This paper presents a simple strategy for controlling an interleaved boost converter that is used to reduce the current fluctuations in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with high impact on the fuel cell lifetime. To keep the output voltage at the desired reference value under the strong fluctuations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, and temperature, a neural network controller is developed and implemented using Matlab-Simulink (R2012b, MathWorks limited, London, UK). The advantage of this controller resides in its simplicity, where limited number of tests are carried out using Matlab-Simulink to construct it. To investigate the robustness of the proposed converter and the neural network controller, strong variations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, temperature and air supply pressure are applied to both the fuel cell and the neural network controller of the converter. The simulation results show the effectiveness and the robustness of the both the proposed controller and converter to control the load voltage and minimize the current and voltage ripples. As a result of that, fuel cell current oscillations are considerably reduced on the one hand, while on the other hand, the load voltage is stabilized during transient variations of the fuel cell inputs.

This paper aims to develop an analytical model for the prediction of the electricity produced in a Photovoltaic Power Station (PVS). In this context, the developed mathematical model is implemented in a Simulink Model. The obtained simulation results are compared to the experimental data, the results obtained from the software Homer-Pro model, and the results given by the online PV calculator (Photovoltaic Geographical Information System), developed by the European commission. The comparison results show the reliability of the developed analytical model for specific months of the year. However, an error of 10% between simulations and experimental results is observed for July and August. This error is mainly due to the effects of humidity and dust that were not considered in the analytical model. Nevertheless, the monthly and yearly produced electricity values show the robustness of the proposed model to predict the PVS generated power. The developed model will be used as a powerful tool for data prediction and the optimization of electricity generation. This permits us to reduce the losses in power generation by optimizing the connected generating power stations to the power grid.

In this paper, we present a numerical simulation of a water jet impacting a new aeronautical material Ti555-03 plate. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) behavior of the jet is investigated using a FV (Finite Volume) method. The Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) is studied using a coupled SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics)-FE (Finite Element) method. The jets hit the metal sheet with an initial velocity 500 m/s. Two configurations which differ from each other by the position (angle of inclination) of the plate relatively to the axis of revolution of the jet inlet are investigated in this study. The objective of this study is to predict the impact of the fluid produced at high pressure and high speed especially at the first moment of impact. Numerical simulations are carried out under ABAQUS. We have shown in this study that the inclination of the titanium alloy plate by 45° stimulates the phenomenon of recirculation of water. This affects the velocity profile, turbulence and boundary layers in the impact zone. The stagnation zone and the phenomenon of water recirculation are strongly influenced by the slope of the plate which gives a pressure gradient and displacement very important between the two configurations. Fluctuations of physical variables (displacement and pressure) prove the need for a noise and vibratory study. These predictions will subsequently be used for the modeling of the problem of an orthogonal cut in a high-speed machining process assisted by high-pressure water jet.

In this paper, we present a numerical simulation of a round impacting jet using coupled Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Finite Element (FE) methods. Numerical results are compared with the results of another simulation carried out by the CEL (Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian) method. A water jet with a spherical head was used at an initial speed of 570 m/s to impact a flat plate made of Polymethyl-Methacrylate (PMMA). To model the entire process, the SPH method was used to model the water jet and the FE method for the PMMA structure. The distribution of the pressure on the impact surface and the resulting deformation of the structure were discussed. A Numerical model was developed using ABAQUS/Explicit version 6.14. Results of the coupled SPH-FE simulation were further validated. It is demonstrated that the CEL method presents smoother curves compared to the SPH method. These comparisons serve not only to validate the numerical simulation but also to give guidance in formulating the SPH-FEM numerical model.