Bridging the critical interface: Ambidextrous innovation for water provision in Nairobi's informal settlements

This article examines innovation activities in water infrastructure in Nairobi, Kenya. The focus is on efforts by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Corporation (NCWSC) to provide water services to the inhabitants in the informal areas of the city using an automated vending machine, or Pre-Paid Dispenser (PPD). In this study, we investigate what happens when a regime actor like NCWSC tries to implement an ambidextrous (two-handed) strategy: managing the existing system according to conventional practice and at the same time innovate in new technical solutions and business models to cater for unconnected users.Besides presenting our results, our aim in this article is also to introduce a research strategy for innovation studies in infrastructural systems in low-income urban areas. Three interconnected parts stand out as our contribution:First, we present a novel conceptual framework, by adding ideas from innovation studies to the Large Technical Systems approach. We investigate how regime actors can innovate to provide water to unconnected users, without expanding the system in a traditional way.Second, we propose a novel method for analysing and understanding innovation on the margins of the infrastructural system, or in our terms, innovation in the critical interface. Central to our method is, through empirical observation, to identify misalignment between the innovation (PPD) and contextual factors at the local level, where the innovation is implemented (interface misalignment), and misalignment between the innovation and the existing water regime (internal misalignment). We use a qualitative method and results forms as a basis for further research and starting point for regime actors in search of an improved ambidextrous strategy.Third, we analyse the innovation process per se. In the Nairobi case, we assess the ambidextrous innovation strategy, and claim that the PPD functions as an adapter in the critical interface, enabling the regime actors to operate in an environment of misalignment.     

Optimization of Improvable Flows by combining BAT Analysis and process simulation

This paper proposes a methodology to improve the sustainability of industrial processes combining two tools: BAT Analysis and process simulation. Both tools are jointly applied to identify the IF of the analyzed process, so that the most appropriate candidate techniques from an inventory can be selected. The selected alternatives are tested in different scenarios that are evaluated using simulation, which would determine the configuration that best improves the sustainability of the process. The combination of both tools in an integrated methodology will help decision makers to select the most sustainable configuration for a given process. The methodology is validated in a case study: a hydrogen production plant. After analysing several scenarios where different candidate techniques are implemented, results show that the IF identified can be highly improved when the appropriate combination of BAT is applied.     

基于扩展CHAM的SA级路径覆盖方法

化学抽象机形式化语言（CHAM）通过把化学反应和抽象机的概念有机地结合来描述系统状态的变化,以此来指导分析和测试.针对软件体系结构（SA）中构件的概念,采用CHAM对SA中的构件进行建模,并据此导出该构件的标号迁移系统（LTS）,以表示该构件与其它构件之间的行为交互,并根据选取的测试覆盖准则,生成基于此构件的LTS中的所有测试路径.最后以B/S体系结构为例,通过实验验证了该方法在生成DB构件的测试路径上是可行的.     

激光热喷涂Co30Cr8W1.6C3Ni1.4Si涂层在PAO+2.5%MoDTC油中摩擦学特性

为了提高TC4合金的耐磨性能,采用激光热喷涂技术在其表面制备了Co₃₀Cr₈W_1.6C₃Ni_1.4Si涂层。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和X射线衍射（XRD）分析了涂层的形貌和物相,并通过摩擦磨损实验研究了涂层在PAO+2.5% MoDTC（质量分数）油中的磨损行为。结果表明,激光热喷涂的Co₃₀Cr₈W_1.6C₃Ni_1.4Si涂层主要由Ti、WC_1-x、CoO、Co₂Ti₄O和CoAl相组成,在涂层界面形成冶金结合。在激光功率为1000、1200和1400 W时所制备的涂层平均摩擦因数分别为0.151、0.120和0.171,其对应的磨损率分别为1.17×10^-6、1.33×10^-6和2.80×10^-6 mm³?N^-1?m^-1,磨损机理为磨粒磨损,其枝晶尺寸对降磨起主要作用。     

嵌入式API测试套生成方法和技术

随着嵌入式计算机系统应用的不断扩展,嵌入式系统的可靠性引起了学术界和工业界的广泛关注,也提出了很多增进可靠性的方法和技术.然而,现有的方法和技术在测试套生成方面论述不多,所以在处理大批量嵌入式系统测试工作中遇到了挑战.讨论抽象测试套生成方法和适配技术,提出了LTS(labeled transition system)到BT(behavior tree)的转换算法,从而使TTCN(test and testing control notation)测试套可以通过转换嵌入式软件的LTS描述产生.还介绍了基于上述转换算法的嵌入式软件测试工具包,以及一个嵌入式物联网识读器测试案例研究.     

安全苛刻系统自动化测试的形式化语义模型

安全苛刻系统的可信性需求典型而迫切,其可信性评估和验证具有测试依赖性.安全苛刻系统一般是复杂系统,手工测试实际上不可行,发展自动化测试手段是必然趋势.针对安全苛刻系统测试过程自动化中存在的高阶协同、实时和时序性,以Ambient演算、CCS演算、论域理论等为基础,给出测试过程的高阶协同定义,建立一种层次化演算模型,为测试过程提供一种信息化和自动化手段.模型通过对被测产品、测试设备与测试任务的抽象与组织,给出安全苛刻系统测试过程自动化的工作模式.最后,通过扩展标记转换系统定义,给出高阶协同行为的收敛性和正确性的证明,论证了模型的可计算性,验证了安全苛刻系统测试的可自动化.模型已应用于航天器的自动化测试中,并成为航天器测试行为的日常工作规范.     

Low temperature water gas shift: Type and loading of metal impacts forward decomposition of pseudo-stabilized formate over metal/ceria catalysts

A similar degree of surface shell reduction of ceria was obtained for a series of metal/ceria catalysts. Surface formate species were generated by reaction of CO with bridging OH groups associated with the Ce³⁺ defects. Forward decomposition of the pseudo-stable formates was followed in flowing H₂O, leading to the production of surface carbonate species. The forward formate decomposition rate was enhanced changing the promoter from Au to Pt, and by increasing the promoter loading (from 0.5 to 2.5%). Results suggest that formate CH bond breaking is not only facilitated by H₂O, but it is further enhanced by type and loading of metal promoter. From earlier kinetic isotope effect and isotopic tracer studies, the rate-limiting step of the forward formate decomposition (WGS reaction) was considered to be associated with CH bond rupture of the formate. The results can explain the promotion in the WGS rates observed for these samples by changing from Au to Pt and by increasing the promoter loading.     

变压气化同全低温变换配套制取原料气技术的应用前景分析

介绍了国内刚开发的煤变压气化技术同已工业化的全低温变换技术配套制取原料气的新工艺在中小型氨厂，甲醇厂技改中的应用前景。     

新型铜系低变催化剂在低汽气比条件下的性能研究

采用原粒度催化反应装置，结合物理分析和化学手段，研究添加碱金属助剂对铜系低变催化剂在低汽气比条件下稳定性的影响。发现添加适量的碱金属氧化物助剂可以减少低汽气比条件下铜系低变催化剂的甲醇生成量,一定的添加量范围内，变换反应性能和甲醇副产物的生成量较稳定，但碱金属助剂的添加对催化剂的比表面积和强度的影响较大。     

Partial oxidation (POX) reforming of gasoline for fuel-cell powered vehicles applications

As a part of the development of a gasoline processor for integration with a proton-exchanged membrane (PEM) fuel cell, we carried out the POX reforming reaction ofiso-octane, toluene and gasoline over a commercial methane reforming catalyst, and investigated the reaction conditions required to prevent the formation of carbon and the effect of fuel constituents and sulfur impurities in gasoline. The H₂ and CO compositions increased with increasing reaction temperature, while those of CO₂ and CH₄ decreased. It is desirable to maintain an O/C molar ratio of more than 0.6 and an H₂O/C molar ratio of 1.5 to 2.0 for vehicle applications. It has been found that carbon formation in the POX reforming ofiso-octane occurs below 620 °C, whereas in the case of toluene it occurs below 640 °C. POX reforming of gasoline constituents led to the conclusion that hydrogen production is directly related to the constituents of fuels and the operating conditions. It was also found that the coke formation on the surface of catalysts is promoted by sulfur impurities in fuels. For the integration of a fuel processor with PEM fuel cell, studies are needed on the development of new high-performance transition metal-based catalysts with sulfur and coke-resistance and the desulfurization of fuels before applying the POX reformer based on gasoline feed.