Abstract
This paper attempts to propose a fair solution in generation scheduling problem in the presence of inherent uncertainties in short-term power system operation. The proposed methodology incorporates probabilistic methodology in the uncertainties representation section, while harmony search algorithm is adopted as a fast and reliable soft computing algorithm to solve the proposed nonlinear, non-convex, large-scaled and combinatorial problem. As an indispensable step towards a more economical power system operation, the optimal generation scheduling strategy in the presence of mixed hydro-thermal generation mix, deemed to be the most techno-economically efficient scheme, comes to the play and is profoundly taken under concentration in this study. This paper devises a comprehensive hybrid optimisation approach by which all the crucial aspects of great influence in the generation scheduling process can be accounted for. Two-point estimation method is also adopted probabilistically approaching the involved uncertain criteria. In the light of the proposed methodology being implemented on an adopted test system, the anticipated efficiency of the proposed method is well verified. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Abstract
This paper presents a new adaptive scheme for doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) in order to augment their flexibility confronting with unpredicted operational conditions. Due to large fluctuations in the wind velocity, the proposed scheme would handle system unreliable operational conditions. In such system, which has multi-input, multi-output and is also represented as a nonlinear control system, the uncertain parameters would affect the operational conditions. So, in order to have a robust controlling scheme, the mentioned characteristics should be considered in the proposed method. The adaptive control scheme proposed in this paper satisfies the expected constraints and could also be implemented in real-world platforms, especially in large-scale wind farms with DFIG turbines. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Abstract
In this paper, the problem of optimal economic scheduling of multi-reservoir cascaded hydrothermal units is investigated in the presence of an individual pumped-storage generating unit in the network. The proposed problem is modeled in a multi-objective framework comprising two objective functions. The goal of the first objective function is to minimize the operation costs and the second one is set to minimize the emissions caused by the thermal units while all the technical constraints are satisfied. Furthermore, the valve loading effect is included in the first objective function as a sinusoidal function. The problem is modeled and solved as a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP). The augmented É"-constraint technique and lexicographic optimization are employed to solve the problem. Numerical results obtained from implementing the model on a case study are discussed. Also, the decision making procedure has been done using a fuzzy satisfying method to select the most preferred solution among the Pareto solutions derived through solving the multi-objective problem.

Abstract
This paper presents a new computational technique in composite generation and transmission expansion planning considering reliability and cost assessment. The proposed procedure incorporates a virtual database in order to hedging the repetitive calculation by optimisation solver. Since generation and transmission expansion planning is a large scale, mixed-integer, nonlinear and non-convex optimisation task, the proposed technique accelerates the convergence time and reduces computational burden. The composite generation and transmission expansion planning problem is represented as a multi-objective optimisation problem. The virtual database-supported non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (VDS-NSGA-II) is applied due to comparative assessment potential and good handling of the non-convex problems and non-commensurable objective functions. The virtual database eliminates the repetitive computational efforts in both reliability and hourly operational assessments. In this study, the expected energy not served at hierarchical level II is taken into account as a reliability index, whereas the entire system cost, including annually operational and investment costs, is considered as another objective function. The incidence matrix-based DC optimal power flow is adopted to reflect transmission flow constraint in a framework in which the disconnected bus problem would be handled in both objective functions. To numerically evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method, simulation results on a simple three-bus test system and the modified IEEE 24-bus reliability test system are provided. In spite of huge computation burden at HL-II reliability assessment, the results indicate high efficiency of the proposed VDS-NSGA-II. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Abstract
The ISTTOK tokamak was upgraded with a plasma control system based on the Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) standard. This control system was designed to improve the discharge stability and to extend the operational space to the alternate plasma current (AC) discharges as part of the ISTTOK scientific program. In order to accomplish these objectives all ISTTOK diagnostics and actuators relevant for real-time operation were integrated in the control system. The control system was programmed in C++ over the Multi-threaded Application Real-Time executor (MARTe) which provides, among other features, a real-time scheduler, an interrupt handler, an intercommunications interface between code blocks and a clearly bounded interface with the external devices. As a complement to the MARTe framework, the BaseLib2 library provides the foundations for the data, code introspection and also a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server service. Taking advantage of the modular nature of MARTe, the algorithms of each diagnostic data processing, discharge timing, context switch, control and actuators output reference generation, run on well-defined blocks of code named Generic Application Module (GAM). This approach allows reusability of the code, simplified simulation, replacement or editing without changing the remaining GAMs. The ISTTOK control system GAMs run sequentially each 100 µs cycle on an Intel® Q8200 4-core processor running at 2.33 GHz located in the ATCA crate. Two boards (inside the ATCA crate) with 32 analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) were used for acquiring the diagnostics data. Each ADC operates at 2 Msample/s but (for real-time operation) the acquired data is decimated in real-time on the board's Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to a frequency defined by the control cycle time. This paper presents the ISTTOK real-time architecture and the human-machine Interface (HMI) for simplified AC discharge programming. © 2014 Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear.

Abstract
The ISTTOK tokamak has a long tradition on alternate plasma current (AC) discharges, but the old control system was limiting and lacked full system integration. In order to improve the AC discharges performance the ISTTOK fast control system was updated. This control system developed on site based on the Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) standard now integrates the information gathered by all the tokamak real-time diagnostics to produce an accurate observation of the plasma parameters. The real-time actuators were also integrated, allowing a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) control environment with several synchronization strategies available. The control system software was developed in C++ on top of a Linux system with the Multi-threaded Application Real-Time executor (MARTe) Framework to synchronize the real-time code execution under a 100 mu s control cycle. In addition, to simplify the discharge programming, a visual Human-Machine Interface (HMI) was also developed using the BaseLib2 libraries included in the MARTe Framework. This paper presents the ISTTOK control system and the optimizations that extended the AC current discharges duration to more than 1 s, corresponding to 40 semi-cycles without apparent degradation of the plasma parameters. This upgrade allows ISTTOK to be used as a low-cost material testing facility with long time exposures to nuclear fusion relevant plasmas, comparable (in duration) with medium size tokamaks.