Abstract:Rural electrification is one of the most significant issues faced by electricity companies. For this reason, these companies are choosing alternative sources to generate energy in isolated regions. Furthermore, hybrid generation systems are an effective option for supplying protected areas. In this context, this research aims at designing an autonomous hybrid system to meet the annual electricity demand of the inhabitants of a national park. Fluvial and solar energies are the best options to reduce environmental impact and to ensure the conservation of the endemic fauna and flora of the island at a low carbon footprint. The system comprises a series of subsystems modeled using commercial software for sizing and optimization. The main generation subsystem contains a hydrokinetic turbine and photovoltaic panels, the storage subsystem contains a battery bank, and the backup subsystem consists of a diesel generator used in case of lack of energy from the rest of suppliers of the hybrid system. The main results of the simulation show an optimized system that fulfills the energy demand while minimizing the use of the diesel generator to 5668 kWh/year (14.3%) of thorough generation. The hydrokinetic generator supplies 20,330 kWh/year (51.4% of the total generation) and the solar generator supplies 13,580 kWh/year (34.3%).
This research is the follow up of a study on reading habits among students at Universidad Politécnica Salesiana at Guayaquil. Results showed that the students' preferences for reading and library utilization are below the surveyed average. These outcomes lead to identify the new ways and spaces for reading preferred by undergraduate students. In this context, this article aims at evaluating the viability of adopting mobile devices in the teaching and learning process at this university. The study applies the simple observation technique, as well as focus groups were held with the attendance of students from different levels and majors, what revealed the raising inclination for mobile devices and the easiness of its implementation in the teaching and learning processes. Further, based on the experiences of other institutions in the use of mobile apps for education and the findings of the focus groups, a feasibility assessment is carried out to analyse the implementation of m-learning features that would allow an easy access to the university digital repository via mobile devices as a source for academic reading.
Electrical engineering has been one of the most evolving fields of the engineering since its origin as a profession in the late nineteenth century. As a result, the program offered by universities has had to face challenges to adapt to an ever-changing environment. This article assesses the impact of the modifications performed in electrical engineering programs of Ecuador to fit in a world that currently focuses on renewable energy and sustainable development while educating future professionals possessing the competences required by the national energy sector. To achieve this goal, the project proposes different evaluation criteria that respond to the three elements of study: educational objectives, curriculum content and learning components. Such criteria include content analysis, online survey and interviews with specialists. The outcomes indicate most universities have updated their curriculum into the current national energy exploitation scene; however, they do not count with the necessary resources to teach specialized courses on energy sustainability.
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