Market Power Assessment and Mitigation in Hydrothermal Systems

The objective of this work is to investigate market power issues in bid- based hydrothermal scheduling. Initially, market power is simulated with a single stage Nash-Cournot equilibrium model. Market power assessment for multiple stages is then carried through a stochastic dynamic programming scheme. The decision in each stage and state is the equilibrium of a multi-agent game. Thereafter, mitigation measures, specially bilateral contracts, are investigated. Case studies with data taken from the Brazilian system are presented and discussed.Game theory, Hydroelectric-thermal power generation, Power generation economics

Complete Genome Sequence of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 417, a Copper-Resistant Strain Isolated from Juglans regia L.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 417, a copper-resistant strain isolated from a blighted walnut fruit (Juglans regia L. cv. Chandler). The genome consists of a single chromosome (5,218 kb)

Uso da tecnologia LoRa em robôs detectores de gases

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)Os robôs móveis têm sido utilizados para garantir mais segurança, auxiliando humanos em tarefas perigosas. A segurança é algo primordial aos trabalhadores, principalmente em ambientes perigosos onde podem estar expostos a condições extremas, como em ambientes com presença de gases tóxicos e inflamáveis. Neste cenário, a tecnologia pode tornar o trabalho em locais de alta periculosidade mais seguros por meio de uma análise de risco contínua utilizando tecnologias como a Internet das Coisas e a robótica. Este monitoramento possibilita trazer alertas para o trabalhador, que pode se adequar a medidas de prevenção e tomar as devidas providências. Neste sentido, este trabalho tem como escopo o monitoramento remoto de emissão de gases, emulando de forma controlada a situação em indústrias, para auxiliar a segurança dos trabalhadores em ambientes com presença de gases perigosos utilizando robótica móvel e tecnologia LoRa como ferramentas, dado o desafio do uso de sensores de baixo custo e de interferências na comunicação. Dentre os fatores a serem averiguados neste trabalho está a adaptabilidade do robô no ambiente, o funcionamento da comunicação em uma certa distância e caracterização dos sensores na medição de gases. Ao final deste projeto foi obtido um protótipo inicial funcional capaz de se locomover de forma autônoma no ambiente enviando informações de sua geolocalização e dos gases a serem monitorados para o usuário, para que em um trabalho futuro o mesmo possa ser inserido e avaliado em um ambiente com características industriais

The thermomechanical behaviour of high alumina bricks

The modelling, design and optimisation of refractory masonry structures and refractory linings requires the understanding of its thermomechanical properties. The most used techniques for thermomechanical characterization of refractory ceramics is presented in this communication, as well the most important properties used for designing. This study is focused on the work lining of steel ladles, the masonry studied is composed by high alumina bricks with dry joints. The mechanical behaviour of alumina spinel bricks is been investigated by compressive strain-stress curves at different temperatures. The characterization of refractory masonry is required for calibration and validation of numerical models and for definitions of nonlinear homogenization techniques. The first step is the mechanical characterization of the bricks. Compressive tests are being performed at cylindrical samples extracted from the bricks to generate its compressive strain-stress curves at room temperature, 600ºC, 800ºC and 1.000ºC. The samples dimension is 50 mm in diameter by 130 mm in height. An electric split furnace will be used to heat the samples at the rate of 5ºC/min. The strains will be measured using a strain gage positioned at the opening of the furnace and the displacement given by the press will monitored. A 200 kN press with an electromechanical jack will be used to apply the compressive load. The results of the brick characterization tests are the compressive strain-stress curves of the material. It will be possible to identify the compressive strength of the material at room temperature (fc) and the compressive strength at a given temperature Θ (fc,Θ). The strain corresponding to fc (ec1) and the rupture strain (ecu) may also be determined for each temperature. The compressive strain-stress curves may be used for modelling, once they represent the damage plasticity of the material. This research will generate experimental results that will be used for calibration and validation of numerical models. Once the models are validated, they will be used to optimise the design of refractory masonry used at steel ladles

The characterization of joint behaviour in mortarless refractory masonry

The understanding of the compressive and tangential behaviour of mortarless joints is mandatory to optimize the design of refractory linings. The joints play an important role during the heating of the equipment, as they reduce the stresses generated due to thermal expansion. This study investigates the normal and tangential behaviour of joints in alumina spinel bricks. The mechanical characterization of the compressive strength of the material is performed at room and elevated temperature. During fabrication this brick, it is pressed, therefore, tests were performed in pressing and orthogonal-to-pressing direction. The thickness of joints is estimated based on a compressive test in two stacked bricks, the joint closure is an nonlinear and strongly heterogeneous and nonlinear phenomena. The determination of the friction angle and friction coefficient of the bricks were performed based on a slipping test.European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Networks in the frame of the project ATHOR - Advanced THermomechanical multiscale modelling of Refractory linings 764987 Gran

Numerical simulations on refractory lining for steel casting vessels

The manufacturing of several materials adopted in industry, civil construction and our daily life has processes performed at high temperatures, such as melting and heat treatments. Thus, these production processes require products that resist to high temperatures, maintaining their physical and chemical properties in service. Refractory ceramics, due to their properties, have been used for this purpose, having crucial importance in high temperature processes. Refractory linings (composed of refractory ceramics) are used in industrial vessels to produce steel, iron, cement, non-ferrous metals, glass, metallic alloys, in melting process, in petrochemical industry, in incinerators, in mineral processing, in power plants and many other applications. This paper presents the results of a large numerical simulations used to represent the thermomechanical behaviour of steel vessels. Different modelling techniques were used and the results detailed and discussed

Plataformas móveis, gamificação e aprendizagem

Rafael Dubiela y André Battaiola de la Universidad Federal de Paraná / Brasil (UFPR) responden a las preguntas formuladas por los investigadores de la Universidad Casagrande - UCG / Ecuador. Esas preguntas se refieren al papel de las plataformas móviles en los procesos de aprendizaje y sus razonamientos arrojan luz a los debates acerca de los recursos disponibles, las diferencias entre el aprendizaje tradicional y los basados ​​en este tipo de dispositivos, el impacto de los dispositivos móviles en el aprendizaje, y la previsión de futuro para el tema. [Idiomas disponibles: Portugués y Español].Rafael Dubiela and André Battaiola from the Federal University of Paraná/Brazil (UFPR) answer questions drawn up by researchers at the University Casagrande - UCG/Ecuador. Those questions refer to the role of mobile platforms in learning processes and their reasoning shed light to the discussions about available resources, the differences between traditional learning and the ones based on such devices, the impact of mobile devices on learning and the foreseen future that characterizes this topic. [Available languages​​: Portuguese and Spanish]. Os Professores Rafael Dubiela e André Battaiola da UFPR respondem questões elaboradas por pesquisadores da Universidade Casagrande - UCG/Equador. As perguntas se referem à aprendizagem baseada (que se utiliza) de plataformas móveis. Discorrem sobre os recursos disponíveis, as diferenças entre a aprendizagem tradicional e aquela baseada em tais dispositivos, o impacto dos equipamentos móveis na aprendizagem e discutem o que caracteriza o futuro nesta temática. [Idiomas disponíveis: português e espanhol].

Preheated restorative composite resin for luting ceramic laminate veneers : an optimized technique report

Resin cements are traditionally used to lute ceramic laminate veneers due to their lower viscosity, which facilitates a fast restoration seating. However, resin cements have lower mechanical properties compared to restorative composite resins. Thus, rest

Numerical analysis on the behaviour of concrete masonry walls subjected to fire

This paper presents a numerical study on the structural behaviour of concrete masonry at elevated temperatures. Based on an experimental research previously performed on half-scale walls in fire situations, numerical models were developed and validated. The heat transfer models led to thermal fields with good agreement with the temperatures measured by thermocouples installed in the wall, a bigger scatter of temperatures was found in the experimental research. The mechanical analysis led to vertical and out-of-plane displacements in good agreement with the displacements measured by LVDTs. The numerical model was validated and will be used in future researches to perform parametric studies