Remarks on Parametric Surface Waves in a Nonlinear and Non-Ideally Excited Tank

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dependence on composition of electronic properties and stability of Pt-Fe/C catalysts for oxygen reduction

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Surface structure and electronic properties of Pt-Fe/C nanocatalysts and their relation with catalytic activity for oxygen reduction

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alloys and oxides on carbon-supported Pt-Sn electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Development and testing of anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells with slurry-coated electrolyte and cathode

A laboratory setup was designed and put into operation for the development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The whole project consisted of the preparation of the component materials: anode, cathode and electrolyte, and the buildup of a hydrogen leaking-free sample chamber with platinum leads and current collectors for measuring the electrochemical properties of single SOFCs. Several anode-supported single SOFCs of the type (ZrO(2):Y(2)O(3)+NiO) thick anode/(ZrO(2):Y(2)O(3)) thin electrolyte/(La(0.65)Sr(0.35)MnO(3)+ZrO(2):Y(2)O(3)) thin cathode have been prepared and tested at 700 and 800 degrees C after in situ H(2) anode reduction. The main results show that the slurry-coating method resulted in single-cells with good reproducibility and reasonable performance, suggesting that this method can be considered for fabrication of SOFCs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantitative structural analysis of the transition from LT-LixCoO2 to HT-LixCoO2 using the rietveld method: correlation between structure and electrochemical performance

A quantitative phase analysis was made of LiXCoO2 powders obtained by two distinct chemical methodologies at different temperatures (from 400 to 700degreesC). A phase analysis was made using Rietveld refinements based on X-ray diffraction data, considering the LiXCoO2 powders as a multiphase system that simultaneously contained two main phases with distinct, layered and spinel-type structures. The sults showed the coexistence of both structures in LiXCoO2 obtained at low temperature (400 and 500degreesC), although only the layered structure was detected at higher temperatures (600 and 700degreesC, regardless of the chemical powder process employed. The electrochemical performance, evaluated mainly by the cycling reversibility of LiXCoO2 in the form of cathode insertion electrodes, revealed that there is a close correlation between structural features and the electrochemical response, with one of the redox processes (3.3 v/3.9 v) associated only with the presence of the spinel-type structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of fuel cell co-generation systems applied to a dairy industry

This paper presents a methodology for the study of a molten carbonate fuel cell co-generation system. This system is applied to a dairy industry of medium size that typically demands 2100 kW of electricity, 8500 kg/h of saturated steam (P = 1.08 MPa) and 2725 kW of cold water production. Depending on the associated recuperation equipment, the co-generation system permits the recovery of waste heat, which can be used for the production of steam, hot and cold water, hot and cold air. In this study, a comparison is made between two configurations of fuel cell co-generation systems (FCCS). The plant performance has been evaluated on the basis of fuel utilisation efficiency and each system component evaluated on the basis of second law efficiency. The energy analysis presented shows a fuel utilisation efficiency of about 87% and exergy analysis shows that the irreversibilities in the combustion chamber of the plant are significant. Further, the payback period estimated for the fuel cell investment between US$ 1000 and US$ 1500/k-W is about 3 and 6 years, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Planejamento de Fontes Reativas em Sistemas de Energia Elétrica utilizando a técnica de Decomposição de Benders e o algoritmo de Branch-and-Bound

This paper presents the Benders decomposition technique and Branch and Bound algorithm used in the reactive power planning in electric energy systems. The Benders decomposition separates the planning problem into two subproblems: an investment subproblem (master) and the operation subproblem (slave), which are solved alternately. The operation subproblem is solved using a successive linear programming (SLP) algorithm while the investment subproblem, which is an integer linear programming (ILP) problem with discrete variables, is resolved using a Branch and Bound algorithm especially developed to resolve this type of problem.

Quantitative structural analysis of the transition from LT-Li xCoO2 to HT-LixCoO2 using the rietveld method: Correlation between structure and electrochemical performance

A quantitative phase analysis was made of LixCoO2 powders obtained by two distinct chemical methodologies at different temperatures (from 400 to 700°C). A phase analysis was made using Rietveld refinements based on X-ray diffraction data, considering the Li xCoO2 powders as a multiphase system that simultaneously contained two main phases with distinct, layered and spinel-type structures. The results showed the coexistence of both structures in LixCoO 2 obtained at low temperature (400 and 500°C), although only the layered structure was detected at higher temperatures (600 and 700°C), regardless of the chemical powder process employed. The electrochemical performance, evaluated mainly by the cycling reversibility of Li xCoO2 in the form of cathode insertion electrodes, revealed that there is a close correlation between structural features and the electrochemical response, with one of the redox processes (3.3 v/3.9 v) associated only with the presence of the spinel-type structure. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Alternative continuation method for loading margin improvement and transmission losses reduction

This paper presents an alternative methodology for loading margin improvement and total real power losses reduction by using a continuation method. In order to attain this goal, a parameterizing equation based on the total real power losses and the equations of the reactive power at the slack and generation buses are added to the conventional power flow equations. The voltages at these buses are considered as control variables and a new parameter is chosen to reduce the real power losses in the transmission lines. The results show that this procedure leads to maximum loading point increase and consequently, in static voltage stability margin improvement. Besides, this procedure also takes to a reduction in the operational costs and, simultaneously, to voltage profile improvement. Another important result of this methodology is that the resulting operating points are close to that provided by an optimal power flow program. © 2004 IEEE.

A nonlinear and non-ideal wind generator supporting structure

We present a simple mathematical model of a wind turbine supporting tower. Here, the wind excitation is considered to be a non-ideal power source. In such a consideration, there is interaction between the energy supply and the motion of the supporting structure. If power is not enough, the rotation of the generator may get stuck at a resonance frequency of the structure. This is a manifestation of the so-called Sommerfeld Effect. In this model, at first, only two degrees of freedom are considered, the horizontal motion of the upper tip of the tower, in the transverse direction to the wind, and the generator rotation. Next, we add another degree of freedom, the motion of a free rolling mass inside a chamber. Its impact with the walls of the chamber provides control of both the amplitude of the tower vibration and the width of the band of frequencies in which the Sommerfeld effect occur. Some numerical simulations are performed using the equations of motion of the models obtained via a Lagrangian approach.

Sensitivity analysis for overload-relief in transmission lines using an implicitly coupled method (CRIC)

The restructuring of energy markets to provide free access to the networks and the consequent increase of the number of power transactions has been causing congestions in transmission systems. As consequence, the networks suffer overloads in a more frequent way. One parameter that has strong influence on transfer capability is the reactive power flow. A sensitivity analysis can be used to find the best solution to minimize the reactive power flows and relief, the overload in one transmission line. The proposed methodology consists on the computation of two sensitivities based on the use of the Lc matrix from CRIC (Constant Reactive Implicitly Coupled) power flow method, that provide a set of actions to reduce the reactive power flow and alleviate overloads in the lines: (a) sensitivity between reactive power flow in lines and reactive power injections in the buses, (b) sensitivity between reactive power flow in lines and transformer's taps. © 2006 IEEE.

A specialized genetic algorithm to solve the short term transmission network expansion planning

In this paper, the short term transmission network expansion planning (STTNEP) is solved through a specialized genetic algorithm (SGA). A complete AC model of the transmission network is used, which permits the formulation of an integrated power system transmission network expansion planning problem (real and reactive power planning). The characteristics of the proposed SGA to solve the STTNEP problem are detailed and an interior point method is employed to solve nonlinear programming problems during the solution steps of the SGA. Results of tests carried out with two electrical energy systems show the capabilities of the SGA and also the viability of using the AC model to solve the STTNEP problem. © 2009 IEEE.

On the efficiency of an alternative codification for multiobjective service restoration in electric distribution networks

This paper proposes an alternative codification to solve the service restoration in electric power distribution networks using a SPEA2 multiobjective evolutionary algorithm, assuming the minimization of both the load not supplied and the number of switching operations involved in the restoration plan. Constrains as the line, power source and voltage drop limits in order to avoid the activation of protective devices are all included in the proposed algorithm. Experimental results have shown the convenience on considering these new representations in the sense of feasibility maintenance and also in the sense of better approximation to the Pareto set. ©2009 IEEE.

Multi-area decentralized optimal VAr planning using the Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition principle

This paper presents a new methodology for solving the optimal VAr planning problem in multi-area electric power systems, using the Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition. The original multi-area problem is decomposed into subproblems (one for each area) and a master problem (coordinator). The solution of the VAr planning problem in each area is based on the application of successive linear programming, and the coordination scheme is based on the reactive power marginal costs in the border bus. The aim of the model is to provide coordinated mechanisms to carry out the VAr planning studies maximizing autonomy and confidentiality for each area, assuring global economy to the whole system. Using the mathematical model and computational implementation of the proposed methodology, numerical results are presented for two interconnected systems, each of them composed of three equal subsystems formed by IEEE30 and IEEE118 test systems. © 2011 IEEE.