Distributed generation (DG) is increasingly employed in modern utility grids to address the growing complexity and size of consumer energy demands. The obstacles associated with DG integration are related to the additive effect the DG has on the short circuit current characteristics of power systems during short circuit conditions. This thesis proposes a novel mitigation technique for synchronous machine based DG integration effects on existing radial fuse-recloser protection infrastructure. The mitigation method provides a comparative analysis of the utilization of resistive (R), inductive (L) and resonant (LC) type superconducting fault current limiters (FCLs) for prevention of excessive fault current contribution from DG sources. Within the frame of reference of this thesis is an interrogation into the effects of synchronous machine based DG sources, in conjunction with mitigation capabilities of FCL integration in the context of fuse-recloser coordination, recloser sensitivity and recloser directionality behavior during radial distribution short circuit conditions. For validation purposes, the proposed methods are demonstrated on a suburban test benchmark using the PSCAD/EMTDC program.

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Systems Engineering Project Report / The Navy needs to protect Destroyers (DDGs) from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) attacks. The team, focusing on improving the DDG’s defenses against small radar cross section UAVs making suicide attacks, established a DRM, identified current capability gaps, established a functional flow, created requirements, modeled the DDG’s current sensing and engagement capabilities in Microsoft Excel, and used Monte Carlo analysis of 500 simulation runs to determine that four out of eight incoming IED UAVs are likely to hit the ship. Sensitivity analysis showed that improving weapon systems is more effec-tive than improving sensor systems, inspiring the generation of alternatives for improving UAV defense. For the eight feasible alternatives the team estimated cost, assessed risk in accordance with the requirements, simulated performance against the eight incoming UAVs, and performed cost benefit analysis. Adding CIWS mounts is the most cost effec-tive alternative, reducing the average number of UAV hits from a baseline of 3.82 to 2.50, costing $816M to equip the 62-DDG fleet for a 12-year life cycle. Combining that with upgraded EW capabilities to jam remote-controlled UAVs reduces the hits to 1.56 for $1844M, and combining those with decoy launchers to defeat the radar-seeking Har-py UAVs reduces the hits to 1.12 for $2862M.

This research was undertaken in an attempt to find new environmental management approaches, strategies and procedures suitable for the upstream Oil & Gas Industry in Thailand and which would be most applicable (practical and reasonable) and suitable to the situation of the country. Current management frameworks in various developed countries were reviewed, compared and analysed to select criteria most applicable to Thailand. The research has found that Thailand's industry is smaller scale and younger than the others, and its provisions for environmental management are only very basic in comparison. There are few laws or regulations, standards, and guidelines that deal specifically in detail with the environmental management of Thailand's upstream oil & gas industry. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) under the Ministry of Industry is the only key authority directly acting as a 'one-stop-shop' responsible for the upstream oil & gas industry in Thailand. The functions concerned with environmental protection involve the enforcement of Petroleum Acts and Regulations, and safety and environmental standards but, because of the lack of environmental regulations, rules and standards for petroleum development, DMR can not be regarded as an active agency dealing with environmental matters. The UK has fuller and more definitive provisions, including standards and systems for levying penalties, and as such they are more akin to the command-and-control regulatory systems that have evolved in the more developed countries. There are many existing Acts and regulations affecting offshore oil & gas activities in UK. There are some strengths of the UK system which could be applied to Thailand. Pollution quality control by limiting the concentration of the discharge (standards) from oil & gas activities in the UK, USA, and the Netherlands are universal in their application and probably reasonable. Thus, these standards should be practicable for application to Thailand. On analysis of some of the new approaches (Environmental Covenants, STAR Producer Program), in the case of Thailand, it is considered that the country is not yet ready for these approaches because they require a mature environmental policy. Some part of the Asian Development Bank's recommendations however could suit Thailand in this situation. This research has lead to certain conclusions and recommendations for environmental management in Thailand. The main recommended priority is that DMR should set up a formal action team in the short-term to have specific responsibilities for driving environmental compliance and enforcement related to oil & gas activities. This team should prepare an action plan to enhance the regulatory framework and DMR capacity building. This planning is necessary for long term development and has to be implemented seriously.

This thesis examines the development and expansion of the UK onshore oil and gas pipeline network in Scotland which occurred in the 1970s and 80s as a result of the exploitation of oil and gas resources of the Central and Northern North Sea. In 1974 the first pipeline landfall in Scotland was established at Cruden bay, north of Aberdeen, and a pipeline onshore was laid to link that landfall with the Grangemouth refinery. In the period 1974-1984 the construction of major cross-country pipelines linking the north east of Scotland with the central belt and markets of England became an almost annual occurrence. The routing process and an analysis of the routes adopted is the subject of Chapter 4. It was calculated that over 2,000km of cross-country pipeline have been constructed in Scotland since 1974, involving disturbance of 2,000ha of land, 94% of which was in agricultural use, 2% woodland, 2% moorland and rough ground, 1% wetland, and 1&37 roads and railways. This research examined the impact of piplines on different land uses, and the quantification of pipeline impacts is the subject of Chapter 5. The emphasis of the research was on impacts on agriculture focussing upon intensive grazing and cereal crops in eastern Scotland, and upon extensive moorland grazing in Shetland. The analysis used a sampling approach with the selection of 13 sites in eastern Scotland and the study of the entire onshore length of the Brent and Ninian pipelines in Shetland. It was noted that in some circumstances pipelines have resulted in a decrease in crop yield and in other cases led to an increase in yield. In most cases there is no significant difference, the result of the successful reinstatement of ground conditions, and where differences do occur it is unlikely that they are any more than of statistical significance. The importance of pipeline impacts is considered in Chapter 6. The hazardous nature of the materials transported within the pipelines results in there being an impact outwith the area of disturbed land. This is the result of restrictions placed upon development in the vicinity of 'major hazards'; restrictions could apply to some 24,000ha of land in Scotland. However, because pipelines are principally routed in rural areas where other development control policies apply, pipelines have not acted as a major restriction upon rural development.

The breeding behaviour of the Blue-throated Bee-eater was studied at two colonies in Peninsula Malaysia during 3 breeding seasons, with particular emphasis on pair behaviour, mixed reproductive strategies and nestling competition. This is the first study of vertebrate social behaviour and ecology to contain the documentation of a relational database. This was designed to store and manipulate all data obtained from regular captures and biometric measurements of adults and nestlings and from observations of adults. DNA fingerprinting was used to establish the true genetic relationships between nestlings and their social parents: most nestlings were genetic offspring (72%). Nestlings were classified as illegitimate offspring using 95% confidence intervals of the band sharing coefficient and number of unexplained nestling bands as criteria. Very few if any nestlings were sired by an extra-pair male (fewer than 5%). Behavioural evidence of strong cooperation between pair members throughout the breeding season supports the DNA fingerprinting results of no confirmed case of offspring fathered by extra-pair males (extra-pair offspring; EPO). The Blue-throated Bee-eater probably has a near monogamous mating system. Most illegitimate nestlings had been 'dumped'. They were either the result of intra-specific nest parasitism (INP; 7%) or of 'quasi' parasitism (the offspring of the pair-male and an extra-pair female; 7-12%). INP by relatives of the hosts could have explained some intermediate band sharing coefficients. Anti-INP behaviour was demonstrated when experimentally 'dumped' eggs were almost always expelled before the onset of laying, but never afterwards. DNA fingerprinting showed that relatives may roost together and that related males may nest close together. Compared with other colonial Bee-eaters, M. viridis had low levels of helping-at-the-nest and EPO, but similar or higher levels of INP. The high nestling mortality in Blue-throated Bee-eaters was explained by a combination of three hypotheses, some of which were tested by experiment. (1) Insurance: extra-eggs are needed to counter hatch failure. (2) Brood reduction (including resource tracking): in times of food constraint, the laterhatched nestlings in asynchrously hatched broods starve. (3) Anti-INP hypothesis: these later-hatched nestlings are eliminated because they are likely to be illegitimate. Hatching failure was about 1 in 3 eggs overall. Help from the male allows an early onset of incubation which results in asynchronous hatching. Nestling hunger was shown to be a proximate factor affecting runt mortality both directly through competition and indirectly through nestling aggression. The demise of runts was delayed when conditions improved. Blue-throated Bee-eater broods are severely limited by food. Under this severe brood size constraint, breeding females may increase reproductive output by 'dumping' their last egg. This leads to the high frequency of INP observed in Blue-throated Bee-eaters. An early onset of incubation also gives the first-laid egg(s) a temporal developmental advantage over subsequently 'dumped' parasitic eggs. The 'dumped' nestlings are eliminated by starvation and siblicide, which may itself be an adaptation to INP to eliminate of unrelated nestlings.

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