Project Listing

The mechanical engineering area from UAH is actively researching on new smart transport system based on railways. Freight and passenger transport on railways system can be improved and time optimized by creating new vehicles systems and by applying new smart algorithms to traffic and network control systems. The project CAPSULE deals with a new transport system for underground mobility, reducing drastically the travel time for passengers. This multidisciplinary project involves mechanical and electrical engineers as well as computer engineers and mathematicians

Energy demand prediction is a relevant problem whose solution is evaluated by policy makers in order to take key decisions affecting the economy of a country. A number of previous approaches to improve the quality of this estimation have been proposed in the last decade, the majority of them applying different machine learning techniques. In this project, we will investigate the performance of a robust hybrid approach, composed of a metaheuristic procedure and a neural network. On the one hand, the metaheuristic approach is focused on obtaining the most relevant features among the set of initial ones. We will explore how different models (linear, exponential, etc.) are suitable for this problem.

Large-scale high-temperature thermal energy storage (TES) is of high interest due to its cost competitiveness. Currently, high-temperature TES is applied in state-of-the-art solar thermal power plants (also referred to as concentrated solar power – CSP – plants), where molten salts are used for the storage of solar energy in the form of sensible heat. Another promising area of application for high-temperature TES is pumped thermal electricity storage (PTES), where high-temperature heat pumps are used to store electricity in the form of heat.

Self-cleaning nanocoatings for solar panels and wind blades applications The objective of this research line is development a self-cleaning nanotechnological coatings to increase energy efficiency of solar panels and wind blades. The accumulation of dust and dirt in the wind blades modifies the aerodynamic profile of the structure and reduces the energy transformation produced by […]

Energy management and control of PV dominated microgrids has gained importance in recent years. The objective of the project is to develop novel planning and operating methods for such micgrogrids,primarily based on inverters interfacing PV and energy storage devices. The transient and small-signal stability aspects should be addressed as well as the development of novel control algorithms for primary, secondary and tertiary control. The microgrids should operate in both grid-connected and islanded modes and provide a smooth transition between the two.

This line of research addresses new polygeneration power plant designs integrating one or several renewable resources, being concentrating solar energy one of them, and solar heat inindustrial processes (SHIP). For instance, potential applications are hybrid micro gas turbines using concentrating solar energy for combined heat and power generation to fully cover electric and thermal energy demands of a city district or hydrid systems using photovoltaics and solar thermal. Another use is related to large-scale solar fuel production, which would have a major impact on a sustainable future transportation sector.

There is a huge interest on the study and design of new materials and their application on selective reactions of energetic interest for the sustainable fuels production and energy storage via artificial photosynthesis (CO2 reduction and water splitting). There is a vast body of literature about how to design and characterizations these new materials, both theoretical and experimental, which represent a huge labelled dataset

Our research group has previous experience on developing multifunctional composite by means the incorporation of carbon nanostructures (carbon nanotubes and graphene) into the CFRC. Composites with high electric conductivity for structural health monitoring, light-strike protection or anti-icing/de-icing applications have been developed. This route will be also explored in this proposal considering the direct growing or deposition of CNT and/or graphene on CF for increasing SSA with minimum degradation of mechanical properties. On the other hand, the application of solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) as matrix for structural composites could be also studied, although it could be necessary to increase their stiffness for structural applications. Beside, most polymers exhibit fluctuations in ionic transport when are subjected to environmental conditions, such as humidity

n this project, we will focus on indoors and large spaces (i.e. hospitals, universities, shopping centres, educational centers, galleries and tunnels). These spaces can be structured spaces or diaphanous spaces where energy monitoring can play a key role in management of emergency situations in the SMART ENERGY program.This research will developa a platform based on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and accessible interfaces capable of operating indoors with hostile conditions associated with an emergency situation

We are interested in got talent for research and implementation of guidance systems sensory. Systems that physiologically monitor the user to make decisions in the navigation in different spaces in emergency situations. These spaces can be structured spaces or diaphanous spaces where energy monitoring can play a key role in management of emergency situations in the SMART ENERGY program.