Computer-aided fixture planning (CAFP) is an essential part of Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) integration. Proper fixture planning can dramatically reduce the manufacturing cost, the lead-time, and labor skill requirements in product manufacturing. However, fixture planning is a highly experience-based activity. Due to the extreme diversity and complexity of manufacturing workpieces and processes, there are not many fixture planning tools available for industry applications. Moreover, existing CAFP methods rarely consider integrating fixture environmental factors into fixture planning. Automatic fixture planning using VR can provide a viable way for industries. This thesis develops automated approaches to fixture planning in a virtual environment (VE). It intends to address two important issues: automatic algorithms for fixture planning, and the VE to support high fidelity evaluation of fixture planning. The system consists of three parts including fixture assembly planning, feasibility analysis of assembly tools, and motion planning for fixture loading and unloading. The virtual fixture planning system provides the fixture designer a tool for fixture planning and evaluation. Geometrical algorithms are developed to facilitate the automatic reasoning. A Web-based VE for fixture planning is implemented. The three-dimensional (3D) model visualization enables the fixture simulation and validation effectively to investigate existing problems. Approaches to construct desktop-based large VEs are also investigated. Cell segmentation methods and dynamic loading strategies are investigated to improve the rendering performance. Case studies of virtual building navigation and product assembly simulations are conducted. The developed algorithms can successfully generate the assembly plan, validate the assembly tools, and generate moving paths for fixture design and applications. The VE is intuitive and sufficient to support fixture planning, as well as other virtual design and manufacturing tasks.

O uso da biomassa como fonte de energia elétrica corresponde a uma alternativa de grande importância para o planejamento estratégico do crescimento econômico de diversos países. A vasta extensão territorial e o clima favorável ao desenvolvimento da agricultura no Brasil trazem como vantagem o poder de planejar sua matriz energética utilizando variadas fontes primárias renováveis. A cana-de-açúcar destaca-se pela rusticidade e grande produtividade. O bagaço como um subproduto resultante do processamento da cana é utilizado como fonte para a cogeração de energia e pode contribuir significativamente para a descentralização das fontes de energia nacional. Com o desenvolvimento da tecnologia de etanol de segunda geração, a busca pela maior produção de biomassa ganha relevância. Os programas de melhoramento identificaram que se caso com redução de 25 a 35% da sacarose na cana, a planta teria um potencial de aumento de mais de 100% da biomassa. Os híbridos derivados de programas de melhoramento da espécie Saccharum spp., direcionados exclusivamente para a produção de biomassa, foram denominados de cana energia. Tendo em vista o potencial de produtividade da cultura e consequentemente de geração de energia, torna-se necessário conhecer se esse potencial se traduz em resultado econômico. Com esse enfoque, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a viabilidade econômica da produção de biomassa da cana energia. Para tanto foi desenvolvido um modelo em planilha eletrônica e o modelo foi empregado na simulação de cenários e alternativas. A planilha integra modelos de balanço hídrico, produtividade da cultura e distribuição de chuvas, e suas relações com aspectos econômicos e produtivos. O preço de venda da biomassa, a produtividade da cultura e a distância de transporte se mostraram como os itens que mais influem sobre os indicadores de viabilidade econômica. Diferentemente da eficiência gerencial, a eficiência de campo corresponde a um fator de grande importância a ser considerado para reduzir o custo de produção. A análise da área de colheita como uma variável crítica indicou que existem módulos ideais para a utilização de máquinas agrícolas, reduzindo o seu custo operacional devido ao uso melhor atribuído das máquinas na propriedade. A análise da textura do solo como variável crítica mostrou que o cultivo da planta em diferentes tipos de solos reflete em diferentes custos operacionais, produtividade potencial e no montante de investimento. O ano de reforma corresponde a um fator crítico para a viabilização da atividade. Para o cenário base, o indicador de atratividade financeira apresenta um Valor Presente Líquido de 6,4 milhões de reais e uma Taxa Interna de Retorno de 15,2%, com um horizonte de 20 anos de produção. As análises de sensibilidade mostram que as variáveis que mais impactam nos indicadores de viabilidade econômica financeira são o preço de venda da biomassa e a produtividade média da lavoura. / The use of biomass as energy source is an alternative of great importance to the strategic planning of growth for any economy in the world. The vast territory and favorable climate for Brazilian agriculture development, brings advantage to plan its energy matrix using various renewable primary sources. The sugarcane is highlighted by its rusticity and large amount of biomass generated by area. Since the bagasse is a sugarcane by product, it can be used as a source for energy cogeneration, which can significantly contribute to the strengthening of the Brazilian energy matrix. Genetic improvement of the culture has always sought the highest sucrose content, due to the needs of the industrial process. With the development of second generation ethanol technology, the quest for higher biomass production becomes important. If the cane were fully harvested, the total biomass would be increased in more than 100%, with a loss of 25 to 35% in sucrose. The hybrids derived from Saccharum spp. breeding programs directed exclusively for biomass production were named energy cane. Considering the potential crop yield and consequently the energy generation, it is very important to know if this potential is related to economic results. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a model to analyze the economic feasibility of biomass production from energy cane. It was developed an electronic spreadsheet and the model was used in different scenarios and alternatives. In the base scenario, the financial attractiveness indicators shows a Net Present Value of 6.4 million and an Internal Rate of Return of 15.2%, in 20 years of production. Sensitivity analyzes shows that the variables that most impact the financial viability of economic indicators are the sales price of biomass and the average productivity of the crop.

This Master of Science and Engineering thesis in Chemical Engineering treats biogas production in China. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part contains an energy potential and situation analysis of biogas in China and a comparison with the situation in Sweden. The biogas potential in China is 950-2180 TWh depending on source. Specially, the potential from fish waste is 11 TWh. Part 1 also includes batch experiments where co-digestion of corn straw and swine manure is performed using substrate from Dajugezhuang in Tianjin. The experiments were executed at Tianjin Academy of Environmental Science. The experiments do not show a significant reduction in COD when co-digesting manure with straw and are connected with uncertainty. The experiments should be executed again with the recommendations given in this report. It is discovered that the inoculum affects the C:Nratio a lot. When co-digesting experiments are being performed, an inoculum that have a C:N-ratio close to the desired must be used. This is due to that the organic loading rate must be kept low. Part 2 of this thesis is an economical feasibility analysis and market investigation of biogas in China. A model is created using excel, where economic data from biogas plants in China are used to estimate the profit of producing biogas in China. The model indicates that the most feasible choice is to upgrade the biogas and inject it to the gas grid. This is due to the lower investment cost for an upgrading unit compared to an electricity-generating unit. The model uses electricity and gas prices from different provinces in China. Guangdong is the province with the highest electricity price and Ningxia the province with the lowest electricity price. The gas price in Guangdong is also high, but highest in Guangxi and Yunnan. The lowest gas price is found in Ningxia. Part 2 also discuss problems with the current situation for biogas producers in China. Investment subsidies from the government instead of product subsidies has led to a situation where China has over 30 million biogas reactors, but very low yield. The current situation means low incentives for selling the products from anaerobic digestion, biofertilizers, bio-methane, electricity and heat. The grid connection limit on electricity generators of >500 kW limits the number of grid-connected plants to less than 10. vi / Detta examensarbete i kemiteknik behandlar biogasproduktion i Kina. Examensarbetet är uppdelat i två delar. Den första delen innehåller en energipotential och nulägesanalys av biogas i Kina och en jämförelse med situationen i Sverige (kapitel 1). Biogas potentialen i Kina är 950-2180 TWh beroende på olika källor. Speciellt är potentialen från fiskarens 11 TWh. Del 1 omfattar även satsvisa utrötningsförsök där samrötning av majshalm och svingödsel sker med hjälp av substrat från Dajugezhuang i Tianjin. Experimenten utfördes vid Tianjin Academy of Environmental Science. Experimenten visar inte en signifikant minskning av COD vid samrötning av grisgödsel med halm och försöken är behäftade med osäkerhet. De bör därför genomföras igen efter de rekommendationer som ges i denna rapport. Det upptäcks att den ymp som används påverkar C:N-kvoten mycket. När samrötningsexperiment genomförs, ska en ymp som har en C:N-kvot nära den önskade för försöket användas. Detta beror på att den organiska belastningen måste hållas låg. Del 2 i detta examensarbete är en feasibility-analys och marknadsundersökning av biogas i Kina. En modell skapades i Excel, där ekonomiska data från biogasanläggningar i Kina används för att uppskatta resultatet att producera biogas i Kina. Modellen visar att det mest ekonomiska sättet att använda biogasen är att uppgradera den och injicera det till gasnätet. Detta beror på den lägre investeringskostnaden för en uppgraderingsanläggning jämfört med ett elkraftverk. Modellen använder el- och gaspriser från olika provinser i Kina. Guangdong är provinsen med det högsta elpriset och Ningxia provinsen med det lägsta elpriset. Gaspriset i Guangdong är också hög, men högst i Guangxi och Yunnan. Det lägsta priset på gas finns i Ningxia. Del 2 diskuterar också problem med den nuvarande situationen för biogasproducenter i Kina. Investeringsstöd från staten i stället för subventioner av produkterna har lett till en situation där Kina har över 30 miljoner biogasreaktorer, men mycket lågt utbyte i reaktorerna. Den nuvarande situationen innebär få incitament för försäljning av produkterna från rötningsprocessen, bio-gödsel, bio-metan, el och värme. Den nätanslutningsgräns som finns för elproducenterna på >500 kW, begränsar antalet nätanslutna anläggningar i Kina till mindre än 10 stycken. vii

Diversos são os direcionadores para a atenção mundial na adoção dos biocombustíveis. Elevados preços do petróleo e aquecimento global figuram entre os principais. Sob esse cenário, vários países investem em pesquisas para encontrar uma fonte de energia limpa produzida em um contexto sustentável. Entre elas está o biodiesel obtido dos óleos vegetais. No Brasil, após a institucionalização da mistura em janeiro de 2008, destacouse a necessidade de realizar estudos aprofundados na seleção da melhor matéria-prima destinada à manutenção do programa brasileiro, além de estabelecer novas áreas de produção que atendam, simultaneamente, a inserção do pequeno agricultor e a produção equilibrada com os alimentos. A produtividade por hectare é identificada a priori como relevante, de modo que este estudo considerou as culturas do dendê e do pinhão-manso como matériasprimas, bases à viabilidade de produção do biodiesel no Brasil. O semi-árido brasileiro foi escolhido devido às grandes extensões de terra produtivas, mas inativas, e aos incentivos federais que proporcionam uma vantagem competitiva no Ambiente Institucional. A metodologia de pesquisa fez uso conjunto da Fenomenologia e dos Estudos de Caso, aplicando a análise na região do Vale do São Francisco. Para a condução da pesquisa foi utilizada a base de dados primários e secundários. O ambiente de pesquisa fez uso do ambiente de campo e do estudo simulado dos dados em planilhas eletrônicas. Os resultados obtidos destacaram o fator produtividade por área plantada e teor de óleo por peso da cultura como dois importantes condicionantes para a viabilidade de produção do biodiesel, além da integração das atividades agrícola e industrial. O estudo finaliza, comprovando a viabilidade de implantar um SAG do Biodiesel na região semi-árida brasileira, fazendo uso das áreas irrigadas e das áreas de sequeiro. / There is a wide guidance to the world\'s attention in the adoption of biofuels. High oil prices and global warming are among the main ones. Under this scenario, several countries have invested in research to find a source of clean energy produced in a sustainable context. Among them is biodiesel made from vegetable oils. In Brazil, after the institutionalization of the mixture in January 2008, the need to conduct studies in the selection of the best raw material for the maintenance of the Brazilian program was highlighted, in addition to establish new areas of production that meet both the insertion of small farmers and balanced production along with food. The yield per hectare is taken as relevant, so this study has taken in account the crops of palm and jatropha curcas as raw materials, considering the feasibility of producing biodiesel in Brazil. The Brazilian semi-arid was chosen because of the large area of productive, but inactive land and federal incentives that provide a competitive advantage in the Institutional Environment. The research methodology made use of all Phenomenology and Case Studies by applying the analysis in the Valley of San Francisco River. To conduct the research, a basis for primary and secondary data was used. The research environment made use of field environment and simulated study of data in spreadsheets. The results highlighted the factor productivity per planted area and oil content by weight of crop as two major constraints to the feasibility for biodiesel production, in addition to the integration of agricultural and industrial activities. The study ends, proving the feasibility of settling a Biodiesel SAG in the semiarid region in Brazil, using irrigated and dry areas.

Diversos são os direcionadores para a atenção mundial na adoção dos biocombustíveis. Elevados preços do petróleo e aquecimento global figuram entre os principais. Sob esse cenário, vários países investem em pesquisas para encontrar uma fonte de energia limpa produzida em um contexto sustentável. Entre elas está o biodiesel obtido dos óleos vegetais. No Brasil, após a institucionalização da mistura em janeiro de 2008, destacouse a necessidade de realizar estudos aprofundados na seleção da melhor matéria-prima destinada à manutenção do programa brasileiro, além de estabelecer novas áreas de produção que atendam, simultaneamente, a inserção do pequeno agricultor e a produção equilibrada com os alimentos. A produtividade por hectare é identificada a priori como relevante, de modo que este estudo considerou as culturas do dendê e do pinhão-manso como matériasprimas, bases à viabilidade de produção do biodiesel no Brasil. O semi-árido brasileiro foi escolhido devido às grandes extensões de terra produtivas, mas inativas, e aos incentivos federais que proporcionam uma vantagem competitiva no Ambiente Institucional. A metodologia de pesquisa fez uso conjunto da Fenomenologia e dos Estudos de Caso, aplicando a análise na região do Vale do São Francisco. Para a condução da pesquisa foi utilizada a base de dados primários e secundários. O ambiente de pesquisa fez uso do ambiente de campo e do estudo simulado dos dados em planilhas eletrônicas. Os resultados obtidos destacaram o fator produtividade por área plantada e teor de óleo por peso da cultura como dois importantes condicionantes para a viabilidade de produção do biodiesel, além da integração das atividades agrícola e industrial. O estudo finaliza, comprovando a viabilidade de implantar um SAG do Biodiesel na região semi-árida brasileira, fazendo uso das áreas irrigadas e das áreas de sequeiro. / There is a wide guidance to the world\'s attention in the adoption of biofuels. High oil prices and global warming are among the main ones. Under this scenario, several countries have invested in research to find a source of clean energy produced in a sustainable context. Among them is biodiesel made from vegetable oils. In Brazil, after the institutionalization of the mixture in January 2008, the need to conduct studies in the selection of the best raw material for the maintenance of the Brazilian program was highlighted, in addition to establish new areas of production that meet both the insertion of small farmers and balanced production along with food. The yield per hectare is taken as relevant, so this study has taken in account the crops of palm and jatropha curcas as raw materials, considering the feasibility of producing biodiesel in Brazil. The Brazilian semi-arid was chosen because of the large area of productive, but inactive land and federal incentives that provide a competitive advantage in the Institutional Environment. The research methodology made use of all Phenomenology and Case Studies by applying the analysis in the Valley of San Francisco River. To conduct the research, a basis for primary and secondary data was used. The research environment made use of field environment and simulated study of data in spreadsheets. The results highlighted the factor productivity per planted area and oil content by weight of crop as two major constraints to the feasibility for biodiesel production, in addition to the integration of agricultural and industrial activities. The study ends, proving the feasibility of settling a Biodiesel SAG in the semiarid region in Brazil, using irrigated and dry areas.

La distillation réactive est l’un des procédés chimiques intensifiés les plus reconnus, qui intègre la séparation et la réaction au sein d’un même appareil. Les principaux avantages de la distillation réactive concerne l’amélioration de la conversion de la réaction, la diminution significative des investissements, des coûts de fonctionnement, de la consommation énergétique, et de la production de sous produits. Une méthodologie de conception systématique, générale et hiérarchisée de la distillation réactive discontinue avec des réactions consécutives est présentée dans ce manuscrit. La méthode élaborée est présentée sur la transestérification du carbonate de diméthyle par le procédé de distillation réactive discontinue dans une colonne avec un bac intermédiaire. Après l’acquisition de données phisicochimiques de base nécessaire à notre méthode, une nouvelle méthode de l’analyse de faisabilité pour les systèmes multiréactifs et multiconstituant a été développée. L’étape suivante est l’analyse de sensibilité afin d’explorer les effets des paramètres du procédé. Une configuration faisable, qui est entièrement réactive avec une alimentation dans la partie supérieure et inférieure de la colonne et avec un bac intermédiaire a été choisie et étudiée au cours de l’analyse de sensibilité par des simulations rigoureuses effectuées en utilisant le logiciel ProSIM Batch. / Reactive distillation, a process integrating separation and reaction in a single unit, is one of the best known intensified chemical processes. Major advantages of reactive distillation include higher conversion, reduced investment, operating costs, energy consumption, and quantity of secondary products. A systematic and hierarchic general methodology for conceptual design of multireactive batch reactive distillation (BRD) is presented in this manuscript. The elaborated method is presented on the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate by the process of batch reactive distillation in a middle vessel column.After collecting the physico-chemical basic data necessary for our method, the new method of feasibility analysis for multicomponent and multireactive systems has been developed. The next step is the sensibility analysis, when the effects of the process parameters are analysed. As a configuration feasible a fully reactive configuration of middle vessel column with entrainer feeding to the upper and lower column sections is studied by simulations using ProSIM Batch.

The goal of the study was to evaluate the potential of the V2G system as a solution to peak load leveling and integrating more renewable energy in the microgrid of St. Martine Island. Simulink Simscape software was used to model a microgrid with a V2G system for the small community of the Island. The result of the study shows a V2G system with 100 electric cars could play an important role for peak shaving by supplying up to 0.8 MW of electric power back to the grid during peak hours, where each car contributes 10 kW of electric power. It also demonstrates that the V2G system effectively helps to promote solar power capacity from 1 MW to 2.5 MW, hence increase 23.59% share of solar energy in the total grid energy uses compared with the current microgrid of St. Martine Island. / The electricity that is generated from non-renewable sources causesenvironmental pollution and climate changes. Fossil fuel uses leads to thedepletion of fossil fuel resources as well as global warming. On the other hand, renewable energy sources can be used to produce electricity with very few or no CO2 emissions. So, now governments are focusing on renewable energy production. But solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy sources have intermittency. They are not continuously available due to natural factors that cannot be controlled. So, renewable energy needs to be utilized when it is available, or its intermittency can be overcome by energy storage. All Electric vehicle uses a battery pack of large capacity to power the electric motors. These batteries can be used to store the energy that is generated from renewable sources and use them when needed. Besides, the electric grid must always stay in balance. With the development of variable renewable energy production, the management of this balance has become complex. Vehicle to grid is a technology that enables energy to be pushed back to the grid from the battery of an electric car and helps to manage fluctuations on the electricity grid. It helps to balance the grid by charging the battery when renewableenergy is available and load demand is low, then sending energy back to the grid when load demand is high. However, St. Martine Island is a small Island in Bay of Bengal about 9km south of the mainland of Bangladesh. Nearly 6000 people are living there. Since the island is far away from the mainland, grid connection is almostimpossible in terms of cost and geographic location. St. Martine Island has a very high solar power potential, but very low average wind speed. Currently, the electricity demand is fulfilled by stand-alone diesel generators, PV panels, and wind turbines. The current microgrid gets a high load demand during peak hours which is between 6 pm to 11 pm. During this time grid become fully dependent on diesel generators which leads to fossil fuel uses andenvironmental pollution. Here, the project's key objective is to determine the prospects of V2Gtechnology on St. Martine Island to level the peak load during peak hours, given that St. Martine Island is a low windy island with a high average number of yearly peak sun hours. Another goal is to examine the degree to which the share of solar power can be increased by a V2G system in St. Martine Island. In the project, at first, we have modeled a microgrid using Simulink Simscape software. Simulink Simscape enables modeling of a system by putting direct physical connections between the block diagram. In the microgrid model, there are five main sections, which have been designed by assemblingfundamental components in the schematic. A V2G system has been modeled which consists of 100 electric cars as aprototype. Each car has a battery of 100 kWh capacity. Considering thecondition of St. Martine Island and the objective of the project, we have made some assumptions while modeling the V2G section. The results of the project showed that the V2G system significantly smoothed out the peak load during peak hours. It also demonstrated that charging electric cars during daytime by solar power and sending energy back to the grid during peak hours enables the V2G system to accommodate more renewable solar energy sources in the microgrid of St. Martine Island. Finally, the project evident that the V2G system can be integrated into the microgrid of St. Martine Island to level the peak load and to increase the share of solar energy in the total energy uses of the Island.

This project work focuses on the feasibility study of a hybrid PV-Wind System for rural electrification at the Estatuene Locality in southern Mozambique. This is in line with electricity network expansion, which, in Mozambique shows high implementation cost and low operation cost. Through field research, an analysis was made of the actual electrical demand in the Estatuene rural community. The wind data was collected from the installed weather stations in the region while the solar data were extracted internally from the HOMER software by introducing the site coordinates. All the configurations, simulations and selection of hybrid systems were also made using HOMER. For the Estatuene rural community it was estimated a scaled annual average demand of 9.4 kWh/day with a peak load of 1.4 kW for DC charge; and a total scaled annual average of 133 kWh/day with a peak load of 15.3 kW for AC Charge. The annual mean solar potential is 5.205 kWh/m2/d, and the mean wind speed is 4.84 m/s for 12 meters above the ground. Thus the calculations and the selection of the best configuration of the hybrid system were crossed out with the technical specifications and costs of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, power converter, batteries, and the electricity network, specifically for the comparison between an optimum hybrid system solution and two separate ones. The calculations presented an analysis of the technical and the financial viability of the selected hybrid system for local electric power production.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / Crop insurance, in recent years, has displaced U.S. federal farm program payments as the most important safety net for net farm income. The business climate that crop insurance purchasers and providers face in the future is one of increasing premiums for producers and decreasing commissions for crop insurance companies and agents. The primary objective of this thesis is to assess the desirability of crop insurance agency acquisitions to increase market share for Farm Credit Services of America, considering the significant uncertainties in the future subsidy levels and commission levels for these products. Financial analysis and modeling crop insurance agency acquisitions is completed under a wide range of future economic and political scenarios. The wide range of assumptions, however, does contribute to a wide range of potential purchase prices and rates of return on crop insurance agency acquisitions. The crop insurance industry faces uncertainty in the future and general industry profitability will likely decline. However, an expansion strategy in a period of reduced commissions can be profitable if acquisitions are priced appropriately and can be made in locations where existing support services can be leveraged to support the acquisition.

Esta tese busca, de início, pesquisar comparativamente, com a abrangência possível, os métodos e processos pelos quais as empresas componentes do setor siderúrgico nacional avaliam - sob o ponto de vista da viabililidade - a tomada de suas decisões relativamente a seus peculiares e vultosos investimentos em equipamentos de tecnologia avançada de manufatura. Revisita primária e metodologicamente amplo repertório de métodos de avaliação consagrados pela prática e pela literatura, tendo como cenário o setor em referência representado pelas várias modalidades industriais que o suportam. A pesquisa é realizada com base no estudo de múltiplos casos realizados em grandes empresas siderúrgicas, a partir de visitas a suas instalações e entrevistas com seus especialistas de análise de viabilidade de projetos de investimento. Ao final, oferece modelo de avaliação a ser adotado complementarmente aos critérios utilizados pelo setor em referência, a partir das observações e discussões efetuadas em campo. / This thesis initially seeks to search, in a comparative basis and with the permissible largeness, the methods and procedures through which the companies comprising the national siderurgic sector appraise their decisions referring to their peculiar and huge investments in AMT equipments, under a feasibility point of view. A primary review is made, in a comparative way, of a large well known evaluation methods repertoire, in a background at which act the various concerned industrial modalities. The search is accomplished based on the study of multiple cases realized at big siderurgic companies, by visiting their installations and by interviewing their specialists in investment feasibility project analysis. Eventually offers an evaluation model to be adopted by this sector, based upon the observation and discussions made in the related field research.