http://hdl.handle.net/10174/37667 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 18:12:14 GMT 2026-07-12T18:12:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42334 Title: ANN-Based Maximum Power Point Tracking for PV Systems: Design and Simulation Using MATLAB/Simulink Authors: Ali, Md Suruj; Ahmed, Md Tofael; Rashel, Masud Rana; Tlemçani, Mouhaydine Abstract: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) plays a crucial role in extracting optimal power from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in extreme weather conditions. Traditional MPPT algorithms often suffer high oscillations, slow convergence time, and low performance during rapid environmental fluctuations. This research presents an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based MPPT technique for modeling and simulation in MATLAB/Simulink environment to observe these limitations behavior. The proposed model is trained with long term datasets with the parameters of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), and Ambient Temperature (Tamb). To predict the optimal duty cycle (D), voltage and current inputs data are used, which enable fast and accurate tracking of maximum power point (MPP). An extensive solar PV model is developed in MATLAB/Simulink, that incorporates long term trained ANN- based MPPT controllers with standard solar PV features. The simulation results with long term average data and rapidly changing environmental conditions demonstrate that the ANN-based MPPT model outperforms conventional models in terms of accuracy, oscillations, tracking speed, and overall efficiency. Proposed model results were compared with traditional P&O MPPT model. The study ensures the potential of the ANN-based MPPT controllers for optimal power harvesting for next-generation solar PV systems and provide directions for researchers and engineers of hardware implementation. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42334 2026-02-05T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42107 Title: Advances in intensive monitoring plots of Quercus suber Authors: Almeida Ribeiro, Nuno; Poeiras, Ana; Camilo-Alves, Constança; Ribeiro, João; Nunes, José António; Dinis, Mariana; Fierravanti, Angelo; Raposo, Mauro; Maymone, Marta; Silva, Maria Emília; Fonseca, Teresa; Vaz, Margarida Abstract: In Iberian Peninsula, the effects of climate change altered both precipitation and temperature regimes increasing the aridity in all territory. The extreme events are also increased with particular relevance to high temperature periods and prolonged drought. The new climatic dynamics and its unknow contribution to the forest systems functioning led to the necessity of new modelling approaches based on structural functional rational, more in line with basic sciences. For that modelling purpose, a set of intensive monitoring plots where installed with continuous monitoring systems of radiation absorption, interception of precipitation, evapotranspiration, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, respiration, photosynthate allocation, senescence and mortality in addition with the tree 3D periodic dendrometric data all collected in long term ecological Mediterranean forest research plots. In the present work it is presented the complex data structure rational and the synchronic/diachronic statistics used for the presentation and analysis of the first results in cork oak forest systems. The results show the contribution of the functional structural variables on tree growth responses and permitted to develop the presented new modelling strategies Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42107 2025-10-12T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42105 Title: Fertigation in the last years of a cork production cycle – a cellular approach Authors: Poeiras, Ana; Camilo-Alves, Constança; Günther, Björn; Ribeiro, João; Nunes, José; Vaz, Margarida; Almeida Ribeiro, Nuno Abstract: This study presents an image-based analysis on cork cell in two cork rings from the same cork profile using a Scanning Electron Microscope. During the cork growth cycle, forest management practices have changed due to the additional fertigation applied to the plot, from the 2020 year onward. The plot is sited in Herdade da Mitra, Évora, property of the University of Évora, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC). The cork oak stand is debarked every 10 years, which the last one occurred in 2023. The objective of this study is to assess changes in cork cell walls and lumens in response to the additional fertigation—whether they follow their regular documented pattern or deviate due to the altered forest management approach. The characteristics of the plot trees were analysed in terms of basal area, stem circumference at breast height, total height and stem height of harvesting before the 2023 extraction. The main goal is to predict the effects of additional water on cork production in adult trees. Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42105 2025-10-12T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42049 Title: Fracture Network Characterization in a geological complex considered for carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection in the offshore of the Lusitanian Basin Authors: Barata, Madalena; Caeiro, Maria Helena; Carneiro, Júlio; Pereira, Pedro; Martins, José Miguel; Ribeiro, Carlos Abstract: This study investigates fracture network characterization in a geologically complex offshore sector of the Lusitanian Basin to evaluate its suitability for long-term carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage in deep saline aquifers (DSA). As Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) becomes increasingly important for climate change mitigation, ensuring caprock integrity is essential to prevent CO₂ leakage and maintain storage security. Using the 3D Cabo Mondego seismic dataset as an analogue, the study performed fracture interpretation and statistical characterization of fracture systems within the sealing formation. Key fracture attributes—including length, height, orientation (strike and dip), aspect ratio, and fracture intensity—were analysed to assess fracture distribution and their potential influence on storage performance. The characterization framework enabled evaluation of possible leakage pathways and supported assessment of the feasibility and integrity of geological CO₂ storage under existing data constraints. Conducted within the scope of the PilotSTRATEGY project, this work contributes to improving understanding of fracture behaviour in deep saline aquifers and provides important input for modelling the long-term evolution and containment of injected CO₂ plumes in European storage sites. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42049 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z