Manuel Castro-Gil

An accurate model for simulating energetic behavior of PV grid connected inverters

Abstract This paper proposes a new model for characterizing the energetic behavior of grid connected PV inverters. The model has been obtained from a detailed study of main loss processes in small size PV inverters in the market. The main advantage of the used method is to obtain a model that comprises two antagonistic features, since both are simple, easy to compute and apply, and accurate. One of the main features of this model is how it handles the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and the efficiency: in both parts the model uses the same approach and it is achieved by two resistive elements which simulate the losses inherent to each parameter. This makes this model easy to implement, compact and refined. The model presented here also includes other parameters, such as start threshold, standby consumption and islanding behavior. In order to validate the model, the values of all the parameters listed above have been obtained and adjusted using field measurements for several commercial inverters, and the behavior of the model applied to a particular inverter has been compared with real data under different working conditions, taken from a facility located in Madrid. The results show a good fit between the model values and the real data. As an example, the model has been implemented in PSPICE electronic simulator, and this approach has been used to teach grid-connected PV systems. The use of this model for the maintenance of working PV facilities is also shown.

Enhancing authoring, modelling and collaboration in e-learning environments: UNED research outline in the context of E-Madrid excellence network

In the last years, authoring based on e-learning standards has been consolidated as a core factor of industry and development of interoperable and effective virtual learning environments. However, there is a need for further research on abstraction to provide a more instructional view in the context of authoring tools in a variety of ways, in order to avoid being driven by Learning Technology (LT) specifications, facilitate instructional knowledge aggregation, and to provide an appropriate level of clarity and semantics in the design of collaborative activities. We propose a combination of techniques to provide this instructional abstraction in the context of the new European educational model, combining instructional layers and collaborative scripts in authoring tools, and semantic web techniques for extending e-learning material in order to harness the wealth of existing web content and semantically labeled repositories.

Work in progress: MicroElectronics Cloud Alliance: The design of new open educational resources for a educational cloud

This article is based on the project “Knowledge Alliance 562206-EPP-1-2015-1-BG-EPPKA2-KA MicroElectronics Cloud Alliance (MECA)”. The MicroElectronics Cloud Alliance (MECA) brings together 18 partners from higher education institutions (HEIs) and enterprises to develop Cloud-based European infrastructure in micro- and nanoelectronics providing a range of open educational resources, remote access as well as sharing educational and professional software, remote and practice-based learning facilities. The project focuses on the joint development of MSc degree-level courses to get the new skills needed for the new jobs in the multidisciplinary sector of micro-nanoelectronics, to be delivered as open educational resources in a cloud-based e-learning environment.