Reinforcement learning for electricity dispatch in grids with high intermittent generation and energy storage systems: A case study for the Brazilian grid

Intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar have recently been growing a lot faster than dispatchable energy sources in Brazil, which made investments in energy storage systems become an attractive possibility in the country. Current operational policies for energy dispatch do not consider storage systems and need adjustments to fit this technology. With this motivation, we use reinforcement learning techniques to develop policies for managing storage systems in a grid that can handle time-varying inputs and loads, with rolling forecasts. We use a deterministic lookahead (DLA) policy which has been parametrically modified to perform well in the presence of uncertain forecasts. For realistic simulations, the base model considers important characteristics in a grid that influence the interaction between scheduling and real-time operation such as power and ramping capacities, notification times, and stochastic forecasts. The parametric modification with tunable parameters allows an optimal balance between two conflicting services provided by the storage system: time-shifting and spinning reserves. Optimal reserves ranged from 35% to 100%, depending on the tested dataset, which shows the importance of tuning. Differently from stochastic lookahead policies, which are computationally expensive, parameterized DLA policies can be applied to real-time operation after being optimized in a stochastic base model.     

Particle Penetration through Inclined and L-Shaped Cracks

This paper presents a particle penetration model predicting particle penetration coefficient (Pp) through a narrow crack of arbitrary incline angles (θ). The objective was to simulate Pp for outdoor-to-indoor particle penetration for residential infiltration conditions. This model assumes laminar infiltration flow and considers particle deposition from both gravitational sedimentation and Brownian diffusion. For micron-sized particles, modeling results indicate that gravitational sedimentation is the major deposition mechanism. Pp increases monotonically with ∣θ∣ because effective particle sedimentation velocity (vs?cos?θ) decreases monotonically with ∣θ∣. For submicron-sized particles (0.1?μm), Brownian diffusion is the major particle deposition mechanism. Because Brownian diffusion is a nondirectional deposition mechanism, crack inclination did not affect Pp. This study applied this model to estimate Pp for L-shaped cracks, and validated modeling results with experiments. Experimental results indicated that inertial impaction and crack entrance cutoff effects were not significant particle deposition mechanisms for the test micron-sized particles. Gravitational sedimentation was the major deposition mechanism. An L-shaped crack can be simulated as the combination of horizontal and vertical sections. This model agreed reasonably with experimental results.     

Highly selective synthesis of 2‐butoxy ethanol over Mg/Al/V mixed oxides catalysts derived from hydrotalcites

The catalytic activity of a series of mixed oxides obtained by the thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite‐like precursors was assessed for the alkoxylation of n-butanol with ethylene oxide. The calcination products of a decavanadate intercalated magnesium–aluminium layered double hydroxide were shown to possess extremely high activity for the alkoxylation reaction achieving up to 100% conversion in batch reaction. In all cases, the catalysts exhibit a much higher selectivity towards the monoglycol adduct than that obtained with the industrial catalyst. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Olfactory responses ofIps plastographus maritimus lanier (coleoptera: Scolytidae) to insect and host-associated volatiles in the laboratory

Attraction of both sexes ofIps plastographus maritimus Lanier to bark-phloem-xylem discs of Monterey pine,Pinus radiata D. Don, was demonstrated in the laboratory. Increasing concentrations of male and female volatiles trapped separately and released in a one-to-one ratio decreased attraction for both sexes combined. Attraction of both sexes to volatiles derived from males and females tunneling together in a one-to-one ratio increased with increasing concentration of extract. Attraction of males and females to male-infested discs and to trapped male volatiles increased with increasing dose of males or male extract. Attraction of males and females to female-infested discs and to trapped female volatiles was also demonstrated. The presence of females in male galleries reduced the attractiveness of infested disks to both sexes combined. Increasing numbers of females, tunneling separately from males in the same disc, reduced attraction of males, but not females. When a constant attractive dose of male volatiles was released with increasing doses of female volatiles, there was no difference in response of either sex when female volatiles were present compared with the response to male volatiles alone. When a constant attractive dose of male volatiles was released with increasing concentrations of volatiles derived from males and females tunneling together in a one-to-one ratio, attraction ofI. p. maritimus decreased. Response of females was frequently higher than that of males to the same attractant source. Hence, both sexes produce an attractant, and both sexes tunneling together in the same gallery reduce attraction of males and females to an attractive dose of male attractant.     

Aging Behavior of xPb(Fe2/3W1/3)O3· (1 –x)Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 Ceramic

The aging behavior of a series of lead perovskite dielectrics with the compositions x Pb(Fe_2/3W_1/3)O₃·(1 – x )Pb(Fe_1/2-Nb_1/2)O₃, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, and the effect of dopants were studied. Below the Curie temperature ( T _c), the capacitance and the dissipation factor (tan δ) decrease approximately linearly with logarithmic time. The aging rate depends on the temperature difference, Δ T , between the aging temperature and T _c, and on the dopant concentration, but is independent of the measurement frequency between 1 and 1000 kHz. The maximum aging rate is about 3% per decade of time for capacitance and 5% per decade for tan δ at 1 mol% dopant concentration, and increases to 6.3% for capacitance and 8.5% for tan δ at 0.7 mol% dopant concentration. These results are consistent with an aging mechanism caused by changing ferroelectric domain structure with time, as proposed for BaTiO₃.     

Michael J. Mahoney: A retrospective.

Michael Mahoney, who made seminal contributions not only to the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) but also to the entire field of psychotherapy, died a tragic death at the age of 60 on May 31, 2006. He published more than 250 scholarly articles and chapters, authored and edited 19 books (one of which was awarded a Citation Classic by the Science Citation Index), edited 4 journals, and served on 23 editorial boards plus numerous guest editorships and advisory boards. His research spanned a tremendous breadth without sacrificing depth. Primarily, however, he inquired into development across the life course, including but not limited to psychotherapy. Initially trained as a behaviorist, he played a significant role in the cognitive revolution in psychology; he was also a leading figure in constructivist psychotherapies. He was a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, as well as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The short of it: Abbreviating the temporal discounting procedure.

A typical temporal discounting procedure determines the present, subjective value (indifference point) of a delayed outcome at 5 to 8 different delays to that outcome. These indifference points are used to determine a single index of discounting called a discounting rate. One concern that remains in the collection of this data is the high number of trials or choices, resulting in participant fatigue or other factors that may affect the validity of the data. In this report, we propose an abbreviated alternative to the more comprehensive and time-consuming discounting procedure. Specifically, we propose that fewer indifference points can be used to determine statistically equivalent discount rates with no loss in data sensitivity. We reanalyzed temporal discounting data obtained with 7 indifference points, and estimated discount rates from all combinations of 2, 3, and 4 of the 7 indifference points. Results indicate that valid and sensitive discounting indices can be obtained with fewer indifference points, and the most appropriate sets of indifference points are highlighted. The proposed abbreviated procedure is likely to be particularly useful when time constraints or participant fatigue is a concern as well as in repeated-measures contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A history of numerical modelling of the Wairakei geothermal field

The history of computer modelling of the Wairakei geothermal field is reviewed. It covers the development of lumped-parameter models during the 1970s and then discusses the evolution and first applications of geothermal reservoir simulation techniques. The development of reservoir models of Wairakei at the University of Auckland began in the early 1980s; current models produces good matches against field data. Many future scenarios have been run using the University's models and have been presented at various regulatory hearings. The general conclusion from these scenarios is that Wairakei can continue producing electricity at the current level for at least another 50 years, and if Wairakei is shut down after 100 years of operation it will recover to its pre-exploitation state after a further 300 years.     

Novel models of intertemporal valuation: Past and future outcomes.

Temporal discounting refers to the reduction in the present subjective value of an outcome as a function of the temporal distance to that outcome. Though a number of mathematical models have been proposed to describe this time/value relationship, this search has largely excluded insights from the literature on memory decay. This study examines the utility of memory decay models by comparing the fits of 4 of these models to fits from established temporal discounting models using past and future temporal discounting data. These results (a) suggest that a single model describes valuation of both future and past outcomes; (b) indicate the exponential-power model, from memory decay literature, is statistically superior in fitting discounting data from both past and future outcomes; and (c) support the advancing perspective of the psychological interconnectedness of the future and past. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)