This book examines the key aspects that will define future sustainable energy systems: energy supply, energy storage, security and limited environmental impacts. It clearly explains the need for an integrated engineering approach to sustainable energies, based on mathematical, biogeophysical, and engineering arguments. Resilient and efficient alternatives are compared to non-sustainable options. This book results from the collaboration of 50 international contributors.

This book explores the behavior of networks of electric and hybrid vehicles. The topics that are covered include: energy management issues for aggregates of plug-in vehicles; the design of sharing systems to support electro-mobility; context awareness in the operation of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the role that this plays in a Smart City context; and tools to test and design massively large-scale networks of such vehicles. The book also introduces new and interesting control problems that are becoming prevalent in the EV-PHEV's context, as well as identifying some open questions. A particular focus of the book is on the opportunities afforded by networked actuation possibilities in electric and hybrid vehicles, and the role that such actuation may play in air-quality and emissions management.

As global demands for energy and lower carbon emissions rise, developing systems of energy conversion and storage becomes necessary. This book explores how Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion (EESC) devices are promising advanced power systems that can directly convert chemical energy in fuel into power, and thereby aid in proposing a solution to the global energy crisis. The book focuses on high-temperature electrochemical devices that have a wide variety of existing and potential applications, including the creation of fuel cells for power generation, production of high-purity hydrogen by electrolysis, high-purity oxygen by membrane separation, and various high-temperature batteries. High-Temperature Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage: Fundamentals and Applications provides a comprehensive view of the new technologies in high-temperature electrochemistry. Written in a clear and detailed manner, it is suitable for developers, researchers, or students of any level.

Due to its high impact on the cost of electricity and its direct correlation with customer satisfaction, distribution reliability continues to be one of the most important topics in the electric power industry. Continuing in the unique tradition of the bestselling first edition, Electric Power Distribution Reliability, Second Edition consolidates all pertinent topics on electric power distribution into one comprehensive volume balancing theory, practical knowledge, and real world applications.

Updated and expanded with new information on benchmarking, system hardening, underground conversion, and aging infrastructure, this timely reference enables you to-

- Manage aging infrastructure

- Harden electric power distribution systems

- Avoid common benchmarking pitfalls

- Apply effective risk management

The electric power industry will continue to make distribution system reliability and customer-level reliability a top priority. Presenting a wealth of useful knowledge, Electric Power Distribution Reliability, Second Edition remains the only book that is completely dedicated to this important topic.

Due to its abilities to compensate disturbances and uncertainties, disturbance observer based control (DOBC) is regarded as one of the most promising approaches for disturbance-attenuation. One of the first books on DOBC, Disturbance Observer Based Control: Methods and Applications presents novel theory results as well as best practices for applications in motion and process control that have already benefited numerous organizations. Supplying authoritative guidance in the areas of disturbance estimation and compensation for practical engineering systems, the book includes coverage of theoretic methods and practical applications of disturbance estimation and compensation for control systems through a DOBC approach. It considers applications in flight control systems, motion control systems, and process control systems. Supplies an authoritative overview of disturbance observer based control approaches Reports on recent developments in disturbance estimation techniques Considers matched and mismatched disturbance/uncertainty attenuation for DOBC Illustrates applications of the methods covered with detailed engineering case studies Filled with valuable insights gathered over decades of research by the authors, this book provides time- and stress-saving guidance for anyone interested in the theory and method research of DOBC. Using typical engineering examples, the text provides readers with an understanding of recent developments in DOBC as well as the tools required to make the most of this promising approach to disturbance-attenuation.

The Industrial Electronics Handbook, Second Edition, Industrial Communications Systems combines traditional and newer, more specialized knowledge that helps industrial electronics engineers develop practical solutions for the design and implementation of high-power applications. Embracing the broad technological scope of the field, this collection explores fundamental areas, including analog and digital circuits, electronics, electromagnetic machines, signal processing, and industrial control and communications systems. It also facilitates the use of intelligent systems-such as neural networks, fuzzy systems, and evolutionary methods-in terms of a hierarchical structure that makes factory control and supervision more efficient by addressing the needs of all production components. Enhancing its value, this fully updated collection presents research and global trends as published in the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics Journal, one of the largest and most respected publications in the field. Modern communication systems in factories use many different-and increasingly sophisticated-systems to send and receive information. Industrial Communication Systems spans the full gamut of concepts that engineers require to maintain a well-designed, reliable communications system that can ensure successful operation of any production process. Delving into the subject, this volume covers: Technical principles Application-specific areas Technologies Internet programming Outlook, including trends and expected challenges Other volumes in the set: Fundamentals of Industrial Electronics Power Electronics and Motor Drives Control and Mechatronics Intelligent Systems

Modeling and Control of Precision Actuators explores new technologies that can ultimately be applied in a myriad of industries. It covers dynamical analysis of precise actuators and strategies of design for various control applications. The book addresses four main schemes: modeling and control of precise actuators; nonlinear control of precise actuators, including sliding mode control and neural network feedback control; fault detection and fault-tolerant control; and advanced air bearing control. It covers application issues in the modeling and control of precise actuators, providing several interesting case studies for more application-oriented readers. Introduces the driving forces behind precise actuators Describes nonlinear dynamics of precise actuators and their mathematical forms, including hysteresis, creep, friction, and force ripples Presents the control strategies for precise actuators based on Preisach model as well as creep dynamics Develops relay feedback techniques for identifying nonlinearities such as friction and force ripples Discusses a MPC approach based on piecewise affine models which emulate the frictional effects in the precise actuator Covers the concepts of air bearing stages with the corresponding control method Provides a set of schemes suitable for fault detection and accommodation control of mechanical systems Emphasizing design theory and control strategies, the book includes simulation and practical examples for each chapter; covers precise actuators such as piezo motors, coil motors, air bearing motors, and linear motors; discusses integration among different technologies; and includes three case studies in real projects. The book concludes by linking design methods and their applications, emphasizing the key issues involved and how to implement the precision motion control tasks in a practical system. It provides a concise and comprehensive source of the state-of-the-art developments and results for modeling and control of precise actuators.

This book deals with complex variants of Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) and Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) within the manufacturing and service industries. The objective is to develop heuristics for these supply chain problems in order to offer practical solutions to improve operational efficiency. These heuristics are evaluated using benchmark and derived data-sets. Case studies pertaining to logistics in different industries including textile machinery manufacturing and banking are also included to demonstrate the created heuristics. High competition in today's global market has forced the organizations to invest in and focus on their logistics system. The critical function of logistics is the transportation within and across various supply chain entities. Both supply and distribution procedure require effective transportation management. A small improvement in routing problems can lead to huge logistics savings in absolute terms. This book should appeal to executives, researchers and consultants seeking supply chain management solutions.

Electricity Generation and the Environment is a very concise, up-to-date, and accessible guide to the evolution of environmental awareness, what that environmental awareness has taught the industry, and how technologies can be used to test and improve power performance. There is a strong emphasis on the related social impacts and economic factors involved in the various methods of generating electricity which Breeze explores, making this a valuable and insightful read for those involved in the planning and delivery of energy, such as energy engineers, power generation planners, policy makers, managers, and academics.

An intelligent transportation system (ITS) offers considerable opportunities for increasing the safety, efficiency, and predictability of traffic flow and reducing vehicle emissions. Sensors (or detectors) enable the effective gathering of arterial and controlled-access highway information in support of automatic incident detection, active transportation and demand management, traffic-adaptive signal control, and ramp and freeway metering and dispatching of emergency response providers. As traffic flow sensors are integrated with big data sources such as connected and cooperative vehicles, and cell phones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices, more accurate and timely traffic flow information can be obtained. The book examines the roles of traffic management centers that serve cities, counties, and other regions, and the collocation issues that ensue when multiple agencies share the same space. It describes sensor applications and data requirements for several ITS strategies; sensor technologies; sensor installation, initialization, and field-testing procedures; and alternate sources of traffic flow data. The book addresses concerns related to the introduction of automated and connected vehicles, and the benefits that systems engineering and national ITS architectures in the US, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere bring to ITS. Sensor and data fusion benefits to traffic management are described, while the Bayesian and Dempster-Shafer approaches to data fusion are discussed in more detail. ITS Sensors and Architectures for Traffic Management and Connected Vehicles suits the needs of personnel in transportation institutes and highway agencies, and students in undergraduate or graduate transportation engineering courses.

An intelligent transportation system (ITS) offers considerable opportunities for increasing the safety, efficiency, and predictability of traffic flow and reducing vehicle emissions. Sensors (or detectors) enable the effective gathering of arterial and controlled-access highway information in support of automatic incident detection, active transportation and demand management, traffic-adaptive signal control, and ramp and freeway metering and dispatching of emergency response providers. As traffic flow sensors are integrated with big data sources such as connected and cooperative vehicles, and cell phones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices, more accurate and timely traffic flow information can be obtained. The book examines the roles of traffic management centers that serve cities, counties, and other regions, and the collocation issues that ensue when multiple agencies share the same space. It describes sensor applications and data requirements for several ITS strategies; sensor technologies; sensor installation, initialization, and field-testing procedures; and alternate sources of traffic flow data. The book addresses concerns related to the introduction of automated and connected vehicles, and the benefits that systems engineering and national ITS architectures in the US, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere bring to ITS. Sensor and data fusion benefits to traffic management are described, while the Bayesian and Dempster-Shafer approaches to data fusion are discussed in more detail. ITS Sensors and Architectures for Traffic Management and Connected Vehicles suits the needs of personnel in transportation institutes and highway agencies, and students in undergraduate or graduate transportation engineering courses.

For decades biology has focused on decoding cellular processes one gene at a time, but many of the most pressing biological questions, as well as diseases such as cancer and heart disease, are related to complex systems involving the interaction of hundreds, or even thousands, of gene products and other factors. How do we begin to understand this complexity? Fundamentals of Systems Biology: From Synthetic Circuits to Whole-cell Models introduces students to methods they can use to tackle complex systems head-on, carefully walking them through studies that comprise the foundation and frontier of systems biology. The first section of the book focuses on bringing students quickly up to speed with a variety of modeling methods in the context of a synthetic biological circuit. This innovative approach builds intuition about the strengths and weaknesses of each method and becomes critical in the book's second half, where much more complicated network models are addressed including transcriptional, signaling, metabolic, and even integrated multi-network models. The approach makes the work much more accessible to novices (undergraduates, medical students, and biologists new to mathematical modeling) while still having much to offer experienced modelers--whether their interests are microbes, organs, whole organisms, diseases, synthetic biology, or just about any field that investigates living systems.

Techniques such as dead time compensation, adaptive control and Kalman filtering have been around for some time, but as yet find little application in industry. This is due to several reasons, including: Articles in the literature usually assume that the reader is familiar with a specific topic and are therefore often difficult for the practicing control engineer to comprehend. Many practicing control engineers in the process industry have a chemical engineering background and did not receive a control engineering education. There is a wide gap between theory and practical implementation, since implementation is primarily concerned with robustness, and theory is not. The user therefore has to build an "expert shell" in order to achieve the desired robustness. Little is published on this issue, however. This book tries to promote the use of advanced control techniques by taking the reader from basic theory to practical implementation. It is therefore of interest to practicing control engineers in various types of industries, especially the process industry. Graduate and undergraduate students in control engineering will also find the book extremely useful since many practical details are given which are usually omitted in books on control engineering. Of special interest are the simulation examples, illustrating the application of various control techniques. The examples are available on a 5-1/4" floppy disk and can be used by anyone who has access to LOTUS 1-2-3. Chapter 1 is the introduction; Chapters 2 through 6 deal with distributed control system networks, computer system software, computer system selection, reliability and security, and batch and continuous control. Chapter 7 gives and introduction to advanced control. Chapters 8 through 11 deal with dead time compensation techniques and model identification. Chapters 12 through 14 discuss constraint control and design, and the adjustment and application of simple process models and optimization. Chapter 15 gives a thorough introduction to adaptive control, and the last two chapters deal with state and parameter estimation. This book is a valuable tool for everyone who realizes the importance of advanced control in achieving improved plant performance. It will take the reader from theory to practical implementation.

This book presents fabrication approaches that could be adapted for the high-throughput and low-cost manufacturing of the proposed transparent electrode. It proposes and demonstrates a new type of embedded metal-mesh transparent electrode (EMTE) that offers superior electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. The structure of the EMTE allows thick metal mesh to be used (for high conductivity) without sacrificing surface smoothness. In addition, the embedded structure improves the EMTE's mechanical stability under high bending stress, as well as its chemical stability in ambient environments. These design aspects are then shown to be suitable for larger electrode areas, narrower metal-mesh line widths, and a wide range of materials, and can easily be adapted to produce flexible and even stretchable devices. In closing, the book explores the practical applications of EMTEs in flexible bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells and transparent thin-film heaters, demonstrating their outstanding performance.

Carefully separating the essential from the ornamental, Essentials of Control Techniques and Theory presents the nuts and bolts for designing a successful controller. It discusses the theory required to support the art of designing a working controller as well as the various aspects to convince a client, employer, or examiner of your expertise. A Compelling Account of the Basics of Control Theory Control solutions for practicing engineers Using the author's own Javascript On-Line Learning Interactive Environment for Simulation (Jollies), the text relies on computer-based graphical analysis methods, such as Nyquist, Nichols, root locus, and phase-plane, to illustrate how useful computer simulation can be for analyzing both linear and nonlinear systems. It explains step-by-step the design and modeling of various control systems, including discrete time systems and an inverted pendulum. Along with offering many web-based simulations, the book shows how mathematics, such as vectors, matrices, and the differential equations that govern state variables, can help us understand the concepts that underpin the controller's effects. From frequency domain analysis to time-domain state-space representation, this book covers many aspects of classical and modern control theory. It presents important methods for designing and analyzing linear systems and controllers.

Multiple intelligent agent systems are commonly used in research requiring complex behavior. Synchronization control provides an advantage in solving the problem of multi-agent coordination. This book focuses on the use of synchronization control to coordinate the group behavior of multiple agents. The author includes numerous real-world application examples from robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing. Giving a detailed look at cross-coupling based synchronization control, the text covers such topics as adaptive synchronization control, synchronous tracking control of parallel manipulators, and minimization of contouring errors of CNC machine tools with synchronization controls.

Advances in mathematical methods, computer technology, and electrotechnical devices in particular continue to result in the creation of programs that are leading to increased labor productivity. Mathematical and simulation programs-and other programs that unite these two operations-provide the ability to calculate transitional, steady-state processes, stability conditions, and harmonic composition, and are often used to analyze processes in power electronic systems. Electrotechnical Systems: Calculation and Analysis with Mathematica and PSpice explores the potential of two such programs-Mathematica and ORCAD (PSpice)-as they are used for analysis in various areas. The authors discuss the formulation of problems and the steps in their solution. They focus on the analysis of transient, steady-state processes and their stability in non-stationary and nonlinear systems with DC and AC converters. All problems are solved using Mathematica, and program codes are presented. The authors use ORCAD (PSpice) to compare the results obtained by employing Mathematica and to demonstrate the peculiarities associated with its use. This book clearly and concisely illustrates represented expressions, variables, and functions and the general application of the mathematical pocket Mathematica 4.2 for the analysis of the electromagnetic processes in electrotechnical systems. It will be a valuable addition to the library of anyone working with electrotechnical systems.

Fuzzy logic control (FLC) has proven to be a popular control methodology for many complex systems in industry, and is often used with great success as an alternative to conventional control techniques. However, because it is fundamentally model free, conventional FLC suffers from a lack of tools for systematic stability analysis and controller design. To address this problem, many model-based fuzzy control approaches have been developed, with the fuzzy dynamic model or the Takagi and Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model-based approaches receiving the greatest attention. Analysis and Synthesis of Fuzzy Control Systems: A Model-Based Approach offers a unique reference devoted to the systematic analysis and synthesis of model-based fuzzy control systems. After giving a brief review of the varieties of FLC, including the T-S fuzzy model-based control, it fully explains the fundamental concepts of fuzzy sets, fuzzy logic, and fuzzy systems. This enables the book to be self-contained and provides a basis for later chapters, which cover: T-S fuzzy modeling and identification via nonlinear models or data Stability analysis of T-S fuzzy systems Stabilization controller synthesis as well as robust H and observer and output feedback controller synthesis Robust controller synthesis of uncertain T-S fuzzy systems Time-delay T-S fuzzy systems Fuzzy model predictive control Robust fuzzy filtering Adaptive control of T-S fuzzy systems A reference for scientists and engineers in systems and control, the book also serves the needs of graduate students exploring fuzzy logic control. It readily demonstrates that conventional control technology and fuzzy logic control can be elegantly combined and further developed so that disadvantages of conventional FLC can be avoided and the horizon of conventional control technology greatly extended. Many chapters feature application simulation examples and practical numerical examples based on MATLAB (R).

The demands of increasingly complex embedded systems and associated performance computations have resulted in the development of heterogeneous computing architectures that often integrate several types of processors, analog and digital electronic components, and mechanical and optical components-all on a single chip. As a result, now the most prominent challenge for the design automation community is to efficiently plan for such heterogeneity and to fully exploit its capabilities. A compilation of work from internationally renowned authors, Model-Based Design for Embedded Systems elaborates on related practices and addresses the main facets of heterogeneous model-based design for embedded systems, including the current state of the art, important challenges, and the latest trends. Focusing on computational models as the core design artifact, this book presents the cutting-edge results that have helped establish model-based design and continue to expand its parameters. The book is organized into three sections: Real-Time and Performance Analysis in Heterogeneous Embedded Systems, Design Tools and Methodology for Multiprocessor System-on-Chip, and Design Tools and Methodology for Multidomain Embedded Systems. The respective contributors share their considerable expertise on the automation of design refinement and how to relate properties throughout this refinement while enabling analytic and synthetic qualities. They focus on multi-core methodological issues, real-time analysis, and modeling and validation, taking into account how optical, electronic, and mechanical components often interface. Model-based design is emerging as a solution to bridge the gap between the availability of computational capabilities and our inability to make full use of them yet. This approach enables teams to start the design process using a high-level model that is gradually refined through abstraction levels to ultimately yield a prototype. When executed well, model-based design encourages enhanced performance and quicker time to market for a product. Illustrating a broad and diverse spectrum of applications such as in the automotive aerospace, health care, consumer electronics, this volume provides designers with practical, readily adaptable modeling solutions for their own practice.

Petri nets are widely used in modeling, analysis, and control of discrete event systems arising from manufacturing, transportation, computer and communication networks, and web service systems. However, Petri net models for practical systems can be very large, making it difficult to apply such models to real-life problems. System Modeling and Control with Resource-Oriented Petri Nets introduces a new resource-oriented Petri net (ROPN) model that was developed by the authors. Not only does it successfully reduce model size, but it also offers improvements that facilitate effective modeling, analysis, and control of automated and reconfigurable manufacturing systems. Presenting the latest research in this novel approach, this cutting-edge volume provides proven theories and methodologies for implementing cost and time-saving improvements to contemporary manufacturing systems. It provides effective tools for deadlock avoidance-deadlock-free routing and deadlock-free scheduling. The authors supply simple and complex industrial manufacturing system examples to illustrate time-tested concepts, theories, and approaches for solving real-life application problems. Written in a clear and concise manner, the text covers applications to automated and reconfigurable manufacturing systems, automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems, semiconductor manufacturing systems, and flexible assembly systems. Explaining complex concepts in a manner that is easy to understand, the authors provide the understanding and tools needed for more effective modeling, analysis, performance evaluation, control, and scheduling of engineering processes that will lead to more flexible and efficient manufacturing systems.

Modeling and Control in Vibrational and Structural Dynamics: A Differential Geometric Approach describes the control behavior of mechanical objects, such as wave equations, plates, and shells. It shows how the differential geometric approach is used when the coefficients of partial differential equations (PDEs) are variable in space (waves/plates), when the PDEs themselves are defined on curved surfaces (shells), and when the systems have quasilinear principal parts. To make the book self-contained, the author starts with the necessary background on Riemannian geometry. He then describes differential geometric energy methods that are generalizations of the classical energy methods of the 1980s. He illustrates how a basic computational technique can enable multiplier schemes for controls and provide mathematical models for shells in the form of free coordinates. The author also examines the quasilinearity of models for nonlinear materials, the dependence of controllability/stabilization on variable coefficients and equilibria, and the use of curvature theory to check assumptions. With numerous examples and exercises throughout, this book presents a complete and up-to-date account of many important advances in the modeling and control of vibrational and structural dynamics.

Designed for undergraduate students in the general science, engineering, and mathematics community, Introduction to the Simulation of Dynamics Using Simulink (R) shows how to use the powerful tool of Simulink to investigate and form intuitions about the behavior of dynamical systems. Requiring no prior programming experience, it clearly explains how to transition from physical models described by mathematical equations directly to executable Simulink simulations. Teaches students how to model and explore the dynamics of systemsStep by step, the author presents the basics of building a simulation in Simulink. He begins with finite difference equations and simple discrete models, such as annual population models, to introduce the concept of state. The text then covers ordinary differential equations, numerical integration algorithms, and time-step simulation. The final chapter offers overviews of some advanced topics, including the simulation of chaotic dynamics and partial differential equations. A one-semester undergraduate course on simulationWritten in an informal, accessible style, this guide includes many diagrams and graphics as well as exercises embedded within the text. It also draws on numerous examples from the science, engineering, and technology fields. The book deepens students' understanding of simulated systems and prepares them for advanced and specialized studies in simulation. Ancillary materials are available at http://nw08.american.edu/~gray

Coarse-grained reconfigurable architecture (CGRA) has emerged as a solution for flexible, application-specific optimization of embedded systems. Helping you understand the issues involved in designing and constructing embedded systems, Design of Low-Power Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Architectures offers new frameworks for optimizing the architecture of components in embedded systems in order to decrease area and save power. Real application benchmarks and gate-level simulations substantiate these frameworks. The first half of the book explains how to reduce power in the configuration cache. The authors present a low-power reconfiguration technique based on reusable context pipelining that merges the concept of context reuse into context pipelining. They also propose dynamic context compression capable of supporting required bits of the context words set to enable and the redundant bits set to disable. In addition, they discuss dynamic context management for reducing power consumption in the configuration cache by controlling a read/write operation of the redundant context words. Focusing on the design of a cost-effective processing element array to reduce area and power consumption, the second half of the text presents a cost-effective array fabric that uniquely rearranges processing elements and their interconnection designs. The book also describes hierarchical reconfigurable computing arrays consisting of two reconfigurable computing blocks with two types of communication structure. The two computing blocks share critical resources, offering an efficient communication interface between them and reducing the overall area. The final chapter takes an integrated approach to optimization that draws on the design schemes presented in earlier chapters. Using a case study, the authors demonstrate the synergy effect of combining multiple design schemes.

Measurement Data Modeling and Parameter Estimation integrates mathematical theory with engineering practice in the field of measurement data processing. Presenting the first-hand insights and experiences of the authors and their research group, it summarizes cutting-edge research to facilitate the application of mathematical theory in measurement and control engineering, particularly for those interested in aeronautics, astronautics, instrumentation, and economics. Requiring a basic knowledge of linear algebra, computing, and probability and statistics, the book illustrates key lessons with tables, examples, and exercises. It emphasizes the mathematical processing methods of measurement data and avoids the derivation procedures of specific formulas to help readers grasp key points quickly and easily. Employing the theories and methods of parameter estimation as the fundamental analysis tool, this reference: Introduces the basic concepts of measurements and errors Applies ideas from mathematical branches, such as numerical analysis and statistics, to the modeling and processing of measurement data Examines methods of regression analysis that are closely related to the mathematical processing of dynamic measurement data Covers Kalman filtering with colored noises and its applications Converting time series models into problems of parameter estimation, the authors discuss modeling methods for the true signals to be estimated as well as systematic errors. They provide comprehensive coverage that includes model establishment, parameter estimation, abnormal data detection, hypothesis tests, systematic errors, trajectory parameters, and modeling of radar measurement data. Although the book is based on the authors' research and teaching experience in aeronautics and astronautics data processing, the theories and methods introduced are applicable to processing dynamic measurement data across a wide range of fields.

This book presents an overview of the risks involved in modern electricity production, delivery and trading, including technical risk in production, transportation and delivery, operational risk for the system operators, market risks for traders, and political and other long term risks in strategic management.Using decision making under uncertainty as a methodological background, the book is divided into four parts, with Part I focusing on energy markets, particularly electricity markets.Topics include a nontechnical overview of energy markets and their main properties, basic price models for energy commodity prices, and modeling approaches for electricity price processes.

Part II looks at optimal decisions in managing energy systems, including hydropower dispatch models, cutting plane algorithms and approximative dynamic programming; hydro-thermal production; renewable; stochastic investments and operational optimization models for natural gas transport; decision making in operating electricity networks; and investment in extending energy production systems.

Part III explores pricing, including electricity swing options and the pricing of derivatives with volume control. Part IV looks at long-term and political risks, including energy systems under aspects of climate change, and catastrophic operational risks, particularly risks from terrorist attacks."