Analysis of voltage stability in multi-infeed HVDC systems with STATCOM

This paper presents the modelling and analysis of voltage stability at AC commutation bus in LCC (Line commutated converters) based multi-infeed HVDC system. The paper also presents the analysis of effects of various operating control modes in HVDC as well as location of disturbance on the voltage stability of the system under study. A new method of modelling the LCC converters as time varying admittance at the AC commutation bus is also presented in this paper. In this paper, the modelling of STATCOM for provision of dynamic voltage support at one of the AC buses of the HVDC system is presented. The reactive power injected by STATCOM is controlled by regulating the voltage of the AC bus to which STATCOM is connected. The case study also discusses the effects of various possible combinations of location of STATCOM and disturbance considered, on the voltage stability of the multi-infeed HVDC system.

A New Voltage Stability Index based on the Tangent Vector of the Power Flow Jacobian

This paper presents a new voltage stability index based on the tangent vector of the power flow jacobian. This index is capable of providing the relative vulnerability information of the system buses from the point of view of voltage collapse. In an effort to compare this index with a similar index, the popular voltage stability index L is studied and it is shown through system studies that the L index is not a very consistent indicator of the voltage collapse point of the system but is only a reasonable indicator of the vulnerability of the system buses to voltage collapse. We also show that the new index can be used in the voltage stability analysis of radial systems which is not possible with the L index. This is a significant result of this investigation since there is a lot of contemporary interest in distributed generation and microgrids which are by and large radial in nature. Simulation results considering several test systems are provided to validate the results and the computational needs of the proposed scheme is assessed in comparison with other schemes

Enhanced viability of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii encapsulated by layer-by-layer approach in pH responsive chitosan-dextran sulfate polyelectrolytes

Saccharomyces boulardii was encapsulated by layer-by-layer technique (LbL) using oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, chitosan and dextran sulfate to protect from degradation during its gastrointestinal transit. The protective effect of the coating was evaluated by checking viability after subjecting the coated cells to lyophilisation and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. During lyophilization, coated S. boulardii was found to have an enhanced viability of 7.74 +/- 2.00 log CFU/100 mg (5.62 x 10(6) +/- 2.12 CFU/100 mg) and 5.53 +/- 1.85 log CFU/100 mg (3.46 x 10(5) 1.73 CFU/100 mg) for uncoated cells. On sequential treatment with simulated gastric and intestinal juice, the coated cells had a viability of 4.59 +/- 1.52 log CFU/100 mg (3.8 x 104 +/- 1.52 CFU/100 mg) while only 1.90 +/- 0.80 log CFU/100 mg (0.79 x 102 +/- 0.81 CFU/100 mg) of uncoated cells survived. Confocal studies displayed the selective permeability of the coated cells which plays a significant role in maintaining the integrity and viability of the yeast cells. This clearly indicates that LbL is an efficient protective encapsulation technique and it could be potentially used for improving therapeutic applications of yeast. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An unusual demixing behavior in PS-PVME blends in the presence of nanoparticles

The effect of silver nanoparticles (sNP) on the demixing and the evolution of morphology in off-critical blends of 90/10 and 10/90 (wt/wt) PS/PVME polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether)] was probed here using shear rheology and optical microscopy. The faster component (PVME) has a higher molecular weight (80 kDa) than the slower component (PS, 35 kDa), which makes this system quite interesting to study with respect to the evolving morphology, as the blends transit through the binodal and the spinodal envelopes. An unusual demixing behavior was observed in both PVME rich and PS rich blends. Temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that the T-g value for the blends with sNP was slightly lower than that of the neat blends. A decreased volume of cooperativity at T-g suggests confined segmental dynamics in the presence of sNP. Although, the addition of sNP had no influence on the thermodynamic demixing temperature, it significantly altered the elasticity of the minor component during the transition of the blend from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous state. This is manifested from energetically driven localization of the sNP in the PVME phase during demixing. As a direct consequence of this, the formation of the microstructures upon demixing was observed to be delayed in the presence of sNP. Interestingly, in the intermediate quench depth, the higher viscoelastic phase evolved as an interconnected network, which subsequently coarsened into discrete droplets in the late stages for the 90/10 PS/PVME blends. Similar observations were made for 10/90 PS/PVME blends where threads of PVME appeared at deeper quench depths in the presence of sNP. The interconnected network formation of the minor phase (here PVME), which is also the faster component in the blend, was different from the usual demixing behavior.

Thermally Induced Demixing in an LCST Mixture in the Presence of Densely Grafted Nanoparticles: Tuning the Graft Chain Length To Induce Thermodynamic Miscibility

The demixing in an LCST mixture of PS/PVME (polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether)) was probed here by melt rheology in the presence of gold nanoparticles which were densely coated with varying graft lengths of PS. The graft density for the gold nanoparticles coated with 3 kDa PS was ca. Sigma = 1.7 chains/nm(2), and that for 53 kDa PS was ca. Sigma = 1.2 chains/nm(2). The evolution of morphology, as the blends transit through the metastable and the unstable envelopes of the phase diagram, and the localization of the gold nanoparticles upon demixing were monitored using in situ hot-stage AFM and confocal Raman imaging. Interestingly, gold nanoparticles coated with 3 kDa polystyrene (PS(3 kDa)-g-nAu) were localized in the PVME phase, whereas gold nanoparticles coated with 53 kDa polystyrene (PS(53 kDa)-g-nAu) were localized in the PS phase of the blend. While the localization of PS(3 kDa)-g-nAu in the PVME phase can be expected to be of entropic origin due to expulsion from the PS phase as R-g,R-matrix chains > R-g,R-grafted chains (where R-g is the radius of gyration of the polymer chain), the localization of PS(53 kDa)-g-nAu in the PS phase is believed to be facilitated by favorable melt/graft interactions. The latter nanoparticles also delayed the demixing by 12 degrees C with respect to the neat mixture. The observed changes were addressed in context to enthalpic interactions between the grafted PS and the free PS, the entropic losses (deformational entropic losses on blending, translational entropic loss of the free PS, and the conformational entropic loss of the grafted PS), and the interface of the grafted and the free chains.

Semipolar and nonpolar GaN epi-films grown on m-sapphire by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy

We hereby report the development of non-polar epi-GaN films of usable quality, on an m-plane sapphire. Generally, it is difficult to obtain high-quality nonpolar material due to the planar anisotropic nature of the growth mode. However, we could achieve good quality epi-GaN films by involving controlled steps of nitridation. GaN epilayers were grown on m-plane (10-10) sapphire substrates using plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The films grown on the nitridated surface resulted in a nonpolar (10-10) orientation while without nitridation caused a semipolar (11-22) orientation. Room temperature photoluminescence study showed that nonpolar GaN films have higher value of compressive strain as compared to semipolar GaN films, which was further confirmed by room temperature Raman spectroscopy. The room temperature UV photodetection of both films was investigated by measuring the I-V characteristics under UV light illumination. UV photodetectors fabricated on nonpolar GaN showed better characteristics, including higher external quantum efficiency, compared to photodetectors fabricated on semipolar GaN. X-ray rocking curves confirmed better crystallinity of semipolar as compared to nonpolar GaN which resulted in faster transit response of the device. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

A novel index for identification of weak nodes for reactive compensation to improve voltage stability

In this study, a new reactive power loss index (RPLI) is proposed for identification of weak buses in the system. This index is further used for determining the optimal locations for placement of reactive compensation devices in the power system for additional voltage support. The new index is computed from the reactive power support and loss allocation algorithm using Y-bus method for the system under intact condition and as well as critical/severe network contingencies cases. Fuzzy logic approach is used to select the important and critical/severe line contingencies from the contingency list. The inherent characteristics of the reactive power in system operation is properly addressed while determining the reactive power loss allocation to load buses. The proposed index is tested on sample 10-bus equivalent system and 72-bus practical equivalent system of Indian southern region power grid. The validation of the weak buses identification from the proposed index with that from other existing methods in the literature is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed index. Simulation results show that the identification of weak buses in the system from the new RPLI is completely non-iterative, thus requires minimal computational efforts as compared with other existing methods in the literature.

Optimization of bus allocation to depots by minimizing dead kilometers

In metropolitan cities, public transportation service plays a vital role in mobility of people, and it has to introduce new routes more frequently due to the fast development of the city in terms of population growth and city size. Whenever there is introduction of new route or increase in frequency of buses, the nonrevenue kilometers covered by the buses increases as depot and route starting/ending points are at different places. This non-revenue kilometers or dead kilometers depends on the distance between depot and route starting point/ending point. The dead kilometers not only results in revenue loss but also results in an increase in the operating cost because of the extra kilometers covered by buses. Reduction of dead kilometers is necessary for the economic growth of the public transportation system. Therefore, in this study, the attention is focused on minimizing dead kilometers by optimizing allocation of buses to depots depending upon the shortest distance between depot and route starting/ending points. We consider also depot capacity and time period of operation during allocation of buses to ensure parking safety and proper maintenance of buses. Mathematical model is developed considering the aforementioned parameters, which is a mixed integer program, and applied to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) routes operating presently in order to obtain optimal bus allocation to depots. Database for dead kilometers of depots in BMTC for all the schedules are generated using the Form-4 (trip sheet) of each schedule to analyze depot-wise and division-wise dead kilometers. This study also suggests alternative locations where depots can be located to reduce dead kilometers. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Air-pollution and economics: diesel bus versus electric bus

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) took an initiative to check the overall benefits of introducing electric buses as a suitable replacement for the diesel buses to tackle the burgeoning pollution in the city of Bengaluru, India. For a trial run of three months, an electric bus was procured from a Chinese company `Build Your Dreams' (BYD). Data were collected by BMTC on the operation and maintenance of the bus. This new initiative, if rightly guided, could have a direct impact on the lives of those in the city. An economic analysis of the running as well as maintenance of the electric buses within the city limits was performed. For comparison, the same analysis was performed for the data from the existing diesel bus operating on the same route. On the basis of the study, it can be concluded that the introduction of electric buses as a means of public transport in the city would be beneficial both economically as well as environmentally. The electric bus also makes much less noise, thereby helping reduce noise pollution and makes less vibration when compared to the diesel bus. This results in a more comfortable journey for the passengers.

Los dilemas de la acción colectiva global. Un estudio de caso : el movimiento sindical en el MERCOSUR (1991-2012)

Resumen: Este trabajo analiza la acción colectiva sindical postnacional en el MERCOSUR en un período histórico signado por profundas mutaciones políticas, económicas, y productivas sociales (1991-2012) a partir de los relatos y representaciones de sus protagonistas. El trabajo cualitativo intentará explicar la configuración del sindicalismo internacional en la globalización, y describir las estrategias del movimiento obrero mercosureño. La metodología cualitativa ilustra un trabajo de campo a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a 34 sindicalistas del Mercosur, y entrevistas adicionales a tres representantes de la Confederación Sindical de las Américas, dos empresarios del Mercosur, un especialista académico en la dimensión sociolaboral de la integración regional y un representante de la OIT en la región. La metodología de análisis e interpretación de dichas entrevistas ha sido la teoría fundamentada, entendida como la técnica más idónea de aprehender los procesos sociales a través de las voces de los líderes obreros, comprender su realidad, sus representaciones y sistema de valores, sus ideas y su acción colectiva. La literatura de los movimientos sociales en la globalización capitalista ha puesto el énfasis en la emergencia de nuevos colectivos cuyos reclamos se concentran en el reconocimiento (Fraser y Honneth, 2006) de sus identidades que el modelo fordista de producción pareció invisibilizar y soslayar ante la primacía de las prácticas económicas y demandas distributivas. Esta tesis conjuga una perspectiva dualista y demuestra que las estrategias de reconocimiento y las reivindicaciones de redistribución de tipo clasista se resignificaron en el escenario postnacional a través de la Coordinadora de Centrales Sindicales del Cono Sur –CCSCS- (subregional) y, con un desarrollo menor: los Sindicatos Globales (FSI, GUFs) en la acción sectorial [1991-2012]. Para arribar al núcleo configurativo de sus representaciones y su sistema de valores, la investigación transitó por los sentidos y significados del trabajo, las mutaciones productivas y de las condiciones del trabajo, las teorías del fin del trabajo, la precarización y la representación de los trabajadores más frágiles: mujeres, jóvenes y migrantes. En un segundo orden se interpeló sobre la gobernanza mundial, los organismos internacionales, el régimen normativo internacional, la civilización capitalista, para luego abordar el estudio específico del Mercosur y la acción obrera en dicho proceso. El núcleo determinó que para los representantes obreros la acción colectiva sindical debe ser postnacional y su objetivo es limitar la globalización capitalista neoliberal. La CCSCS conformó desde sus inicios un movimiento capaz de elevarse al rango supranacional para representar la voz de los trabajadores del MERCOSUR. La pluralidad configuró su mayor virtud durante sus primeros 20 años, reconociendo una experiencia de aprendizaje de tolerancia y respeto, que ellos definen como la unidad en la diversidad. Esta entidad constituye un patrimonio único como paradigma del sindicalismo postnacional. Los sindicatos del Cono Sur adoptaron diversas modalidades de acción colectiva: a) reactiva (con repertorios de insubordinación, de lucha y resistencia al modelo neoliberal), b) proactiva (con repertorios de incidencia normativa en el MERCOSUR) y c) participativa (con repertorios de producción propositiva de incidencia en la dimensión social del MERCOSUR). Su acción colectiva reactiva, normativa y propositiva fue eficaz a mediano plazo para participar e incidir en el MERCOSUR, crear una dimensión social del bloque y dotar de derechos normativos a los ciudadanos de la región. Su acción tuvo un sentido político de gran poder instituyente, con capacidad movilización y alta exposición pública. Sin embargo, en la segunda década su lógica de construcción quedó subordinada a los procesos nacionales y a los partidos gobernantes, dejó de ser performativa y de creación política, dirimiéndose en la esfera social junto a otros movimientos sociales emergentes, y provocó un ciclo de desmovilización. Simultáneamente, emergió con fuerza otra modalidad de sindicalismo postnacional con la fusión y refundación de los Sindicatos Globales. Su acción sectorial contribuye a restaurar las demandas de distribución que habían quedado soslayadas, pero esta tesis manifiesta que los protagonistas afirman que sus marcos de acción colectiva deberán ser conjuntos para ser exitosa. El sindicalismo postnacional en el MERCOSUR se define a sí mismos como agente de desarrollo, protagonista del modelo socioproductivo, pero también como vehículo partícipe de la democracia y de una matriz sustentable de desarrollo

Actitud natural y actitud fenomenológica

Resumen: La fenomenología de Husserl toma como punto de partida el problema del conocimiento con el fin de reformular la idea de una filosofía como ciencia estricta que aspira en última instancia a establecer una vida éticamente buena sobre bases racionales. Tiene que enfrentarse para ello con las cuestiones del comienzo de la filosofía y de su método. Ambas exigen tener en cuenta la distinción entre la actitud natural y la actitud propiamente filosófica porque la epojé que abre el camino a la reducción fenomenológica requiere advertir, tematizar y suspender la validez de la actitud natural. En la primera sección del artículo se deslindan los rasgos esenciales de las actitudes y se distinguen tipos generales de actitudes. A continuación se muestra, en la segunda sección, a la actitud natural como el fondo o suelo de todas las actitudes especiales y se delinean sus caracteres más sobresalientes. En la tercera sección, por último, se contrasta esta actitud natural básica con la actitud fenomenológica en conexión con el modo como Descartes comprende las cuestiones del comienzo y del método. Con ello se retorna al planteo de la filosofía como conocimiento en vistas a una renovación ética de la vida espiritual a fin de precisar por qué el paso de la actitud natural a la actitud fenomenológica es la condición necesaria para poder abandonar la instalación ingenua sobre el suelo incuestionado del mundo.

Restricciones, privilegios y violencias : algunos aspectos sobre los mudéjares hispánicos (ss. XII-XV)

En el presente trabajo nos proponemos abordar algunos aspectos relacionados con las restricciones, los privilegios y la violencia, que se implementaron sobre los mudéjares de Castilla, Aragón y Valencia. En relación con los primeros, daremos cuenta del endurecimiento legal –real y eclesiástico– que se desplegó hacia los moros hispánicos y que regló casi todos los aspectos del vivir cotidiano y de sus prácticas religiosas. Sin embargo, los mudéjares y sus aljamas en algún área en particular, fueron sujetos de privilegios reales. Es por esto que analizaremos restricciones y privilegios como dos caras de un mismo proceso que se desplegó durante el tránsito de la baja edad media. Finalmente, indagaremos sobre los episodios de violencia hacia los mudéjares contrastando particularidades regionales, para conectar estos sucesos con la segregación y la restricción.

Elastic Behaviour and Microstructural Characteristics of Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 Bulk Metallic Glass Investigated by Ultrasonic Measurement under Pressure

An ultrasonic pulse-echo method was used to measure the transit time of longitudinal and transverse (10 MHz) elastic waves in a Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 bulk metallic glass (BMG). The measurements were carried out under hydrostatic pressure up to 0.5 GPa at room temperature. On the basis of experimental data for the sound velocities and density, the elastic moduli and Debye temperature of the BMG were derived as a function of pressure. Murnaghan's equation of state is obtained. The normal behaviour of the positive pressure dependence of the ultrasonic velocities was observed for this glass. Moreover, the compression curve, the elastic constants, and the Debye temperature of the BMG are calculated on the basis of the similarity between their physical properties in the glassy state and those in corresponding crystalline state. These results confirm qualitatively the theoretical predictions concerning the features of the microstructure and interatomic bonding in the Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 BMG.

Heating, current drive and confinement regimes with the JET ICRH and lhcd systems

During its 1990 operation, 2 large RF systems were available on JET. The Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) system was equipped with new beryllium screens and with feedback matching systems. Specific impurities generated by ICRH were reduced to negligible levels even in the most stringent H-mode conditions. A maximum power of 22 MW was coupled to L-mode plasmas. High quality H-modes (tau-E greater-than-or-equal-to 2.5 tau-EG) were achieved using dipole phasing. A new high confinement mode was discovered. It combines the properties of the H-mode regime to the low central diffusivities obtained by pellet injection. A value of n(d) tau-E T(i) = 7.8 x 10(20) m-3 s keV was obtained in this mode with T(e) approximately T(i) approximately 11 keV. In the L-mode regime, a regime, a record (140 kW) D-He-3 fusion power was generated with 10 - 14 MW of ICRH at the He-3 cyclotron frequency. Experiments were performed with the prototype launcher of the Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) systems with coupled power up to 1.6 MW with current drive efficiencies up to < n(e) > R I(CD)/P = 0.4 x 10(20) m-2 A/W. Fast electrons are driven by LHCD to tail temperatures of 100 keV with a hollow radial profile. Paradoxically, LHCD induces central heating particularly in combination with ICRH. Finally we present the first observations of the synergistic acceleration of fast electrons by Transit Time Magnetic Pumping (TTMP) (from ICRH) and Electron Landau Damping (ELD) (from LHCD). The synergism generates TTMP current drive even without phasing the ICRH antennae.

Las comunidades de montes en Guipúzcoa en el tránsito del Medievo a la Edad Moderna

Ejemplar dedicado a: Élites sociales y poder territorial.