Proteção adaptativa de alimentadores de distribuição de energia elétrica considerando geração distribuída

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Elétrica, Florianópolis, 2011A instalação de unidades de Geração Distribuída (GD) nas redes de distribuição de energia elétrica pode gerar vantagens e desvantagens para a operação dos sistemas de potência, dependendo de vários fatores técnicos que envolvem a conexão destas unidades. Falhas nos sistemas de proteção podem ocorrer quando não são efetuados estudos de revisão sobre a coordenação da proteção levando em conta a inserção da unidade de GD em um alimentador pré-existente. Este trabalho apresenta uma proposta para proteção adaptativa de alimentadores de distribuição de energia elétrica considerando geração distribuída, como forma de contornar as dificuldades de coordenação da proteção neste contexto. A implementação da proteção adaptativa visa tornar mais eficaz o sistema de proteção, independentemente da topologia do sistema. Através de simulações em um sistema teste, são demonstradas algumas das alterações que a inserção de unidades de GD causa nos sistemas de distribuição, principalmente no que diz respeito à proteção dos alimentadores, uma vez que o foco deste estudo é a influência da inserção da GD nos tempos de atuação da função proteção de sobrecorrente. Através da análise dos resultados das simulações, verificou-se a necessidade de aprimorar as estratégias de proteção tradicionalmente empregadas, especialmente nos ajustes da função de sobrecorrente do alimentador. A proteção adaptativa implementada neste trabalho tem como objetivo alterar automaticamente os grupos de ajustes de um relé digital em função das condições do sistema de distribuição. O relé digital do alimentador monitora as correntes demandadas e recebe a informação do estado do disjuntor de interconexão da geração distribuída. A proposta foi avaliada através de simulações (software ATPDraw) envolvendo um sistema teste de distribuição do IEEE de 34 nós e de sua implementação em relés digitais comerciais. Os resultados obtidos, descritos e discutidos neste trabalho, atestam a capacidade e a eficiência da proposta de proteção adaptativa de alimentadores de distribuição de energia elétrica.The installation of distributed generation (DG) units in electrical energy distribution networks has advantages and disadvantages for the power system operation, depending on several technical factors that involve the connection of these units. In order to avoid failures of protection systems, the coordination of protection devices should be reviewed when DG units are installed in a pre-existing feeder. This work proposes the application of adaptive protection to electricity distribution feeders considering distributed generation.Through simulations on a test system, the alterations caused by DG units installed in distribution systems are demonstrated, especially with regard to the protection of feeders. The object of this work is to analyze the negative influence of the insertion of DG on the operation times of the overcurrent function and thus propose an adaptive approach to solve the problem of the increase in the operation times. The analysis of the simulation results demonstrates the necessity of improving the protection strategies traditionally employed in distribution feeders, especially when setting the overcurrent function. The implementation of adaptive protection system aims to make the protection more effective, regardless the system topology. The adaptive protection implemented in this work aims to automatically change the group of settings that is active in a digital relay according to the conditions of the distribution system. The digital relay which protects the feeder monitors the current flowing and receives information about the status of the breaker at the interconnection of distributed generation. The proposal was evaluated through simulations (software ATPDraw) involving the IEEE 34-node test system and through its implementation in commercial digital relays. The results described and discussed in this work validate the capacity and efficiency of the proposed adaptive protection of feeders in distribution systems

Who wrote Ronald Reagan's radio addresses?

In his campaign for the U.S. presidency from 1975 to 1979, Ronald Reagan delivered over 1000 radio broadcasts. For over 600 of these we have direct evidence of Reagan's authorship. The aim of this study was to determine the authorship of 312 of the broadcasts for which no direct evidence is available. We addressed the prediction problem for speeches delivered in different epochs and we explored a wide range of off-the-shelf classification methods and fully Bayesian generative models. Eventually we produced separate sets of predictions using the most accurate classifiers, based on non-contextual words as well as on semantic features, for the 312 speeches of uncertain authorship. All the predictions agree on 135 of the "unknown" speeches, whereas the fully Bayesian models agree on an additional 154 of them. The magnitude of the posterior odds of authorship led us to conclude that Ronald Reagan drafted 167 speeches and was aided in the preparation of the remaining 145. Our inferences were not sensitive to "reasonable" variations in the sets of constants underlying the prior distributions, and the cross-validated accuracy of our best fully Bayesian model was above 90 percent in all cases. The agreement of multiple methods for predicting the authorship for the "unknown" speeches reinforced our confidence in the accuracy of our classifications.Statistic

Gram-Negative Bacterial Sensors for Eukaryotic Signal Molecules

Ample evidence exists showing that eukaryotic signal molecules synthesized and released by the host can activate the virulence of opportunistic pathogens. The sensitivity of prokaryotes to host signal molecules requires the presence of bacterial sensors. These prokaryotic sensors, or receptors, have a double function: stereospecific recognition in a complex environment and transduction of the message in order to initiate bacterial physiological modifications. As messengers are generally unable to freely cross the bacterial membrane, they require either the presence of sensors anchored in the membrane or transporters allowing direct recognition inside the bacterial cytoplasm. Since the discovery of quorum sensing, it was established that the production of virulence factors by bacteria is tightly growth-phase regulated. It is now obvious that expression of bacterial virulence is also controlled by detection of the eukaryotic messengers released in the micro-environment as endocrine or neuro-endocrine modulators. In the presence of host physiological stress many eukaryotic factors are released and detected by Gram-negative bacteria which in return rapidly adapt their physiology. For instance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can bind elements of the host immune system such as interferon-γ and dynorphin and then through quorum sensing circuitry enhance its virulence. Escherichia coli sensitivity to the neurohormones of the catecholamines family appears relayed by a recently identified bacterial adrenergic receptor. In the present review, we will describe the mechanisms by which various eukaryotic signal molecules produced by host may activate Gram-negative bacteria virulence. Particular attention will be paid to Pseudomonas, a genus whose representative species, P. aeruginosa, is a common opportunistic pathogen. The discussion will be particularly focused on the pivotal role played by these new types of pathogen sensors from the sensing to the transduction mechanism involved in virulence factors regulation. Finally, we will discuss the consequence of the impact of host signal molecules on commensally or opportunistic pathogens associated with different human tissue

Beyond prevalence to process : the role of self and identity in medical student well-being

Context Problematic stress levels among medical students have been well established. This stress can lead to depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, burnout and cynicism, having a negative effect on students and their patients. Methods We propose to move towards examining the processes underlying well-being in some medical students and vulnerability in others. We draw upon social psychological literature to propose that self-complexity, medical student identity and associated norms all have the capacity to influence medical students' well-being in both positive and negative ways. Results We identify two key dilemmas facing medical students with regard to the social psychological factors investigated. First, a diverse set of interests and a high level of self-complexity is thought to buffer against the effects of stress and might also be beneficial for medical practitioners, but the intensive nature of medical education makes it difficult for students to pursue outside interests, leading to a strongly focused identity. Second, a strong group identity is associated with high levels of social support and improved well-being, but unhealthy group norms may have a greater influence on individuals who have a strong group identity, encouraging them to engage in behaviours that place their well-being at risk. A model is proposed outlining how these potentially contradictory social psychological processes may combine to impact upon medical students' well-being. Conclusions There is great scope for investigating the role of self-complexity, identity and norms in the medical education context, with room to investigate each of these factors alone and in combination. We highlight how our proposed model can inform medical educators as to the students who may be most vulnerable to the effects of stress and the potential interventions from which they may benefit. We conclude that social psychological factors make a valuable contribution to understanding the complex issue of well-being in medical education.PostprintPeer reviewe