Hierarchical demand response using dantzig-wolfe decomposition

Demand Side Management (DSM) programmes are designed to shift electrical loads from peak times. Demand Response (DR) algorithms automate this process for controllable loads. DR can be implemented explicitly in terms of Peak to Average Ratio Reduction (PARR), in which case the maximum peak load is minimised over a prediction horizon by manipulating the amount of energy given to controllable loads at different times. A hierarchical predictive PARR algorithm is presented here based on Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition. © 2013 IEEE.

DEPENDENCE OF LIGHT OUTPUT FROM NOMINALLY SMOOTH AL-OX-AU TUNNEL-JUNCTIONS ON ELECTRODE MORPHOLOGY

The light output from nominally smooth Al-Ox-Au tunnel junctions is observed to be substantially independent of the deposition rate of the Au film electrode. Films deposited quickly (2 nm s-1) and those deposited slowly (0.16 nm s-1) have similar spectral dependences and intensities. (This is in contrast to roughened films where those deposited quickly give out less light, especially towards the blue end of the spectrum.) The behaviour can be interpreted in terms of the ratio l(ph)/l(em) where l(ph) and l(em) are the mean free paths of surface plasmons between external photon emissions and internal electromagnetic absorptions respectively. Once l(ph)/l(em) exceeds 100, as it does on smooth films, grain size has little further effect on the spectral shape of the light output. In fast-deposited films there are two compensating effects on the output intensity: grain boundary scattering decreases it and greater surface roughness increases it.

Preparation of Dess-Martin periodinane - The role of the morphology of 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one 1-oxide precursor

1-Hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one I-oxide prepared by oxidation of o-iodobenzoic acid with potassium bromate forms either a microcrystalline powder, a macrocrystalline material, or a mixture of both forms. This difference in physical form is the source of the difficulty in reproducibly converting 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one 1-oxide to the corresponding I-triacetoxy derivative. A simple method is given for conversion of crystalline 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one 1-oxide to the more reactive powder form, The microcrystalline powder and macrocrystalline material are characterised by X-ray diffraction.

Morphology dependence of the dielectric properties of epitaxial BaTiO3 films and epitaxial BaTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers

Epitaxial BaTiO3 films and epitaxial BaTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers were grown by pulsed laser deposition on vicinal surfaces of (001)-oriented Nb-doped SrTiO3 (SrTiO3:Nb) single-crystal substrates. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the surface topography of the deposited films. The morphology of the films, of the BaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces, and of the column boundaries was investigated by cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Measurements of the dielectric properties were performed by comparing BaTiO3 films and BaTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers of different numbers of individual layers, but equal overall thickness. The dielectric loss saturates for a thickness above 300 nm and linearly decreases with decreasing film thickness below a thickness of 75 nm. At the same thickness of 75 nm, the thickness dependence of the dielectric constant also exhibits a change in the linear slope both for BaTiO3 films and BaTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers. This behaviour is explained by the change observed in the grain morphology at a thickness of 75 nm. For the thickness dependence of the dielectric constant, two phenomenological models are considered, viz. a 'series-capacitor' model and a 'dead-layer' model.

A coiled-coil-repeat protein 'Ccrp' in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus prevents cellular indentation, but is not essential for vibroid cell morphology

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus are small, vibroid, predatory bacteria that grow within the periplasmic space of a host Gram-negative bacterium. The intermediate-filament (IF)-like protein crescentin is a member of a broad class of IF-like, coiled-coil-repeat-proteins (CCRPs), discovered in Caulobacter crescentus, where it contributes to the vibroid cell shape. The B. bacteriovorus genome has a single ccrp gene encoding a protein with an unusually long, stutter-free, coiled-coil prediction; the inactivation of this did not alter the vibriod cell shape, but caused cell deformations, visualized as chiselled insets or dents, near the cell poles and a general 'creased' appearance, under the negative staining preparation used for electron microscopy, but not in unstained, frozen, hydrated cells. Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus expressing 'teal' fluorescent protein (mTFP), as a C-terminal tag on the wild-type Ccrp protein, did not deform under negative staining, suggesting that the function was not impaired. Localization of fluorescent Ccrp-mTFP showed some bias to the cell poles, independent of the cytoskeleton, as demonstrated by the addition of the MreB-specific inhibitor A22. We suggest that the Ccrp protein in B. bacteriovorus contributes as an underlying scaffold, similar to that described for the CCRP protein FilP in Streptomyces coelicolor, preventing cellular indentation, but not contributing to the vibroid shape of the B. bacteriovorus cells.

Hierarchical Demand Response for Peak Reduction using Dantzig‐Wolfe Decomposition

Demand Response (DR) algorithms manipulate the energy consumption schedules of controllable loads so as to satisfy grid objectives. Implementation of DR algorithms using a centralised agent can be problematic for scalability reasons, and there are issues related to the privacy of data and robustness to communication failures. Thus it is desirable to use a scalable decentralised algorithm for the implementation of DR. In this paper, a hierarchical DR scheme is proposed for Peak Minimisation (PM) based on Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition (DWD). In addition, a Time Weighted Maximisation option is included in the cost function which improves the Quality of Service for devices seeking to receive their desired energy sooner rather than later. The paper also demonstrates how the DWD algorithm can be implemented more efficiently through the calculation of the upper and lower cost bounds after each DWD iteration.

Latent and Explicit Authority in Hierarchical Organizations

We consider the problem of the exercise of authority within social production organizations, embedding the decision makers into a structure of formal authority relationships. We distinguish two types of behavior. First, we introduce an equilibrium notion implementing latent authority under which subordinates submit themselves to authority even though such authority is not en- forced explicitly. Second, we compare this with a non-cooperative equilibrium concept describing explicit exercise of authority. We show that for low enough enforcement costs both forms of authority will be exercised in equilibrium, but for higher enforcement costs latent authority will be exercised while explicit authority will not.

Effects of Parasitism and Morphology on Squirrelpox Virus Seroprevalence in Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Invasive species have been cited as major causes of population extinctions in several animal and plant classes worldwide. The North American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has a major detrimental effect on native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) populations across Britain and Ireland, in part because it can be a reservoir host for the deadly squirrelpox virus (SQPV). Whilst various researchers have investigated the epizootiology of SQPV disease in grey squirrels and have modelled the consequent effects on red squirrel populations, less work has examined morphological and physiological characteristics that might make individual grey squirrels more susceptible to contracting SQPV. The current study investigated the putative relationships between morphology, parasitism, and SQPV exposure in grey squirrels. We found geographical, sex, and morphological differences in SQPV seroprevalence. In particular, larger animals, those with wide zygomatic arch widths (ZAW), males with large testes, and individuals with concurrent nematode and/or coccidial infections had an increased seroprevalence of SQPV. In addition, males with larger spleens, particularly those with narrow ZAW, were more likely to be exposed to SQPV. Overall these results show that there is variation in SQPV seroprevalence in grey squirrels and that, consequently, certain individual, or populations of, grey squirrels might be more responsible for transmitting SQPV to native red squirrel populations.

Hierarchical energy management system for multi-source multi-product microgrids

This paper proposes a hierarchical energy management system for multi-source multi-product (MSMP) microgrids. Traditional energy hub based scheduling method is combined with a hierarchical control structure to incorporate transient characteristics of natural gas flow and dynamics of energy converters in microgrids. The hierarchical EMS includes a supervisory control layer, an optimizing control layer, and an execution control layer. In order to efficiently accommodate the systems multi time-scale characteristics, the optimizing control layer is decomposed into three sub-layers: slow, medium and fast. Thermal, gas and electrical management systems are integrated into the slow, medium, and fast control layer, respectively. Compared with wind energy, solar energy is easier to integrate and more suitable for the microgrid environment, therefore, potential impacts of the hierarchical EMS on MSMP microgrids is investigated based on a building energy system integrating photovoltaic and microturbines. Numerical studies indicate that by using a hierarchical EMS, MSMP microgrids can be economically operated. Also, interactions among thermal, gas, and electrical system can be effectively managed.

In situ preparation of 3D graphene aerogels@hierarchical Fe3O4 nanoclusters as high rate and long cycle anode materials for lithium ion batteries

We describe a novel strategy for in situ fabrication of hierarchical Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters-GAs. Fe₃O₄ NCs-GAs deliver excellent rate capability (the reversible capacities obtained were 1442, 392 and 118 mA h g^-1 at 0.1C, 12C and 35C rates), and a high reversible capacity of 577 mA h g^-1 over 300 cycles at the current density of 5.2 A g^-1 (6C).

ALMA-resolved salt emission traces the chemical footprint and inner wind morphology of VY Canis Majoris

(abreviated) We aim to study the inner-wind structure (R<250 Rstar) of the well-known red supergiant VY CMa. We analyse high spatial resolution (~0".24x0".13) ALMA Science Verification (SV) data in band 7 in which four thermal emission lines of gaseous sodium chloride (NaCl) are present at high signal-to-noise ratio. For the first time, the NaCl emission in the inner wind region of VY CMa is spatially resolved. The ALMA observations reveal the contribution of up to four different spatial regions. The NaCl emission pattern is different compared to the dust continuum and TiO2 emission already analysed from the ALMA SV data. The emission can be reconciled with an axisymmetric geometry, where the lower density polar/rotation axis has a position angle of ~50 degrees measured from north to east. However, this picture can not capture the full morphological diversity, and discrete mass ejection events need to be invoked to explain localized higher-density regions. The velocity traced by the gaseous NaCl line profiles is significantly lower than the average wind terminal velocity, and much slower than some of the fastest mass ejections, signalling a wide range of characteristic speeds for the mass loss. Gaseous NaCl is detected far beyond the main dust condensation region. Realising the refractory nature of this metal halide, this hints at a chemical process preventing all NaCl from condensing onto dust grains. We show that in the case of the ratio of the surface binding temperature to the grain temperature being ~50, only some 10% of NaCl remains in gaseous form, while for lower values of this ratio thermal desorption efficiently evaporates NaCl. Photodesorption by stellar photons seems not to be a viable explanation for the detection of gaseous NaCl at 220 Rstar from the central star, and instead, we propose shock-induced sputtering driven by localized mass ejection events as alternative.