A Model for the Optimal Management of a CCHP Plant

AbstractDistributed Generation can give a relevant contribution to the reduction of the primary energy needs and consequently of the green-house gases emissions. Moreover, it can stimulate the diffusion of renewable energy exploitation technologies through integration. This is widely relevant for the household sector, where energy is required in several forms: electric, heating, cooling. In this paper an energy system optimization model is proposed. The model optimizes the components size and their operating conditions during the day. The energy system is composed of a combined cooling, heating and power system, based on an internal combustion engine and an absorption heat pump integrated with solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. The model minimizes the costs and/or the CO2 emissions and the results reveal that the engine variable operating conditions are more effective than the steady state

An analysis of Piano variations composed by Richard Anatone

Access of accompanying PDF and MP3 files permanently restricted to Ball State community onlyThis paper is a detailed structural analysis of the composition Piano Variations, which I composed in 2010. Each variation treats the composed thematic material in different analytical ways including the more traditional ways of melodic and harmonic variation, to the more contemporaneous in style, including pitch-sets and intervallic analysis. This different kind of analysis provided for a set of variations in which each variation maintained its independence from the rest of the set; each variation reflected traits of different styles and genres than the rest. This paper provides in-depth details regarding each way in which the theme was manipulated for each variation and then provides annotated musical examples showing the nature of every variation.School of MusicThesis (M.M.

Problem solving and the semiarid theme: a praxeological analysis of the textbook of the 9th year of elementary school.

Neste artigo apresentamos os resultados de uma pesquisa cujo objetivo principal foi analisar a o livro didático do 9º do Ensino Fundamental quanto à possibilidade de sua utilização como instrumento para trabalhar a resolução de problemas envolvendo o semiárido como temática. A análise realizou-se tendo como suporte a Teoria Antropológica do Didático de Yves Chevallard e a noção de organizações praxeológicas. A análise praxeológica foi realizada no capítulo referente ao conteúdo volume de sólidos. A escolha para esse conteúdo foi, em nosso entendimento, por ele ser um conceito que poder se relacionar facilmente com diversas temáticas envolvendo o semiárido, como por exemplo, a ocorrência de chuvas, armazenamento e uso racional de água, dentre outros. Ao trabalhar em escolas públicas de Serra Branca – PB, localizada no Cariri Paraibano no semiárido brasileiro, percebemos que quase não há projeto ou iniciativas que trabalhem o semiárido como temática, embora tivéssemos consciência sobre os múltiplos aspectos que envolvem essa questão. Ao propor a análise do livro didático, interessou-nos responder a seguinte questão: o livro didático de matemática para o 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental oferece suporte para um trabalho que possibilite o uso de metodologias como a resolução de problemas a partir da temática do semiárido? Para responder a essa pergunta realizamos um estudo exploratório que culminou com análise do livro didático das organizações praxeológicas em torno do conteúdo volume de sólidos. De carácter qualitativo tipificamos a pesquisa como exploratória e documental, segundo Fiorentini e Lorenzato (2009). O estudo de cunho analítico relevou que as praxeologias matemáticas em torno do conteúdo volume de sólidos são baseadas em 5 tipos de tarefas, resolvidas por três técnicas, uma delas implícita no texto do livro dos autores. Concluímos que a praxeologia é pontual e incompleta, tal cenário é reforçado por uma organização didática centrada no esquema definiçãoexemploexercício. As atividades sugeridas pelo livro são consideradas exercício de aplicação direta e quando os autores usam um texto para contextualização, logo é imediatamente abandonado. A partir dos dados compreendemos que para desenvolver um trabalho com a Resolução de Problemas e a temática do semiárido é necessária a construção de um material específico pelo professor juntamente com seus colaboradores.In this article we present the rsults of a research whose main objective was to analyze the didactic textbook of the 9th of Elementary School about the possibility of its use as an instrument to solve problems involving semiarid as a theme. The analysis was carried out with the support of Yves Chevallard's Anthropological Theory of Didactics and the notion of praxeological organizations. The praxeological analysis was carried out in the chapter concerning the volume content of solids. The choice for this content was, in our understanding, it is a concept that can be easily related to several themes involving the semiarid, such as rainfall, storage and rational use of water, among others. Working in public schools in Serra Branca - PB, located in Cariri Paraibano in the Brazilian semi-arid region, we noticed that there are almost no projects or initiatives that work in the semi-arid region as thematic, although we were aware of the multiple aspects involved in this issue. In proposing the analysis of the textbook, we were interested in answering the following question: did the mathematics textbook for the 9th grade of Elementary School offer support for a work that allows the use of methodologies such as problem solving from the semiarid theme ? To answer this question we conducted an exploratory study that culminated in an analysis of the didactic book of praxeological organizations around the volume content of solids. Of qualitative character we typify the research as exploratory and documentary, according to Fiorentini and Lorenzato (2009). The analytical study showed that the mathematical praxeologies around the volume content of solids are based on 5 types of tasks, solved by three techniques, one of them implicit in the text of the authors' book. We conclude that praxeology is punctual and incomplete, such a scenario is reinforced by a didactic suggested by the book are considered an exercise of direct application and when the authors use a text for contextualization, it is immediately abandoned. From the data we understand that to develop a work with Problem Solving and the semiarid theme, it is necessary to construct a specific material by the teacher together with his collaborators

An Energy-Based Assessment of Expected Benefits for V2H Charging Systems through a Dedicated Dynamic Simulation and Optimization Tool

Electricity from renewable energy sources represents the most promising way to decarbonize energy systems. A grid connection of car Electricity Storage Systems (ESSs) represents an opportunity to tackle issues regarding electricity production non-programmability, only if sufficiently smart bi-directional Vehicle to Grid technologies (V2G) are widely implemented. Fully Bi-directional grid capabilities are still poor and must be increased, both physically and in terms of management and billing possibilities (in the so-called smart-grid paradigm). However, some V2G technologies may be already implemented in smaller individual contexts: so-called Vehicle to Home, V2H technologies. Starting from these considerations, within the frame of an Italian publicly funded research project, the authors categorized and described many possible application contexts and developed an open-source dynamic simulation (fully available under request for the scientific community) to identify most promising conditions. To this aim, they also synthetized and tested an effective energy optimization algorithm which will soon be implemented on a prototypal wireless V2H device, built by ENEA in cooperation with Cassino University, in Italy. The performances of the system were assessed evaluating electricity auto-consumption and home auto-feeding ratios. Simulations show that very relevant performances can be obtained, up to the values 69% for electricity auto-consumption and 82% of home auto-feeding

A risk-stratification algorithm to reduce superficial surgical site complications in primary hip and knee arthroplasty

Background: Surgical site complications (SSCs) are the most common cause for readmission after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), increasing costs while predisposing to inferior long-term outcomes. Prophylactic use of closed-incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) may lower the risk of these complications, especially in high-risk populations, but appropriate-use guidelines are lacking for patients undergoing primary TJA. We sought to develop a risk-stratification algorithm to guide use of ciNPT dressings and test its use in normalizing the rate of superficial SSCs among high-risk groups. Methods: We reviewed 323 consecutive primary TJAs, where 38% of those patients considered at elevated risk were risk-stratified to receive ciNPT dressings. An individual risk score was developed, assigning points based on patient-specific risk factors. We identified a historical control population of 643 patients who all received the same postoperative dressing to test the impact of this risk score. Results: Compared with historical controls, we observed a modest but significant improvement in superficial SSCs after implementation of risk-stratification (12.0% vs 6.8%; P = .013). Among high-risk patients, there was a marked improvement in SSCs when treated prophylactically with ciNPT dressings as compared with historical controls (26.2% vs 7.3%; P < .001). Low-risk patients, who continued to be treated with standard postoperative dressings, demonstrated no significant improvement (8.6% vs 6.5%; P = .344). Conclusions: ciNPT dressings are effective at reducing and normalizing risks of superficial SSCs among high-risk primary arthroplasty patients. The proposed risk-stratification algorithm may help identify those patients who benefit most from these dressings. Keywords: Closed-incision negative pressure therapy, Surgical dressing, Surgical site complications, Total hip arthroplasty, Total knee arthroplast