RFID together with multi-agent systems to control global value chains

Nowadays, the cooperative intelligent transport systems are part of a largest system. Transportations are modal operations integrated in logistics and, logistics is the main process of the supply chain management. The supply chain strategic management as a simultaneous local and global value chain is a collaborative/cooperative organization of stakeholders, many times in co-opetition, to perform a service to the customers respecting the time, place, price and quality levels. The transportation, like other logistics operations must add value, which is achieved in this case through compression lead times and order fulfillments. The complex supplier's network and the distribution channels must be efficient and the integral visibility (monitoring and tracing) of supply chain is a significant source of competitive advantage. Nowadays, the competition is not discussed between companies but among supply chains. This paper aims to evidence the current and emerging manufacturing and logistics system challenges as a new field of opportunities for the automation and control systems research community. Furthermore, the paper forecasts the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies integrated into an information and communication technologies (ICT) framework based on distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) supported by a multi-agent system (MAS), as the most value advantage of supply chain management (SCM) in a cooperative intelligent logistics systems. Logistical platforms (production or distribution) as nodes of added value of supplying and distribution networks are proposed as critical points of the visibility of the inventory, where these technological needs are more evident.

A Service Integration Platform for Collaborative Networks

Integrated manufacturing constitutes a complex system made of heterogeneous information and control subsystems. Those subsystems are not designed to the cooperation. Typically each subsystem automates specific processes, and establishes closed application domains, therefore it is very difficult to integrate it with other subsystems in order to respond to the needed process dynamics. Furthermore, to cope with ever growing marketcompetition and demands, it is necessary for manufacturing/enterprise systems to increase their responsiveness based on up-to-date knowledge and in-time data gathered from the diverse information and control systems. These have created new challenges for manufacturing sector, and even bigger challenges for collaborative manufacturing. The growing complexity of the information and communication technologies when coping with innovative business services based on collaborative contributions from multiple stakeholders, requires novel and multidisciplinary approaches. Service orientation is a strategic approach to deal with such complexity, and various stakeholders' information systems. Services or more precisely the autonomous computational agents implementing the services, provide an architectural pattern able to cope with the needs of integrated and distributed collaborative solutions. This paper proposes a service-oriented framework, aiming to support a virtual organizations breeding environment that is the basis for establishing short or long term goal-oriented virtual organizations. The notion of integrated business services, where customers receive some value developed through the contribution from a network of companies is a key element.

Three-dimensional patchy lattice model for empty fluids

The phase diagram of a simple model with two patches of type A and ten patches of type B (2A10B) on the face centred cubic lattice has been calculated by simulations and theory. Assuming that there is no interaction between the B patches the behavior of the system can be described in terms of the ratio of the AB and AA interactions, r. Our results show that, similarly to what happens for related off-lattice and two-dimensional lattice models, the liquid-vapor phase equilibria exhibit reentrant behavior for some values of the interaction parameters. However, for the model studied here the liquid-vapor phase equilibria occur for values of r lower than 1/3, a threshold value which was previously thought to be universal for 2AnB models. In addition, the theory predicts that below r = 1/3 (and above a new condensation threshold which is < 1/3) the reentrant liquid-vapor equilibria are so extreme that it exhibits a closed loop with a lower critical point, a very unusual behavior in single-component systems. An order-disorder transition is also observed at higher densities than the liquid-vapor equilibria, which shows that the liquid-vapor reentrancy occurs in an equilibrium region of the phase diagram. These findings may have implications in the understanding of the condensation of dipolar hard spheres given the analogy between that system and the 2AnB models considered here. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4771591]

Controlo directo de binário de uma máquina assíncrona trifásica

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica Ramo de Automação e Electrónica Industrial

Análise do sistema de tratamento de efluentes gasosos de uma central de valorização energética de resíduos sólidos urbanos

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre Em Engenharia Química e Biológica Ramo de processos Químicos

Three-Dimensional patchy lattice model for empty fluids

The phase diagram of a simple model with two patches of type A and ten patches of type B (2A10B) on the face centred cubic lattice has been calculated by simulations and theory. Assuming that there is no interaction between the B patches the behavior of the system can be described in terms of the ratio of the AB and AA interactions, r. Our results show that, similarly to what happens for related off-lattice and two-dimensional lattice models, the liquid-vapor phase equilibria exhibit reentrant behavior for some values of the interaction parameters. However, for the model studied here the liquid-vapor phase equilibria occur for values of r lower than 1/3, a threshold value which was previously thought to be universal for 2AnB models. In addition, the theory predicts that below r = 1/3 (and above a new condensation threshold which is < 1/3) the reentrant liquid-vapor equilibria are so extreme that it exhibits a closed loop with a lower critical point, a very unusual behavior in single-component systems. An order-disorder transition is also observed at higher densities than the liquid-vapor equilibria, which shows that the liquid-vapor reentrancy occurs in an equilibrium region of the phase diagram. These findings may have implications in the understanding of the condensation of dipolar hard spheres given the analogy between that system and the 2AnB models considered here.

Performance assessment of a wind energy conversion system using a hierarchical controller structure

This paper deals with a hierarchical structure composed by an event-based supervisor in a higher level and two distinct proportional integral (PI) controllers in a lower level. The controllers are applied to a variable speed wind energy conversion system with doubly-fed induction generator, namely, the fuzzy PI control and the fractional-order PI control. The event-based supervisor analyses the operation state of the wind energy conversion system among four possible operational states: park, start-up, generating or brake and sends the operation state to the controllers in the lower level. In start-up state, the controllers only act on electric torque while pitch angle is equal to zero. In generating state, the controllers must act on the pitch angle of the blades in order to maintain the electric power around the nominal value, thus ensuring that the safety conditions required for integration in the electric grid are met. Comparisons between fuzzy PI and fractional-order PI pitch controllers applied to a wind turbine benchmark model are given and simulation results by Matlab/Simulink are shown. From the results regarding the closed loop point of view, fuzzy PI controller allows a smoother response at the expense of larger number of variations of the pitch angle, implying frequent switches between operational states. On the other hand fractional-order PI controller allows an oscillatory response with less control effort, reducing switches between operational states. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evolução dos sistema de telegestão da Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres, S.A.

O sistema de telegestão é uma ferramenta que permite a gestão, em tempo real, de todo o sistema de abastecimento da Empresa Portuguesa das Águas Livres, S.A. (EPAL). Esta gestão pode ser conseguida desde a captação da água até à sua entrega ao cliente final, através dos meios de monitorização necessários às operações de comando que permitem controlar e manobrar à distância os acessórios do sistema (estações elevatórias, reservatórios, válvulas,…). A presente dissertação visa a divulgação e compilação de elementos fundamentais para a otimização das potencialidades que a telegestão oferece, abordando assim, dada a sua especificidade, um tema pouco divulgado mas de extrema importância a quem trabalha ou pretende trabalhar numa entidade gestora similar. Assim, a dissertação é constituída por seis capítulos que compreendem a caracterização do sistema de adução, transporte e distribuição da EPAL, a abordagem genérica das ferramentas de suporte à exploração do sistema, uma resenha histórica do sistema de telegestão na EPAL, bem como informações referentes ao atual sistema de telegestão, nomeadamente a sua arquitetura, principais funcionalidades, tais como o controlo de órgãos de manobra à distância e análise de parâmetros de qualidade em tempo real. Finalmente, apresentam-se algumas conclusões e recomendações para trabalhos futuros. Pretende-se assim que o presente documento contribua para uma aglutinação de informações relativas aos sistemas de telegestão para abastecimento de água, respetivas vantagens aliadas às suas funcionalidades, bem como a identificação de fragilidades do sistema que poderão ser aperfeiçoadas ou mesmo eliminadas.

Projeto de uma instalação de climatização para um edifício hospitalar

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecância

A apropriação indevida de ativos - A problemática do risco e sua perceção no âmbito dos planos de prevenção de riscos de corrupção e infrações conexas no Setor Público Empresarial

Mestrado em Auditoria

Aplicação do Balanced Scorecard no Ramo Hoteleiro : Diferenças entre hotéis de 5 estrelas Portugueses e Espanhóis

Mestrado em Controlo de Gestão e dos Negócios

Optimising protocol of acquisition and post-processing procedures in the assessment of coronary artery disease by computed tomography

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently one of the most prevalent diseases in the world population and calcium deposits in coronary arteries are one direct risk factor. These can be assessed by the calcium score (CS) application, available via a computed tomography (CT) scan, which gives an accurate indication of the development of the disease. However, the ionising radiation applied to patients is high. This study aimed to optimise the protocol acquisition in order to reduce the radiation dose and explain the flow of procedures to quantify CAD. The main differences in the clinical results, when automated or semiautomated post-processing is used, will be shown, and the epidemiology, imaging, risk factors and prognosis of the disease described. The software steps and the values that allow the risk of developingCADto be predicted will be presented. A64-row multidetector CT scan with dual source and two phantoms (pig hearts) were used to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the Agatston method. The tube energy was balanced. Two measurements were obtained in each of the three experimental protocols (64, 128, 256 mAs). Considerable changes appeared between the values of CS relating to the protocol variation. The predefined standard protocol provided the lowest dose of radiation (0.43 mGy). This study found that the variation in the radiation dose between protocols, taking into consideration the dose control systems attached to the CT equipment and image quality, was not sufficient to justify changing the default protocol provided by the manufacturer.

O controlo interno nos serviços e fundos autónomos

Mestrado em Auditoria

Mobile cockpit system for enhanced electric bicycle use

This paper presents the project of a mobile cockpit system (MCS) for smartphones, which provides assistance to electric bicycle (EB) cyclists in smart cities' environment. The presented system introduces a mobile application (MCS App) with the goal to provide useful personalized information to the cyclist related to the EB's use, including EB range prediction considering the intended path, management of the cycling effort performed by the cyclist, handling of the battery charging process, and the provisioning of information regarding available public transport. This work also introduces the EB cyclist profile concept, which is based on historical data analysis previously stored in a database and collected from mobile devices' sensors. From the tests performed, the results show the importance of route guidance, taking into account the energy savings. The results also show significant changes on range prediction based on user and route taken. It is important to say that the proposed system can be used for all bicycles in general.

Choosing amine-based absorbents for CO2 capture

CO2 capture from gaseous effluents is one of the great challenges faced by chemical and environmental engineers, as the increase in CO2 levels in the Earth atmosphere might be responsible for dramatic climate changes. From the existing capture technologies, the only proven and mature technology is chemical absorption using aqueous amine solutions. However, bearing in mind that this process is somewhat expensive, it is important to choose the most efficient and, at the same time, the least expensive solvents. For this purpose, a pilot test facility was assembled and includes an absorption column, as well as a stripping column, a heat exchanger between the two columns, a reboiler for the stripping column, pumping systems, surge tanks and all necessary instrumentation and control systems. Some different aquous amine solutions were tested on this facility and it was found that, from a set of six tested amines, diethanol amine is the one that turned out to be the most economical choice, as it showed a higher CO2 loading capacity (0.982 mol of CO2 per mol of amine) and the lowest price per litre (25.70 ¤/L), even when compared with monoethanolamine, the benchmark solvent, exhibiting a price per litre of 30.50 ¤/L.