Estudo e especificação de um sistema de instrumentação para unidades de elevação de petróleo utilizando tecnologia sem fio

Wireless sensor networks are reality nowadays. The growing necessity of connectivity between existing industrial plant equipments pushes the research and development of several technologies. The IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN comes as a low-cost and powersaving viable solution, which are important concerns while making decisions on remote sensoring projects. This study intends to propose a wireless communication system which makes possible the monitoring of analogic and/or digital variables (i. e., the pressure studied) involved on the artificial methods for oil and gas lifting. The main issues are: To develop a software based on SMAC Standard in order to create a wireless network to monitoring analogic and/or digital variables; To evaluate the communication link based on the number of lost packets tested in different environments (indoor and outdoor) and To propose an instrumentation system consisting of wireless devices

Indoor Air quality related to occupancy at an air-conditioned public building

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

Energy system contributions in indoor rock climbing

The present study cross-sectionally investigated the influence of training status, route difficulty and upper body aerobic and anaerobic performance of climbers on the energetics of indoor rock climbing. Six elite climbers (EC) and seven recreational climbers ( RC) were submitted to the following laboratory tests: ( a) anthropometry, (b) upper body aerobic power, and ( c) upper body Wingate test. on another occasion, EC subjects climbed an easy, a moderate, and a difficult route, whereas RC subjects climbed only the easy route. The fractions of the aerobic (WAER), anaerobic alactic (W-PCR) and anaerobic lactic (W-[La(])-) systems were calculated based on oxygen uptake, the fast component of excess post-exercise oxygen uptake, and changes in net blood lactate, respectively. on the easy route, the metabolic cost was significantly lower in EC [ 40.3 ( 6.5) kJ] than in RC [60.1 ( 8.8) kJ] ( P < 0.05). The respective contributions of the WAER, WPCR, and W-[La(])- systems in EC were: easy route = 41.5 (8.1), 41.1 (11.4) and 17.4% (5.4), moderate route = 45.8 (8.4), 34.6 (7.1) and 21.9% (6.3), and difficult route = 41.9 (7.4), 35.8 (6.7) and 22.3% (7.2). The contributions of the WAER, WPCR, and W-[La(])- systems in RC subjects climbing an easy route were 39.7 (5.0), 34.0 (5.8), and 26.3% (3.8), respectively. These results indicate that the main energy systems required during indoor rock climbing are the aerobic and anaerobic alactic systems. In addition, climbing economy seems to be more important for the performance of these athletes than improved energy metabolism.

Influence of sugarcane burning on indoor/outdoor PAH air pollution in Brazil

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

Indoor NO2 air pollution and lung function of professional cooks

Studies of cooking-generated NO2 effects are rare in occupational epidemiology. In the present study, we evaluated the lung function of professional cooks exposed to NO2 in hospital kitchens. We performed spirometry in 37 cooks working in four hospital kitchens and estimated the predicted FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75, based on age, sex, race, weight, and height, according to Knudson standards. NO2 measurements were obtained for 4 consecutive days during 4 different periods at 20-day intervals in each kitchen. Measurements were performed inside and outside the kitchens, simultaneously using Palm diffusion tubes. A time/exposure indicator was defined as representative of the cumulative exposure of each cook. No statistically significant effect of NO2 exposure on FVC was found. Each year of work as a cook corresponded to a decrease in predicted FEV1 of 2.5% (P = 0.046) for the group as a whole. When smoking status and asthma were included in the analysis the effect of time/exposure decreased about 10% and lost statistical significance. on predicted FEF25-75, a decrease of 3.5% (P = 0.035) was observed for the same group and the inclusion of controllers for smoking status and asthma did not affect the effects of time/exposure on pulmonary function parameter. After a 10-year period of work as cooks the participants of the study may present decreases in both predicted FEV1 and FEF25-75 that can reach 20 and 30%, respectively. The present study showed small but statistically significant adverse effects of gas stove exposure on the lung function of professional cooks.

Indoor radon measurements and methodologies in Latin American countries

According to the current international guidelines concerning environmental problems, it is necessary to evaluate and to know the indoor radon levels, specially since most of the natural radiation dose to man comes from radon gas and its progeny. Several countries have established National Institutions and National Programs for the study of radon and its connection with lung cancer risk and public health. The aim of this work is to present the indoor radon measurements and the detection methods used for different regions of Latin America (LA) in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. This study shows that the passive radon devices based on alpha particle nuclear track methodology (NTM) is one of the more generalized methods in LA for long term indoor radon measurements, CR-39, LR-115 and Makrofol being the more commonly used detector materials. The participating institutions and the radon level measurements in the different countries are presented in this contribution. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Indoor radon measurements in six Latin American countries

Most of the natural radiation dose to man comes from radon gas and its progeny. Several countries have established national institutions and national programs in charge of the study of radon and its connection with lung cancer risk and public health. In this paper an indoor radon measurements in Latin American countries is presented. The participants in this work were from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Many different techniques are used in this common effort, and the indoor radon levels in specific locations in each of the participant countries are presented.

An easy-learning and easy-teaching tool for indoor thermal analysis - ArcTech

ArcTech is a software being developed, applied and improved with the aim of becoming an efficient sensitization tool to support the teaching-learning process of Architecture courses. The application deals initially with the thermal comfort of buildings. The output generated by the software shows if a student is able to produce a pleasant environment, in terms of thermal sensation along a 24-hours period. Although one can find the very same characteristics in fully-developed commercial software, the reason to create ArcTech is related to the flexibility of the system to be adapted by the instructor and also to the need of simple tools for the evaluation of specific topics along the courses. The first part of ArcTech is dedicated to data management and that was developed using the visual programming language Delphi 7 and Firebird as the database management system. The second part contains the parameters that can be changed by the system administrator and those related to project visualization. The interface of the system, in which the student will learn how to implement and to evaluate the project alternatives, was built using Macromedia Flash. The software was applied to undergraduate students revealing its easy-learning and easy-teaching interface.

Indoor air quality assessment of elementary schools in Curitiba, Brazil

The promotion of good indoor air quality in schools is of particular public concern for two main reasons: (1) school-age children spend at least 30% of their time inside classrooms and (2) indoor air quality in urban areas is substantially influenced by the outdoor pollutants, exposing tenants to potentially toxic substances. Two schools in Curitiba, Brazil, were selected to characterize the gaseous compounds indoor and outdoor of the classrooms. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the isomers xylenes (BTEX); NO2; SO2; O3; acetic acid (HAc); and formic acid (HFor) were assessed using passive diffusion tubes. BTEX were analyzed by gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and other collected gasses by ion chromatography. The concentration of NO2 varied between 9.5 and 23 μg m-3, whereas SO2 showed an interval from 0.1 to 4.8 μg m-3. Within the schools, BTEX concentrations were predominant. Formic and acetic acids inside the classrooms revealed intermediate concentrations of 1.5 μg m-3 and 1.2 μg m-3, respectively. © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009.

Development of heterogeneous node network using microcontroller with protocols CAN and Zigbee

In this paper was proposed the development of an heterogeneous system using the microcontroller (AT90CANI28) where the protocol model CAN and the standard IEEE 802.15.4 are connected. This module is able to manage and monitor sensors and actuators using CAN and, through the wireless standard 802.15.4, communicate with the other network modules. © 2011 IEEE.

Using serial bluetooth converters as a sensor link in networked control systems

Networked control systems (NCS) are distributed control system in which sensors, actuators and controllers are physically separated and connected through communication networks. NCS represent the evolution of networked control architectures providing greater modularity and control decentralization, ease maintenance and diagnosis and lower cost of implementation. A recent trend in this research topic is the development of NCS using wireless networks which enable interoperability between existing wired and wireless systems. This paper presents the feasibility analysis of using a serial RS-232 to Bluetooth converter as a wireless sensor link in NCS. In order to support this investigation, relevant performance metrics for wireless control applications such as jitter, time delay and messages lost are highlighted and calculated to evaluate the converter capabilities. In addition the control performance of an implemented motor control system using the converter is analyzed. Experimental results led to the conclusion that serial RS-232 Bluetooth converters can be used to implement wireless networked control systems (WNCS) providing transmission rates and closed control loop times which are acceptable for NCS applications. © 2011 IEEE.

Remote laboratory experiment access via an RFID interface

In this paper, remote laboratory experiment access is considered through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Contactless smart cards are used widely in many applications from travel cards through to building access control and inventory tracking. However, their use is considered here for access to electronic engineering experimentation in a remote laboratory setting by providing the ability to interface experiments through this contactless (wireless) connection means. A case study design is implemented to demonstrate such a means by incorporating experiment data onto a contactless smart card and accessing this via a card reader and web server arrangement. © 2012 IEEE.

Evaluating serial ZigBee devices for application in wireless networked control systems

Networked control systems (NCS) are distributed control system where the sensors, actuators and controllers are physically separated and connected through communication networks. NCS represent the evolution of networked control architectures providing greater modularity and control decentralization, ease maintenance and diagnosis and lower cost of implementation. A recent trend in this research topic is the development of NCS using wireless networks (WNCS) enabling interoperability between existing wired and wireless systems. This paper evaluates a serial RS-232 ZigBee device as a wireless sensor link in NCS. In order to support this investigation, relevant performance metrics for wireless control applications such as jitter, time delay and messages lost are highlighted and calculated to evaluate the device capabilities. In addition the control performance of an implemented motor control system using the device is analyzed. Experimental results led to the conclusion that serial RS-232 ZigBee devices can be used to implement WNCS and the use of this device delay information in the PID controller discretization can improve the control performance of the system. © 2012 IEEE.

Modelo estatístico para aplicações no planejamento de sistemas móveis celulares em ambiente indoor multifontes

O projeto de sistemas de comunicações móveis requer o conhecimento do ambiente em que será implementado. Para tanto, busca-se a exatidão na predição de propagação do sinal através do uso de modelos de predição. O presente trabalho propõe um modelo empírico para a estimativa da intensidade de sinal recebida em ambientes indoor, e que apresentam mais de uma fonte transmissora, utilizando Sistema de Antenas Distribuídas (DAS). O método apresenta uma generalização para o caso de múltiplas fontes, também chamado multifontes, e como caso particular com apenas uma fonte. A modelagem é feita através do uso de radiais partindo de cada transmissor, com o intuito de considerar a variabilidade do sinal em ambientes indoor. Estas várias perturbações no sinal, que causam desvanecimento rápido são caracterizadas através das distribuições estatísticas de desvanecimento. As mais utilizadas como a de Rayleigh, Rice e Nakagami são apresentadas para caracterização do canal, além dessas são calculadas as distribuições recentemente desenvolvidas, de Kappa-mi e Eta-mi. Para a validação do modelo realizaram-se campanhas de medições em um shopping center, que possui um DAS, com o teste em dois ambientes distintos, um supermercado e uma praça de alimentação. As simulações são realizadas no software MATLAB® e o desempenho dos resultados avaliados através do cálculo dos erros absoluto, desvio padrão e erro rms.

Modelo de propagação indoor multi-andar em 2.4 GHz com estimativa de parâmetros de QoS em chamadas VoIP

O advento de novas formas multimídia tem atraído uma clientela exigente, onde preocupação não é somente com o serviço, mas também, com a qualidade que esse serviço pode ser oferecido. As WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks) tornaram-se a forma mais comum de roteamento de Internet, devido ao seu baixo custo e facilidade de implementação. Para realizar um bom roteamento é necessário um planejamento, utilizando-se modelos. Os modelos de propagação existentes na literatura fazem a predição da intensidade do sinal, mas algumas vezes não contemplam a previsão de um bom serviço. Nesse sentido a presente dissertação propõe-se a elaborar um modelo de propagação empírico indoor multi-andar que não só prediz a potência recebida, mas também faz uma previsão para algumas métricas de QoS (Quality of Service) de chamadas VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Para a elaboração do modelo proposto foram feitas campanhas de medição, em um prédio de dois andares, em pisos distintos mantendo-se a posição do ponto de acesso (PA) fixa. Estudos de geometria analítica para a contagem e agregação de perdas em pisos e paredes. Os resultados do modelo proposto foram comparados com um modelo da literatura que tem um comportamento similar, onde é possível verificar o melhor desempenho do modelo proposto, e para efeito de estudo um andar completamente simulado foi introduzido para avaliação.