents some ideas for discussion and helps to develop a PLE.

Blended learning for photovoltaic systems: Virtual laboratory with PSPICE

A set of simple tools that allows a blended learning (B-learning) on photovoltaic systems is presented. The tools define a simulation environment based on PSPICE and may constitute a virtual laboratory. The latter allows students a better understanding of a photovoltaic cell, module or generator. Characteristic curves of photovoltaic systems and basic parameters such as voltage, current, power and energy can be obtained for further analysis and representation. Moreover, this virtual laboratory for photovoltaic systems offers students the possibility to compare the values previously calculated and simulated with real measurements.

Virtual laboratory for the training and learning of the subject solar resource: OrientSol 2.0

Nowadays there are a lot of problems concerning the use of energy among society, so a greater support to the renewable energies must be present. Some professors from the University of Jaen, Spain, have wide experience in the field of didactic resources for renewable energies subjects teaching. The use of solar energy in order to obtain electricity is called solar energy photovoltaic. This transformation is possible due to the photovoltaic effect. To design a photovoltaic system in any location it is essential to know the exact amount of solar resource available in the area. For this purpose, collecting data on solar radiation becomes crucial. Currently, there exist databases where we can find information on solar radiation but only for horizontal surfaces (known as global solar irradiance on horizontal surfaces). After this, by applying really complex mathematical equations and algorithms, it is possible to obtain solar radiation data for non-horizontal surfaces. In the present work a virtual laboratory which we developed by us is explained. The virtual laboratory “OrientSol 2.0” is an application developed with Matlab© which allows the users (students) to easily obtain the solar radiation on a non-horizontal surface (variations on tilt and orientation). Also, in this work we present all the experience acquired in some years at the University of Jaen when using this virtual laboratory by students from the following courses: Degree in Electronic Industrial Engineering and Master in Renewable Energy.

Educational tools in order to promote the self-learning. Practical case of study: Dimex SFCR

For the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the ETCS credit takes into account both the teaching hours and the student work. This approach involves a change in the methodological strategy used in the traditional teaching. The application of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) actively contributes to this change. In this work, an educational application, Dimex SFCR (Dimensionado de sistemas fotovoltaicos conectados a la red), is presented. It allows the student not only to design grid connected photovoltaic (GCPV) systems and to study the performance of this type of systems, but also helps them to understand the calculation methods con be used in an autonomous way.