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- Motivating female students for engineering coursesPublication . Pereira, Rita; Borges, Cristina; Ferreira, Eduarda PintoWorldwide initiatives for promoting motivation in female students for engineering courses are taking place in a regular form. Those initiatives are directed to different age groups and scholar levels. This paper addresses a methodology that was recently developed in Portugal to allow custom actions for motivating female students to those courses that historically rises them less interest. A workshop with different engineering universities and polytechnic institutions from Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique took place allowing to generate a network and a list of proposed actions. From this list each institution selected one or more actions to be implemented in their own institution. The workshop named “Good practices network for motivating female students to engineering courses” was the kick-off for this initiative. Detailed procedure of the work-in-progress and future working plan are here detailed.
- Residence efficiency based on smart energy systemsPublication . Monteiro, André; Pereira, Rita; Barata, FilipeThe resources used to maintain all the activities in buildings are limited and, for this reason, it is critical the usage of energy efficiency measures. This paper is focused on a smart controller development able to automatically manage a building with the objective of improving its energy efficiency. The controller uses Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) as a forecast method and Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) as a decision maker. The thermal house model is simulated using a MATLAB toolbox. One of the sub controllers is developed in this paper and is responsible for the HVAC control and optimization. The developed system uses renewable energy sources attached to an energy storage system to increase the overall energy efficiency. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed controller it is made an economic analysis of its influence in the build system.
- Demand response model for hardware implementationPublication . Capitão, B.; Lagarto, João; Pereira, Rita; Almeida, P.; Fonte, Pedro MDemand response actions allow to support an adequate domestic load management, considering consumer preferences. In order to develop a hardware tool based on Arduino used to support consumers load management and decisions, an optimization mathematical model is developed and detailed in this paper. In the developed mathematical model, household appliances and electric vehicle are considered as controllable loads. The existence of a storage system based on batteries is considered as well as energy provided by the power grid and solar panel self-generation. The model is implemented using optimization software GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) as a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) problem, where its outputs are used as inputs applied to the hardware used as interface between the optimization mathematical model and controllable loads.
- Fuzzy clustering applied to a demand response model in a smart grid contingency scenarioPublication . Pereira, Rita; Melício, Rui; Mendes, Victor; Figueiredo, J.; Martins, J.; Fagundes, A.; Quadrado, Jose CarlosThis paper focus on a demand response model analysis in a smart grid context considering a contingency scenario. A fuzzy clustering technique is applied on the developed demand response model and an analysis is performed for the contingency scenario. Model considerations and architecture are described. The demand response developed model aims to support consumers decisions regarding their consumption needs and possible economic benefits.
- Powertrain test bench systemPublication . Fonte, Pedro M; Almeida, Paulo; Luís, Ricardo; Pereira, Rita; Chaves, MiguelIn parallel with major automotive manufacturers, some smaller companies are trying to launch their own electric or hybrid-propulsion models. During the development of these prototypes some tests must be done, namely consumption, autonomy, batteries state-of-charge, gradability, among others. The results of these tests can lead changes in design, motorization or battery packages. This paper presents a powertrain test bench system in order to test electrical vehicles. Regarding the automobile sector, and due to EU ruling, it is intended to enable the test bench to apply the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle. Having a laboratorial test bench that can emulate vehicle dynamics under a specific drive cycle will allow small automotive manufacturers to confirm compliance with the mandatory drive cycles during different stages of their development. Nevertheless, other electric vehicles (EV) like boats or trains, can also be tested since the mathematical models of their dynamics are available.
- Analysis of domestic prosumer influence on a smartgridPublication . Carvalhuco, João; Pereira, Rita; Fonte, Pedro MThe shift from a centralized production to a distributed generation based on renewable energy production has been increasing, resulting in prosumer arising as new stakeholder of the electrical system. In this paper, a prosumer that owns photovoltaic solar panels and small wind generator, is considered and renewable energy production forecast is given by artificial neural networks (ANN). An energy management model is developed considering a battery storage system. Several case studies are analyzed considering seasonality factors.
- Intelligent systems applied to buildings' managementPublication . Pereira, Rita; Barata, Filipe; Viveiros, CarlaEnergy efficiency in buildings are an important domain regarding its impact in the global energy consumption. Several efficiency measures are currently available, using different methodologies. In this paper an approach using intelligent systems is implemented through a smart controller able to automatically and efficiently manage building’s energy. This smart controller uses Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) as a decision maker and is supported by Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) used to forecast the building outside temperature. In addition, and in order to increase overall energy efficiency, renewable energies associated with a storage system are considered. For the designed smart controller implementation, a thermal house model is simulated using a MATLAB toolbox. In this paper emphasis is given to the building´s Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control and a rough economic analysis is drawn, allowing to infer about the adopted efficiency measures impact.
- Fuzzy clustering applied to a demand response model in a smatr grid contingency scenarioPublication . Pereira, Rita; Melício, Rui; Mendes, Victor; Figueiredo, J.; Martins, J.; Fagundes, A.; Quadrado, Jose CarlosThis paper focus on a demand response model analysis in a smart grid context considering a contingency scenario. A fuzzy clustering technique is applied on the developed demand response model and an analysis is performed for the contingency scenario. Model considerations and architecture are described. The demand response developed model aims to support consumers decisions regarding their consumption needs and possible economic benefits.
- Women and STEM: a methodology for studying factors affecting attractivityPublication . Pereira, Rita; Williams, Bill; Soares, Filomena; Cunha, João Carlos; Leão, Celina P.; Borges, Cristina; Coutinho, Fernanda; Vaz, Gilberto; João, Isabel; Meireles, Maria JoãoA research group formed by several higher education institutions (HEIs) came together with a common objective: study the factors that influence the choice of female students in STEM programs like engineering and technological ones. Based on a phenomenological analysis, semi-structured in-depth interviews were first conducted as pilot studies in two HEIs and these were used to arrive at the final methodological framework for the study planned for completion in 2020. Due to the pandemic the implementation phase had to be postponed. This paper reports on the methodology to be followed, the implementation challenges encountered in the different HEIs and expected outcomes. The study is intended to provide insights into what drives female students to choose STEM programs and their perceptions about difficulties they come across during the 1st year of studies. Also, it will contribute to improve procedures and methodologies applied to 1st year students in general and enhance motivation for new strategies to attract female students.
- A fuzzy clustering approach to a demand response modelPublication . Pereira, Rita; Fagundes, A.; Melício, Rui; Mendes, Victor; J. Figueiredo; J. Martins; Quadrado, Jose CarlosThis paper proposes a novel demand response model using a fuzzy subtractive cluster approach. The model development provides support to domestic consumer decisions on controllable loads management, considering consumers' consumption needs and the appropriate load shape or rescheduling in order to achieve possible economic benefits. The model based on fuzzy subtractive clustering method considers clusters of domestic consumption covering an adequate consumption range. Analysis of different scenarios is presented considering available electric power and electric energy prices. Simulation results are presented and conclusions of the proposed demand response model are discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.