The transesterification process for biodiesel production is constrained by high thermal input, prolonged residence time, and intensive mechanical agitation. This study investigates process intensification via hydrodynamic cavitation using a custom-built Shockwave Power Reactor (SPR), enabling continuous biodiesel synthesis from soybean and used cooking oils. A statistically designed experimental matrix was applied to evaluate the reactor’s transient–stable thermal regime and the influence of operational parameters: rotor speed (1700–3415 rpm), volumetric flow rate (60–105 mL/min), methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1 to 12:1), and alkali catalyst type (NaOH or KOH). For benchmarking, conventional alkaline transesterification was optimized. The FAME yields from the SPR system exceeded 96.5% and complied with EN14103 standards. Specific energy analysis showed that cavitation-enhanced transesterification reduced energy consumption and peak temperature compared to traditional methods. The SPR’s capacity to induce high shear and localized turbulence under controlled cavitation offers a promising pathway for low-energy, scalable biodiesel production.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the H-bridge multilevel cascaded converters with common source and with independent source, and both with selective harmonic elimination (SHE). Two prototypes of nine levels of output voltage are implemented, which use a standard step modulation and optimized PWM modulation (using genetic algorithms). The non load and the load test determine the total harmonic distortion (THD) differences and the behavior of the RMS values. Finally, the converter output waveforms and performance are discussed, also the behavior of the DC buses and the cost of both prototypes.

Introduction— The DC/AC power conversion systems currently used in multiple applications such as alternative energy sources involve power quality problems due to voltage regulations and distortions such as those caused by harmonic distortion. Objective— Develop a power converter prototype that, through a multi-objective genetic algorithm, allows optimizing the energy quality of three-phase inversion systems through the use of multilevel converters. Methodology— The prototype to be used in the power conversion is defined, the output voltage is modeled mathematically, the optimization multi-objective genetic algorithms are developed, the prototype is implemented and its operation is validated. Results— The algorithm developed and implemented in the developed prototype mitigates power quality phenomena associated with short and long duration variations such as swell, sag, undervoltage and overvoltage, avoids the presence of voltage fluctuations and presents a lower harmonic content in all 1% cases. Conclusions— The implemented prototype allows optimizing the power quality of three-phase power supply systems through the use of multilevel inverters, avoiding the presence of power quality phenomena.

Los inversores pueden ser considerados una tecnología en desarrollo, en la cual, durante cerca de cinco décadas, se han presentado avances significativos que han creado líneas de investigación enfocadas en topologías, métodos de control, optimización y modelado, entre otros tópicos. El presente artículo revisa contribuciones recientes enfocadas en el inversores con características multifuncionales para sistemas fotovoltaicos, proporcionando a los lectores una revisión sintetizada como herramienta de conocimiento para afrontar los desafíos de la integración de los inversores y el perfeccionamiento del sistema eléctrico en términos de calidad de la energía.