This book presents an innovative control system design process motivated by renewable energy electric grid integration problems. The concepts developed result from the convergence of research and development goals which have important concepts in common: exergy flow, limit cycles, and balance between competing power flows. A unique set of criteria is proposed to design controllers for a class of nonlinear systems. A combination of thermodynamics with Hamiltonian systems provides the theoretical foundation which is then realized in a series of connected case studies. It allows the process of control design to be viewed as a power flow control problem, balancing the power flowing into a system against that being dissipated within it and dependent on the power being stored in it - an interplay between kinetic and potential energies. Human factors and the sustainability of self-organizing systems are dealt with as advanced topics.

This book is the result of over ten (10) years of research and development in flexible robots and structures at Sandia National Laboratories. The authors de cided to collect this wealth of knowledge into a set of viewgraphs in order to teach a graduate class in Flexible Robot Dynamics and Controls within the Mechanical En gineering Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM). These viewgraphs, encouragement from several students, and many late nights have produced a book that should provide an upper-level undergraduate and graduate textbook and a reference for experienced professionals. The content of this book spans several disciplines including structural dynam ics, system identification, optimization, and linear, digital, and nonlinear control theory which are developed from several points of view including electrical, me chanical, and aerospace engineering as well as engineering mechanics. As a result, the authors believe that this book demonstrates the value of solid applied theory when developing hardware solutions to real world problems. The reader will find many real world applications in this book and will be shown the applicability of these techniques beyond flexible structures which, in turn, shows the value of mul tidisciplinary education and teaming.

Regenerative gas turbines are attractive alternatives to diesel engines and spark ignition engines for automobiles and to diesel engines and combined-cycle en gines for power generation. Theory indicates regenerative gas turbines should achieve higher thermal efficiencies than those of diesel engines and combined cycle engines. Further, regenerative gas turbines are potentially lower in cost, require less maintenance, require less space, and pollute less than competitive systems. Regenerators can be used for exhaust-gas heat exchange or for intercooling in gas-turbine systems. As an exhaust-gas heat exchanger, a regenerator recovers heat from the exhaust and uses it to preheat the compressed air before the compressed air enters the combustor. Preheating of the compressed air permits a small heat input to the combustor for a given power output of the engine. As an intercooler, a regenerator cools the gas between compressor stages. Less work is required to compress cool gas than is required to compress warm gas. Therefore, a regenerator intercooler can reduce the required work input to the compressor. Thus, regenerators can be used to increase the thermal efficiencies and power outputs of gas turbines. the backbones of high-performance re High-performance regenerators are generative gas turbines. In the past, lack of understanding of regenerator per formance has led to sub-optimal engine designs. Now this book gives com prehensive regenerator information. With this book, the designer can design regenerators that will yield gas turbines with maximum thermal efficiencies."

This book is the result of over ten (10) years of research and development in flexible robots and structures at Sandia National Laboratories. The authors de cided to collect this wealth of knowledge into a set of viewgraphs in order to teach a graduate class in Flexible Robot Dynamics and Controls within the Mechanical En gineering Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM). These viewgraphs, encouragement from several students, and many late nights have produced a book that should provide an upper-level undergraduate and graduate textbook and a reference for experienced professionals. The content of this book spans several disciplines including structural dynam ics, system identification, optimization, and linear, digital, and nonlinear control theory which are developed from several points of view including electrical, me chanical, and aerospace engineering as well as engineering mechanics. As a result, the authors believe that this book demonstrates the value of solid applied theory when developing hardware solutions to real world problems. The reader will find many real world applications in this book and will be shown the applicability of these techniques beyond flexible structures which, in turn, shows the value of mul tidisciplinary education and teaming."

Gas-Turbine Regenerators begins with a thorough introduction to regenerators, familiarizing the reader with the terminology used in regenerator analysis and design. The book then describes the historical background of regenerator analysis and design and their development through the years. Following the historical background, this book explores gas-turbine cycles, the thermodynamic cycle by which gas turbines convert heat into work. The book then presents three design models: Direct Regenerator Design; Optimal Regenerator Design, and the design methods of Kays and London. The text concludes with three significant kinds of regenerator performance: heat transfer; leakage, and pressure drops. Regenerative gas turbines have the potential to be more efficient and lower in cost than competing diesel and combined cycle engines. In addition, regenerative gas turbines require less maintenance, require less space, and pollute less than competitive systems. This text provides engineers and designers with the tools needed to achieve these qualities in four distinct ways: First, in the preliminary stages, designers can choose from one or more designs that may be suitable for their application. Second, the designer who has some design specifications can use the optimization method to choose the remaining specifications in order to provide maximum thermal efficiency. Third, this book can be used by the manufacturer of regenerator cores in selecting core-passage geometrics and core materials. Finally, inexperienced designers can use the step-by-step examples of designs of regenerative gas turbines.

This book presents an innovative control system design process motivated by renewable energy electric grid integration problems. The concepts developed result from the convergence of research and development goals which have important concepts in common: exergy flow, limit cycles, and balance between competing power flows. A unique set of criteria is proposed to design controllers for a class of nonlinear systems. A combination of thermodynamics with Hamiltonian systems provides the theoretical foundation which is then realized in a series of connected case studies. It allows the process of control design to be viewed as a power flow control problem, balancing the power flowing into a system against that being dissipated within it and dependent on the power being stored in it - an interplay between kinetic and potential energies. Human factors and the sustainability of self-organizing systems are dealt with as advanced topics.

Based on the results of over 10 years of research and development by the authors, this book presents a broad cross section of dynamic programming (DP) techniques applied to the optimization of dynamical systems. The main goal of the research effort was to develop a robust path planning/trajectory optimization tool that did not require an initial guess. The goal was partially met with a combination of DP and homotopy algorithms. DP algorithms are presented here with a theoretical development, and their successful application to variety of practical engineering problems is emphasized. Applied Dynamic Programming for Optimization of Dynamical Systems presents applications of DP algorithms that are easily adapted to the reader's own interests and problems. The book is organized in such a way that it is possible for readers to use DP algorithms before thoroughly comprehending the full theoretical development. A general architecture is introduced for DP algorithms emphasizing the solution to nonlinear problems. DP algorithm development is introduced gradually with illustrative examples that surround linear systems applications. Many examples and explicit design steps applied to case studies illustrate the ideas and principles behind DP algorithms. DP algorithms potentially address a wide class of applications composed of many different physical systems described by dynamical equations of motion that require optimized trajectories for effective maneuverability. The DP algorithms determine control inputs and corresponding state histories of dynamic systems for a specified time while minimizing a performance index. Constraints may be applied to the final states of the dynamic system or to the states and control inputs during the transient portion of the manoeuvre.