Multi-agent electricity market simulation with dynamic strategies & virtual power producers

Distributed energy resources will provide a significant amount of the electricity generation and will be a normal profitable business. In the new decentralized grid, customers will be among the many decentralized players and may even help to co-produce the required energy services such as demand-side management and load shedding. So, they will gain the opportunity to be more active market players. The aggregation of DG plants gives place to a new concept: the Virtual Power Producer (VPP). VPPs can reinforce the importance of these generation technologies making them valuable in electricity markets. In this paper we propose the improvement of MASCEM, a multi-agent simulation tool to study negotiations in electricity spot markets based on different market mechanisms and behavior strategies, in order to take account of decentralized players such as VPP.

A colonoscopia virtual no rastreio do cancro colo rectal

O cancro colo - rectal (CCR) é um problema de saúde mundial, estando associadas elevadas taxas de mortalidade e morbilidade. A maioria de CCR deriva de pólipos adenomatosos.. Um estudo retrospectivo, efectuado no serviço de Radiologia, dos achados imagiológicos típicos e atípicos, entre Janeiro de 2008 e Junho 2010. A Colonoscopia Virtual, apresenta uma sensibilidade elevada na detecção de lesões, com dimensão superior a 10mm, permitindo um diagnóstico precoce, é um exame rápido, pouco invasivo, não há necessidade de sedação e é efectuada em ambulatório.

LMP based bid formation for virtual power players operating in smart grids

Power system organization has gone through huge changes in the recent years. Significant increase in distributed generation (DG) and operation in the scope of liberalized markets are two relevant driving forces for these changes. More recently, the smart grid (SG) concept gained increased importance, and is being seen as a paradigm able to support power system requirements for the future. This paper proposes a computational architecture to support day-ahead Virtual Power Player (VPP) bid formation in the smart grid context. This architecture includes a forecasting module, a resource optimization and Locational Marginal Price (LMP) computation module, and a bid formation module. Due to the involved problems characteristics, the implementation of this architecture requires the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are used for resource and load forecasting and Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization (EPSO) is used for energy resource scheduling. The paper presents a case study that considers a 33 bus distribution network that includes 67 distributed generators, 32 loads and 9 storage units.

Renewable-based generation integration in electricity markets with virtual power producers

The development of renewable energy sources and Distributed Generation (DG) of electricity is of main importance in the way towards a sustainable development. However, the management, in large scale, of these technologies is complicated because of the intermittency of primary resources (wind, sunshine, etc.) and small scale of some plants. The aggregation of DG plants gives place to a new concept: the Virtual Power Producer (VPP). VPPs can reinforce the importance of these generation technologies making them valuable in electricity markets. VPPs can ensure a secure, environmentally friendly generation and optimal management of heat, electricity and cold as well as optimal operation and maintenance of electrical equipment, including the sale of electricity in the energy market. For attaining these goals, there are important issues to deal with, such as reserve management strategies, strategies for bids formulation, the producers’ remuneration, and the producers’ characterization for coalition formation. This chapter presents the most important concepts related with renewable-based generation integration in electricity markets, using VPP paradigm. The presented case studies make use of two main computer applications:ViProd and MASCEM. ViProd simulates VPP operation, including the management of plants in operation. MASCEM is a multi-agent based electricity market simulator that supports the inclusion of VPPs in the players set.

Virtual power producers simulation - negotiating renewable distributed generation in competitive electricity markets

Sustainable development concerns made renewable energy sources to be increasingly used for electricity distributed generation. However, this is mainly due to incentives or mandatory targets determined by energy policies as in European Union. Assuring a sustainable future requires distributed generation to be able to participate in competitive electricity markets. To get more negotiation power in the market and to get advantages of scale economy, distributed generators can be aggregated giving place to a new concept: the Virtual Power Producer (VPP). VPPs are multi-technology and multisite heterogeneous entities that should adopt organization and management methodologies so that they can make distributed generation a really profitable activity, able to participate in the market. This paper presents ViProd, a simulation tool that allows simulating VPPs operation, in the context of MASCEM, a multi-agent based eletricity market simulator.

Identificação de pessoas numa portaria virtual

Ao longo dos últimos anos tem havido um crescimento elevado na utilização de dispositivos de comunicação sem fios existindo inúmeras aplicações nas mais diversas áreas, sendo cada vez mais uma realidade no quotidiano das pessoas e da indústria. Neste trabalho é proposto uma adaptação para módulos baseados no protocolo 802.15.4 de forma a adaptar os mesmos com características distintas das que possuem. Nomeadamente são desenvolvidos diferentes tipos de antenas (antena impressa simples, agregado com 2 e 4 antenas) para serem incorporadas nos módulos por forma a permitir a sua utilização num projecto de portaria virtual, que poderá ser utilizado em escolas, hospitais, empresas, por forma a controlar o fluxo de movimentos. Para além do dimensionamento da antena e a sua adaptação aos módulos são também efectuada alterações no software nos módulos de transmissão e recepção de modo a garantir que o controlo da passagem de utilizadores numa portaria virtual seja feita do modo mais eficiente possível. O trabalho foi realizado em varias etapas, efectuando-se primeiro um estudo detalhado sobre as comunicações sem fios e nomeadamente sobre o protocolo 802.15.4. Posteriormente foram projectadas as antenas e feita a sua integração nos módulos. Por último foram efectuadas uma campanha de medidas com vista a avaliar o desempenho do sistema.

MASCEM - an electricity market simulator providing coalition support for virtual power players

This paper presents MASCEM - a multi-agent based electricity market simulator. MASCEM uses game theory, machine learning techniques, scenario analysis and optimization techniques to model market agents and to provide them with decision-support. This paper mainly focus on the MASCEM ability to provide the means to model and simulate Virtual Power Players (VPP). VPPs are represented as a coalition of agents, with specific characteristics and goals. The paper details some of the most important aspects considered in VPP formation and in the aggregation of new producers and includes a case study based on real data.

Dispachability improvement of wind generation by the virtual power producers

Nowadays, there is a growing environmental concern about were the energy that we use comes from, bringing the att ention on renewable energies. However, the use and trade of renewable e nergies in the market seem to be complicated because of the lack of guara ntees of generation, mainly in the wind farms. The lack of guarantees is usually addressed by using a reserve generation. The aggregation of DG p lants gives place to a new concept: the Virtual Power Producer (VPP). VPPs can reinforce the importance of wind generation technologies, making them valuable in electricity markets. This paper presents some resul ts obtained with a simulation tool (ViProd) developed to support VPPs in the analysis of their operation and management methods and of their strat egies effects.

Barriers for HIV testing during pregnancy in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV testing rate and determine risk factors for not have been tested during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from December 2000 to February 2001. Socioeconomic, maternal and healthcare variables were obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained in logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1,642 mothers were interviewed. Of them, 94.3% reported being offered HIV testing before or during pregnancy or during labor; 89 mothers (5.4%) were not tested or did not know if they were tested. Attending fewer than six prenatal visits, being single and younger than 18 years old were relevant barriers preventing HIV testing. There was found a relationship between maternal schooling and the category of prenatal care provider. Having low 22.20 (12.43-39.67) or high 3.38 (1.86-7.68). schooling and being cared in the private sector strongly reduced the likelihood of being HIV tested. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendation for universal counseling and HIV testing has been successfully implemented in the public sector. In order to improve HIV testing coverage, new strategies need to target women cared in the private sector especially those of low schooling.

The problems of the european union film industry: an evolution from "subsidy trap" to the advent of "virtual print fee" model

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão de Empresa (MBA), 16 de Julho de 2013, Universidade dos Açores.

Concepção e instalação de tabelas multifunções para recintos desportivos cobertos

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrotécnica – Sistemas Eléctricos de Energia

Serial experiments lain's body: o corpo enquanto fronteira entre o físico e o virtual

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Comunicação Social como parte dos requisitos para obtenção de grau de mestre em Audiovisual e Multimédia.

Biblioteca de navegação autónoma baseada em campos de potencial

Trabalho de Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática e de Computadores

O desenvolvimento de um modelo de ensino virtual num contexto de investimento incipiente em e-learning : progressos e desafios

Este artigo relata o desenvolvimento de um modelo de ensino virtual em curso na Universidade dos Açores. Depois de ter sido adotado na lecionação de disciplinas da área da Teoria e Desenvolvimento Curricular em regime de e-learning e b-learning, o modelo foi, no ano académico de 2014/15, estendido à lecionação de outras disciplinas. Além de descrever o modelo e explicar a sua evolução, o artigo destaca a sua adoção no contexto particular de uma disciplina cuja componente online foi lecionada em circunstâncias especialmente desafiadoras. Neste sentido, explica o processo de avaliação da experiência, discute os seus resultados e sugere pistas de melhoria. Essa avaliação enquadra-se num processo de investigação do design curricular – a metodologia que tem sido usada para estudar o desenvolvimento do modelo.

HIV testing among pregnant women in Brazil: rates and predictors

OBJECTIVE: To assess rates of offering and uptake of HIV testing and their predictors among women who attended prenatal care. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among postpartum women (N=2,234) who attended at least one prenatal care visit in 12 cities. Independent and probabilistic samples were selected in the cities studied. Sociodemographic data, information about prenatal care and access to HIV prevention interventions during the current pregnancy were collected. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to assess independent effects of the covariates on offering and uptake of HIV testing. Data collection took place between November 1999 and April 2000. RESULTS: Overall, 77.5% of the women reported undergoing HIV testing during the current pregnancy. Offering of HIV testing was positively associated with: previous knowledge about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; higher number of prenatal care visits; higher level of education and being white. HIV testing acceptance rate was 92.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that dissemination of information about prevention of mother-to-child transmission among women may contribute to increasing HIV testing coverage during pregnancy. Non-white women with lower level of education should be prioritized. Strategies to increase attendance of vulnerable women to prenatal care and to raise awareness among health care workers are of utmost importance.