Continuous and gradual photo-activation methods: influence on degree of conversion and crosslink density of composite resins

Thermal properties and degree of conversion (DC%) of two composite resins (microhybrid and nanocomposite) and two photo-activation methods (continuous and gradual) displayed by the light-emitting diode (LED) light-curing units (LCUs) were investigated in this study. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis technique was used to investigate the glass transition temperature (T(g)) and degradation temperature. The DC% was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that the microhybrid composite resin presented the highest T(g) and degradation temperature values, i.e., the best thermal stability. Gradual photo-activation methods showed higher or similar T(g) and degradation temperature values when compared to continuous method. The Elipar Freelight 2 (TM) LCU showed the lowest T(g) values. With respect to the DC%, the photo-activation method did not influence the final conversion of composite resins. However, Elipar Freelight 2 (TM) LCU and microhybrid resin showed the lowest DC% values. Thus, the presented results suggest that gradual method photo-activation with LED LCUs provides adequate degree of conversion without promoting changes in the polymer chain of composite resins. However, the thermal properties and final conversion of composite resins can be influenced by the kind of composite resin and LCU.

A Model of Normative Power

A power describes the ability of an agent to act in some way. While this notion of power is critical in the context of organisational dynamics, and has been studied by others in this light, it must be constrained so as to be useful in any practical application. In particular, we are concerned with how power may be used by agents to govern the imposition and management of norms, and how agents may dynamically assign norms to other agents within a multi-agent system. We approach the problem by defining a syntax and semantics for powers governing the creation, deletion, or modification of norms within a system, which we refer to as normative powers. We then extend this basic model to accommodate more general powers that can modify other powers within the system, and describe how agents playing certain roles are able to apply powers, changing the system’s norms, and also the powers themselves. We examine how the powers found within a system may change as the status of norms change, and show how standard norm modification operations — such as the derogation, annulment and modification of norms— may be represented within our system.

The promised LAN: the transformative power of information and communications technology in developing countries

Este tese analise as implicações dos investimentos em tecnologia de informação e comunicação (ICT) em países ainda em desenvolvimento, especialmente em termos de educação, para estimular a implementação de uma infra-estrutura mais moderna em vez da continuação do uso de métodos tradicionais. Hoje, como o interesse e os investimentos em ICT estão crescendo rapidamente, os módulos e as idéias que existem para medir o estado de ICT são velhos e inexatos, e não podem ser aplicados às culturas de países em desenvolvimento. Políticos e investidores têm que considerar estes problemas quando estão pensando em investimentos ou socorros para programas em ICT no futuro, e investigadores e professores precisam entender os fatores importantes no desenvolvimento para os ICTs e a educação antes de começar estudos nestes países. Este tese conclue que investimentos em tecnologias móbeis e sem fios ajudarem organizações e governos ultrapassar a infra-estrutura tradicional, estreitando a divisão digital e dando o resulto de educação melhor, alfabetização maior, e soluções sustentáveis pelo desenvolvimento nas comunidades pobres no mundo de países em desenvolvimento.

Mathematical analysis of maximum power generated by photovoltaic systems and fitting curves for standard test conditions

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Conversor CC/CA de alta freqüência baseado em inversores ressonantes com comutação seqüencial para excitação de uma tocha indutiva a plasma térmico

This work describes the study, the analysis, the project methodology and the constructive details of a high frequency DC/AC resonant series converter using sequential commutation techniques for the excitation of an inductive coupled thermal plasma torch. The aim of this thesis is to show the new modulation technique potentialities and to present a technological option for the high-frequency electronic power converters development. The resonant converter operates at 50 kW output power under a 400 kHz frequency and it is constituted by inverter cells using ultra-fast IGBT devices. In order to minimize the turn-off losses, the inverter cells operates in a ZVS mode referred by a modified PLL loop that maintains this condition stable, despite the load variations. The sequential pulse gating command strategy used it allows to operate the IGBT devices on its maximum power limits using the derating and destressing current scheme, as well as it propitiates a frequency multiplication of the inverters set. The output converter is connected to a series resonant circuit constituted by the applicator ICTP torch, a compensation capacitor and an impedance matching RF transformer. At the final, are presented the experimental results and the many tests achieved in laboratory as form to validate the proposed new technique

Uma fonte chaveada de 50kW com correção de fator de potência para alimentação de uma tocha de plasma Indutiva utilizando técnicas de controle digital

This work deals with the development of an experimental study on a power supply of high frequency that provides the toch plasmica to be implemented in PLASPETRO project, which consists of two static converters developed by using Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). The drivers used to control these keys are triggered by Digital Signal Processor (DSP) through optical fibers to reduce problems with electromagnetic interference (EMI). The first stage consists of a pre-regulator in the form of an AC to DC converter with three-phase boost power factor correction which is the main theme of this work, while the second is the source of high frequency itself. A series-resonant inverter consists of four (4) cell inverters operating in a frequency around 115 kHz each one in soft switching mode, alternating itself to supply the load (plasma torch) an alternating current with a frequency of 450 kHz. The first stage has the function of providing the series-resonant inverter a DC voltage, with the value controlled from the power supply provided by the electrical system of the utility, and correct the power factor of the system as a whole. This level of DC bus voltage at the output of the first stage will be used to control the power transferred by the inverter to the load, and it may vary from 550 VDC to a maximum of 800 VDC. To control the voltage level of DC bus driver used a proportional integral (PI) controller and to achieve the unity power factor it was used two other proportional integral currents controllers. Computational simulations were performed to assist in sizing and forecasting performance. All the control and communications needed to stage supervisory were implemented on a DSP

Desempenho de um painel fotovoltaico de baixa tensão, acoplado ao protótipo de um conversor dc/dc topologia Booster

Low voltage solar panels increase the reliability of solar panels due to reduction of in series associations the configurations of photovoltaic cells. The low voltage generation requires DCDC converters devices with high efficiency, enabling raise and regulate the output voltage. This study analyzes the performance of a photovoltaic panel of Solarex, MSX model 77, configured to generate an open circuit voltage of 10.5 V, with load voltage of 8.5 V, with short circuit current of 9 A and a power of 77 W. The solar panel was assembled in the isolated photovoltaic system configuration, with and without energy storage as an interface with a DCDC converter, Booster topology. The converter was designed and fabricated using SMD (Surface Mounted Devices) technology IC (integrated circuit) that regulates its output voltage at 14.2 V, with an efficiency of 87% and providing the load a maximum power of 20.88 W. The system was installed and instrumented for measurement and acquisition of the following data: luminosities, average global radiation (data of INPE Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), solar panel and environment temperatures, solar panel and DC-DC converter output voltages, panel, inverter, and battery charge output currents. The photovoltaic system was initially tested in the laboratory (simulating its functioning in ideal conditions of operation) and then subjected to testing in real field conditions. The panel inclination angle was set at 5.5°, consistent with the latitude of Natal city. Factors such as climatic conditions (simultaneous variations of temperature, solar luminosities and ra diation on the panel), values of load resistance, lower limit of the maximum power required by the load (20.88 W) were predominant factors that panel does not operate with energy efficiency levels greater than 5 to 6%. The average converter efficiency designed in the field test reached 95%

Resolvendo problemas de fluxo de potência ótimo DC através de uma rede de hopfield modificada

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

A novel voltage step-down/up ZCS-PWM Zeta converter

This paper presents an analysis of a novel pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage step-down/up Zeta converter, featuring zero-current-switching (ZCS) at the active switches. The applications in de to de and ac to de (rectifier) operation modes are used as examples to illustrate the performance of this new ZCS-PWM Zeta converter. Regarding to the new ZCS-PWM Zeta rectifier proposed, it should be noticed that the average-current mode control is used in order to obtain a structure with high power-factor (HPF) and low total harmonic distortion (THD) at the input current.Two active switches (main and auxiliary transistors), two diodes, two small resonant inductors and one small resonant capacitor compose the novel ZCS-PWM soft-commutation cell, used in these new ZCS-PWM Zeta converters. In this cell, the turn-on of the active switches occurs in zero-current (ZC) and their turn-off in zero-current and zero-voltage (ZCZV). For the diodes, their turn-on process occurs in zero-voltage (ZV) and their reverse-recovery effects over the active switches are negligible. These characteristics make this cell suitable for Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) applications.The main advantages of these new Zeta converters, generated from the new soft-commutation cell proposed, are possibility of obtaining isolation (through their accumulation inductors), and high efficiency, at wide load range. In addition, for the rectifier application, a high power factor and low THD in the input current ran be obtained, in agreement with LEC 1000-3-2 standards.The principle of operation, the theoretical analysis and a design example for the new de to de Zeta converter operating in voltage step-down mode are presented. Experimental results are obtained from a test unit with 500W output power, 110V(dc) output voltage, 220V(dc) input voltage, operating at 50kHz switching frequency. The efficiency measured at rated toad is equal to 97.3%for this new Zeta converter.Finally, the new Zeta rectifier is analyzed, and experimental results from a test unit rated at 500W output power, 110V(dc) output voltage, 220V(rms) input voltage, and operating at 50kHz switching frequency, are presented. The measured efficiency is equal to 96.95%, the power-factor is equal to 0.98, and the input current THD is equal to 19.07%, for this new rectifier operating at rated load.

Sistema de tração elétrica flexível baseado em veículos trólebus para alimentação com redes CC e ou CA

Este artigo apresenta os principais resultados e o detalhamento da metodologia e equações de controle de um retificador monofásico pré-regulador de 150kW para sistema trólebus. A estrutura proposta possibilita a Correção ativa do Fator de Potência (CFP) com baixos níveis de Distorção Harmônica Total (DHT) na corrente, em conformidade com a norma internacional IEC 61000-3-4. Fruto de um projeto de Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação (P) junto à empresa AES Eletropaulo Metropolitana de São Paulo, em parceria com a empresa de transporte Himalaia S.A., o projeto possui como principais objetivos estimular o interesse para a expansão das linhas de trólebus a partir de uma plataforma de alimentação de menor custo de instalação e manutenção, sem a necessidade de subestações retificadoras, e, com vistas a promover a melhoria da qualidade de vida nos grandes centros urbanos. Nessa nova modalidade proposta para o sistema de alimentação, o trólebus pode ser alimentado tanto pelas redes convencionais em corrente contínua (CC) quanto pelas redes de distribuição em corrente alternada (CA), mantendo-se a disposição a dois fios dos sistemas CC, sendo as mudanças de rede de alimentação (CC ou CA) monitoradas e controladas digitalmente. Todo o sistema de gerenciamento e controle do conversor é realizado digitalmente por FPGA XC3S200. Na evolução do sistema proposto, os autores pretendem inclusive eliminar as linhas aéreas de alimentação, através da utilização de postos de alimentação em CA, especialmente desenvolvidos para os pontos de embarque/desembarque de passageiros para este veículo de transporte coletivo, eliminando-se os aspectos visuais negativos das redes de alimentação deste modal, e, reduzindo-se as falhas de operação do sistema.

Pole placement by coordinated tuning of Power System Stabilizers and FACTS-POD stabilizers

This work presents the application of the Decentralized Modal Control method for pole placement in multimachine power systems utilizing FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems), STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) and UPFC (Unified Power Flow Controller) devices. For this, these devices are equipped with supplementary damping controllers, denominated POD ( Power Oscillation Damping), achieving a coordinated project with local controllers (Power System Stabilizers - PSS). Comparative analysis on the function of damping of the FACTS, STATCOM and UPFC is performed using the New England System that has 10 generators, 39 buses and 46 transmission lines. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An effortless hybrid method to solve economic load dispatch problem in power systems

This paper proposes a new approach and coding scheme for solving economic dispatch problems (ED) in power systems through an effortless hybrid method (EHM). This novel coding scheme can effectively prevent futile searching and also prevents obtaining infeasible solutions through the application of stochastic search methods, consequently dramatically improves search efficiency and solution quality. The dominant constraint of an economic dispatch problem is power balance. The operational constraints, such as generation limitations, ramp rate limits, prohibited operating zones (POZ), network loss are considered for practical operation. Firstly, in the EHM procedure, the output of generator is obtained with a lambda iteration method and without considering POZ and later in a genetic based algorithm this constraint is satisfied. To demonstrate its efficiency, feasibility and fastness, the EHM algorithm was applied to solve constrained ED problems of power systems with 6 and 15 units. The simulation results obtained from the EHM were compared to those achieved from previous literature in terms of solution quality and computational efficiency. Results reveal that the superiority of this method in both aspects of financial and CPU time. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.