Estimation of the Crustal Bulk Properties Beneath Mainland Portugal from P-Wave Teleseismic Receiver Functions

In this work, we present results from teleseismic P-wave receiver functions (PRFs) obtained in Portugal, Western Iberia. A dense seismic station deployment conducted between 2010 and 2012, in the scope of the WILAS project and covering the entire country, allowed the most spatially extensive probing on the bulk crustal seismic properties of Portugal up to date. The application of the H-κ stacking algorithm to the PRFs enabled us to estimate the crustal thickness (H) and the average crustal ratio of the P- and S-waves velocities V p/V s (κ) for the region. Observations of Moho conversions indicate that this interface is relatively smooth with the crustal thickness ranging between 24 and 34 km, with an average of 30 km. The highest V p/V s values are found on the Mesozoic-Cenozoic crust beneath the western and southern coastal domain of Portugal, whereas the lowest values correspond to Palaeozoic crust underlying the remaining part of the subject area. An average V p/V s is found to be 1.72, ranging 1.63-1.86 across the study area, indicating a predominantly felsic composition. Overall, we systematically observe a decrease of V p/V s with increasing crustal thickness. Taken as a whole, our results indicate a clear distinction between the geological zones of the Variscan Iberian Massif in Portugal, the overall shape of the anomalies conditioned by the shape of the Ibero-Armorican Arc, and associated Late Paleozoic suture zones, and the Meso-Cenozoic basin associated with Atlantic rifting stages. Thickened crust (30-34 km) across the studied region may be inherited from continental collision during the Paleozoic Variscan orogeny. An anomalous crustal thinning to around 28 km is observed beneath the central part of the Central Iberian Zone and the eastern part of South Portuguese Zone.

Soliton-type and other travelling wave solutions for an improved class of nonlinear sixth-order Boussinesq equations

An improved class of nonlinear bidirectional Boussinesq equations of sixth order using a wave surface elevation formulation is derived. Exact travelling wave solutions for the proposed class of nonlinear evolution equations are deduced. A new exact travelling wave solution is found which is the uniform limit of a geometric series. The ratio of this series is proportional to a classical soliton-type solution of the form of the square of a hyperbolic secant function. This happens for some values of the wave propagation velocity. However, there are other values of this velocity which display this new type of soliton, but the classical soliton structure vanishes in some regions of the domain. Exact solutions of the form of the square of the classical soliton are also deduced. In some cases, we find that the ratio between the amplitude of this wave and the amplitude of the classical soliton is equal to 35/36. It is shown that different families of travelling wave solutions are associated with different values of the parameters introduced in the improved equations.

Planning smart cities using wireless low energy monitoring systems

Thesis to obtain the Master Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering

Simulation of wave action on a moored container carrier inside Sines’ Harbour

The integrated numerical tool SWAMS (Simulation of Wave Action on Moored Ships) is used to simulate the behavior of a moored container carrier inside Sines’ Harbour. Wave, wind, currents, floating ship and moorings interaction is discussed. Several case scenarios are compared differing in the layout of the harbour and wind and wave conditions. The several harbour layouts correspond to proposed alternatives for the future expansion of Sines’ terminal XXI that include the extension of the East breakwater and of the quay. Additionally, the influence of wind on the behavior of the ship moored and the introduction of pre tensioning the mooring lines was analyzed. Hydrodynamic forces acting on the ship are determined using a modified version of the WAMIT model. This modified model utilizes the Haskind relations and the non-linear wave field inside the harbour obtained with finite element numerical model, BOUSS-WMH (Boussinesq Wave Model for Harbors) to get the wave forces on the ship. The time series of the moored ship motions and forces on moorings are obtained using BAS solver. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis of modern coloured glasses from Marinha Grande (Portugal)

X-Ray Spectrom. 2003; 32: 396–401

GAIC: Um sistema inteligente e flexível para simulação e apoio à participação de pequenos e médios consumidores na gestão ativa de cargas no âmbito de smart grids

A liberalização dos mercados de energia e a utilização intensiva de produção distribuída tem vindo a provocar uma alteração no paradigma de operação das redes de distribuição de energia elétrica. A continuidade da fiabilidade das redes de distribuição no contexto destes novos paradigmas requer alterações estruturais e funcionais. O conceito de Smart Grid vem permitir a adaptação das redes de distribuição ao novo contexto. Numa Smart Grid os pequenos e médios consumidores são chamados ao plano ativo das participações. Este processo é conseguido através da aplicação de programas de demand response e da existência de players agregadores. O uso de programas de demand response para alcançar benefícios para a rede encontra-se atualmente a ser estudado no meio científico. Porém, existe a necessidade de estudos que procurem benefícios para os pequenos e médios consumidores. O alcance dos benefícios para os pequenos e médios consumidores não é apenas vantajoso para o consumidor, como também o é para a rede elétrica de distribuição. A participação, dos pequenos e médios consumidores, em programas de demand response acontece significativamente através da redução de consumos energéticos. De modo a evitar os impactos negativos que podem provir dessas reduções, o trabalho aqui proposto faz uso de otimizações que recorrem a técnicas de aprendizagem através da utilização redes neuronais artificiais. Para poder efetuar um melhor enquadramento do trabalho com as Smart Grids, será desenvolvido um sistema multiagente capaz de simular os principais players de uma Smart Grid. O foco deste sistema multiagente será o agente responsável pela simulação do pequeno e médio consumidor. Este agente terá não só que replicar um pequeno e médio consumidor, como terá ainda que possibilitar a integração de cargas reais e virtuais. Como meio de interação com o pequeno e médio consumidor, foi desenvolvida no âmbito desta dissertação um sistema móvel. No final do trabalho obteve-se um sistema multiagente capaz de simular uma Smart Grid e a execução de programas de demand response, sSendo o agente representante do pequeno e médio consumidor capaz de tomar ações e reações de modo a poder responder autonomamente aos programas de demand response lançados na rede. O desenvolvimento do sistema permite: o estudo e análise da integração dos pequenos e médios consumidores nas Smart Grids por meio de programas de demand response; a comparação entre múltiplos algoritmos de otimização; e a integração de métodos de aprendizagem. De modo a demonstrar e viabilizar as capacidades de todo o sistema, a dissertação inclui casos de estudo para as várias vertentes que podem ser exploradas com o sistema desenvolvido.

Using Baseline Methods to Identify Non-technical Losses in the Context of Smart Grids

Demand response has gained increasing importance in the context of competitive electricity markets and smart grid environments. In addition to the importance that has been given to the development of business models for integrating demand response, several methods have been developed to evaluate the consumers’ performance after the participation in a demand response event. The present paper uses those performance evaluation methods, namely customer baseline load calculation methods, to determine the expected consumption in each period of the consumer historic data. In the cases in which there is a certain difference between the actual consumption and the estimated consumption, the consumer is identified as a potential cause of non-technical losses. A case study demonstrates the application of the proposed method to real consumption data.

Dispatch of distributed Energy Resources to Provide Energy and Reserve in Smart Grids using a Particle Swarm Optimization Approach

The smart grid concept is a key issue in the future power systems, namely at the distribution level, with deep concerns in the operation and planning of these systems. Several advantages and benefits for both technical and economic operation of the power system and of the electricity markets are recognized. The increasing integration of demand response and distributed generation resources, all of them mostly with small scale distributed characteristics, leads to the need of aggregating entities such as Virtual Power Players. The operation business models become more complex in the context of smart grid operation. Computational intelligence methods can be used to give a suitable solution for the resources scheduling problem considering the time constraints. This paper proposes a methodology for a joint dispatch of demand response and distributed generation to provide energy and reserve by a virtual power player that operates a distribution network. The optimal schedule minimizes the operation costs and it is obtained using a particle swarm optimization approach, which is compared with a deterministic approach used as reference methodology. The proposed method is applied to a 33-bus distribution network with 32 medium voltage consumers and 66 distributed generation units.

Smart Grid Market Using Joint Energy and Ancillary Services Bids

The power systems operation in the smart grid context increases significantly the complexity of their management. New approaches for ancillary services procurement are essential to ensure the operation of electric power systems with appropriate levels of stability, safety, quality, equity and competitiveness. These approaches should include market mechanisms which allow the participation of small and medium distributed energy resources players in a competitive market environment. In this paper, an energy and ancillary services joint market model used by an aggregator is proposed, considering bids of several types of distributed energy resources. In order to improve economic efficiency in the market, ancillary services cascading market mechanism is also considered in the model. The proposed model is included in MASCEM – a multi-agent system electricity market simulator. A case study considering a distribution network with high penetration of distributed energy resources is presented.

Contextual Intelligent Load Management Considering Real-Time Pricing in a Smart Grid Environment

The use of demand response programs enables the adequate use of resources of small and medium players, bringing high benefits to the smart grid, and increasing its efficiency. One of the difficulties to proceed with this paradigm is the lack of intelligence in the management of small and medium size players. In order to make demand response programs a feasible solution, it is essential that small and medium players have an efficient energy management and a fair optimization mechanism to decrease the consumption without heavy loss of comfort, making it acceptable for the users. This paper addresses the application of real-time pricing in a house that uses an intelligent optimization module involving artificial neural networks.

Reactive power management strategies in future smart grids

The reactive power management in distribution network with large penetration of distributed energy resources is an important task in future power systems. The control of reactive power allows the inclusion of more distributed recourses and a more efficient operation of distributed network. Currently, the reactive power is only controlled in large power plants and in high and very high voltage substations. In this paper, several reactive power control strategies considering a smart grids paradigm are proposed. In this context, the management of distributed energy resources and of the distribution network by an aggregator, namely Virtual Power Player (VPP), is proposed and implemented in a MAS simulation tool. The proposed methods have been computationally implemented and tested using a 32-bus distribution network with intensive use of distributed resources, mainly the distributed generation based on renewable resources. Results concerning the evaluation of the reactive power management algorithms are also presented and compared.

Multi-Agent Based Smart Grid Management and Simulation: Situation Awareness and Learning in a Test Bed with Simulated and Real Installations and Players

The rising usage of distributed energy resources has been creating several problems in power systems operation. Virtual Power Players arise as a solution for the management of such resources. Additionally, approaching the main network as a series of subsystems gives birth to the concepts of smart grid and micro grid. Simulation, particularly based on multi-agent technology is suitable to model all these new and evolving concepts. MASGriP (Multi-Agent Smart Grid simulation Platform) is a system that was developed to allow deep studies of the mentioned concepts. This paper focuses on a laboratorial test bed which represents a house managed by a MASGriP player. This player is able to control a real installation, responding to requests sent by the system operators and reacting to observed events depending on the context.

Smart Grid Communication Technologies in the Brazilian Electrical Sector

Intelligent electrical grids can be considered as the next generation of electrical energy transportation. The enormous potential leads to worldwide focus of research on the technology of smart grids. This paper aims to present a review of the Brazilian electricity sector in context with the integration of communication technologies for smart grids. The work gives an overview of the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy in the Brazil and a brief summary of the current electricity market. Smart grid technologies are introduced and the requirements for the Brazilian power system are pointed out. Various technologies for communication within an intelligent network are presented and their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages are compared to the Brazilian conditions. In addition, a summary is given of current pilot projects for Smart Grid technologies within Brazil, as well as a presentation of individual selected projects.

Load Control Timescales Simulation in a Multi-Agent Smart Grid Platform

Environmental concerns and the shortage in the fossil fuel reserves have been potentiating the growth and globalization of distributed generation. Another resource that has been increasing its importance is the demand response, which is used to change consumers’ consumption profile, helping to reduce peak demand. Aiming to support small players’ participation in demand response events, the Curtailment Service Provider emerged. This player works as an aggregator for demand response events. The control of small and medium players which act in smart grid and micro grid environments is enhanced with a multi-agent system with artificial intelligence techniques – the MASGriP (Multi-Agent Smart Grid Platform). Using strategic behaviours in each player, this system simulates the profile of real players by using software agents. This paper shows the importance of modeling these behaviours for studying this type of scenarios. A case study with three examples shows the differences between each player and the best behaviour in order to achieve the higher profit in each situation.

Smart Metering Como Ferramenta de Eficiência Energética

As smart grids e os smart meters, ou redes inteligentes e medidores inteligentes, respectivamente, estão cada vez mais próximos dos consumidores residenciais pelo mundo. Vários países vêm desenvolvendo estudos focados nos impactos decorrentes da introdução destas tecnologias. Uma das principais vantagens está relacionada à eficiência energética, ou conscientização da população em prol de um consumo mais eficiente. Estes benefícios são sentidos diretamente pelo consumidor através da economia nas contas de energia elétrica e pelas concessionárias através da minimização das perdas de transmissão e distribuição, estabilidade do sistema, menor carregamento nos horários de pico, entre outros. Neste artigo são apresentados dois projetos que demonstram o potencial de economia de energia através dos medidores inteligentes e das redes inteligentes. O primeiro realizado na Coreia, com foco na instalação de smart meters e o impacto da utilização de interfaces com o usuário. O segundo realizado em Portugal, com foco no controle das cargas em uma residência com geração distribuída.