Correct Equipment Research Articles

This sector needs laser protection supervisors

Journal of Aesthetic NursingVol. 7, No. 1 Guest EditorialFree AccessThis sector needs laser protection supervisorsMike MurphyMike MurphySearch for more papers by this authorMike MurphyPublished Online:5 Feb 2018https://doi.org/10.12968/joan.2018.7.1.6AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail Laser safety is critical. Many of the Class 4 lasers used routinely in today's clinical centres are very powerful machines, and their use can inflict serious damage to the eyes and the skin. Laser practitioners therefore need to ensure safety is a high priority at all times, to prevent injury to staff and patients.I recently spoke with several insurance companies and they all had the same observation to share: the number of laser-related claims is going through the roof. The main reason for this is simply a lack of proper training and understanding—many laser operators are not following safety protocols and/or are not using the correct safety equipment. Without a significant change in attitude and approach to treatment, the number of incidents, accidents and insurance claims will inevitably increase.All Class 4 lasers are potentially hazardous to the human eye. Many emit invisible light, so you will not know your eyes have been exposed until you feel or hear a ‘pop’! The best way to protect yourself is using the proper safety glasses, yet many suppliers do not routinely supply them with their lasers.Following the Keogh review in 2013, Health Education England (HEE) published a report in November 2015 which described a new framework of qualifications for the aesthetics sector (HEE, 2015). This applies to all aesthetic practitioners and therapists involved in delivering laser, intense pulsed light (IPL) and light-emitting diode (LED) treatments in the skincare field, and should help to improve safety standards.Most insurance companies now require all Class 3B/4 laser and IPL providers to have taken the Core of Knowledge course. The syllabus for this course is set down by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and is defined in its guidance on safe use in medical, surgical, dental and aesthetic practices (MHRA, 2015). Some London borough authorities require treatment providers to undergo training in the Core of Knowledge before issuing them a licence to practice.Many lasers used for the removal of hair, blood vessels, pigmentation, tattoos and skin rejuvenation are Class 4 systems. Without proper training in the Core of Knowledge (delivered by a qualified laser protection advisor (LPA), as recommended by HEE), it is difficult to see how anyone can truly understand what they are doing with their laser, or the associated hazards. When I spoke with the insurance companies, I asked if they would be interested in encouraging their clients to appoint properly trained laser protection supervisors (LPS). They responded positively to this suggestion, for obvious reasons. In most parts of the UK, there is no legal requirement for LPS to work within the private sector; however, not only is it good practice to employ LPS, but also some insurance companies have indicated that such clients might receive preferential premiums as a result of doing so.Without a good understanding of lasers and their hazards, safety will always be compromised—that is when accidents happen. A good risk assessment of your laser room, coupled with having a properly trained LPS, will help to minimise unwanted incidents. But laser safety must be a constant priority, not merely an annual safety check, and it must involve everyone. References Health Education England. Part one: qualification requirements for delivery of cosmetic procedures: Non-surgical cosmetic interventions and hair restoration surgery. 2015. https://tinyurl.com/z43cs8s (accessed 19 January 2018) Google ScholarMedicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Lasers, intense light source systems and LEDs—guidance for safe use in medical, surgical, dental and aesthetic practices. 2015. https://tinyurl.com/y8nsycn8 (accessed 19 January 2018) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 February 2018Volume 7Issue 1ISSN (print): 2050-3717ISSN (online): 2052-2878 Metrics History Published online 5 February 2018 Published in print 2 February 2018 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage: Outcomes of 121 pregnancies.

Cervical insufficiency is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Cervical cerclage is one option in the management of cervical insufficiency. To evaluate obstetric outcomes following insertion of a pre-pregnancy laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage in women at high risk for pre-term labour and/or mid-trimester pregnancy loss. A prospective observational study of consecutive women who underwent laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage from 2007 to 2017. Eligible women had a diagnosis of cervical insufficiency based on previous obstetric history and/or a short or absent cervix and were considered not suitable for a transvaginal cerclage. The primary outcome was neonatal survival and the secondary outcome was delivery of an infant at ≥34weeks gestation. Surgical morbidity and complications were also evaluated. During the study period, 225 women underwent laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage. We present the outcomes of 121 pregnancies resulting in 125 babies. The perinatal survival rate of viable pregnancies was 98.5% with a mean gestational age at delivery of 35.2weeks; 79.7% of babies were delivered at ≥34.0weeks gestation. Laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage is a safe and effective procedure resulting in favourable obstetric outcomes in women with a poor obstetric history. For optimal success the procedure requires the correct surgical expertise, equipment and appropriate patient selection.

Attitude Isn’t the Only Thing, It’s Everything: Humanistic Care of the Bariatric Patient Using Donabedian’s Perspective on Quality of Care

Comprehensive care of bariatric patients is challenging. Although structural knowledge exists about safe care given correct equipment and supplies, care processes also must be humane. The literature suggests morbidly obese patients may fear the health system because of past negative experiences. The purpose of this literature review was to examine quality issues in the care of bariatric patients in light of Donabedian's structure-process-outcomes model, emphasizing process components. Using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and PsycINFO; the criteria English language and years 2005 to 2017; and the search terms morbid obesity, obesity, bariatric, attitudes, health professionals, health clinicians, and patient care yielded 150 articles. Of those, 35 were pertinent to the review. A subsequent search using the terms Donabedian, care, and quality in MEDLINE and CINAHL resulted in 68 and 36 citations, respectively; 4 were used. When the searches were combined, no articles were identified. Findings show care providers generally understand structure aspects (knowledge or what to do) but need increased understanding of optimal care interventions (process issues or how to perform an intervention), including physical and psychological aspects. Organizations have a responsibility to ensure appropriate equipment and supportive services are available to achieve desired outcomes. Structure components will not overcome barriers or prevent complications if uncaring attitudes (processes) interfere with interpersonal interactions. Implications for clinical practice include requisite reflection on personal belief systems and empathetic understanding of precursors to morbid obesity development. Research needs to analyze what process issues are hampering quality care delivery and how to eradicate deficiencies. Health professionals can promote optimal bariatric patient outcomes by developing necessary insight and clinical wisdom. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and those affected deserve improved care now.

Improving the effectiveness of orthodontic correction in children with malocclusion and musculoskeletal disorders

The article discusses the choice of methods and the type of orthodontic equipment for correction of bite anomalies of different degree of severity in children who have concomitant diseases in the form of disorders of the musculoskeletal system (acquired deformities of the spine and feet). To achieve this goal, the use of a decision-making program on the selection of therapeutic and prophylactic measures in children aged 6, 9 and 12 is proposed. The software was developed on the basis of a statistical analysis of the results of the examination and correction of dentoalveolar anomalies, taking into account the severity of the disorders, the age of the patients. The computer program allows you to predict the development of diseases, taking into account the implementation of treatment and prevention activities, as well as provide recommendations on the choice of methods and apparatus for correcting the pathology of bite in children with musculoskeletal disorders.

Comparative analysis of Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Micro-Computed Tomography on measurements

Microscopic measurements are widely used in scientific research and the correct equipment to realize these evaluations could be critical to determine study results. Regarding microscopic measurements, three of the most used methods are: Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Micro-computed Tomography (MCT). It is important to select the best method for assessing diverse parameters, considering operational characteristics of the method, the equipment efficiency, and the machinery cost. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to define which is the most useful measurement method for assessing magnitudes below 0.4 mm. Ten dental implants, with known dimensions as defined by the manufacturer were randomly distributed. Two blinded observers assessed the distance between the second and the third screw vortex of the implants using three suggested methods. The true distance was defined to be 0.5 mm. The assessed distances were: 0.597±0.007mm for OM, 0.578±0.017mm for SEM, and 0.613±0.006mm for MCT. The assessed distances were significantly different when the methods were compared (P>0.01). All measurements were into the CAD tolerances. It was possible to conclude that linear measurements between 595 and 605 μm could be performed by any of the described technologies.

Rational Use and Pitfalls of Regional Anesthesia for Orthopedic Surgery

Surgeons often are reluctant to support the use of regional anesthesia for orthopedic surgery. This is because of the perceived “slowing down” of the surgical process, our poor understanding of conditions such as acute compartment syndrome, an alleged block failure rate, especially secondary block failure (all addressed elsewhere in this Symposium), and the perceived (or real) potential of added morbidity caused by regional anesthesia. This reluctance of surgeons, especially toward continuous nerve blocks, is furthered even more by the common perception that patients call their surgeons, not their anesthesiologists, postoperatively when a block is not working. The potential for added morbidity and surgeon reluctance toward its use can only be minimized by performing the appropriate block for the appropriate surgery when properly indicated with the correct equipment and technique, while avoiding situations prone to causing morbidity. This article discusses in some detail when it is appropriate to perform blocks, but perhaps more important, when not to perform blocks, and how to carefully calculate the risks and benefits so the latter outweigh the former.

Implementation of health and safety management system to reduce hazardous potential in PT.XYZ Indonesia

PT. XYZ is a large automotive manufacturing company that manufacture, assemble as well as a car exporter. The other products are spare parts, jig and dies. PT. XYZ has long been implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) to reduce the potential hazards that cause work accidents. However, this does not mean that OSHMS that has been implemented does not need to be upgraded and improved. This is due to the potential danger caused by work is quite high. This research was conducted in Sunter 2 Plant where its production activities have a high level of potential hazard. Based on Hazard Identification risk assessment, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control (HIRARC) found 10 potential hazards in Plant Stamping Production, consisting of 4 very high risk potential hazards (E), 5 high risk potential hazards (H), and 1 moderate risk potential hazard (M). While in Plant Casting Production found 22 potential hazards findings consist of 7 very high risk potential hazards (E), 12 high risk potential hazards (H), and 3 medium risk potential hazards (M). Based on the result of Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), the main priority is the high risk potential hazards (H) and very high risk potential hazards (E). The proposed improvement are to make the visual display of the importance of always using the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), establishing good working procedures, conducting OSH training for workers on a regular basis, and continuing to conduct safety campaigns.

Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Safety

While lasers have many useful purposes for both commercial and military applications, they can also be hazardous if not operated safely. This paper discusses the safety precautions that must be taken to adequately protect personnel when operating and/or testing lasers in a free-space environment. First, a brief overview of lasers and associated terminology are introduced. Second, the properties of one of the two most common beam profiles, Gaussian, are discussed. An understanding of the beam profile is important in correctly identifying the safe operating environment for the laser. Exposure to laser energy can result in damage to the eye and skin. Therefore, the concepts of Optical Density, Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance and Skin Hazard Distance are discussed. These parameters help ensure that the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used and help identify the hazard zone. Finally, recommendations for selecting the appropriate PPE are discussed. The concepts presented in this paper can be applied to any hazardous laser system.

Why Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks Fail

Continuous nerve blocks (CNBs), compared with other forms of postoperative analgesia, are less frequently utilized, although postoperative pain control may be improved with their use. Further, it has been demonstrated that the safety and side-effect profiles of opioids and other analgesics are inferior to well-performed CNBs. For CNB success, however, several principles must be adhered to: application of appropriate indications, selection of the correct nerve to block, performance of correct CNB technique, and utilization of correct equipment. Although these are simple concepts, they are often violated and can result in block failure, especially secondary block failure, which occurs once the primary bolus block has worn off. Almost all secondary block failures and medico-legal challenges originate from the violation of ≥1 of these principles. Hilton Law of Anatomy and Fick Law of Diffusion underpin common reasons for CNB failures. In addition, novel developments in our understanding of the macroneuroanatomy and microneuroanatomy may further explain CNB failures.

Evaluation of pyramid training as a method to increase diagnostic sampling capacity during an emergency veterinary response to a swine disease outbreak.

OBJECTIVE To develop and evaluate a pyramid training method for teaching techniques for collection of diagnostic samples from swine. DESIGN Experimental trial. SAMPLE 45 veterinary students. PROCEDURES Participants went through a preinstruction assessment to determine their familiarity with the equipment needed and techniques used to collect samples of blood, nasal secretions, feces, and oral fluid from pigs. Participants were then shown a series of videos illustrating the correct equipment and techniques for collecting samples and were provided hands-on pyramid-based instruction wherein a single swine veterinarian trained 2 or 3 participants on each of the techniques and each of those participants, in turn, trained additional participants. Additional assessments were performed after the instruction was completed. RESULTS Following the instruction phase, percentages of participants able to collect adequate samples of blood, nasal secretions, feces, and oral fluid increased, as did scores on a written quiz assessing participants' ability to identify the correct equipment, positioning, and procedures for collection of samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that the pyramid training method may be a feasible way to rapidly increase diagnostic sampling capacity during an emergency veterinary response to a swine disease outbreak.

What makes a great oil spill forecast?

Abstract (ID2017-190)This paper identifies the key information that should be included in an operational oil spill forecast. It shows how modellers convert huge quantities of data into a readily accessible modelling forecast report that can be rapidly interpreted and incorporated into the incident action plan.Effective response strategies can minimise the potentially devastating consequences of an oil spill. To protect nearby socio-economic and ecological sensitivities a response strategy needs to be implemented quickly.Oil spill forecasts help predict the behaviour of oil that has been spilled into the marine environment. These predictions are highly useful when planning response strategies for the coming days. Key operational information derived from oil spill forecasts can be broken down into two main areas:1. Where is oil expected to travel?By knowing where oil is expected to travel, response organisations can decide which sensitivities need protection. Forecasts will show if oil is predicted to reach fisheries, shorelines and other important resources. This information can be used within a Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) to decide which sensitivities to prioritise for protection.2. What is expected to happen to the physical properties of the spilled oil?Once oil enters the marine environment it is subjected to weathering processes such as spreading, evaporation and biodegradation. These processes change the chemical makeup of the oil which usually becomes more viscous and can form emulsion. Information obtained from modelling can help decision makers choose the correct response options and equipment to use during a spill. For example, if a modelling forecast shows oil is likely to become highly viscous responders will know heavy oil skimmers will be needed if offshore recovery is to take place.The information referred to above can be extracted from the vast amount of data that is created when an oil spill model is run. As Incident Managers need to make informed decisions quickly, it is essential that oil spill forecasts are presented in a clear and concise fashion. From experience, it is often this extra step of making the data easily accessible to the decision maker that is overlooked and is of most value in a response.This means that response modellers need to be trained, not only in the science of oil spill modelling, but also in the art of conveying complex information to a range of end users from oil spill experts to interested members of the public.

An Experience of “Antegrade Only” Chronic Total Occlusion Program Without Onsite Surgical Backup at Mackay Base Hospital, A Regional Hospital in Queensland and the Result of the First 20 Cases

Background: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention requires specialised skill. While the risks of the retrograde approach require the procedure to be performed with onsite surgical backup, the antegrade approach is considered lower risk. In 2015 an “antegrade only” CTO program was established at Mackay Base Hospital (MBH). Methods: Specific guidelines have been implemented and are sub-divided into “Case Selection”, “Technical Considerations” and “Emergency Management”. Suitable case selection stipulates that only CTOs with a J-CTO score ≤ 3 are considered for intervention. A policy of “antegrade approach only” has been established. A time constraint of sixty minutes for wiring is allowed. Bilateral access is compulsory. The catheterisation laboratory must maintain stock of correct equipment including embolization devices and a pericardiocentesis kit. Results: Procedural success occurred in 15 of the 20 cases (75%). Mean age was 66.95 years (range 50 – 96 years). Mean J-CTO score was 1.73(range 0-3) for the successful cases and J-CTO score 3 for the rest. Mean procedure time was 133.85 ± 30.00 minutes. All cases required wire escalation. The complications were a branch dissection and a wire perforation, neither with consequences. There were no adverse events at one to six month follow-up. Of the five unsuccessful cases one required coronary bypass graft surgery, one underwent CTO intervention via a retrograde approach, one waiting for reattempt-CTO under general anaesthesia and two are for medical therapy. Conclusion: The CTO program established at MBH is feasible and safe without onsite surgical backup amid a success rate meeting the international standard.

Evidence Is Important: Safety Considerations for Emergency Catheter Cricothyroidotomy.

Evidence Is Important: Safety Considerations for Emergency Catheter Cricothyroidotomy.

Scalable validation of industrial equipment using a functional DSMS

A stream validation system called SVALI is developed in order to continuously validate correct behavior of industrial equipment. A functional data model allows the user to define meta-data, analyses, and queries about the monitored equipment in terms of types and functions. Two different approaches to validate that sensor readings in a data stream indicate correct equipment behavior are supported: with the model-and-validate approach anomalies are detected based on a physical model, while with learn-and-validate anomalies are detected by comparing streaming data with a model of normal behavior learnt during a training period. Both models are expressed on a high level using the functional data model and query language. The experiments show that parallel stream processing enables SVALI to scale very well with respect to system throughput and response time. The paper is based on a real world application for wheel loader slippage detection at Volvo Construction Equipment implemented in SVALI.

Administration of oral medication by parents at home.

The objective of this study was to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home. Parents' experiences and access to information for the treatment of their children's illnesses at home is necessary for their children's safety. A descriptive cross-sectional study. Four hundred parents from children's hospital outpatient clinics were included. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' experiences and problems with administering medication to their children at home. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using the spss software package (version 22.00). Antipyretics (59%) and antibiotics (25%) were the most commonly used medicines by parents without prescription. Nearly half of the parents stated that they gave liquid medicine with a household spoon. It was found that 54% of the parents whose children refused to take tablets or liquid medicine mixed these medications into foods. Treatment was delayed in 20·7% of the children who refused to take tablets and in 29·1% of the children who refused to take liquid medicine. As a result of the project, a form and device were developed as a solution to the problems experienced by parents while administering oral medication in the home environment. The results of the study showed that a significant percentage of the parents did not use the correct equipment to administer medications, used non-prescription medicines, did not administer medications at correct intervals and mixed medication into foods. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, should continually evaluate medication administration by parents at home and the readmission rate in the emergency department to further improve children's health.

Optimization of energy consumption response parameters for turning operation using Taguchi method

The environmental performance of machining operations can significantly be improved by reducing energy consumption of machine tools. The present research work focuses on the optimization of foremost energy consumption response parameters viz. energy efficiency (EE), active energy consumed by the machine (AECM) and power factor (PF). The consideration of PF as an important energy consumption response parameter becomes essential as the electricity boards/suppliers put penalties on the manufacturing units, if the PF is low. The optimization of PF can also reduce the cost of installation of PF correction equipment besides reduction in penalties. An experimental analysis is carried out for the CNC rough turning of EN 353 alloy steel with multi-layer coated tungsten carbide insert. The effect of important input process variables viz. cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and nose radius along with their interactions has been studied on these energy consumption response parameters. The Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array is used for design of experiments and to optimize the response parameters using MINITAB 16 software. The results reveal that optimum turning conditions for the PF and EE are same and occur at 248.69 m/min. cutting speed, 0.3 mm/rev. feed rate, 1.8 mm depth of cut and 0.8 mm nose radius. The optimized control factors setting for AECM are 248.69 m/min. cutting speed, 0.3 mm/rev. feed rate, 1 mm depth of cut and nose radius 1.2 mm. Results of ANOVA, have shown that the depth of cut is the most dominant input process parameter for PF and EE, and feed rate be the dominating vital parameter for reduction of the AECM. The nose radius does not contribute too much for energy consumption response parameters. The interactions between most of input variables are also not significant for energy consumption response parameters. At optimum turning conditions for each significant energy consumption response parameter viz. EE, AECM and PF achieved in the present study, there is an improvement of 61.776%, 57.025% and 7.49%, respectively compared to turning conditions in common use for rough turning.

Appetite for life.

A REPORT by the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the National Institute for Health Research puts the cost of malnutrition in England at a staggering £19.6 billion a year, more than 15% of total public expenditure on health and social care (Elia 2015). However, this important study received little media coverage when published last November. It is possible that many trusts and healthcare professionals were not aware of its publication. If we are not aware, how can patients be? Malnutrition is expected to increase due to an ageing population. Almost one third of adults are malnourished on admittance to hospital, as are 35% of adults admitted to care homes. Malnutrition can have a detrimental effect on the functions of all parts of the body. It can delay recovery and prolong hospitalisation. A person who is undernourished will be more prone to chest infections, pressure ulcers and hypothermia. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2012) quality standard for nutrition support in adults states that all people screened for risk of malnutrition should have their screening results and any nutrition support plans documented in writing and communicated in and between settings. In reality, does this happen? Do primary care or care home teams have a handover from hospital teams about nutritional care? Do nurses in primary and secondary care settings have the correct equipment to enable them to perform a nutrition screen? Do they have hoist scales for immobile patients? Do trust boards pay enough attention to nutritional care? To compound difficulties, many older people are becoming socially isolated and may be depressed or unable to go out to purchase food. There are also conflicting messages from healthcare professionals. For example, problems associated with obesity are well publicised, but the Patients Association (2011) highlighted a lack of awareness among patients about their risk of developing malnutrition, how it can be prevented and where they can seek advice and support. The charity also suggested that while the public associate good nutrition with eating a balanced diet, they do not make the link between good nutrition and maintaining a regular weight.

School-based hearing screening program in children, four to seven years old, Quesnay City, Minufia, Egypt

Background Hearing is the most essential perceptive sense for individual development, especially during childhood, contributing to a child’s ability to interact with other people. Its deprivation can have serious consequences on various aspects, such as speech and language acquisition and prereading skills. This study aimed to perform hearing screening of school children aged 4 and 7 years to detect the prevalence, incidence, and degree of hearing loss (HL) in this age group. Participants and methods This study was a cross-sectional investigation that included all children aged 4–7 years from all primary schools in Quesnay City, Minufiyah governorate, Egypt, from November 2014 to March 2016 (number of children=4500). A total number of 9000 ears were studied. All children included in the study underwent otoscopic examination, followed by two stages of school-based hearing screening. All children who failed the second stage of school-based hearing rescreening were referred for full audiological evaluation. Results Otoscopic examinations revealed the following: 54.2% of ears had normal ears 21.3% had impacted wax, 13.6% had congested tm, and 10.8% had perforated tm. Twenty percent (1800 ears) failed the first stage of school-based hearing screening. Six percent (540 ears) failed the second stage of school-based hearing rescreening. A total of 529 ears were diagnosed as having HL as follows: 427 (80.7%) had conductive hearing loss, 81 (15.3%) had sensorineural hearing loss, and 21 (4%) had mixed HL of different degrees − 265 (50.1%) had mild, 132 (24.9%) had moderate, 85 (16.1%) had moderately severe, 40 (7.6%) had severe, and seven (1.3%) had profound degree of HL. Conclusion A systematic screening program with correct equipment, trained personnel, and adequate follow-up services will allow children with educationally significant HL to be accurately diagnosed and managed to provide them with equal hearing opportunities.

Investigation on the use of energy efficiency for condition-based maintenance decision-making

Abstract: Condition-based maintenance (CBM) has been introduced in industrial systems to maintain preventively the correct equipment at the right time with regards to its current health “condition” represented mainly the conventional indicators such as oil temperature, harmonics data, vibration, etc. The monitoring of these indicators is done through sensors or inspection tasks leading to incorporate in the maintenance optimization models, additional costs related to CBM. Nevertheless, while this practice is quite mastered in terms of benefits and costs, it is not well adapted to face now the new challenge encountered by the “industry of the future” such as the sustainable one. Indeed CBM indicators and maintenance cost model are not really taken into account today emergent indicators (and their impacts) related to energy consumption, energy efficiency or footprint tracking. In that way, this paper is investigating the interest to use energy efficiency (EE) for CBM decision-making. Investigation is consisting first to propose a new EE-based CBM model by using energy efficiency indicator (EEI) which is defined as the amount of energy consumption to produce one useful output unit. The proposed model leads to consider energy directly in the maintenance optimization. An extension of an existing CBM by integrating energy consumption in optimization model is also investigated in the way to compare the new CBM approach with conventional (extended) one. The comparison step is developed on the case study of the TELMA platform allowing to assess the impact of EE on existing CBM strategies and to conclude on the interest of a new EE-based CBM practice both in terms of cost and efficiency.

The Effective Enhancement of Power System Security by Flexible Transmission Line Impedance with Minimal Rescheduling of Generators

After the digital revolution, the power system security becomes an important issue and it urges the power producers to maintain a well secured system in order to supply a quality power to the end users. This paper presents an integrated Corrective Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (CSCOPF) with Flexible Transmission Line Impedance (FTLI) to enhance the power system security. The corrective approach of SCOPF is chosen, because it allows the corrective equipment to bring back the system to a stable operating point and hence, it offers high flexibility and better economics. The concept of FTLI arises from the ability of FACTS devices such as Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC), which can vary the line reactance to a certain extent. An enhanced security can be achieved by incorporating FTLI into the CSCOPF problem, since the power flow in a system is highly dependent on the line reactance. FTLI based CSCOPF can reduce the amount of rescheduling of generators, but it will result in an increased number of variables and thus, the complexity to the optimization process is increased. This highly complex problem is solved by using nonlinear programming. The AC based OPF model is preferred, since the corrective security actions require highly accurate solutions. IEEE 30 bus system is used to test the proposed scheme and the results are compared with the traditional CSCOPF. It can be seen that the proposed idea provides a notable improvement in the reduction of cost incurred for restoring the system security.