A multi vector energy analysis for interconnected power and gas systems

This paper presents the first multi vector energy analysis for the interconnected energy systems of Great Britain (GB) and Ireland. Both systems share a common high penetration of wind power, but significantly different security of supply outlooks. Ireland is heavily dependent on gas imports from GB, giving significance to the interconnected aspect of the methodology in addition to the gas and power interactions analysed. A fully realistic unit commitment and economic dispatch model coupled to an energy flow model of the gas supply network is developed. Extreme weather events driving increased domestic gas demand and low wind power output were utilised to increase gas supply network stress. Decreased wind profiles had a larger impact on system security than high domestic gas demand. However, the GB energy system was resilient during high demand periods but gas network stress limited the ramping capability of localised generating units. Additionally, gas system entry node congestion in the Irish system was shown to deliver a 40% increase in short run costs for generators. Gas storage was shown to reduce the impact of high demand driven congestion delivering a reduction in total generation costs of 14% in the period studied and reducing electricity imports from GB, significantly contributing to security of supply.

A state-of-the-art review and feasibility analysis of high altitude wind power in Northern Ireland

In many countries wind energy has become an indispensable part of the electricity generation mix. The opportunity for ground based wind turbine systems are becoming more and more constrained due to limitations on turbine hub heights, blade lengths and location restrictions linked to environmental and permitting issues including special areas of conservation and social acceptance due to the visual and noise impacts. In the last decade there have been numerous proposals to harness high altitude winds, such as tethered kites, airfoils and dirigible based rotors. These technologies are designed to operate above the neutral atmospheric boundary layer of 1,300 m, which are subject to more powerful and persistent winds thus generating much higher electricity capacities. This paper presents an in-depth review of the state-of-the-art of high altitude wind power, evaluates the technical and economic viability of deploying high altitude wind power as a resource in Northern Ireland and identifies the optimal locations through considering wind data and geographical constraints. The key findings show that the total viable area over Northern Ireland for high altitude wind harnessing devices is 5109.6 km2, with an average wind power density of 1,998 W/m2 over a 20-year span, at a fixed altitude of 3,000 m. An initial budget for a 2MW pumping kite device indicated a total cost £1,751,402 thus proving to be economically viable with other conventional wind-harnessing devices.

A novel methodology for analysis of large scale interconnected power and gas systems

The European Union continues to exert a large influence on the direction of member states energy policy. The 2020 targets for renewable energy integration have had significant impact on the operation of current power systems, forcing a rapid change from fossil fuel dominated systems to those with high levels of renewable power. Additionally, the overarching aim of an internal energy market throughout Europe has and will continue to place importance on multi-jurisdictional co-operation regarding energy supply. Combining these renewable energy and multi-jurisdictional supply goals results in a complicated multi-vector energy system, where the understanding of interactions between fossil fuels, renewable energy, interconnection and economic power system operation is increasingly important. This paper provides a novel and systematic methodology to fully understand the changing dynamics of interconnected energy systems from a gas and power perspective. A fully realistic unit commitment and economic dispatch model of the 2030 power systems in Great Britain and Ireland, combined with a representative gas transmission energy flow model is developed. The importance of multi-jurisdictional integrated energy system operation in one of the most strategically important renewable energy regions is demonstrated.

Review of virtual power plant applications for the power system management and V2G market development

Utilization of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems is increasing with fostering new policies on energy industries. However, the increase of distributed generation hinders the reliability of power systems. In order to stabilize them, a virtual power plant emerges as a novel power grid management system. The VPP has a role to make a participation of different distributed energy resources and energy storage systems. This paper defines core technology of the VPP which are demand response and ancillary service concerning about Korea, America and Europe cases. It also suggests application solutions of the VPP to V2G market for restructuring national power industries in Korea.

Random Forest Based Approach for Concept-Drift Handling

Algorithms for concept drift handling are important for various applications including video analysis and smart grids. In this paper we present decision tree ensemble classication method based on the Random Forest algorithm for concept drift. The weighted majority voting ensemble aggregation rule is employed based on the ideas of Accuracy Weighted Ensemble (AWE) method. Base learner weight in our case is computed for each sample evaluation using base learners accuracy and intrinsic proximity measure of Random Forest. Our algorithm exploits both temporal weighting of samples and ensemble pruning as a forgetting strategy. We present results of empirical comparison of our method with îriginal random forest with incorporated replace-the-looser forgetting andother state-of-the-art concept-drift classiers like AWE2.

Application of Volterra Equations to Solve Unit Commitment Problem of Optimised Energy Storage and Generation

Development of reliable methods for optimised energy storage and generation is one of the most imminent challenges in modern power systems. In this paper an adaptive approach to load leveling problem using novel dynamic models based on the Volterra integral equations of the first kind with piecewise continuous kernels. These integral equations efficiently solve such inverse problem taking into account both the time dependent efficiencies and the availability of generation/storage of each energy storage technology. In this analysis a direct numerical method is employed to find the least-cost dispatch of available storages. The proposed collocation type numerical method has second order accuracy and enjoys self-regularization properties, which is associated with confidence levels of system demand. This adaptive approach is suitable for energy storage optimisation in real time. The efficiency of the proposed methodology is demonstrated on the Single Electricity Market of Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Statistical Analysis of Wind Power Generation in Europe

Studies have shown that large geographical spreading can reduce the wind power variability and smooth production. It is frequently assumed that storage and interconnection can manage wind power variability and are totally flexible. However, constraints do exist. In the future more and more electricity will be provided by renewable energy sources and more electricity interconnectors will be built between European Union (EU) countries, as outlines in many of the Projects of Common Interests. It is essential to understand the correlation of wind generation throughout Europe considering power system constraints. In this study the spatial and temporal correlation of wind power production across several countries is examined in order to understand how “the wind ‘travels’ across Europe”. Three years of historical hourly wind power generation from ten EU countries is analysed to investigate the geographic diversity and time scales influence on correlation of wind power variations. Results are then compared with two other studies and show similar general characteristics of correlation between EU country pairs to identify opportunities for storage optimisation, power system operations, and trading.

An analysis of wind curtailment and constraint at a nodal level

Many countries have set challenging wind power targets to achieve by 2020. This paper implements a realistic analysis of curtailment and constraint of wind energy at a nodal level using a unit commitment and economic dispatch model of the Irish Single Electricity Market in 2020. The key findings show that significant reduction in curtailment can be achieved when the system non-synchronous penetration limit increases from 65% to 75%. For the period analyzed, this results in a decreased total generation cost and a reduction in the dispatch-down of wind. However, some nodes experience significant dispatch-down of wind, which can be in the order of 40%. This work illustrates the importance of implementing analysis at a nodal level for the purpose of power system planning.

Valor diagnóstico y pronóstico de la medición de la presión intraabdominal transvesical en pacientes con abdomen agudo en el H.V.C.M. Cuenca febrero a septiembre del 2000

A 60 pacientes ingresados en emergencia y cirugía se realizó la medición de la presión intraabdominal [P.I.A.] por vía vesical a través de una sonda Foley. Clasificados en dos grupos de estudio: 30 del grupo de control; sin patología abdominal: 22 hombres y 8 mujeres con un promedio de edad 49 años, diagnosticados de; T.E.C., trauma raquimedular, meningitis, absceso cerebral y mal formación arteriovenoso, que necesitaban de sonda vesical. Obteníendose una media normal o valor referencial de normalidad de 2.7 cm. H20 o 1.98 mmHg. El segundo grupo experimental: 30 pacientes diagnosticados de abdomen agudo quirúrgico: 21 hombres y 9 mujeres, con un promedio de edad de 46 años, clasificados en 5 tipos de abdomen agudo: AAOI, AAT,AAP AAI. AAOV. se les mediÓ la presión intraabdominal transvesical, obteniéndose los siguientes resultados. P.I.A.: Prequirúrgico medio: 19.29 cm H20 [14.18 mmHg.]. P.IA.: Posquirúrgico media: 8.97 cm H20 [6.59 mmHg.]. Todos sometidos a laparotomía exploratoria. Mejorando 28 pacientes, uno empeoró y solicitÓ el alta, un paciente falleció. En el grupo de control los 30 pacientes presentaron la presiÓn intraabdominal en valores normales

Aportación de la bioimpedancia espectroscópica en el estado nutricional y de hidratación del paciente en hemodiálisis: impacto en la morbi-mortalidad

Aportación de la bioimpedancia espectroscópica en la valoración del estado de nutrición e hidratación del paciente en hemodiálisis. Impacto en la morbimortalidad. Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica tienen una mortalidad muy superior a la población general, siendo la principal causa la cardiovascular (Foley et al. 2005; Locatelli et al. 2004). Como consecuencia del gran impacto que tienen el estado nutricional ( Pifer et al. 2002; Gracia Iguacel et al. 2013) y la sobrehidratación (Kalantar Zadeh et al. 2009; Wizemann et al. 2009; Agarwal et al. 2010; Chazot et al. 2012) en la mortalidad, en los ultimos años se han desarrollado distintos métodos de análisis de la composición corporal, entre los cuales se encuentra la Bioimpedancia Espectroscópica (BIS). Esta herramienta permite cuantificar los diversos compartimentos del cuerpo (fundamentalmente masa magra, masa grasa y agua corporal) proporcionando al clínico información útil para la toma de decisiones, fundamentalmente en lo que respecta a la sobrecarga de volumen, aspecto fundamental en el manejo del paciente en hemodiálisis (López Gómez et al. 2011). La justificación de esta investigación se basa en existen pocos estudios longitudinales que analicen la evolución en el tiempo de marcadores nutricionales bioquímicos clásicos así como parámetros de bioimpedancia y su asociación con la morbimortalidad; no existiendo aún consenso sobre si los distintos marcadores pronósticos son mas predictivos con medidas basales o con medidas de seguimiento en el tiempo, por lo que nuestro trabajo puede contribuir a clarificar este aspecto. Además, existe un desconocimiento sobre el estado inflamatorio, la prevalencia de DPE y de sobrehidratación en la población en hemodiálisis de nuestro entorno por lo que consideramos importante analizarla para saber dónde estamos y en qué podemos mejorar. Objetivos: 1.- Impacto de la composición corporal así como de marcadores nutricionales bioquímicos e inflamatorios seguidos en el tiempo, sobre la morbimortalidad (evento compuesto muerte-hospitalización). 2.- Prevalencia del Síndrome de Desgaste Proteico Energético en función de distintas herramientas utilizadas para su valoración (criterios ISRNM, score MIS, y bioimpedancia).3.-Correlación entre los parámetros de bioimpedancia y parámetros bioquímicos nutricionales e inflamatorios. 4.- Análisis de la evolución en el tiempo de los parámetros bioquímicos, antropométricos y de bioimpedancia en el global de la muestra y en distintos grupos atendiendo al sexo, presencia de diabetes y grado de inflamación.. Diseño: Estudio observacional prospectivo de 15 meses de duración (Octubre/2013-Dic/2014) en pacientes prevalentes en hemodiálisis. Se ha realizado un corte transversal con los datos del primer mes de inclusión del paciente en el estudio (basal), a partir del cual se ha iniciado el seguimiento en el tiempo cada 2 meses. La mediana de seguimiento del estudio ha sido de 12 meses (RI 10-13 m). Pacientes y métodos: el nº de pacientes incluidos en el estudio fue de 169. Se incluyeron los pacientes estables, con mas de 3 meses en HD, excluyendose pacientes con ingreso reciente, proceso infeccioso o inflamatorio en 3 meses previos, neoplasia activa, marcapasos unipolar o con umbral de sensibilidad desconocido. Todos los pacientes firmaron el consentimiento informado. La prevalencia de DPE se analizó en el momento inicial y final del estudio. Para el análisis de la morbimortalidad se consideraron todos los ingresos de causa no programada, así como los éxitus por cualquier causa. Las funciones de supervivencia se calcularon mediante el análisis de Kaplan-Meier Para la identificación de las variables predictoras independientes del evento compuesto (muerte y / u hospitalización) se realizó un modelo de Cox univariante con las variables analíticas ( basal, media, mediana, máximo y mínimo) y demográficas y un modelo de Cox ajustado por edad,sexo e IMC con los parámetros de bioimpedancia . Las variables que dieron significativas en estos modelos (P < 0,05) se introdujeron en un modelo de Cox multivariante. Resultados. La prevalencia de DPE según criterios del ISRNM fue del 9.3 % en el momento basal, y del 4,3% en el momento de finalización del estudio. La prevalencia de sobrehidratación medida como AvROH fue del 20,1%. Durante el periodo de seguimiento se produjeron cambios significativos fundamentalmente en el índice de tejido graso (ITG) y en la sobrehidratación en los meses de verano (AvROH y TAFO). El 26% de la población de estudio tuvo al menos un ingreso hospitalario. 21 pacientes fallecieron durante el seguimiento (12,4% de la población). La principal causa de ingreso y éxitus fue la cardiovascular; consituyendo el 35% de los ingresos y el 57% de los éxitus. Los parámetros que presentaron asociación con el evento compuesto fueron: TAFO mínimo (HR 1.319: IC 95% 1.029-1.691; p= 0.029), PCR mediana (HR 1.032; IC 95% 1.014-1.050; p=0.001), albúmina máxima (HR 0.286; IC95% 0.085-0.966), colesterol total (HR 1.011; IC 95% 1.003-1.019; p=0.007) y nivel de 25 OH vit D (HR 0.947; IC 95% 0.915-0.981); p= 0.002). Conclusiones: El principal resultado de nuestro trabajo fue que la sobrehidratación, (medida como TAFO) se asoció de forma independiente con la morbimortalidad, y que las medidas seguidas en el tiempo (TAFO mínimo) tuvieron un mayor poder predictivo que las medidas basales. Adicionalmente; el estado nutricional e inflamatorio, medido mediante parámetros individuales, supuso un mayor impacto en la morbimortalidad que parámetros agrupados, como el score MIS o el síndrome DPE según criterios ISRNM. En nuestro estudio hemos encontrado importantes diferencias en la prevalencia de DPE en función de la herramienta utilizada (criterios ISRNM, MIS y parámetros de bioimpedancia). Finalmente, la periodicidad de la medición de las diferentes variables a lo largo del seguimiento nos ha permitido apreciar los cambios estacionales en los parámetros de bioimpedancia, los cuales se han acompañado de cambios en sentido inverso de algunos de los parámetros bioquímicos nutricionales.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION INTO PARTICULATE MATTER DISTRIBUTION IN CATALYZED PARTICULATE FILTERS USING A 3D TERAHERTZ WAVE SCANNER

The particulate matter distribution (PM) trends that exist in catalyzed particulate filters (CPFs) after loading, passive oxidation, active regeneration, and post loading conditions are not clearly understood. These data are required to optimize the operation of CPFs, prevent damage to the CPFs caused by non-uniform distributions, and develop accurate CPF models. To develop an understanding of PM distribution trends, multiple tests were conducted and the PM distribution was measured in three dimensions using a terahertz wave scanner. The results of this work indicate that loading, passive oxidation, active regeneration, and post loading can all cause non-uniform PM distributions. The density of the PM in the substrate after loading and the amount of PM that is oxidized during passive oxidations and active regenerations affect the uniformity of the distribution. Post loading that occurs after active regenerations result in distributions that are less uniform than post loading that occurs after passive oxidations.

High bandwidth freestanding semipolar (11–22) InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes

Freestanding semipolar (11–22) indium gallium nitride (InGaN) multiplequantum-well light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting at 445 nm have been realized by the use of laser lift-off (LLO) of the LEDs from a 50- m-thick GaN layer grown on a patterned (10–12) r -plane sapphire substrate (PSS). The GaN grooves originating from the growth on PSS were removed by chemical mechanical polishing. The 300 m × 300 m LEDs showed a turn-on voltage of 3.6 V and an output power through the smooth substrate of 0.87 mW at 20 mA. The electroluminescence spectrum of LEDs before and after LLO showed a stronger emission intensity along the [11–23]InGaN/GaN direction. The polarization anisotropy is independent of the GaN grooves, with a measured value of 0.14. The bandwidth of the LEDs is in excess of 150 MHz at 20 mA, and back-to-back transmission of 300 Mbps is demonstrated, making these devices suitable for visible light communication (VLC) applications.

Use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) as a timer of cell cycle S phase

Incorporation of thymidine analogues in replicating DNA, coupled with antibody and fluorophore staining, allows analysis of cell proliferation, but is currently limited to monolayer cultures, fixed cells and end-point assays. We describe a simple microscopy imaging method for live real-time analysis of cell proliferation, S phase progression over several division cycles, effects of anti-proliferative drugs and other applications. It is based on the prominent (~ 1.7-fold) quenching of fluorescence lifetime of a common cell-permeable nuclear stain, Hoechst 33342 upon the incorporation of 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in genomic DNA and detection by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). We show that quantitative and accurate FLIM technique allows high-content, multi-parametric dynamic analyses, far superior to the intensity-based imaging. We demonstrate its uses with monolayer cell cultures, complex 3D tissue models of tumor cell spheroids and intestinal organoids, and in physiological study with metformin treatment.