Petru Adrian Cotfas

Transylvania University of Brașov

Petru Adrian Cotfas is a full professor in the Electronics and Computers Department, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. He received a BSc in Mathematics and Physics and a BSc in Computer Science in 1997 and 2001, respectively. He obtained an MSc in Mathematics and Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Material Science Engineering from Transilvania University of Brasov, in 1998 and 2007, respectively. Having vast experience in virtual instrumentation, data acquisition, graphical programming, remote engineering, photovoltaics, and hybrid systems characterization and testing, Dr. Cotfas has published 11 books or book chapters and more than 150 papers in international and national journals and conference proceedings.

1books edited

2chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Petru Adrian Cotfas

The work of scientists and engineers, including testing, monitoring, and measuring, has been transformed by Virtual Instrumentation (VI). The graphical programming language LabVIEW, created by National Instruments (NI), is the primary programming environment used for VI implementation. Using the appropriate tool is crucial for both engineering advancement and education. PCs and embedded systems are widely used in the current development. As a result, non-programming experts may find their programming difficult. Even for those who are not experts in programming, NI LabVIEW provides a way to create and execute sophisticated programs. Teachers and engineers can cover domains that would not otherwise be tangible for them thanks to the LabVIEW libraries and add-ons provided by NI or the community. This book showcases unique research on the use of LabVIEW and VI for the development of applications related to autotronics, electrical engineering, rail transportation, and renewable energy. The book provides suggestions for creating sophisticated applications that are employed in industry as well as for use in teaching.

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LabVIEW

Edited by Petru Adrian Cotfas

Chapters authored

Virtual Instrumentation Used in Renewable Energy

By Petru Adrian Cotfas, Daniel Tudor Cotfas and Horia Hedesiu

The demand of energy increases once with the growth of population, and therefore, the finding of or improvement in the efficiency of renewable energy sources becomes very important for researchers and industry. The conversion of solar energy into electrical energy can be done based on photovoltaic or Seebeck effects. In the first case, photovoltaic panels are used, while in the second case, thermoelectric generators are used. The two can be combined to obtain the so-called hybrid systems, which have the goal to improve the overall conversion efficiency of the system. This chapter is focused on showing how the graphical programing language, called NI LabVIEW, together with a SPICE simulator, called NI Multisim, can be used for studying and understanding the behavior of the photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators as parts of the renewable energy sources. Different simulations developed in LabVIEW or Multisim are presented, and some monitoring and characterization applications are also described. Simple simulations to complex laboratory or industrial-level applications are dealt with in this chapter.

Part of the book: LabVIEW

Introductory Chapter: An Overview of Using Virtual Instrumentation

By Petru Adrian Cotfas, Daniel Tudor Cotfas and Horia Hedesiu

Part of the book: LabVIEW

Petru Adrian Cotfas

Latest work with IntechOpen by Petru Adrian Cotfas

LabVIEW

Chapters authored

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