Silvana Gamboa

Multi-port converters are essential components in modern power distribution systems, interfacing diverse loads and sources. Among these, the Modular Multi-Active Bridge (MMAB) converter stands out for its scalability and simplified magnetic design, making it a compelling candidate for electric vehicles and more-electric aircraft. However, power flow control remains challenging due to the inherent Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) nature of the MMAB, which introduces significant cross-coupling between ports. This paper presents a comprehensive sensitivity analysis to evaluate these coupling levels and identifies operational regions where decentralized control loops can be effectively implemented. The proposed strategy is validated using a five-port MMAB laboratory prototype. Experimental results demonstrate that the system achieves precise power regulation with steady-state errors below 0.2%, confirming the feasibility of decentralized control in complex multi-port architectures.

In this chapter a brief introduction to industrial automation and control systems (IACS) and industrial networks is provided, as well as their main differences with respect to information technology (IT) networks are identified. Next, cybersecurity issues in the industrial networks field and how this can influence the operation of IACS are presented. The most common vulnerabilities detected in industrial communications networks are also described. In addition, some of the current regulations in this field are presented, and the basic measures that must be applied to protect this type of network are suggested. Finally, a practical demonstration of vulnerabilities and cybersecurity rules application over a test IACS has been developed.

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to modeling interacting tanks as a multi-agent system. The primary goal is to develop a model that considers the dynamics of each agent and their interconnection so that the behavior of the whole system can be inferred from their coupling via graph theory, spectral graph theory and control systems. Given the tools used to model the system, not only is the proposed model scalable to n agents/tanks, but it also considers any configuration among them.

With the rapid technological advancements and the ever-evolving complex systems, the identification and integration of the components and resources for the functioning of multi-agent systems (MAS) are crucial tasks. However, difficulties arise due to the complexity of not having reference frameworks that normalize their implementation. Therefore, in this survey, we propose the FC-MAS (Framework-Components in Multi-Agent System) model as a conceptual framework designed to simplify comprehension and standardization in incorporating the required functions and components for the deployment and operation of MAS in engineering applications. This model comprises five abstract layers, each of which serves a specific purpose and encompasses the details and resources required to operate MAS. Furthermore, we propose a structured workflow for centralized and distributed MAS schemes with a set of related activities that integrate the fundamental steps and stages for the successful implementation of MAS. Finally, this work discusses potential directions for future research, including a deeper exploration of essential components, the establishment of terminology standards across various domains, and the refinement of the proposed model to enhance its applicability and relevance across a broader spectrum of contexts.

This document presents a novel methodology to optimize the power system frequency response based on the implementation of decentralized controllers. The proposed method focuses on the control of the internal rotor angle in the selected generator, which allows its governor to act as a decentralized controller that requires as input local measurements. Through a proposed optimization process, it is first possible to establish a set of optimal parameters for each controller and, second, to determine the required phasor measurement units (PMUs) and their locations that are necessary to be installed in a power system. This comprehensive proposal is based on the time domain evaluation of the frequency response when multiple scenarios of deviations between demand and generation occur. Finally, the new proposal is applied to the IEEE 39‐bus test system to validate its advantages; for this, the test power system as well as the proposed controllers are implemented in DIgSILENT PowerFactory, along with Python to manage the optimization process.