• A. R. Silva, F. Charrua-Santos, A. Espírito-Santo, J. C. P. Marques, C. M. S. FaelTitle: Water-Energy Nexus: Review of Literature in Management of Integrated Systems, Challenges and Opportunities. Case Study in Urban Context

  Conference: International Congress on Engineering - ICEUBI2017, Covilhã, Portugal, from December 5 to 7, 2017.

  Abstract: In a society where Energy and Water walk side by side in practically all sectors of activity, it becomes necessary to analyze them from a productive, economic and sustainable point of view. From the extraction of mines and wells, to its treatment and transportation, and to the cooling systems of energy production, and despite being independently developed, managed and regulated, it is known that water needs energy and energy needs water. All these concerns, decision-making and the relationship between water and energy by itself create an opportunity to improve management in both sectors. There is an urgent need to consider all the assumptions and alternatives to improve the system and reduce energy consumption, which includes technological modifications and optimized resources management, leading to a more sustainable future. The increasing demand for energy and its exponential trend will have repercussions at all levels and will consequently increase the strain on freshwater resources with the most affected agricultural and industrial sectors. By improving the efficiency of water and energy use, there are positive repercussions that allow for substantial savings, especially where there is a lack of such resources. This article aims to address all these crucial issues related to energy and water in order to increase knowledge on the subject and to help promote alternatives for managing and developing integrated management systems and, consequently, for a rational use of both resources and a more sustainable future.

• A. R. Silva, F. Charrua-Santos, A. Espírito-Santo, J. C. P. Marques, C. M. S. Fael

  Title: Study of a Water-Energy Integrated System: Challenges of PrototypingConference: International Conference on Energy and Sustainability in Small Developing Economies - ES2DE18, Madeira, Portugal, from July 9 to 11, 2018.

  Abstract: In a society where Energy and Water walk side by side in practically all sectors of activity, it becomes necessary to analyze them from a productive, economic and sustainable point of view. Although independently developed and regulated, it is known that water needs energy and energy needs water. The increasing demand for energy and its exponential trend will have repercussions at all levels in the short term. and consequently, will increase the strain on freshwater resources. All these concerns and associated decision-making policies create an opportunity to improve the management of both sectors. There is an urgent need to improve the water-energy system and reduce energy consumption, using advanced technological changes and an optimized management strategy, leading to a more sustainable future. By improving the efficiency of water and energy use through integrated smart strategies, there are very positive repercussions on savings and impact on the local economy, especially in decentralized cases. The present paper aims to address the theme of the nexus of water-energy in the scope of promoting alternatives of management and development of integrated systems and study the dynamics of the development of the theoretical concept vs. prototyping in case of urban context and real environment.

•  A. Espírito-Santo, P.D. Serra, S. Abrósio, R. J. C. Pinto

Title: Water pH Monitoring with a Smart Sensor Powered by a Thermoelectric Generator with a Phase-Change Material

Conference:  45th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) - IECON2019, Lisbon, Portugal, from October 14 to 17, 2019.

Abstract: The quality of water supplied to the human populations should be under continuous monitorization to detect possible threats to the consumer or infrastructure. The measurement of water’s pH allows to conclude about water quality. Solar thermal energy harvesting and consequent conversion into electrical energy, after properly regulated, allows to power an intelligent sensor to measure the pH values of water. The adoption of the IEEE1451 standard allows the smart sensor, through the services provided by this standard, integrate a sensor network and cooperate with other elements of the network to maximize the functionality and overall efficiency of the water distribution system.

• P.D. Serra, A. Espírito-Santo, J. Bonifácio, S. F. Relvas

Title: Capacitive Level Smart Sensors in the Management of Wastewater Treatment Processes

IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics - INDIN19, 22-25 July 2019, Helsinki-Espoo, Finland

Abstract: Collecting information on wastewater treatment processes is critical to the efficiency of the treatment system. Detecting the water level inside of a macrophyte constructed wetlands, using a capacitive sensing element, allows knowing the operating state and efficiency of this infrastructure. The energy independence of the smart sensor is achieved through a microbial fuel cell that, by using the wastewater’s organic matter, allows it to operate indefinitely, avoiding a battery element and the associated replacement tasks. At the same time, integration of the smart sensor into a transducer network, observing the IEEE1451 standard, contributes to improve interoperability promoting cooperation among wastewater treatment subsystems.

•  P.D. Serra, A. Espírito-Santo, M. Magrinho

Title: A steady-state electrical model of a Microbial Fuel Cell through multiple-cycle polarization curves

Journal: Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews

Abstract: The use of Microbial Fuel Cells as power sources in rural or remote locations can solve issues related with power availability and wastewater cleaning. Furthermore, the application of such technology in wireless smart sensors applied to wastewater treatment plants can also help in water quality monitoring, increasing the process autonomy and reliability. A trustworthy power source needs to have a predictable and repeatable behavior, which cannot be achieved without adequate models and supporting hardware for energy regulation and storage. The work herein described proposes a steady-state model, represented by an electric circuit made of passive components. This model was first applied to a specific 28 mL air-cathode Microbial Fuel Cells working with artificial wastewater and using graphite brush anodes. Afterwards, the model was further validated by applying it to a larger reactor and to other bibliographic records. The goal of the study is to propose a method for finding a Microbial Fuel Cell model to be used with maximum power point tracking research, guaranteeing the best-case scenario for Microbial Fuel Cell operation as a power source. The reactors used in this study were analyzed by relating time and voltage development, both in colonization and in polarization studies. A mathematical relationship model was developed and proposed allowing to separate MFC’s behavior, concerning energy production, in to meaningful components.  From the experimental data the method was used to obtain a two-component circuit model that describes the power behavior of this specific Microbial Fuel Cell topology. The same method can be used to described other MFC.

• Antonio Espirito-Santo, Bruno Ribeiro, Mr. Cesar Lima, Mr. Joel Bonifacio, Ms. Sofia Ambrosio, Self-Powered Smart Sensors in the Management of Water Infrastructures, IEEE 16th International Conference Of Industrial Informatics Indin2018, 18-20 July 2018 Porto-Portugal

• Ms. Ana Silva, ICOVI, Dr. Fernando Santos, Dr. António Espírito-Santo, Dr. José Páscoa Marques, Dr. Cristina Fael, Development of the Concept vs Prototyping: Implementation of a real scale Water-Energy Integrated System, IEEE 16th International Conference Of Industrial Informatics Indin2018, 18-20 July 2018 Porto-Portugal

Abstract: Currently, the concept of smart cities and renewable energy are more consolidated and developed. With each passing day, new technological advances are emerging within both themes. At the same time, the water sector has becoming increasingly demanding in terms of quality and compliance with all existing legislation. That said, it is understandable that both sectors and their management entities come together in search of more sustainable operations that go against the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, decentralization of energy production and the improvement of efficiency, quality and use of resources. It is important to understand the synergies between water and energy to contradict what has been said so far about the increasing demand for energy, its exponential trend and the negative repercussions on freshwater resources. As such, this article aims to address the interconnection between both sectors to promote alternative scientific and technological improvements to the management and development of Integrated Water-Energy systems, while studying the dynamics between the theoretical development of the problem and the challenges of prototyping of such complex systems in real and urban context.

• Sabri MANSOURI - Slim TNANI - Olivier BACHELIER , A multi-function hybrid inverter for PV system applications, IEEE 16th International Conference Of Industrial Informatics Indin2018, 18-20 July 2018 Porto-Portugal

• Sabri MANSOURI - Slim TNANI - Olivier BACHELIER, Modelling and control of a new hybrid compensator for grid power fluctuations, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology, 20-22 February 2018, Lyon-France

• Habib CHERIF - Slim TNANI – Jamel BELHAJ – Ana Rita SILVA, Optimal sizing and technical evaluation of energy and water system based on micro-hydric solar and wind sources, IEEE 16th International Conference Of Industrial Informatics Indin2018, 18-20 July 2018 Porto-Portugal

• Sustainable Development in Energy Systems, Book, Editor Brian Azzopardi, Springer, 2017https://books.google.fr/books?id=clU0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PP9&dq=edgewise.ubi.pt&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV-9XpgereAhVP1hoKHQTKDmAQ6AEINjAB#v=onepage&q=edgewise.ubi.pt&f=false