Techno‐economic evaluation and sensitivity analysis of an energy‐recovery system

Abstract

A computation algorithm for the techno‐economic evaluation and sensitivity analysis of an air‐preheated energy recovery system is presented. Through the study, we find that different equipment designs of the same project affect the benefit of the recovery system remarkably. It is therefore necessary to consider technical and economic factors simultaneously to obtain a reasonable evaluation result for an energy recovery project. The sensitivity study shows that the annual operating hours is the primary factor in the profitability of an energy recovery system; thus, the reliability of the recovery system should be considered as the investment decision is made. In brief, this article offers the concepts of economic optimization for an energy recovery system.     

Amplitude matching strategy for wave-optical design of monofunctional systems

Abstract

The design of optical systems capable of transforming one given input field into an output field which maximizes one prescribed merit function is discussed in the functional embodiment of the system, that is by dealing with transmission functions instead of structured matter. Customary beam shaping techniques are identified as a special case of a more general strategy which is called amplitude matching. This strategy makes use of the field quantities amplitude and phase and therefore it is a wave-optical design approach. The flexibility of the technique is demonstrated by various examples. Parameters like conversion efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio, distances between transmission functions, and the number of transmission functions necessary for the implementation of wave transformations are discussed.     

How to Manage Complex,Multinational R&D Projects Successfully

Abstract

The globalization of markets, mergers of international companies, and integration of managerial and business processes in global corporations are changing project management fundamentals. A clearly recognizable trend in multinational companies since the mid-1980s has been globalization of R&D and competence portfolios.

Applied development is usually conducted in the form of a distributed project organization. A project team is formed across geographical, organizational, and cultural boundaries, engaging in a project with a global focus. Although a multinational project organization has great potential in many dimensions, there is no doubt that the execution of a distributed high technological project is still a great challenge.

This article identifies success factors in the management of distributed projects with global goals. The authors have focused on the practical experiences of the execution of complex multinational projects in the area of applied system development for power industry.     

Power of Experimental Design Studies for the Validation of Pharmaceutical Processes: Case Study of a Multilayer Tablet Manufacturing Process

ABSTRACT

Experimental design studies (EDS) are already widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for drug formulation or process optimization. Rare are the situations in which this methodology is applied for validation purposes. The power of this statistical tool, key element of a global validation strategy, is demonstrated for a multilayer tablet manufacturing process. Applied to the Geomatrix® system generally composed of one compression and three granulation processes, time and strictness gains are non-negligible. Experimental design studies are not used in this work for modeling. Introduced at each important step of the process development, they allow for the evaluation of process ruggedness at pilot scale and specifications for full production. A demonstration of the complete control of key process parameters is given, identified throughout preliminary studies.     

A Venerable Tool for a New Application: Using Scenario Analysis for Formulating Strategies for Emerging Technologies in Emerging Markets

ABSTRACT

Scenario analysis appears to be an ideal strategic planning tool for emerging technologies in emerging markets, yet it is in its infancy in the business world. This article is one of the first reports on applying this powerful tool to emerging technology business planning. Scenario analysis was incorporated into a PC-based simulation model and was applied by 11 teams consisting of company presidents, managers, and technical professionals to formulate a business strategy for wireless communications prior to its commercial launch. By incorporating key concepts from finance, market and competitive analysis, and management of technology, the model guides the user through a series of assumptions and decisions to arrive at a resilient strategy that maximizes the technology's chance of commercial success under a range of scenarios.     

Automated structural optimization system for integrated topology and shape optimization

Abstract

This paper combines previously developed techniques for image‐preprocessing and characteristic image‐interpreting together with a newly proposed automated shape‐optimization modeling technique into an integrated topology‐optimization and shape‐optimization system. As a result, structure designers are provided with an efficient and reliable automated structural optimization system (ASOS). The automated shape‐optimization modeling technique, the key technique in ASOS, uses hole‐expanding strategy, interference analysis, and hole shape‐adjusting strategy to automatically define the design variables and side constraints needed for shape optimization. This technique not only eliminates the need to manually define design variables and side constraints for shape optimization, but during the process of shape optimization also prevents interference between the interior holes and the exterior boundary. The ASOS is tested in three different structural configuration design examples.     

Optimum design of a cogeneration system in processes

Abstract

A systematic method is presented for the preliminary design of a cogeneration system with the desire of achieving minimum operating costs. The ratio of power to process heat is shown to be a critical factor in the preliminary selection of energy conversion systems. However, the final decision should be based on the operating costs and economical index, ROI. A fuel substitution factor is proposed to define theoretically the most economical power generation in plants. Two case studies are demonstrated to describe this approach.     

Operation strategies for scheduling problems in project management

Abstract

This article analyzes different operation strategies in project management from an economic viewpoint and proposes a general procedure to schedule a project when inflation is either considered, with linear or ladder type, or not considered.     

垃圾焚烧发电系统优化及综合利用技术

垃圾焚烧发电项目已逐渐成为由地方政府主导的PPP项目,随着国家能源战略的深入,依靠科技创新,加快节能减排技术研发和产业化推广已成为迫在眉睫的任务。在项目建设标准和融资要求高,垃圾处理费低和投资回收期长等多重压力下,通过对垃圾焚烧发电系统进行逐步、分项的设计优化,利用最新技术使资源得到高效深度利用,可以有效降低工程建设成本,提高项目运营经济性,实现垃圾减量化、无害化和资源化,对垃圾发电长远健康发展具有参考价值。     

A Polymerization-Assisted Grain Growth Strategy for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Intrinsically, detrimental defects accumulating at the surface and grain boundaries limit both the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells. Small molecules and bulkier polymers with functional groups are utilized to passivate these ionic defects but usually suffer from volatility and precipitation issues, respectively. Here, starting from the addition of small monomers in the PbI₂ precursor, a polymerization-assisted grain growth strategy is introduced in the sequential deposition method. With a polymerization process triggered during the PbI₂ film annealing, the bulkier polymers formed will be adhered to the grain boundaries, retaining the previously established interactions with PbI₂. After perovskite formation, the polymers anchored on the boundaries can effectively passivate undercoordinated lead ions and reduce the defect density. As a result, a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.0% is obtained, together with a prolonged lifetime where 85.7% and 91.8% of the initial PCE remain after 504 h continuous illumination and 2208 h shelf storage, respectively.     

Optimal memoryless strategies of a two‐rate communication link

Abstract

Game theory has been applied to study the performance of a communication system in a hostile environment. By appropriately choosing the payoff, a communication system in the presence of a hostile jammer can be modeled as a finite two‐person zero‐sum game. In this paper, we model a two‐rate communication link interfered by an on‐off jammer as a two‐person zero‐sum game and derive the optimal memoryless communication and jamming strategies. The ensemble mean of the time average throughput is considered as the payoff to the communicator. It is found that, under average jamming power constraints, the optimal memoryless jamming strategy is, in general, to allocate as much jamming power as possible to one direction. We study both symmetric and asymmetric communication strategy cases. The performance of the communication system is better if an asymmetric communication strategy is adopted. However, the system resulting from an optimal asymmetric communication strategy may become non‐ergodic.     

Steepest-first exploration with learning-based path evaluation: uncovering the design strategy of parameter analysis with C–K theory

The parameter analysis method of conceptual design is studied in this paper with the help of C–K theory. Each of the fundamental design activities—idea generation, implementation of the idea as hardware and evaluation—is explained and defined as a specific sequence of C–K operators. A case study of designing airborne decelerators is used to demonstrate the modeling of the parameter analysis process in C–K terms. The theory is used to explain how recovery from an initial fixation took place, leading to a breakthrough in the design process. It is shown that the innovative power of parameter analysis is based on C-space “de-partitioning” and that the efficient strategy exhibited by parameter analysis can be interpreted as steepest-first, controlled by an evaluation function of the design path. This logic is explained as generalization of branch-and-bound algorithms by a learning-based, dynamically evolving evaluation function and exploration of a state space that keeps changing during the actual process of designing.     

Application of the novel composite earth retaining structure method to urban excavations: a constructability analysis

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to propose and evaluate a novel composite earth retaining structure method to be applied in urban excavations in terms of construction safety, cost, and duration. The novel composite structure is a multipurpose structure, which may counteract uplift pressure acting on the foundation base, provide lateral support at ground level, and function as king posts during excavation. To evaluate the feasibility and advantages of utilizing the composite earth retaining structure in deep excavations, the case of a commercial building development in Taipei has been studied. In this project, the original excavation design employed top-down construction for the foundation and basement. Two alternative designs employing the composite earth retaining structure method were later proposed to the owner for evaluation and selection. The analyses of the two alternatives include a three-dimensional geotechnical finite element analysis using PLAXIS3D and an analysis of time using PROJECT 2013 as well as a study of cost impacts. The results from the analyses show that the novel method can be superior to the original design in terms of construction safety, project cost, and construction duration.     

Robust controllers design and efficiency analysis for a brushless servo system

Abstract

This paper investigates the design of robust controllers for a class of ac servo drives, the brushless servo motor drive, and presents the efficiency and power factor analysis of the drive system. Robust PI, H ², and H ⁸ control techniques are applied to the design of servo controllers. A fully digital control system is constructed to experimentally verify the controller performance. The steady‐state characteristics of the servo drive are derived and are measured on‐line by a microcomputer‐based efficiency measurement system. The theoretical development is validated by the experimental work.     

Toward methods for supporting the anticipation-feedback loop in user interface design

Recent research has compared different usability evaluation methods with respect to their effectiveness and efficiency. The paper analyses the impact of different usability evaluation methods on design problem-solving processes of individual designers and evaluators. It is proposed that usability evaluation methods have to be divided into two categories according to their fundamentally different way of supporting the design for usability: (1) guideline-based methods and (2) methods based on the mental generation of scenarios and anticipation of user goals. We present data from an experimental study that shows that these two types of methods entail differences in the perspective-taking processes. Furthermore, the results indicate that the methods have a differential impact on the general problem-solving strategy, i.e. whether to use a top-down, breadth-first or a depth-first approach. Possible implications for the development of techniques that support the design of usable systems are discussed.     

Multi-criteria decision analysis for prospective sustainability assessment of alternative technologies and fuels for individual motorized transport

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector is one of the biggest challenges in the German energy transition. Furthermore, sustainable development does not stop with reducing GHG emissions. Other environmental, social and economic aspects should not be neglected. Thus, here a comprehensive sustainability assessment for passenger vehicles is conducted for 2020 and 2050. The discussed options are an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) fuelled with synthetic biofuel and fossil gasoline, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with electricity from wind power and electricity mix Germany and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with hydrogen from wind power. The life cycle-based assessment entails 13 environmental indicators, one economic and one social indicator. For integrated consideration of the different indicators, the MCDA method Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is chosen. For the assessment, a consistent assessment framework, i.e. background scenario and system boundaries, and a detailed modelling of vehicle production, fuel supply and vehicle use are the cornerstones. The BEV with wind power is the most sustainable option in 2020 as well as in 2050. While in 2020, the second rank is taken by the ICEV with synthetic biofuel from straw and the last rank by the FCEV, in 2050 the FCEV is the runner-up. With the help of MCDA, transparent and structured guidance for decision makers in terms of sustainability assessment of motorized transport options is provided.

Graphical abstract

     

The Validation Life Cycle Applied to Software Development: New Concept or Simply Good Business

Abstract

The singular, most Important aspect which transforms a control system Into a functioning part of a process is the software applications. The conception, design and implementation of these softwares, in general, are inconsistently applied discipline. Although the need for a methodical process Is clearly evident, every project manager's and project engineer's approach to the problem is quite different. Ultimately, the time and effort Is never circumvented. The concept of “pay me now or pay me later” is very true in this particular area:

The development of software for control applications Is new to some industries which are beginning to automate heavily. However, the concept of “validation” (a significant word in the pharmaceutical industry's vocabulary) is common in the nuclear power industry, petroleum refining and utility systems. Also, unrelated industries such as banking have validation procedures for software. Although the final control elements and processes vary from money to oil to power, the “life cycle approach” of design. Implementation, test and verify are consistent. The methodical processes and good engineering practice are the common links.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the methods, procedures, and concepts used in several industrial environments, and compare them to the current evolution of control software development methods of the batch processing industry. Specifically, we will discuss the life cycle concepts now as applies to the pharmaceutical industry and the validation concepts as imposed by the FDA

The synergy of good development techniques and validation is far more than a coincidence. It is good business. Furthermore, the incentives in manpower, energy and product costs show it is a very profitable experience. This paper is geared for project engineers, project managers, control engineers and programmers. The specific slant will be a “how to” guide for providing a solid validatable system for any project but specifically a pharmaceutical one. The design will be weave the life cycle concept into good design practices.     

Process Uncertainty: A New Dimension for New Product Development

Abstract

Companies pursuing product leadership continually push products into innovative technology areas and new unknown markets. As companies continue to strive for continuous innovation, often leapfrogging even their own technology, new product development (NPD) processes play an increasingly important role in defining the success or failure of many new innovations. In addition, increased competitive rivalry is driving companies to commercialize their new products much more quickly. To meet these pressures, new strategies are being used to supplement the conventional new product development process that consists of strategy formulation, idea generation, screening and evaluation, development, testing, and launch. The primary objective of each of these innovation strategies is to attain sustainable competitive advantage for the company and achieve higher overall performance.

Our research examined product and service innovation strategies of six projects. Half of which were considered successful and the other half failures. Using several emerging innovation strategies including process-driven, speed-to-market, quantitative, market-driven, technology-driven, and learning-driven to classify these projects, we evaluated the innovation strategies employed in an attempt to determine the overall NPD strategy effectiveness. In addition, we also attempted to identify relevant critical success factors and associated activities to construct an ideal innovation strategy model.

In the projects we studied, we found that no one best strategy leads to successful innovation. While evaluating areas of uncertainty that impact project success, we determined that a new dimension, process uncertainty, plays as important a role as market or technical uncertainty previously examined in the emerging scholarship. Furthermore, the insights that were discovered by comparing the different innovation strategies led us to formulate the technical-market-process (TMP) uncertainty mode. The TMP model serves as a predicator for identifying the appropriate innovation strategies that can be brought together to drive project success. We conclude that the combination of identifying the appropriate innovation strategies and proficiently executing these strategies is the key to successful new product development.     

Microstructural characterisation of friction stir processed aluminium

Abstract

Friction stir processing was carried out on commercially pure aluminium, and a detailed microstructural characterisation was performed by electron backscattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Friction stir processing resulted in significant grain refinement with narrow grain size distribution. The microstructure showed fine and equiaxed grains, with some ultrafine grains being also observed. Electron backscattered diffraction studies showed majority of the boundaries to be high angle, confirming the occurrence of dynamic recrystallisation (DRX). Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed dislocation arrangement into subgrain boundaries, grains having different dislocation densities and in different stages/degrees of recovery. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis also revealed a progressive transformation of sub-grain boundaries into high angle grain boundaries. A multimechanism of dynamic recovery, continuous DRX and discontinuous DRX seems to be operating during the process. The microstructure is not affected by changing the rotation speed from 640 to 800 rev min^?1, except that the grain size was marginally larger for higher rotational speed.