Desenvolvimento e implementação de estratégias de controle digital para regulação de tensão e amortecimento de oscilações eletromecânicas em um gerador síncrono de 10kVA

Neste trabalho são apresentados o desenvolvimento e a implementação de estratégias de controle digital para regulação automática de tensão e para o amortecimento de oscilações eletromecânicas em um sistema de potência em escala reduzida de 10kVA, localizado no Laboratório de Controle de Sistemas de Potência (LACSPOT), da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA). O projeto dos dois controladores é baseado na técnica de alocação polinomial de polos. Para o projeto do Regulador Automático de Tensão (RAT) foi adotado um modelo simplificado, de primeira ordem, da máquina síncrona, cujos parâmetros foram levantados experimentalmente. Para o controlador amortecedor, por sua vez, também chamado de Estabilizador de Sistemas de Potência (ESP), foi utilizado um modelo discreto, do tipo auto regressivo com entrada exógena (ARX). Este modelo foi estimado por meio de técnicas de identificação paramétrica, considerando para tal, o conjunto motor-gerador interligado a um sistema de maior porte (concessionária de energia elétrica). As leis de controle foram embarcadas em um microcontrolador de alto desempenho e, para a medição dos sinais utilizados nos controladores, foi desenvolvida uma instrumentação eletrônica baseada em amplificadores operacionais para o condicionamento dos sinais dos sensores. O sinal de controle é baseado na técnica de modulação por largura de pulso (PWM) e comanda o valor médio da tensão de um conversor CC-CC, o qual é utilizado como circuito de excitação que energiza o enrolamento de campo do gerador. Além disso, o acionamento elétrico das máquinas que compõem o grupo gerador de 10kVA foi projetado e automatizado somando segurança aos operadores e ao componentes deste sistema de geração. Os resultados experimentais demonstraram o bom desempenho obtido pela estratégia proposta.

Técnica de controle preditivo baseado em modelo aplicada ao controle de tensão de um gerador síncrono - resultados experimentais

Neste trabalho serão apresentados os resultados da avaliação experimental de uma metodologia de controle digital preditivo auto-ajustavel aplicada ao controle de tensão de um sistema de geração de energia de escala reduzida. Um estimador recursivo baseado no conhecido método de mínimos quadrados é utilizado na etapa de identificação do controlador preditivo proposto. A etapa de cálculo da lei de controle é realizada com o algoritmo Generalized Predictive Controller (GPC). A avaliação experimental foi realizada com testes de resposta ao degrau e rastreamento aplicados em diferentes condições operacionais do sistema de potência estudado. Para fins de comparação, também serão apresentados os resultados da avaliação de um controlador auto-ajustável que utiliza o método de alocação de pólos para a síntese do sinal de controle e três controladores digitais com parâmetros fixos.

Robust and optimal adjustment of Power System Stabilizers through Linear Matrix Inequalities

This work presents the application of Linear Matrix Inequalities to the robust and optimal adjustment of Power System Stabilizers with pre-defined structure. Results of some tests show that gain and zeros adjustments are sufficient to guarantee robust stability and performance with respect to various operating points. Making use of the flexible structure of LMI's, we propose an algorithm that minimizes the norm of the controllers gain matrix while it guarantees the damping factor specified for the closed loop system, always using a controller with flexible structure. The technique used here is the pole placement, whose objective is to place the poles of the closed loop system in a specific region of the complex plane. Results of tests with a nine-machine system are presented and discussed, in order to validate the algorithm proposed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Controller system design using the coefficient diagram method

Coefficient diagram method is a controller design technique for linear time-invariant systems. This design procedure occurs into two different domains: an algebraic and a graphical. The former is closely paired to a conventional pole placement method and the latter consists on a diagram whose reading from the plotted curves leads to insights regarding closed-loop control system time response, stability and robustness. The controller structure has two degrees of freedom and the design process leads to both low overshoot closed-loop time response and good robustness performance regarding mismatches between the real system and the design model. This article presents an overview on this design method. In order to make more transparent the presented theoretical concepts, examples in Matlab®code are provided. The included code illustrates both the algebraic and the graphical nature of the coefficient diagram design method. © 2016, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

Perianal Complete Remission With Combined Therapy (seton Placement And Anti-tnf Agents) In Crohn's Disease: A Brazilian Multicenter Observational Study.

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is one of the most severe phenotypes of inflammatory bowel diseases. Combined therapy with seton placement and anti-TNF therapy is the most common strategy for this condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the rates of complete perianal remission after combined therapy for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease. This was a retrospective observational study with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease patients submitted to combined therapy from four inflammatory bowel diseases referral centers. We analyzed patients' demographic characteristics, Montreal classification, concomitant medication, classification of the fistulae, occurrence of perianal complete remission and recurrence after remission. Complete perianal remission was defined as absence of drainage from the fistulae associated with seton removal. A total of 78 patients were included, 44 (55.8%) females with a mean age of 33.8 (±15) years. Most patients were treated with Infliximab, 66.2%, than with Adalimumab, 33.8%. Complex fistulae were found in 52/78 patients (66.7%). After a medium follow-up of 48.2 months, 41/78 patients (52.6%) had complete perianal remission (95% CI: 43.5%-63.6%). Recurrence occurred in four (9.8%) patients (95% CI: 0.7%-18.8%) in an average period of 74.8 months. Combined therapy lead to favorable and durable results in perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.

Diagnosis and treatment of extraction sockets in preparation for implant placement: report of three cases

This article addresses diagnostic parameters that should be assessed in the treatment of extraction sockets with dental implant placement by presenting three case reports that emphasize the relevance of the amount of remaining bone walls. Diagnosis was based on the analysis of clinical and radiographic parameters (e.g.: bone defect morphology, remaining bone volume, presence of infections on the receptor site). Case 1 presents a 5-wall defect in the maxillary right central incisor region with severe root resorption, which was treated with immediate implant placement. Cases 2 and 3 present, respectively, two- and three-wall bone defects that did not have indication for immediate implants. These cases were first submitted to a guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure with bone graft biomaterial and membrane barriers, and the implants were installed in a second surgical procedure. The analysis of the preoperative periodontal condition of the adjacent teeth and bone defect morphology is extremely important because these factors determine the choice between immediate implant or GBR treatment followed by implant installation in a subsequent intervention.

Phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic parasite, Polypodium hydriforme, within the Phylum Cnidaria

Background: Polypodium hydriforme is a parasite with an unusual life cycle and peculiar morphology, both of which have made its systematic position uncertain. Polypodium has traditionally been considered a cnidarian because it possesses nematocysts, the stinging structures characteristic of this phylum. However, recent molecular phylogenetic studies using 18S rDNA sequence data have challenged this interpretation, and have shown that Polypodium is a close relative to myxozoans and together they share a closer affinity to bilaterians than cnidarians. Due to the variable rates of 18S rDNA sequences, these results have been suggested to be an artifact of long-branch attraction ( LBA). A recent study, using multiple protein coding markers, shows that the myxozoan Buddenbrockia, is nested within cnidarians. Polypodium was not included in this study. To further investigate the phylogenetic placement of Polypodium, we have performed phylogenetic analyses of metazoans with 18S and partial 28S rDNA sequences in a large dataset that includes Polypodium and a comprehensive sampling of cnidarian taxa. Results: Analyses of a combined dataset of 18S and partial 28S sequences, and partial 28S alone, support the placement of Polypodium within Cnidaria. Removal of the long-branched myxozoans from the 18S dataset also results in Polypodium being nested within Cnidaria. These results suggest that previous reports showing that Polypodium and Myxozoa form a sister group to Bilateria were an artifact of long-branch attraction. Conclusion: By including 28S rDNA sequences and a comprehensive sampling of cnidarian taxa, we demonstrate that previously conflicting hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic placement of Polypodium can be reconciled. Specifically, the data presented provide evidence that Polypodium is indeed a cnidarian and is either the sister taxon to Hydrozoa, or part of the hydrozoan clade, Leptothecata. The former hypothesis is consistent with the traditional view that Polypodium should be placed in its own cnidarian class, Polypodiozoa.

A SEARCH FOR FIELD HORIZONTAL-BRANCH STARS NEAR THE SOUTH GALACTIC POLE

Searches for field horizontal-branch (FHB) stars in the halo of the Galaxy in the past have been carried out by several techniques, such as objective-prism surveys and visual or infrared photometric surveys. By choosing adequate color criteria, it is possible to improve the efficiency of identifying bona fide FHB stars among the other objects that exhibit similar characteristics, such as main-sequence A-stars, blue stragglers, subdwarfs, etc. In this work, we report the results of a spectroscopic survey carried out near the south Galactic pole intended to validate FHB stars originally selected from the HK objective-prism survey of Beers and colleagues, based on near-infrared color indices. A comparison between the stellar spectra obtained in this survey with theoretical stellar atmosphere models allows us to determine T(eff), log g, and [Fe/H] for 13 stars in the sample. Stellar temperatures were calculated from measured (B-V)(o), when this measurement was available (16 stars). The color index criteria adopted in this work are shown to correctly classify 30% of the sample as FHB, 25% as non-FHB (main-sequence stars and subdwarfes), whereas 40% could not be distinguished between FHB and main-sequence stars. We compare the efficacy of different color criteria in the literature intended to select FHB stars, and discuss the use of the Mg II 4481 line to estimate the metallicity.

Multi-objective analysis of impacts of distributed generation placement on the operational characteristics of networks for distribution system planning

Recent advances in energy technology generation and new directions in electricity regulation have made distributed generation (DG) more widespread, with consequent significant impacts on the operational characteristics of distribution networks. For this reason, new methods for identifying such impacts are needed, together with research and development of new tools and resources to maintain and facilitate continued expansion towards DG. This paper presents a study aimed at determining appropriate DG sites for distribution systems. The main considerations which determine DG sites are also presented, together with an account of the advantages gained from correct DG placement. The paper intends to define some quantitative and qualitative parameters evaluated by Digsilent (R), GARP3 (R) and DSA-GD software. A multi-objective approach based on the Bellman-Zadeh algorithm and fuzzy logic is used to determine appropriate DG sites. The study also aims to find acceptable DG locations both for distribution system feeders, as well as for nodes inside a given feeder. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Integral Piezoactuator System with Optimum Placement of Functionally Graded Material - A Topology Optimization Paradigm

Piezoactuators consist of compliant mechanisms actuated by two or more piezoceramic devices. During the assembling process, such flexible structures are usually bonded to the piezoceramics. The thin bonding layer(s) between the compliant mechanism and the piezoceramic may induce undesirable behavior, including unusual interfacial nonlinearities. This constitutes a drawback of piezoelectric actuators and, in some applications, such as those associated to vibration control and structural health monitoring (e. g., aircraft industry), their use may become either unfeasible or at least limited. A possible solution to this standing problem can be achieved through the functionally graded material concept and consists of developing `integral piezoactuators`, that is those with no bonding layer(s) and whose performance can be improved by tailoring their structural topology and material gradation. Thus, a topology optimization formulation is developed, which allows simultaneous distribution of void and functionally graded piezoelectric materials (including both piezo and non-piezoelectric materials) in the design domain in order to achieve certain specified actuation movements. Two concurrent design problems are considered, that is the optimum design of the piezoceramic property gradation, and the design of the functionally graded structural topology. Two-dimensional piezoactuator designs are investigated because the applications of interest consist of planar devices. Moreover, material gradation is considered in only one direction in order to account for manufacturability issues. To broaden the range of such devices in the field of smart structures, the design of integral Moonie-type functionally graded piezoactuators is provided according to specified performance requirements.

Simulated annealing applied to the irregular rotational placement of shapes over containers with fixed dimensions

This work deals with the problem of minimizing the waste of space that occurs on a rotational placement of a set of irregular two dimensional polygons inside a two dimensional container. This problem is approached with an heuristic based on simulated annealing. Traditional 14 external penalization"" techniques are avoided through the application of the no-fit polygon, that determinates the collision free area for each polygon before its placement. The simulated annealing controls: the rotation applied, the placement and the sequence of placement of the polygons. For each non placed polygon, a limited depth binary search is performed to find a scale factor that when applied to the polygon, would allow it to be fitted in the container. It is proposed a crystallization heuristic, in order to increase the number of accepted solutions. The bottom left and larger first deterministic heuristics were also studied. The proposed process is suited for non convex polygons and containers, the containers can have holes inside. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Placement over containers with fixed dimensions solved with adaptive neighborhood simulated annealing

This work deals with the problem of minimizing the waste of space that occurs on a rotational placement of a set of irregular bi-dimensional items inside a bi-dimensional container. This problem is approached with a heuristic based on Simulated Annealing (SA) with adaptive neighborhood. The objective function is evaluated in a constructive approach, where the items are placed sequentially. The placement is governed by three different types of parameters: sequence of placement, the rotation angle and the translation. The rotation applied and the translation of the polygon are cyclic continuous parameters, and the sequence of placement defines a combinatorial problem. This way, it is necessary to control cyclic continuous and discrete parameters. The approaches described in the literature deal with only type of parameter (sequence of placement or translation). In the proposed SA algorithm, the sensibility of each continuous parameter is evaluated at each iteration increasing the number of accepted solutions. The sensibility of each parameter is associated to its probability distribution in the definition of the next candidate.

Cattle Grazing Distribution and Efficacy of Strategic Mineral Mix Placement in Tropical Brazilian Pastures

A study was conducted in Brazil to identify factors affecting grazing distribution of yearling Nelore cross heifers and to evaluate the efficacy of placement of a salt-mineral mix away from water to improve uniformity of grazing. Two pastures (25 ha and 42 ha) were evaluated for four 15-d sessions. Mineral mix was placed 590 m to 780 m from water during two sessions and at water for two sessions. Stubble heights were measured at the beginning and end of each session in 1-ha subunits of each pasture. Cattle locations were recorded oil clay 13 and 14 of each session by horseback observers. Heifers avoided areas with a preponderance of forbs and taller grass (P < 0.001). For the first 15 days of the study cattle avoided subunits farther from water. Thereafter, horizontal distance from water had no affect on grazing use (P > 0.10). Stubble height reduction was more uniform (P < 0.05) when the mineral mix was Lit water compared to away from water. In contrast, heifers spent less time farther from water when Mineral mix was placed at water (P = 0.02) based Oil Visual observations. Strategic placement of a salt-mineral mix away from water does not appear to be a reliable tool to improve cattle grazing distribution in humid tropical pastures from 25 ha to 45 ha in size.

Development of the student placement evaluation form: A tool for assessing student fieldwork performance

Evaluation of students undertaking fieldwork education placements is a critical process in the health professions. As training programs and practice evolve, systems for assessing students need to be reviewed and updated constantly. In 1995, staff of the occupational therapy training program at the University of Queensland, Australia decided to develop a new tool for assessing student fieldwork performance. Using an action research methodology, a team developed the Student Placement Evaluation Form, a flexible and comprehensive criterion-referenced evaluation tool. The present paper examines action research as an appropriate methodology for considering real-life organisational problems in a systematic and participatory manner. The action research cycles undertaken, including preliminary information gathering, tool development, trial stages and current use of the tool, are detailed in the report. Current and future development of the tool is also described.

Pole detail, PNG Coffee Industry Board Office and Warehouse, Goroka

Detailed view of poles used in construction. Poles were spliced in their length with steel bars (like 3 pin plugs) and these joints were restrained from splitting with steel strap belts. The belts were tightened with opposing wedges like the old Greene & Greene wrought iron detail.