<p>This examination work aims to describe how a supply chain around the biggest pellets factory in Sweden will be configured in a logistic perspective. The plant and associated infrastructure are in the building phase and will have production start on the 2 November 2009. The key question that is set in this examination work is to recognize the logistic processes which are essential for an effective flow of materials and information that link the source of supply with the ultimate customer. In order to get the answer, a flowcharting of these supply chain processes is required for understanding the pipeline activities such as input and storage of raw material, the production system and the output of pellets to the customers. The basis for this supply chain map is a model-based representation of these logistic processes and activities that are involved around the pellets factory. This model was configured according to scientific theories and the supply chain's fundamental concept. In these maps, the model will highlight the network of inter-linked activities in the system and finally show the opportunities for recommendations and improvements in productivity through reengineering those logistic processes.</p>

The aims of the work this thesis is based upon were to develop convenient analytical procedures for determining resin acids in biological and environmental matrices, and apply them to enhance understanding of the occurrence, exposure to and uptake by exposed individuals of resin acids. Particular focus has been on the workplace environment of the Swedish wood pellets industry. Sample extraction procedures and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) methodologies were developed for measuring resin acids in dust, skin and urine samples. Chromatographic separation of abietic (AA) and pimaric acid was achieved by using a polar-embedded C12 stationary phase. The HPLC/ESI-MS method avoids undesirable oxidation of AA, which was found to occur during the derivatisation step in the standard MDHS 83/2 gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection (GC/FID) methodology, leading to false observations of both AA and the oxidation product 7-oxodehydroabietic acid (7-OXO). Personal exposures to resin acids in the Swedish wood pellet production industry were found to be lower, on average, than the British Occupational Exposure Limit for rosin (50 µg/m3). The oxidised resin acid 7-OXO, was detected in both dust and skin samples indicating the presence of allergenic resin acids. A correlation between air and post-shift urinary concentrations of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA), and a trend towards an increase in urinary 7-OXO during work shifts, were also observed. Whether the increase in 7-OXO was due to direct uptake or metabolism of other resin acids cannot be concluded from the results. An efficient HPLC/UV methodology with diode-array detection was developed for screening commercial products for rosin that could be used in laboratories lacking mass spectrometers. Very high concentrations of free resin acids were detected in depilatory wax strips using the method. / At the time of doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Submitted.

The present work focuses on mineral reactions and slag formation of LKAB olivine iron ore pellets (MPBO) subjected to reducing conditions in the LKAB experimental blast furnace (EBF). The emphasis is on olivine reactions with surrounding iron oxides. Many factors influence the olivine behaviour. The study was performed by use of micro methods; optical microscopy, micro probe analysis, micro Raman and Mössbuer spectroscopy and thremodynamic modeling. During manufacturing, in oxidising atmosphere at high temperature (1350°C), olivine alterations occur through slag formation and rim reactions with iron oxides and other additives. To be able to describe olivine behaviour in the rather complex blast furnace reduction process one has to consider factors such as reactions kinetics, reduction degree of iron oxides, vertical and horizontal position in the furnace and reactions with alkali. Samples were collected from the EBF both from in shaft probing during operation and from excavation following quenching of the EBF. The initial slag forming olivine consist of primary forsterite – (Mg1.9Fe0.1)SiO4 – with inclusions of hematite and an amorphous silica rich phase, a first corona with lamellae of magnesioferrite, olivine and orthopyroxene, a second corona of amorphous silica and magnesioferrite. During reduction in the upper shaft in the EBF (700-900°C) Fe3+ reduces to Fe2+. The amorphous silica in the second corona absorbs alkali, Al, Fe2+, Mg, and Ca and form glasses of varying compositions. The lamellae in the first corona will merge into a single phase olivine rim. With further reduction the glasses in the second corona will merge with the olivine rim forming an iron rich olivine rim and leaving the elements that do not fit into the olivine crystal lattice as small silicate glass inclusions. Diffusion of magnesium and iron between olivines and iron oxides increase with increasing temperature in the lower shaft of the EBF (750-1100°C). In the cohesive zone of the EBF (1100-1200°C) Fe2+ is not stable any longer and Fe2+ will be expelled from the olivine as metallic iron blebs, and the olivine will form a complex melt with a typical composition of alkali-Al2O3-MgO-SiO2. Alkali plays an important role in this final olivine consumption. The quench time for samples collected with probes and excavation are minutes respectively hours. A study of the quench rate’s effect on the phases showed no differences in the upper shaft. However, in the lower shaft wüstite separates into wüstite and magnetite when wüstite grows out of its stability field during slow cooling of excavated samples. There is also a higher alkali and aluminium deposition in the glass phases surrounding olivines in excavated pellets as a result of alkali and aluminium gas condensing on the burden in the EBF during cooling. Coating applied to olivine pellets was studied in the EBF with the aim to investigate its behaviour, particularly its ability to capture alkali. The coating materials were kaolinite, bauxite, olivine and limestone. No significant reactions were observed in the upper shaft. In the lower shaft a majority of the phases were amorphous and reflecting the original coating compositions. Deposition from the EBF gas phase occurs and kalsilite (KAlSiO4) is found in all samples; coating used for binding alkali is redundant from a quality perspective.

Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB) är en gruvdriftskoncern med järnmalmsbrytning som huvudsaklig verksamhet. En av produkterna tas fram genom att raffinera järnmalm till pellets vilket är en efterfrågad produkt vid ståltillverkning.   Vid sintring av råkulor till pellets är temperaturen väsentlig för att få så hög oxidation som möjligt av magnetit till hematit och för att få rätt fasthet. För att reglera värmen bör temperaturen mätas bland råkulorna eftersom det är kulornas temperatur som är det viktiga.                                   Projektet går ut på att undersöka möjligheterna att mäta temperatur bland råkulor på gratevagnar som åker genom en pelletsugn med ett permanent mätsystem. Här ställs höga krav på mätsystemet på grund av miljö, portabilitet och drifttid. Miljöanalyser gjordes för att ta reda på vilken påfrestning ett mätsystem bör klara av. Förslag om placering av mätutrustning framtogs genom kartläggning av miljön. En värmeundersökning utfördes av vad hög värme har för påverkan på elektroniska komponenter som kan behövas till ett mätsystem. Det gjordes även en undersökning över vilka komponenter som kan klara av den värme ett mätsystem kan bli utsatt för. Utifrån detta kunde ett prototypmätsystem konstrueras för att mäta temperaturen där ett mätsystem kan placeras på en gratevagn samt för att skapa möjlighet för mätningar med termoelement i bädd. Mätsystemet skapades med trådlös kommunikation, möjlighet till loggning av data och med möjlighet att ansluta tre termoelement av typ S. Olika typer av trådlös kommunikation utvärderades för att se vad som kan vara mest lämpat med tanke på miljö, räckvidd, strålning och strömförbrukning. Strömförsörjning undersöktes för att hitta den mest lämpade strömförsörjningen med längst drifttid och högst funktionalitet. En utredning gjordes för att hitta monteringsmöjligheter av ett mätsystem på en gratevagn. Värmeavskärmning och isolering undersöktes för att få ner temperaturen i kapslingen och för elektroniken i ett mätsystem. Några olika temperaturgivare granskades för att hitta en som klarar av att mäta temperaturer upp till 1500°C och som fysiskt kan monteras på en gratevagn. / Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB) is a mining group with iron ore mining as the main business. One of the products is produced by refining iron ore to iron pellets, which is a quality and environmentally clever product  in steel production.                                     When iron pellets are produced by roasting green pellets the temperature is very important. The goal is to get as much oxidation as possible from hematite to magnetite and to get correct mechanical properties. To control the process it’s important to know the temperature of the green pellets specifically and not the surrounding mechanical structure, ceramics lining in the furnace and the influence from radiation.   The goal of the project is to examine possibilities to measure temperature with a permanent measurement system of green pellets which are transported on grate cars trough pellet plant. The measurement system has to meet some requirements of environment, portability and operating time. Analysis of the environment has been made to get specification of what a measurement system has to withstand. Proposition about assembly location has been investigated by analysis of the environment. A thermal analysis has been made of electronic components, especially electronic components that can be used in a measurement system. A analysis has also been made of which electronic components that are suited for a measurement system and can withstand the heat. A development measurement system has been developed from the results of the analysis. The system has been constructed to measure the temperature of what a system can be exposed of on a grate car. This with wireless and data-logging support and future measurements possibilities with three thermocouples of type S.   Wireless data transfer was examined to see what type is most suited for the task with knowledge of environment, transmission range, radiation and power consumption. Power sources was examined to find a power source with longest working time and highest functionality. Heat insulation and reflective materials has been investigated with the goal to get the temperature in the system enclosure as low as possible. Some different types of temperature sensors that can measure temperatures up to 1500°C and which can be mounted on a grate car has been evaluated.

Coronary artery disease and chronic pain are serious health issues that cause severe discomfort and suffering in society today. Antithrombotic agents and highly potent analgesics play a critical role in improving the recovery process for patients being treated for these diseases. This thesis focuses on the design and study of pellet-based drug dosage forms which allow diffusion-controlled delivery of drugs with the aim of achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. A wet slurry process was used to mix the drug and the polymer and/or clay precursor excipients into a paste. The pellets were then shaped via ionotropic gelation (alginate hydrogel beads/pellets), extrusion/spheronization (halloysite clay pellets) or geopolymerization. The decrease in the drug diffusion rate in the alginate beads was affected by the drug's molecular size and charge and the characteristics (such as concentration and chemical structure) of the surrounding alginate gel. The halloysite clay pellets provided sustained release of the highly potent drug fentanyl at both gastric pH 1 and intestinal pH 6.8. As expected, crushing the pellets reduced the diffusion barrier, resulting in more rapid release (dose dumping). The use of mechanically strong geopolymer gels was investigated as a potential means of preventing dose dumping as a result of crushing of the dosage form. Variations in the synthesis composition resulted in drastic changes in the microstructure morphology, the porosity, the mechanical stability and the drug release rate. Pore network modeling and finite element simulations were employed to theoretically evaluate the effects of porosity and drug solubility in the geopolymer structure on the drug release process. Fitting the model parameters to experimental data showed that increased average pore connectivity, a greater pore size distribution, and increased drug solubility in the pellet resulted in an increased drug release rate. Furthermore, incorporation of pH-sensitive organic polymers in the geopolymer structure reduced the high drug release rate from the pellets at gastric pH. These results indicate that geopolymers have potential for use in pellet form; both the release rate of the drug and the mechanical stability of the pellets can be optimized to prevent dose dumping.

This examination work aims to describe how a supply chain around the biggest pellets factory in Sweden will be configured in a logistic perspective. The plant and associated infrastructure are in the building phase and will have production start on the 2 November 2009. The key question that is set in this examination work is to recognize the logistic processes which are essential for an effective flow of materials and information that link the source of supply with the ultimate customer. In order to get the answer, a flowcharting of these supply chain processes is required for understanding the pipeline activities such as input and storage of raw material, the production system and the output of pellets to the customers. The basis for this supply chain map is a model-based representation of these logistic processes and activities that are involved around the pellets factory. This model was configured according to scientific theories and the supply chain's fundamental concept. In these maps, the model will highlight the network of inter-linked activities in the system and finally show the opportunities for recommendations and improvements in productivity through reengineering those logistic processes.

This Degree Project has been done at Växjö University, department of bioenergy technology and discusses the released thermal power in wood pellets. The purpose of the project is to investigate if two new types of wood biofuels (pellets) are more or less reactive than the pellets previously investigated at Växjö University. To measure the released thermal power, an isothermal calorimeter with eight channels has been used. To see how the microbial activity is influenced, the pellets have been stored under various conditions with focus on temperature and metal.

Boverket har från och med januari 2010 skärpt energikraven vid nybyggnation. De nya kraven har tillsammans med stigande energipriser och ett ökat miljömedvetande i samhället, satt fokus på att bygga täta och välisolerade hus. Detta beskrivs i arbetets inledning. Samtidigt bör husets uppvärmning och ventilation vara energieffektiv och förnybara energikällor användas, som solenergi och biobränslen. Syftet med rapporten är att analysera om solfångare i kombination med en pelletspanna eller -kamin är ett bra alternativ för uppvärmning av nybyggda villor från VärsåsVillan AB. I rapporten diskuteras detta ur ett miljö-, drifts- och ekonomiskt perspektiv.  Solfångare levererar gratis värme utan miljöpåverkan under drift. Mina beräkningar visar att de kan täcka 30 % av uppvärmningsbehovet i ett lågenergihus. Med stigande energipriser lönar sig solfångare i längden. Pellets är ett förädlat biobränsle med högt energivärde, som med modern utrustning bör betraktas som ett klimatsmart alternativ för småskalig uppvärmning. Solfångare och pellets är en bra kombination både miljö- och driftmässigt. Under sommarhalvåret svarar solfångarna för ca 90 % av uppvärmningen, vilket innebär att pannan eller kaminen stängs av. Under vinterhalvåret blir pelletseldningen effektivare, vilket ger en renare förbränning än under sommaren. Som bas i ett sol-pelletssystem används en 300-750 liters tekniktank, med en elpatron som reserv. Detta ger ett flexibelt system, där gratisenergin från solfångarna utnyttjas i första hand. Även under vår- och höstmånaderna kan värmetillskottet från solfångarna bli relativt stort. Fyra av VärsåsVillans kataloghus valdes till en studie. Husens energianvändning med ett sol-pelletssystem, respektive nya frånluftsvärmepumpen Nibe F750, har beräknats och jämförts. Eftersom nybyggda hus i regel inte har något pannrum är en vattenmantlad kamin ett bra alternativ. Efter påfyllning fungerar den helautomatiskt som en panna, samtidigt som den skapar en trivsam inomhusmiljö. Beräkningarna visar att de studerade husen uppfyller energikraven (BBR) med god marginal om de värms med ett sol-pelletssystem. Om en ventilationsvärmeväxlare installeras sänks behovet av köpt energi med 20-30 kWh/m² och år. Slutsatsen är att ett flexibelt uppvärmningssystem och ett effektivt ventilationssystem ger en energisnål och miljövänlig totallösning, både idag och med tanke på framtidens osäkra energipriser. Solfångare och en vattenmantlad kamin är tillsammans med en ventilationsvärmeväxlare därför en intressant lösning i lågenergihus, framförallt på landsbygden. I tätbebyggda områden är fjärrvärme och solfångare ett lika bra uppvärmningsalternativ. Sol-pelletssystem kan i dagsläget inte konkurrera med frånluftsvärmepumpen ekonomiskt. Investeringskostnaden är betydligt högre, medan driftskostnaderna blir likvärdiga. Samtidigt är frånluftsvärmepumpen ett bekvämare alternativ, vilket gör den till ett attraktivt val för uppvärmning av nybyggda villor. / From January 2010, the National Housing Board has tightened the energy requirements to new buildings in Sweden. The new requirements have together with rising energy prices and an increased environmental awareness in the community, put focus on building tight and well-insulated houses. This is described in the report’s introduction. At the same time heating and ventilation need to be energy efficient and renewable energy sources ought to be used, as solar energy and bio-fuels. The aim of the report is to analyse if solar panels and pellet is a good combination to heat newly built one-family houses from VärsåsVillan AB. The report discusses this from an environmental, operational and economic perspective. Solar panels produce free heat without environmental impact during operation. The calculations show that they can cover 30 % of the heating needs in a low energy house. With rising energy prices, solar panels are profitable in the long run. Pellet is a processed bio-fuel with a high energy content, as with modern equipment is considered as a climate-smart option for small-scale heating. Solar panels and pellet is a good combination, both environmentally and operationally. During the summer half, the solar panels answers for 90 % of the heating needs, which means that a boiler or stove during this time is not in use. In the winter pellet heating becomes more efficient, resulting in less emissions than in summer. The base in a solar-pellet system is a technique tank at 300-750 litres, with an electric heater as backup. This provides a flexible system, using the free energy from the solar panels at first. Even during spring and autumn, solar panels can give a relative large contribution of heat. Four of VärsåsVillan’s houses were selected to a study. The houses’ energy use with a solar-pellet system and a new exhaust air heat pump, Nibe F750, has been calculated and compared. As new houses usually do not have a boiler room, a water-jacketed stove is a good solution. After loading with pellet, it works fully automatic as a boiler, while creating a pleasant indoor environment. The calculations show that the studied houses will meet the energy requirements (in BBR) with a good margin, when they are heated with a solar-pellet system. If a ventilation heat exchanger also is installed, the need for purchased energy is reduced with 20-30 kWh/m² and year. The conclusion is that a flexible heating system and an efficient ventilation system provides an energy efficient and environmentally friendly total solution, both today and in view of future uncertain energy prices. Solar panels and a water-jacketed stove is together with a ventilation heat exchanger, therefore an interesting solution for low energy houses, especially in rural areas. In urban areas, district heating and solar panels is an equally good alternative. Today, a solar-pellet system cannot compete economically with the exhaust air heat pump. The investment cost is considerably higher, while the operating costs will be equivalent. The exhaust air heat pump is also a more comfortable alternative, which makes it to an attractive choice for heating of newly built one-family houses.

<p>Boverket har från och med januari 2010 skärpt energikraven vid nybyggnation. De nya kraven har tillsammans med stigande energipriser och ett ökat miljömedvetande i samhället, satt fokus på att bygga täta och välisolerade hus. Detta beskrivs i arbetets inledning. Samtidigt bör husets uppvärmning och ventilation vara energieffektiv och förnybara energikällor användas, som solenergi och biobränslen. Syftet med rapporten är att analysera om solfångare i kombination med en pelletspanna eller -kamin är ett bra alternativ för uppvärmning av nybyggda villor från VärsåsVillan AB. I rapporten diskuteras detta ur ett miljö-, drifts- och ekonomiskt perspektiv. </p><p>Solfångare levererar gratis värme utan miljöpåverkan under drift. Mina beräkningar visar att de kan täcka 30 % av uppvärmningsbehovet i ett lågenergihus. Med stigande energipriser lönar sig solfångare i längden.</p><p>Pellets är ett förädlat biobränsle med högt energivärde, som med modern utrustning bör betraktas som ett klimatsmart alternativ för småskalig uppvärmning. Solfångare och pellets är en bra kombination både miljö- och driftmässigt. Under sommarhalvåret svarar solfångarna för ca 90 % av uppvärmningen, vilket innebär att pannan eller kaminen stängs av. Under vinterhalvåret blir pelletseldningen effektivare, vilket ger en renare förbränning än under sommaren.</p><p>Som bas i ett sol-pelletssystem används en 300-750 liters tekniktank, med en elpatron som reserv. Detta ger ett flexibelt system, där gratisenergin från solfångarna utnyttjas i första hand. Även under vår- och höstmånaderna kan värmetillskottet från solfångarna bli relativt stort.</p><p>Fyra av VärsåsVillans kataloghus valdes till en studie. Husens energianvändning med ett sol-pelletssystem, respektive nya frånluftsvärmepumpen Nibe F750<em>, </em>har beräknats och jämförts. Eftersom nybyggda hus i regel inte har något pannrum är en vattenmantlad kamin ett bra alternativ. Efter påfyllning fungerar den helautomatiskt som en panna, samtidigt som den skapar en trivsam inomhusmiljö.</p><p>Beräkningarna visar att de studerade husen uppfyller energikraven (BBR) med god marginal om de värms med ett sol-pelletssystem. Om en ventilationsvärmeväxlare installeras sänks behovet av köpt energi med 20-30 kWh/m² och år. Slutsatsen är att ett flexibelt uppvärmningssystem och ett effektivt ventilationssystem ger en energisnål och miljövänlig totallösning, både idag och med tanke på framtidens osäkra energipriser. Solfångare och en vattenmantlad kamin är tillsammans med en ventilationsvärmeväxlare därför en intressant lösning i lågenergihus, framförallt på landsbygden. I tätbebyggda områden är fjärrvärme och solfångare ett lika bra uppvärmningsalternativ.</p><p>Sol-pelletssystem kan i dagsläget inte konkurrera med frånluftsvärmepumpen ekonomiskt. Investeringskostnaden är betydligt högre, medan driftskostnaderna blir likvärdiga. Samtidigt är frånluftsvärmepumpen ett bekvämare alternativ, vilket gör den till ett attraktivt val för uppvärmning av nybyggda villor.</p> / <p>From January 2010, the National Housing Board has tightened the energy requirements to new buildings in Sweden. The new requirements have together with rising energy prices and an increased environmental awareness in the community, put focus on building tight and well-insulated houses. This is described in the report’s introduction. At the same time heating and ventilation need to be energy efficient and renewable energy sources ought to be used, as solar energy and bio-fuels. The aim of the report is to analyse if solar panels and pellet is a good combination to heat newly built one-family houses from VärsåsVillan AB. The report discusses this from an environmental, operational and economic perspective.</p><p>Solar panels produce free heat without environmental impact during operation. The calculations show that they can cover 30 % of the heating needs in a low energy house. With rising energy prices, solar panels are profitable in the long run.</p><p>Pellet is a processed bio-fuel with a high energy content, as with modern equipment is considered as a climate-smart option for small-scale heating. Solar panels and pellet is a good combination, both environmentally and operationally. During the summer half, the solar panels answers for 90 % of the heating needs, which means that a boiler or stove during this time is not in use. In the winter pellet heating becomes more efficient, resulting in less emissions than in summer.</p><p>The base in a solar-pellet system is a technique tank at 300-750 litres, with an electric heater as backup. This provides a flexible system, using the free energy from the solar panels at first. Even during spring and autumn, solar panels can give a relative large contribution of heat.</p><p>Four of VärsåsVillan’s houses were selected to a study. The houses’ energy use with a solar-pellet system and a new exhaust air heat pump, Nibe F750, has been calculated and compared. As new houses usually do not have a boiler room, a water-jacketed stove is a good solution. After loading with pellet, it works fully automatic as a boiler, while creating a pleasant indoor environment.</p><p>The calculations show that the studied houses will meet the energy requirements (in BBR) with a good margin, when they are heated with a solar-pellet system. If a ventilation heat exchanger also is installed, the need for purchased energy is reduced with 20-30 kWh/m² and year. The conclusion is that a flexible heating system and an efficient ventilation system provides an energy efficient and environmentally friendly total solution, both today and in view of future uncertain energy prices. Solar panels and a water-jacketed stove is together with a ventilation heat exchanger, therefore an interesting solution for low energy houses, especially in rural areas. In urban areas, district heating and solar panels is an equally good alternative.</p><p>Today, a solar-pellet system cannot compete economically with the exhaust air heat pump. The investment cost is considerably higher, while the operating costs will be equivalent. The exhaust air heat pump is also a more comfortable alternative, which makes it to an attractive choice for heating of newly built one-family houses.</p>

<p>This Degree Project has been done at Växjö University, department of bioenergy technology and discusses the released thermal power in wood pellets. The purpose of the project is to investigate if two new types of wood biofuels (pellets) are more or less reactive than the pellets previously investigated at Växjö University. To measure the released thermal power, an isothermal calorimeter with eight channels has been used. To see how the microbial activity is influenced, the pellets have been stored under various conditions with focus on temperature and metal.</p>