BrainMap

Mr. Viorel Nicolae MINZU

PhD

Professor - UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS"

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | PhD supervisor

Viorel Mînzu is currently a Professor within the Control and Electrical Engineering Department, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania, teaching Automation Systems and Optimal Control Techniques. He received an ME degree in Computer Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, Romania, in June 1981, a PhD degree in Automation Systems from the University of Galati Romania in December 1993, and an MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science and Automation from the University Franche-Comté France in May 1995. Between 1995-1998, he was associate professor within Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques, Besancon, France. His research interest has regarded dynamic systems modelling, control-loop implementation, and assembly system design. Lately, his research activity concerns the multiagent system, optimization using metaheuristics, and optimal control problems using computational intelligence. He received a Doctor Honoris Causa degree from Le Havre Univers

Web of Science ResearcherID: Web of Science ResearcherID: X-5488-2019

Curriculum Vitae (14/03/2023)

Expertise & keywords

A data-driven digital twin for improved hydrogen storage vessels towards challenges for the energy transition Call name: PNCDI IV, PN4GENERIC-COFUND-2023
COFUND-LEAP-RE-D3T4H2S 2024 - 2025

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); S VERTICAL (FR); École nationale supérieure de techniques avancées Bretagne (FR); International University of Rabat (MA); University of South Africa (ZA); University of Hassan II Casablanca (MA)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.d3t4h2s.ugal.ro/index.php

Abstract:

The manifestation of renewable energy, such as hydrogen, requires safe storage and transportation from the production site to users. Therefore, conducting research and harnessing new technologies in this field are necessary. Cryogenic hydrogen storage is currently the focus of the automotive, aircraft, and aerospace industries. The main advantages of using cryogenic liquid hydrogen are its relatively high density, even at low and atmospheric pressures, which offers safety, compactness, and a long range for long-distance trips. However, the boil-off loss due to heat entrainment through the storage vessel walls poses the most significant challenge to liquid hydrogen onboard storage. In order to minimise this boil-off loss, liquid hydrogen storage must utilise insulated cryogenic tanks that show excellent performance, durability, and safety. Designing cryogenic tanks for automotive or aircraft applications requires a synergistic effort between the development of materials, the design of composites, the lamination plan, the assembly of the different components, and the analysis of material failures. Choosing a suitable, microcrack-resistant, and chemically compatible reinforced matrix for such vessels can be challenging. Extreme temperatures on the walls could damage the composite, thereby reducing the safety and reliability of the tank. Understanding the microcracking, damage propagation, and resulting permeation of the hydrogen liquid in the tank's operating conditions should therefore be a primary criterion for optimising these tank structures. The proposed D3T4H2S project intends to address this problem by developing a digital twin of nanofiller-reinforced biodegradable thermoplastic hydrogen vessels with enhanced recycling. Our methodology is based on a hybrid approach involving multi-scale modelling and advanced experimental characterisation, reflecting the expertise of our interdisciplinary team and bringing together the experience of designing composite materials, the experimental study of their thermo-mechanical behaviour, their numerical modelling, and the use of machine learning for the optimisation process. In this context, a design tool focused on experimental data will enable the development of robust models focused on coupled thermomechanical responses of hydrogen tanks, considering microstructural effects and damage location as well as the sensitivity of the reinforced liner to humidity and temperature. Particular attention will be paid to the permeability problem when hydrogen is cryogenic. Finally, this project will aim to develop a hybrid digital twin that improves strategic decision-making by providing an expert system based on physics-informed modelling; this will enable real-time reliability and sustainability evaluation and optimisation of hydrogen storage vessels while keeping costs in line with mobility market demands and the inherent challenges of the energy transition.

Intelligent and distributed control of 3 complex autonomous systems integrated into emerging technologies for medical-social personal assistance and servicing of precision flexible manufacturing lines Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0290 2018 - 2021

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "VALAHIA" TARGOVISTE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DIN CRAIOVA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO)

Project website: http://www.cidsacteh.ugal.ro

Abstract:

It proposes the intelligent and distributed control of 3 complex autonomous systems,CAS,mobile robotic platforms equipped with manipulator,integrated into new technologies for personal assistance and service of precision flexible manufacturing lines for reusable products:1)Intelligent wheelchair,CAS-IW,for people with severe disabilities.Assistance and navigation technology is video-biometric.2)Personal robotic assistant,CAS-PRA,is an autonomous robotic platform,with two driving wheels,one or two free wheels and manipulator.Assistance technology is made for the elderly and disabled,in hospital or at home.The main capabilities are:obstacle avoidance navigation,locomotory,sensory,cognitive prosthesis,medical parameters monitoring,voice command recognition.3)Multidirectional autonomous vehicle,CAS-MAV,with 4 driving multidirectional wheels and manipulator,has an assistive technology capable of:transportation,towing medical stretcher, in/out door hospital and rescue on rough terrain.At CAS-PRA and MAV,the control and navigation structure is based on advanced control, ultrasound,laser and visual serving systems to avoid obstacles,localisation and manipulation.CAS-IW,PRA,MAV will be tested in hospitals in Bucharest,Craiova,Galaţi and Târgoviste.CAS-PRA and CAS-MAV will integrate in flexible manufacturing technologies,on assembly and processing lines,laboratory (mechatronics) and industrial lines.The lines become reversible,running disassembly or processing again.Disassembly or reprocessing is performed when the final product does not qualitatively fit,for reusing subassemblies or reprocessing.The technology is hybrid,the manufacturing lines are the discrete part and the CAS continuous one.The technology operates synchronised with the signals from the sensors and from the servoing visual systems.CAS-PRA and VAM will be integrated into industrial manufacturing lines of welding car body,engine assembly and equipping of the models:DACIA Duster Pitesti and Ford B-max Craiova.

ADVANCED CONTROL SYSTEM OF A BIOREFINERY PLANT Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0070 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DIN CRAIOVA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA TIMIŞOARA (RO); TEAMNET ENGINEERING SRL (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO)

Project website: http://www.biocon.ugal.ro

Abstract:

The main objective of the BIOCON project proposal is the experimental analysis and in the efficiency increase through automation of a complex biorefinery installation that consists in the coupling of two processes: an anaerobic digestion process and a photosynthetic growth process of microalgae in photobioreactor. The resulting installation is used to obtain microalgal biomass for added value compounds extraction, to bio-mitigate the CO2 evolved from combustion of biogas using it as substrate for the photosynthetic growth of microalgae, to study the utilization of biomass residues derived from the extraction of added value compounds from microalgae as substrate for the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion and to analyze the production of biogas in the anaerobic treatment of wastewaters. To accomplish these objectives with the available resources a structure based on the modern concept HILS (Hardware in the Loop Simulations) was adopted. This structure involves the coupling of an experimental structure (a photobioreactor for the photosynthetic growth of microalgae) and a software structure (an anaerobic digester), noting that this HILS structure behave similarly with an experimental biorefinery installation.

The original scientific contributions of the project consist in solutions for the automation of a very complex process (with strong nonlinearities, affected by parametric and model uncertainties and subjected to perturbations): mathematical models for the anaerobic digester and photobioreactor, and for the coupling between a software entity – anaerobic digester and an experimental one – photobioreactor for microalgae growth; prototype of the biorefinery installation based on the HILS concept, controlled with the process computer; control solutions for the biorefinery installation, advanced control system for the global process. The main novelty and originality character of the project consist in the systemic approach (modeling and control) of the biorefinery installation for which few references can be found in literature. The following main objectives of the project can be mentioned: modeling of the anaerobic digestion process, modeling and identification of the microalgae photosynthetic growth process based on the experiments made on the pilot photobioreactor, synthesis of control algorithms (fuzzy and optimal), for both processes (anaerobic digester and photobioreactor) treated individually and coupled, through numerical simulation and implementation on the biorefinery installation based on HILS concept. In the current competitive context for energy resources, the project aims to encourage the use of anaerobic treatment methods, providing solutions for the removal of nutrients from the anaerobic digester effluents through the photosynthetic growth processes in order to comply with the imposed quality standards. The project also encourages the use of photosynthetic growth processes with low-cost substrates such as wastewater and CO2 from biogas combustion. It must be underlined that both processes and technologies within the project are approached through a systemic-engineering manner that is specific to process automation. The consortium consists in four entities, all with wide experience in the development of scientific research projects: Coordinator – Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, P1 – University of Craiova, P2 – Polytechnic University of Timisoara and T3 – TeamNet SRL Company. The consortium includes specialists in automation, process informatics and biotechnology, responding thus to the interdisciplinary characteristic of the project. The working plan is rigorous and well-balanced, all partner institutions providing highly qualified human resource and appropriate logistics, and creating good premises for the accomplishment of the expected results.

Advanced control systems for bioprocesses in food industry Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0544 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DIN CRAIOVA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DIN CRAIOVA (RO); MOARA CALAFATULUI S.R.L. (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA TIMIŞOARA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO)

Project website: http://www.ace.ucv.ro/adcosbio/

Abstract:

The significant improvement of performance and quality of products in a vital economic domain represented by the food industry can be done by using modern monitoring and control techniques. The project follows the recent research trends and it attempts to unify the team experience in order to apply the research results to bioprocesses in food industry, particularly to bread production and to related wastewater treatment processes.

Bioprocess modelling and control can be successfully achieved using interdisciplinary approaches from control engineering, biochemistry, applied mathematics and information technology. The bioprocesses are complex nonlinear systems, characterized by modelling uncertainties, interconnections, delays, and lack of cheap and reliable instrumentation. Taking into account the previous results obtained by the team in the field of applied automatic control, these interdisciplinary approaches will be used to develop advanced control systems that will be able to deal with the above mentioned specific problems of the bioprocesses.

Firstly, the project will develop advanced control techniques based on nonlinear algorithms (adaptive, predictive, sliding mode, neural, fuzzy, hybrid) for bioprocesses, in different control system structures. Secondly, it will implement, test and validate these techniques on processes in food industry, primary at mills and bread factories. Three main processes are envisaged: bread production, wheat grinding and flour processing, and wastewater treatment.

The main research objectives are:

1. Analysis and modelling of processes in food industry;

2. Development of novel estimation and identification techniques for bioprocesses;

3. Design of advanced control techniques for three classes of bioprocesses;

4. Implementation of advanced control systems for processes in food industry.

These objectives deal with several challenging topics, considered open problems by the Technical Committee on Biosystems & Bioprocesses of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). These scientific interdisciplinary problems can be investigated and can produce many original elements, and thus the Romanian research in the area can be highlighted.

The research product of the project will be a package of innovative procedures and technologies (algorithms, software and hardware) for bioprocess control, with direct applicability in food industry and wastewater treatment. The specific expected results are as follows: experimental models of fermentation and wastewater treatment bioprocesses, novel identification and estimation techniques (including software tools) for bioprocesses, innovative advanced control technologies, intelligent tuning algorithms for low-cost controllers, practical control solutions for industrial processes in food industry. The ADCOSBIO project is conceived in order to apply these research results in a real industrial environment; by using new control technologies, the processes in food industry can be significantly improved in terms of performance and quality. The applicability of the obtained results can be extended with minor costs to related areas, such as other bioprocesses in food industry (alcoholic and lactic fermentation, synthesis of enzymes) and to various chemical processes.

The research consortium is composed of four partners: three research organizations (University of Craiova - coordinator, “Politehnica” University of Timișoara, University “Dunărea de Jos” of Galaţi) with well known national and international experience in scientific and research area, and one enterprise (SC Moara Calafatului SRL), the biggest mill and bread production enterprise in south-region of Dolj County. The research teams are multidisciplinary, with specialists in control engineering, information technology, electrical engineering, biotechnology, biochemical and agricultural engineering.

Integrated Regenerative Electric Drive System Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1680 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO); GALFINBAND SA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "DUNAREA DE JOS" (RO)

Project website: http://www.regensys.ugal.ro

Abstract:

A large proportion of worldwide electrical energy (more than 60%), is consumed by the electric drive systems, the researching focalization upon this type system is essential in order to minimize the energetically losses. A few percentage reduction of the energy consumed by these consumers will have a major impact upon the world energy expenditure and CO2 emissions. The overall objective is to increase competitiveness and performance of the Romanian industry in the European context. In order to maintain or to improve the market position, the enterprises are constrained to improve techno-economic performance and competitiveness for contracting opportunities and technology transfer. The project will use modern control strategies for electric drive systems with DC power distribution network. It is envisaged that the energy during braking or reversing of the electric car lifts can be recovered in an optimal way, both for operation with constant flux, and with flux weakening operation mode. Moreover, the grid connected active power rectifier ensures unity power factor operation. Technical solutions adopted in the project have an advanced degree of novelty, sustained both by the University of Galati research team experience, and by the skills acquired by the Galfinband SA team. The novelty is reflected in the patents that will result. This solution brings significant savings by replacing expensive equipment due to use of new alternative solutions. The main objective is the development of Electric Drive System prototype with Regenerative Capabilities in optimal manner for Power Quality Improvements of the Electrical Grid. The phases of the research project are: Design and solution development of the electric drive system with energy recovery from the electrical machines (DC Motor, three-phase IM, and PMSM), Software and Hardware design of the prototype, Prototyping of the Product, and Prototype manual development, Patent registration of the prototype.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects