Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um material híbrido inédito carvão ativado/nanotubos de carbono/nanopartículas de prata para as aplicações em bateria de íons de lítio e capacitor eletroquímico de dupla camada. O compósito foi preparado por crescimento dos nanotubos de carbono diretamente sobre o carvão ativado via deposição química de vapor e depois nanopartículas de prata foram incorporadas no carvão ativado/nanotubos de carbono. A morfologia do compósito foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Investigação das propriedades de intercalação de lítio no carvão ativado (CA), carvão ativado/nanotubos de carbono (CA/NTC), carvão ativado/prata (CA/Ag) e carvão ativado/nanotubos de carbono/prata (CA/NTC/Ag) foi conduzida por voltametria cíclica e ciclos de carga/descarga, utilizando dois diferentes eletrólitos. Verificou-se que o ânodo de CA/NTC/Ag apresenta mais elevado valor de capacidade específica reversível que a grafita em eletrólito comercial, provavelmente devido à rede tridimensional com elevada condutividade eletrônica formada por nanotubos de carbono e nanopartículas de prata nos poros e nas rugosidades do substrato. Além disso, os nanotubos de carbono podem exibir elevada capacidade de armazenamento de lítio. Outra vantagem do CA/NTC/Ag é que a rede de nanotubos de carbono acomoda a expansão de volume das partículas de prata durante a ciclagem do eletrodo, mantendo-as bem adsorvidas na superfície do CA/NTC. Os resultados confirmaram a existência do sinergismo entre os componentes do CA/NTC/Ag, que promove características eletroquímicas superiores àquelas dos constituintes isolados. / In this work, an unpublished hybrid material activated carbon/carbon nanotubes/silver nanoparticles was developed for lithium ion battery and electrochemical double layer capacitor applications. The composite was prepared by growing carbon nanotubes directly on the activated carbon via chemical vapor deposition and after silver nanoparticles were incorporated on the activated carbon/carbon nanotubes. The composites morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Investigation of lithium intercalation properties in activated carbon (AC), activated carbon/carbon nanotubes (AC/CNT), activated carbon/silver (AC/Ag) and activated carbon/carbon nanotubes/silver (AC/CNT/Ag) was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge cycles by making use of two different electrolytes. It was found that the AC/CNT/Ag anode presents higher reversible specific capacity value in comparison with graphite in commercial electrolyte, probably due to the three dimensional network with high electronic conductivity formed by carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles in the substrates pores and roughness. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes can exhibit high lithium storage capacity. Another advantage of the AC/CNT/Ag is that the network of carbon nanotubes accommodates volume expansion of the silver particles during electrode cycling, keeping them well adsorbed on the surface of the AC/CNT. The results confirmed the existence of synergism between the components of the AC/CNT/Ag, which promotes electrochemical characteristics that are higher than those of the individual constituents.

Esta dissertação tem por objetivo reportar dados relativos às características elétricas e microestruturais de eletrodos aplicadas em dispositivos armazenadores de energia, especificamente supercapacitores constituídos por eletrodos de carvão ativado. Os parâmetros elétricos estudados foram a resistência em série equivalente obtida pelo método da interrupção de corrente (ESR(Inst)) (sendo que a sigla ESR é oriunda do termo inglês Equivalent Series Resistance), a resistência em paralelo equivalente (EPR(Dep)) obtida pelo método do valor dependente (sendo que a sigla EPR é oriunda do termo inglês Equivalent Parallel Resistance) e a capacitância (C(DC)) obtida pelo método da corrente contínua (sendo que a sigla DC oriunda do termo inglês Direct Current). Tais parâmetros foram escolhidos devido ao impacto que causam no tempo de vida útil, na capacidade de armazenamento de cargas elétricas, na velocidade de carga e descarga, na perda por efeito termoiônico nos processos de carga e descarga e na perda de cargas armazenadas devido à autodescarga em supercapacitores. Os dados microestruturais reportam por meio de imagens a homogeneidade da porosidade e por meio de valores correlacionados a composição química e eventuais contaminações presentes nos eletrodos. Os dados e valores coletados possuem a intenção de servir como referência comparativa de qualidade e apontar qual parâmetro afeta mais a qualidade do supercapacitor. Para tanto foram realizados testes a fim de coletar valores de C(DC), ESR(Inst) e EPR(Dep) após a exposição de supercapacitores de 1F/5,5V a temperaturas de 50ºC, 75ºC, 100ºC e 125ºC por 672 horas, sendo os dados coletados ao inicio dos testes, à temperatura ambiente, e posteriormente a cada 168 horas. Feitos os experimentos concluiu-se que o parâmetro que sofreu maior deterioração com o acréscimo de energia térmica foi a EPR(Dep), em seguida a C(DC), que de fato pouco sofreu alteração e a ESR(Inst), em que a mudança dentro do erro de medição foi imperceptível. / This paper aims to report information on electrical and microstructural characteristics of electrodes applied at devices that store energy, specifically supercapacitors made of activated carbon electrodes. The studied electrical parameters were the equivalent series resistance obtained by the method of the instantaneous value of the voltage drop (ESR(Inst)), where the acronym ESR has the meaning Equivalent Series Resistance, the equivalent parallel resistance (EPR(Dep)) obtained by the method of dependent value, where the acronym EPR has the meaning Equivalent Parallel Resistance, and the capacitance (C(DC)) obtained by the method of direct current. These parameters were chosen because of the impact they have on lifetime, the storage capacity of electric charge, the speed of loading and unloading, the loss thermionic effect on the charge and discharge processes and loss of stored charge due to self-discharge in supercapacitors. The data given by microstructural images of the homogeneity and porosity values correlated by the chemical composition and possible contaminations present in the electrodes. The collected data and values are intended to serve as a comparative reference point and quality parameter which most affects the quality of the supercapacitor. For both tests were carried out in order to collect values of C(DC), ESR(Inst) and EPR(Dep) after supercapacitors of the 1F/5.5V are exposure at temperatures of 50, 75, 100 and 125°C for 672 hours, and the data collected at the beginning of the tests (room temperature) and subsequently every 168 hours. Made experiments it was concluded that the parameter further deterioration suffered with the increase of thermal energy is EPR(Dep), then C(DC), which in fact little changed and ESR(Inst), in which the change in the measurement error was are noticeable.

Esta dissertação tem por objetivo reportar dados relativos às características elétricas e microestruturais de eletrodos aplicadas em dispositivos armazenadores de energia, especificamente supercapacitores constituídos por eletrodos de carvão ativado. Os parâmetros elétricos estudados foram a resistência em série equivalente obtida pelo método da interrupção de corrente (ESR(Inst)) (sendo que a sigla ESR é oriunda do termo inglês Equivalent Series Resistance), a resistência em paralelo equivalente (EPR(Dep)) obtida pelo método do valor dependente (sendo que a sigla EPR é oriunda do termo inglês Equivalent Parallel Resistance) e a capacitância (C(DC)) obtida pelo método da corrente contínua (sendo que a sigla DC oriunda do termo inglês Direct Current). Tais parâmetros foram escolhidos devido ao impacto que causam no tempo de vida útil, na capacidade de armazenamento de cargas elétricas, na velocidade de carga e descarga, na perda por efeito termoiônico nos processos de carga e descarga e na perda de cargas armazenadas devido à autodescarga em supercapacitores. Os dados microestruturais reportam por meio de imagens a homogeneidade da porosidade e por meio de valores correlacionados a composição química e eventuais contaminações presentes nos eletrodos. Os dados e valores coletados possuem a intenção de servir como referência comparativa de qualidade e apontar qual parâmetro afeta mais a qualidade do supercapacitor. Para tanto foram realizados testes a fim de coletar valores de C(DC), ESR(Inst) e EPR(Dep) após a exposição de supercapacitores de 1F/5,5V a temperaturas de 50ºC, 75ºC, 100ºC e 125ºC por 672 horas, sendo os dados coletados ao inicio dos testes, à temperatura ambiente, e posteriormente a cada 168 horas. Feitos os experimentos concluiu-se que o parâmetro que sofreu maior deterioração com o acréscimo de energia térmica foi a EPR(Dep), em seguida a C(DC), que de fato pouco sofreu alteração e a ESR(Inst), em que a mudança dentro do erro de medição foi imperceptível. / This paper aims to report information on electrical and microstructural characteristics of electrodes applied at devices that store energy, specifically supercapacitors made of activated carbon electrodes. The studied electrical parameters were the equivalent series resistance obtained by the method of the instantaneous value of the voltage drop (ESR(Inst)), where the acronym ESR has the meaning Equivalent Series Resistance, the equivalent parallel resistance (EPR(Dep)) obtained by the method of dependent value, where the acronym EPR has the meaning Equivalent Parallel Resistance, and the capacitance (C(DC)) obtained by the method of direct current. These parameters were chosen because of the impact they have on lifetime, the storage capacity of electric charge, the speed of loading and unloading, the loss thermionic effect on the charge and discharge processes and loss of stored charge due to self-discharge in supercapacitors. The data given by microstructural images of the homogeneity and porosity values correlated by the chemical composition and possible contaminations present in the electrodes. The collected data and values are intended to serve as a comparative reference point and quality parameter which most affects the quality of the supercapacitor. For both tests were carried out in order to collect values of C(DC), ESR(Inst) and EPR(Dep) after supercapacitors of the 1F/5.5V are exposure at temperatures of 50, 75, 100 and 125°C for 672 hours, and the data collected at the beginning of the tests (room temperature) and subsequently every 168 hours. Made experiments it was concluded that the parameter further deterioration suffered with the increase of thermal energy is EPR(Dep), then C(DC), which in fact little changed and ESR(Inst), in which the change in the measurement error was are noticeable.

Esta dissertação tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento, e implantação em computador, de uma metodologia para tratamento do problema de restabelecimento de energia em sistemas de distribuição de grande porte (com milhares de linhas, barras de carga e chaves seccionadoras), que permita a obtenção de Planos de Restabelecimento de Energia (PREs) adequados considerando a existência de reguladores de tensão, bancos de capacitores e de diferentes tipos de chaves seccionadoras. A metodologia proposta deverá considerar as características de operação de diferentes tipos de chaves seccionadoras (existência de telecomando, possibilidade de abertura com carga e/ou em curto circuito, etc.) para obtenção de PREs. Vale lembrar que usualmente as metodologias desenvolvidas para obtenção de PREs consideram a existência apenas de chaves automáticas e não automáticas, não considerando outras características de funcionamento das chaves seccionadoras. Tendo em vista que o problema a ser tratado é combinatório, com múltiplos objetivos e restrições, a metodologia proposta será baseada em Algoritmos Evolutivos, em técnicas de otimização multi-objetivo e na estrutura de dados denominada Representação Nó-Profundidade (RNP). A RNP será utilizada para representar computacionalmente, de forma eficiente, a topologia elétrica dos sistemas de distribuição. Para validar a metodologia proposta serão realizadas simulações computacionais com sistemas de distribuição reais de grande porte. / This dissertation aims to develop a methodology to provide adequate Energy Restoration Plans (ERPs) in contingency situations to large-scale distribution systems (with thousands of lines, load buses and sectionalizing switches), considering the existence of voltage regulators, capacitors banks and different types of sectionalizing switches. The proposed methodology considers the operational characteristics of different types of sectionalizing switches (existence of remote control, possibility of open-load and/or short-circuit, etc.) for the purpose of obtaining ERPs. Usually the developed methodologies consider only the existence of remotely controlled and manually controlled switches, excluding other operational characteristics of the sectionalizing switches. As the service restoration problem is combinatory with multiple objectives and constraints, the proposed methodology is based on Evolutionary Algorithms, multiobjective optimization techniques and on the data structure named Node-Depth Encoding. The Node-Depth Encoding is used to computationally represent, in an efficient way, the topology of the distribution systems. The proposed methodology is validated through computational simulations performed in real large-scale distribution systems.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de utilizar métodos de otimização não linear a fim de desenvolver uma metodologia eficiente para alocação de bancos de capacitores visando a eliminar violações de tensão em redes de distribuição. A aplicação de capacitores em paralelo a sistemas elétricos de potência é comumente empregada com o intuito de se obter melhor controle do fluxo de potência, gerenciamento do perfil de tensão, correção do fator de potência e minimização de perdas. Tendo em vista estes benefícios, a metodologia deste trabalho se dará por meio da resolução de um problema de programação não linear associada com a aproximação linear da relação potência reativa versus tensão para determinar o número, a localização e o dimensionamento dos bancos capacitores ao longo das linhas de distribuição. Desta forma, pretende-se minimizar a injeção de reativos e reduzir as perdas ativas totais de modo que todas as restrições de operação e de carga sejam atendidas. Os resultados são avaliados pelo programa GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System), pelo MATLAB TM (Matrix Laboratory) e por um programa elaborado em Fortran, sendo possível analisar e descrever as contribuições alcançadas pelo presente trabalho, considerando que este é um tema de grande relevância para a operação e planejamento da expansão dos sistemas elétricos de potência. / This work aims to use nonlinear optimization methods to develop an efficient methodology for capacitor banks allocation to eliminate voltage violations in distribution networks. The application of capacitors in parallel to the electric power systems are commonly employed in order to have better control of power flow, voltage profile management, power factor correction and loss minimization. To achieve these benefits, the methodology of this work will be done through the resolution of a nonlinear programming problem associated with the linear approach of Voltage Variations versus Reactive Power Variation, calculating the number, location and optimal design of capacitor banks along distribution lines. Thus, it looks forward to minimize reactive power injection and reduce losses subject to meeting the operating and the loading constraints. The results are evaluated by the program GAMS TM (General Algebraic Modeling System), by Matlab TM (Matrix Laboratory) and by a program written in FORTRAN TM, being able to analyze and describe the contributions achieved by this work, considering it is a topic of great relevance to the operation and expansion planning of electric power systems.

Switched-Capacitor Converters (SCC) suffer from a fundamental power loss deficiency which make their use in some applications prohibitive. The power loss is due to the inherent energy dissipation when SCC operate between or outside their output target voltages. This drawback was alleviated in this work by developing two new classes of SCC providing binary and arbitrary resolution of closely spaced target voltages. Special attention is paid to SCC topologies of binary resolution. Namely, SCC systems that can be configured to have a no-load output to input voltage ratio that is equal to any binary fraction for a given number of bits. To this end, we define a new number system and develop rules to translate these numbers into SCC hardware that follows the algebraic behavior. According to this approach, the flying capacitors are automatically kept charged to binary weighted voltages and consequently the resolution of the target voltages follows a binary number representation and can be made higher by increasing the number of capacitors (bits). The ability to increase the number of target voltages reduces the spacing between them and, consequently, increases the efficiency when the input varies over a large voltage range. The thesis presents the underlining theory of the binary SCC and its extension to the general radix case. Although the major application is in step-down SCC, a simple method to utilize these SCC for step-up conversion is also described, as well as a method to reduce the output voltage ripple. In addition, the generic and unified model is strictly applied to derive the SCC equivalent resistor, which is a measure of the power loss. The theoretical predictions are verified by simulation and experimental results.

This document describes the design and deployment of a first generation water vapor density sensing unit, the HumiSense. This device is based on an open, air-filled capacitor which is part of a resonant circuit. The frequency of the resonant circuit mixed with a fixed frequency oscillator is the basis of the method to generate a signal that is associated to the change in water vapor density within the open capacitor with time. The physical testing results were inconclusive given that there were many unresolved artifacts in the data. Several suggestions for improving the device for future device generations were provided. / Graduation date: 2013

In this thesis the design, control, stability, input power quality, and motor drive performance of ac motor drives with front end three phase diode rectifiers utilizing low capacitance dc bus capacitor are investigated. Detailed computer simulations of conventional motor drives with diode rectifier front end utilizing high capacitance dc bus capacitor and the drives with low capacitance dc bus capacitor are conducted and the performances are compared. Performance evaluation of various active control methods found in previous studies aiming to provide the dc bus stability of drives with low capacitance dc bus capacitor are done at various load levels and types. Design recommendations are provided for the drives utilizing low capacitance dc bus capacitor.

CDMA channel selection requires sharp as well as wide-band Filtering. SAW Filters which have been used for this purpose are only available in IF range. In direct conversion receivers this has to be done at low frequencies. Switched Capacitor technique has been employed to design a low power, highly selective low-pass channel select Filter for CDMA wireless receivers. The topology which has been chosen ensures the low sensitivity of the Filter response. The circuit has been designed in a mixed-mode 0. 18u CMOS technology working with a single supply of 1. 8 V while its current consumption is less than 10 mA.

CDMA channel selection requires sharp as well as wide-band Filtering. SAW Filters which have been used for this purpose are only available in IF range. In direct conversion receivers this has to be done at low frequencies. Switched Capacitor technique has been employed to design a low power, highly selective low-pass channel select Filter for CDMA wireless receivers. The topology which has been chosen ensures the low sensitivity of the Filter response. The circuit has been designed in a mixed-mode 0. 18u CMOS technology working with a single supply of 1. 8 V while its current consumption is less than 10 mA.