Improving the Performance of Photovoltaic Power Plants with Determinative Module for the Cooling System

The objective of this work is to analyze and evaluate the impact of cooling systems on photovoltaic modules (for electricity generation), applied at a pilot Testing Facility. The results obtained during this step are used as input in order to determine the best model to be applied at a real-scale Photovoltaic Power Plant (PVPP). This methodology is based on the monitoring and supervision of the operating temperature of commercial photovoltaic modules (PV), both with and without cooling systems, as well as on the study of the water supply design of the cooling system applied on a micro photovoltaic power plant which is connected to the commercial network. Through the analysis of the data, we observed that photovoltaic modules with cooling systems always operate at lower temperatures than the ones without cooling systems. During the testing period, the operating temperatures of the photovoltaic modules without cooling systems were above 60oC (with a maximum temperature equaling 68.06oC), whereas the maximum temperatures registered on the sensors of the model “A” were 43.55oC and 44.75oC, and the ones registered on the sensors of the model “B” were 46.76 and 48.33oC. Therefore, we conclude that the photovoltaic module with the cooling system model “A” is the most suitable for large-scale application, since it was the only model to present temperatures lower than the nominal operating condition temperature (NOCT) of the cell (47oC ± 2oC).

Energy Planning Considering the Policy Dimension Seeking for Sustainable Development

The objective of this work is to analyze the intrinsic aspects for policy dimension inside the energy planning and energy long term sustainability. In that sense, the methodology intends to take the Brazilian example as a case study and offer a somewhat unorthodox perspective on the subject of State energy planning. This matter is, beyond a purely technical question or a problem for the field of exact sciences, a point of primary interest to the field of social and human sciences. More the backbone methodology in this research is the Integrated Energy-Resources Planning (IRP), chosen for its ability to integrate both the supply and demand perspectives in the discussions about energy planning [1] [2]. A historical perspective is a guideline to approach issue: starting at the early Twentieth century, this study covers the major landmarks of the country energy concern to the present day;particularly noteworthy are the implications of the realpolitik—that is, the elements in politics that are developed within the institutional frameworks, such as governmental plans and decisions. As a result, it presents a complex picture, which we try to understand from the perspective of supply and demand integration. The originality of the study lies in the refusal to accept fallacious technical statements, as we consider the issue primarily a human and social problem, but considering the validity of technical statements that are correct.

Inclusive Architecture:Digital Technologies,Co-design and Qualification of the Project Process

This article presents the scenario of programming use by architects and engineers,creating their own unique tools.The goal is to emulate and understand the phenomenon of Building Information Modeling(BIM)software customization by developing plug-ins that can explore the human-environment relationship.Demonstrate the process for building a plugin that seeks to equalize the theory of accessibility technical standards,visually impaired and architects.Use Design Science Research methodologies to guide the construction of artifacts for specific practical problems and the Collaborative Design/Co-design to understand and know the users’expertise.It is argued that the low quality of projects that include elements for the orientation of the visually impaired in Brazil is often related to an unstructured methodology in which important aspects such as the real needs of this group and the human-environment relationship are neglected.

BIM Software Plug-ins： An Alternative to OptimizeDesign Processes from the Perspective of Performance and Sustainability

With the increased use of technology in design processes, BIM （building information modeling） tools user＇s community has started to develop solutions through external applications such as plug-ins to automate specific and repetitive tasks, amplify interoperability and add functionality versatility to BIM platforms. This paper seeks to evaluate Autodesk Revit platform plug-ins＇ state of the art, by means of a quantitative study of current repositories and the proposition of a categorization system of the purposes to which plug-ins are developed. Then a comparison between use and necessity of Brazil＇s AEC （architecture, engineering and construction） industry was done through a questionnaire with experienced professionals of the area. An analysis was carried out based on the professional＇s difficulties in meeting the requirements of Brazilian Performance Standard and compliance with Environmental Certification provisions, underpinning the possibility of using plug-ins to optimize the design processes under the perspective of performance and sustainability.

Energy Storage and Multi-Source System for Reduction Energy Costs in the Consumer-Side

The objective of this work is to reduce energy costs for a consumer with multiple available energy resources and with an energy storage system. To achieve this, it is developed a methodology with a multi-criterion analysis that considers the demand side, the real-time prices, and the availability of the energy resources. In other words, the developed methodology manages the multi-source system, allowing savings for a consumer. In addition to the presentation of the methodology, it is made an application in a case study. It is considered and modeled a real consumer that has three different energy resources, including energy storage by battery. The situation comprehends solar generation, diesel generator and the electrical power grid. There are simulations and the results comprehend the savings for this consumer, considering the methodology application. The main result is a reduction in energy costs by 33.3%, considering the situation without this methodology. For the purpose of indicating the use of the storage system, it is presented the battery’s state of charge along the simulation. Also, there is a verification of the methodology’s robustness, through another simulation, using theoretical data for the consumer. In this case, the consumer has energy storage system, solar generation, biogas generator and the electrical power grid. In this situation, there is a reduction in energy costs by 30.2%, considering the situation without this methodology. In conclusion, the results show that the developed methodology is effective. In the two case studies presented there are significant savings for the consumer.

Co-design in Public Spaces for Children:The Design Process of a Pocket Park

The active participation of users in the Design Process(DP)in architecture is a collective action,which aims to meet their real needs.In terms of open spaces for children,squares and playgrounds become leisure spaces known for being places of coexistence,interaction and entertainment.However,the vast majority of children’s environments are planned and organized considering the perceptions and experiences of adults.Children become absent from the process of building the contemporary city.Co-design is an important tool for adding users to DP.The objective of this work is,therefore,to include children in the DP of a Pocket Park,using methods and tools to support co-design.The work was structured based on bibliographic review,Focus Group,Culture Maker and Digital Fabrication.The research indicated that the collaborative project promotes assertive communication between children and designers,welcoming their ideas and perceptions in a flexible way.

Architecture,Design and Computer Science:Professional Training for Elementary School Teachers

Studies show that contemporary teaching methodologies are based on skills and competences directed to different areas of professional practice,such as Architecture,Design and Computer Science.Collective learning spaces gain strength,stimulating the development of new skills by users.The Digital Manufacturing Laboratories(Fab Labs)and Makerspaces are entering the school environment and starting a movement for change in traditional education.Although they are seen as potential drivers for higher quality education,the lack of specific training for teachers in the face of new digital information and communication technologies,especially in basic education,becomes limiting in the development of new active methodologies.Thus,this study aimed to develop a training dynamic for basic education teachers,addressing the use of tools and equipment for digital manufacturing and prototyping,2D and 3D modeling applications and software,and programming and electronics.The methodology consists of literature review,followed by the action research method with two workshops given through an online and synchronous platform.The importance of incorporating creative and innovative methodologies in education is understood,and above all,there is a dynamic,planned and effective structure,geared towards the orientation of teachers.

Inclusive Architecture:Landscape Codesign in Children’s Playgrounds

Children’s playgrounds are open spaces,the basis for children’s recreation,important for the inclusion and mobility of visually impaired children in the social environment,through inclusive urban facilities that stimulate new experiences for their cognitive development.In this context,the use of co-design with visually impaired people,in the design processes of children’s playgrounds,assumes an importance for an inclusive project based on their experiences.Thus,it aimed to promote a project together,to provide more comfort and safety to users.It presents as main results as better colors,materials and types of toys for children with visual impairment to be competent in a playground including from the application of methods,tools and resources in the co-design process.

Parametric Design:Measuring Learning States

Project teaching and learning comprises properties,strategies and procedures that currently involve computational thinking and logical reasoning.In general,this problem arises from the possibilities offered by the new software and the increase of the level of dominion of the project by the designer.In this context,this study aims to estimate how much the student profile contemporary of architecture is motivated and engaged in learning new project processes that use computational reasoning and logical reasoning,characteristic of parametric design.Methodologically,the research is based on the theory of flow,presents results of an investigation of engagement and learning of students of a school of Architecture and Urbanism in Brazil,referring to the themes and uses of parametric drawing.This study contributed to the practice and use of parametric design in the educational environment,besides allowing the integration of computational thinking in the creative process of the project.

Continuouss Three-Dimensional Printing of Architected Piezoelectric Sensors in Minutes

Additive manufacturing(AM),also known as three-dimensional(3D)printing,is thriving as an effective and robust method in fabricating architected piezoelectric structures,yet most of the commonly adopted printing techniques often face the inherent speed-accuracy trade-off,limiting their speed in manufacturing sophisticated parts containing micro-/nanoscale features.Herein,stabilized,photo-curable resins comprising chemically functionalized piezoelectric nanoparticles(PiezoNPs)were formulated,from which microscale architected 3D piezoelectric structures were printed continuously via micro continuous liquid interface production(μCLIP)at speeds of up to~60μm s^(-1),which are more than 10 times faster than the previously reported stereolithography-based works.The 3D-printed functionalized barium titanate(f-BTO)composites reveal a bulk piezoelectric charge constant d33 of 27.70 pC N^(-1) with the 30 wt%f-BTO.Moreover,rationally designed lattice structures that manifested enhanced,tailorable piezoelectric sensing performance as well as mechanical flexibility were tested and explored in diverse flexible and wearable self-powered sensing applications,e.g.,motion recognition and respiratory monitoring.

Reinforcing carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers with nanoscale graphitic interface-layers

Carbon fibers going through stabilization,carbonization,and graphitization heat-treatment stages will form continuous graphitic layers that are closely packed and preferentially aligned along the fiber axis,forming high mechanical stiffness or strength and electrical or thermal conductivity.The alignment of noncontinuous,powder-like graphene layers in polymers has been challenging due to the low bending modulus of a few-or even single-layered graphene,which causes aggregations or folding behaviors.This research demonstrates the leveraging of polymer-nanoparticle interactions to align graphene nanoplatelets(GNPs)in the polyacrylonitrile(PAN)matrix.An in-house designed spinning method produces a three-layered fiber that utilizes the interfacial interactions between each layer for graphene alignment between graphitic layers.This composite containing oriented GNPs significantly improves modulus(i.e.,42.3 to 74.6 GPa)and increases electrical conductivity for enhancing volatile organic compounds(VOCs)sensing behaviors.This research opens up a new scalable fabrication method for multilayered composites.

Interaction of carbonaceous nanomaterials with wastewater biomass

Increasing production and use of carbonaceous nanomaterials （NMs） will increase their release to the sewer system and to municipal wastewater treatment plants. There is little quantitative knowledge on the removal of multi-walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs）, graphene oxide （GO）, or few-layer graphene （FLG） from wastewater into the wastewater biomass. As such, we investigated the quantification of GO and MWCNTs by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and FLG using programmable thermal analysis （PTA）, respectively. We further explored the removal of pristine and oxidized MWCNTs （O- MWCNTs）, GO, and FLG in a biomass suspension. At least 96% of pristine and O-MWCNTs were removed from the water phase through aggregation and 30-min settling in presence or absence of biomass with an initial MWCNT concentration of 25mg.L-1. Only 65% of GO was removed with biomass concentration at or above 1,000 mg. L-1 as total suspended solids （TSS） with the initial GO concentration of 25 mg. L-1. As UV-Vis spectrophotometry does not work well on quantification of FLG, we studied the removal of FLG at a lower biomass concentration （50mg TSS-L-1） using PTA, which showed a 16% removal of FLG with an initial concentration of 1 mg ·L-1. The removal data for GO and FLG were fitted using the Freundlich equation （R2 = 0.55, 0.94, respectively）. The data presented in this study for carbonaceous NM removal from wastewater provides quantitative informa- tion for environmental exposure modeling and life cycle assessment.

Soft wearable flexible bioelectronics integrated with an anklefoot exoskeleton for estimation of metabolic costs and physical effort

Activities and physical effort have been commonly estimated using a metabolic rate through indirect calorimetry to capture breath information.The physical effort represents the work hardness used to optimize wearable robotic systems.Thus,personalization and rapid optimization of the effort are critical.Although respirometry is the gold standard for estimating metabolic costs,this method requires a heavy,bulky,and rigid system,limiting the system’s field deployability.Here,this paper reports a soft,flexible bioelectronic system that integrates a wearable ankle-foot exoskeleton,used to estimate metabolic costs and physical effort,demonstrating the potential for real-time wearable robot adjustments based on biofeedback.Data from a set of activities,including walking,running,and squatting with the biopatch and exoskeleton,determines the relationship between metabolic costs and heart rate variability root mean square of successive differences(HRV-RMSSD)(R=−0.758).Collectively,the exoskeleton-integrated wearable system shows potential to develop a field-deployable exoskeleton platform that can measure wireless real-time physiological signals.