António Martins

Design and implementation of a current controller for the parallel operation of standard UPSs

The parallel operation of static inverters is, in a large amount of cases, the appropriate solution to achieve the high power required by some applications or to improve power system reliability. The limited inverter capacity obliges to parallel the individual units to obtain the nominal load power. In UPS systems, there are situations where a high reliability/availability is required by critical loads. Parallel redundancy appears an immediate solution to satisfy this requirement. This paper presents a control system for parallel operation of nonredundant UPSs based on current control. The relative phase between the inverters is constant. Simulation results as well as experimental studies are presented. The overall control system is implemented on a simple and low cost platform.

Culture-dependent characterization of cyanobacterial diversity in the intertidal zones of the Portuguese coast: A polyphasic study

Cyanobacteria are important primary producers, and many are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen playing a key role in the marine environment. However, not much is known about the diversity of cyanobacteria in Portuguese marine waters. This paper describes the diversity of 60 strains isolated from benthic habitats in 9 sites (intertidal zones) on the Portuguese South and West coasts. The strains were characterized by a morphological study (light and electron microscopy) and by a molecular characterization (partial 16S rRNA, nifH, nifK, mcyA, mcyE/ndaF, sxtI genes). The morphological analyses revealed 35 morphotypes (15 genera and 16 species) belonging to 4 cyanobacterial Orders/Subsections. The dominant groups among the isolates were the Oscillatoriales. There is a broad congruence between morphological and molecular assignments. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 9 strains have less than 97% similarity compared to the sequences in the databases, revealing novel cyanobacterial diversity. Phylogenetic analysis, based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed at least 12 clusters. One-third of the isolates are potential N(2)-fixers, as they exhibit heterocysts or the presence of nif genes was demonstrated by PCR. Additionally, no conventional freshwater toxins genes were detected by PCR screening.

First report on the occurrence of microcystins in planktonic cyanobacteria from Central Mexico.

Although toxic cyanobacteria are commonly described worldwide, only one recent paper on the toxicity of cyanobacteria in Mexico has been published reporting the occurrence of cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxins. Microcystins are the most commonly studied cyanotoxins in many countries and those that may cause the most dramatic problems in terms of human health. In this paper, we studied the occurrence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in different ecosystems in Central Mexico. Samples were collected in natural lakes (Zumpango, Laguna Atotonilco and Cienega Chica), reservoirs (Los Angeles and Valle de Bravo), man-made channels (Cuemanco, Tlameleca) and urban lakes (Chapultepec). A multi-technique approach was applied by the use of molecular, immunological and chemical techniques. Cyanobacteria were found in all the sites, ranging from 1.6 x 10(3) cells/mL in Tlameleca to 7.5 x 10(6) cells/mL in Chapultepec Grande, representing between 67 and 100% of the total phytoplankton density. The concentration of total microcystins varied between 4.9 and 78.0 microg MC-LR eq/L. The results revealed the occurrence of MC-LR in all the sites analyzed by MALDI-TOF, and MC-FR, MC-RR and MC-H(4)YR in two sites. Most of the studied sites are used either as a source of drinking water, as a recreational area, or for agriculture irrigation purposes, so the risk for human health may be high if not properly monitored. This is the first report on the MC profiles and concentrations in blooms collected in Mexico.

Rotor Current Controller with Voltage Harmonics Compensation for a DFIG Operating under Unbalanced and Distorted Stator Voltage

The doubly fed induction generator is particularly appropriate to be used in wind power generation systems. However, in weak grids its stator connection to unbalanced or distorted voltages imposes low frequency and high amplitude rotor current harmonics. Also, the grid side converter must deal with the same voltage conditions. The paper addresses the first issue presenting a voltage harmonics controller in the dq reference frame to be included in the high dynamics rotor current controller. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the performance of the proposed controller imposing a sinusoidal input current.

Use of qPCR for the study of hepatotoxic cyanobacteria population dynamics.

Toxic cyanobacteria blooms are increasingly frequent and object of greater concern due to its ecological and health impacts. One important lack in the toxic cyanobacteria research field is to understand which parameters influence most and how they operate to regulate the overall levels of cyanotoxins in a body of water. MC concentration is believed to be influenced by changes in several seasonal environmental factors that influence the succession of toxic cyanobacteria. In the last years, qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) has been applied to determine the seasonal and temporal shifts in the proportions of MC-producing and non-MC-producing subpopulations by quantifying both mcy genotypes and total population numbers. We discuss the most prominent and recent studies using qPCR to address hepatotoxic cyanobacteria population dynamics and evaluate how they helped understanding the factors promoting the growth of toxic strains in situ and the succession of hepatotoxin-producing genera in natural populations.

Application of real-time PCR in the assessment of the toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii abundance and toxicological potential

Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic photosynthetic microorganisms that pose a serious threat to aquatic environments because they are able to form blooms under eutrophic conditions and produce toxins. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a planktonic heterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium initially assigned to the tropics but currently being found in more temperate regions such as Portugal, the southernmost record for this species in Europe. Cylindrospermopsin originally isolated from C. raciborskii is a cytotoxic alkaloid that affects the liver, kidney, and other organs. It has a great environmental impact associated with cattle mortality and human morbidity. Aiming in monitoring this cyanobacterium and its related toxin, a shallow pond located in the littoral center of Portugal, Vela Lake, used for agriculture and recreational purposes was monitored for a 2-year period. To accomplish this, we used the real-time PCR methodology in field samples to quantify the variation of specific genetic markers with primers previously described characterizing total cyanobacteria (16S rRNA), C. raciborskii (rpoC1), and cylindrospermopsin synthetase gene (pks). The results report the high abundance of both cyanobacteria and C. raciborskii in Vela Lake, with C. raciborskii representing 0.4% to 58% of the total cyanobacteria population. Cylindrospermopsin synthetase gene was detected in one of the samples. We believe that with the approach developed in this study, it will be possible to monitor C. raciborskii population dynamics and seasonal variation, as well as the potential toxin production in other aquatic environments.

An Active Power Filter with Direct Current Control for Power Quality Conditioning

Abstract Fast dynamic response and high-frequency switching make the active power filter an appropriate converter to implement the correction of low-power quality events and impose a sinusoidal current in the grid at the point of common connection. In this article, a new simple and robust control structure for an active power filter is designed, simulated, and tested. The current loop, based on the DC bus energy balance, is intuitive, robust, simple to implement, and allows a fast dynamic response. The implementation is validated with simulated and experimental results obtained in a three-phase 5-kVA prototype.

Seasonal dynamics of Microcystis spp. and their toxigenicity as assessed by qPCR in a temperate reservoir.

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria are becoming increasingly frequent, mainly due to water quality degradation. This work applied qPCR as a tool for early warning of microcystin(MC)-producer cyanobacteria and risk assessment of water supplies. Specific marker genes for cyanobacteria, Microcystis and MC-producing Microcystis, were quantified to determine the genotypic composition of the natural Microcystis population. Correlations between limnological parameters, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity and MC concentrations as well as Microcystis abundance were assessed. A negative significant correlation was observed between toxic (with mcy genes) to non-toxic (without mcy genes) genotypes ratio and the overall Microcystis density. The highest proportions of toxic Microcystis genotypes were found 4–6 weeks before and 8–10 weeks after the peak of the bloom, with the lowest being observed at its peak. These results suggest positive selection of non-toxic genotypes under favorable environmental growth conditions. Significant positive correlations could be found between quantity of toxic genotypes and MC concentration, suggesting that the method applied can be useful to predict potential MC toxicity risk. No significant correlation was found between the limnological parameters measured and MC concentrations or toxic genotypes proportions indicating that other abiotic and biotic factors should be governing MC production and toxic genotypes dynamics. The qPCR method here applied is useful to rapidly estimate the potential toxicity of environmental samples and so, it may contribute to the more efficient management of water use in eutrophic systems.

Dynamics of Protein Phosphatase Gene Expression in Corbicula fluminea Exposed to Microcystin-LR and to Toxic Microcystis aeruginosa Cells

This study investigated the in vivo effects of microcystins on gene expression of several phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPP) in the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea with two different exposure scenarios. Clams were exposed for 96 h to 5 μg L−1 of dissolved microcystin-LR and the relative changes of gene expression of three different types of PPP (PPP1, 2 and 4) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed a significant induction of PPP2 gene expression in the visceral mass. In contrast, the cyanotoxin did not cause any significant changes on PPP1 and PPP4 gene expression. Based on these results, we studied alterations in transcriptional patterns in parallel with enzymatic activity of C. fluminea for PPP2, induced by a Microcystis aeruginosa toxic strain (1 × 105 cells cm−3) during 96 h. The relative changes of gene expression and enzyme activity in visceral mass were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and colorimetric assays respectively. The clams exhibited a significant reduction of PPP2 activity with a concomitant enhancement of gene expression. Considering all the results we can conclude that the exposure to an ecologically relevant concentration of pure or intracellular microcystins (-LR) promoted an in vivo effect on PPP2 gene expression in C. fluminea.

Complex state-space current controller for grid-connected converters with an LCL filter

Grid-connected voltage source converters using an LCL filter offer reduced harmonics in the grid current. The system modeling results in a multivariable system with cross coupling. Additionally, the system contains three state-variables instead of the one occurring in the case of grid connection using only one inductance. All the three variables must be measured or estimated. Also, the LCL filter has a resonant frequency that can cause unstable behavior. This variable resonant frequency is usually considered using a damping resistor or active damping. The main purpose of the paper is to present a methodology to design a current controller based on the concept of a controller in the complex domain. The complex controller is obtained using the pole placement method and it uses a state observer in order to only measure the grid current as state variable. The simulation results presented clearly demonstrate the validity of the design approach.