A new approach to the discovery of high absorbing semiconductors for solar cells was taken by working under a set of design principles and taking a systemic methodology. Three transition metal chalcogenides at varying states of development were evaluated within this framework. Iron pyrite (FeS���) is well known to demonstrate excellent absorption, but the coexistence with metallic iron sulfides was found to disrupt its semiconducting properties. Manganese diselenide (MnSe���), a material heavily researched for its magnetic properties, is proposed as a high absorbing alternative to iron pyrite that lacks destructive impurity phases. For the first time, a MnSe��� thin film was synthesized and the optical properties were characterized. Finally, CuTaS���, a known but never characterized material, is also proposed as a high absorbing semiconductor based on the design principles and experimental results. / Graduation date: 2013

We demonstrate the improvement of fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) diagnostics in deploying a newly developed compact diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) laser with emission at 315 nm. The laser is based on the quasi-three-level transition in Nd:YAG at 946 nm. The pulsed operation is either realized by an active Q-switch using an electro-optical device or by introduction of a Cr<SUP>4+</SUP>:YAG saturable absorber as passive Q-switch element. By extra-cavity second harmonic generation in different nonlinear crystal media we obtained blue light at 473 nm. Subsequent mixing of the fundamental and the second harmonic in a β-barium-borate crystal provided pulsed emission at 315 nm with up to 20 μJ maximum pulse energy and 17 ns pulse duration. Substitution of a nitrogen laser in a FIA diagnostics system by the DPSS laser succeeded in considerable improvement of the detection limit. Despite significantly lower pulse energies (7 μJ DPSS laser versus 150 μJ nitrogen laser), in preliminary investigations the limit of detection was reduced by a factor of three for a typical FIA.

This thesis deals with a system for operation of directly driven offshore wave energy converters. The work that has been carried out includes laboratory testing of a permanent magnet linear generator, wave energy converter mechanical design and offshore testing, and finally design, implementation, and offshore testing of an underwater collector substation. Long-term testing of a single point absorber, which was installed in March 2006, has been performed in real ocean waves in linear and in non-linear damping mode. The two different damping modes were realized by, first, a resistive load, and second, a rectifier with voltage smoothing capacitors and a resistive load in the DC-link. The loads are placed on land about 2 km east of the Lysekil wave energy research site, where the offshore experiments have been conducted. In the spring of 2009, another two wave energy converter prototypes were installed. Records of array operation were taken with two and three devices in the array. With two units, non-linear damping was used, and with three units, linear damping was employed. The point absorbers in the array are connected to the underwater substation, which is based on a 3 m3 pressure vessel standing on the seabed. In the substation, rectification of the frequency and amplitude modulated voltages from the linear generators is made. The DC voltage is smoothened by capacitors and inverted to 50 Hz electrical frequency, transformed and finally transmitted to the on-shore measuring station. Results show that the absorption is heavily dependent on the damping. It has also been shown that by increasing the damping, the standard deviation of electrical power can be reduced. The standard deviation of electrical power is reduced by array operation compared to single unit operation. Ongoing and future work include the construction and installation of a second underwater substation, which will connect the first substation and seven new WECs.

Η παρούσα έρευνα πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Εργαστήριο Ρευστομηχανικής και Εφαρμογών Αυτής του Τμήματος Μηχανολόγων και Αεροναυπηγών Μηχανικών του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών και χρηματοδοτήθηκε από το πρόγραμμα «Ηράκλειτος ΙΙ» στα πλαίσια του Επιχειρησιακού Προγράμματος Εκπαίδευση και Δια Βίου Μάθησης, Επένδυση στη κοινωνία της γνώσης. Ο έλεγχος του θερμικού φορτίου στη λειτουργία διαφόρων μηχανολογικών ή ηλεκτρολογικών συστημάτων από συστήματα ψύξης, γίνεται όλο και πιο αναγκαίος στη σημερινή εποχή. Τα συστήματα ψύξης κατηγοριοποιούνται σε ενεργά, που μεταφέρουν ενέργεια υπό μορφή αισθητής θερμότητας μέσω ενός υγρού και σε παθητικά συστήματα ψύξης που χρησιμοποιούν τη λανθάνουσα θερμότητα εξάτμισης του ρευστού λειτουργίας που κυκλοφορεί στην εγκατάσταση, εξαιτίας των τριχοειδών δυνάμεων που αναπτύσσονται από την ύπαρξη πορώδους υλικού. Τα παθητικά συστήματα ψύξης προτιμώνται έναντι των ενεργών, καθώς έχουν τη δυνατότητα να απάγουν περισσότερη θερμότητα, παρουσιάζουν πιο αξιόπιστη λειτουργία, εξαιτίας της έλλειψης κινητών μερών και τέλος, εμφανίζουν μεγαλύτερη διάρκεια ζωής. Μία διάταξη που προσφέρει δυνατότητες ελέγχου του θερμικού φορτίου είναι το κύκλωμα τριχοειδούς αντλίας, Capillary Pump Loop (CPL), που αποτέλεσε και το αντικείμενο μελέτης στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή. Αξιοποιεί τις τριχοειδείς δυνάμεις που αναπτύσσονται στη διεπιφάνεια υγρής-αέριας φάσης του ρευστού λειτουργίας στο πορώδες υλικό που περικλείει ο εξατμιστής στο εσωτερικό του, καθώς και τη λανθάνουσα θερμότητα εξάτμισης και συμπύκνωσης του ρευστού. Με τον τρόπο αυτό, επιτυγχάνει την κυκλοφορία του ρευστού λειτουργίας στην εγκατάσταση, χωρίς την παρουσία μηχανικής αντλίας, και τη μεταφορά των απαιτούμενων θερμικών φορτίων σε μεγάλες αποστάσεις. Ένα κύκλωμα τριχοειδούς αντλίας αποτελείται από έναν εξατμιστή, ένα συμπυκνωτή, τις γραμμές υγρού και ατμού καθώς και ένα ρεζερβουάρ. Από τη μέχρι τώρα έρευνα είχαν μελετηθεί πειραματικά αρκετά μοντέλα CPL, δίνοντας ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στη διαδικασία εκκίνησης της διάταξης καθώς και στις συνθήκες μόνιμης λειτουργίας. Σε όλα αυτά τα μοντέλα το θερμικό φορτίο επιβάλλονταν μέσω ηλεκτρικών αντιστάσεων. Στην παρούσα διερεύνηση η διάταξη ενσωμάτωσε τη δυνατότητα η προσφερόμενη θερμότητα να παρέχεται και από την ηλιακή ακτινοβολία αναπτύσσοντας έναν εργαστηριακό ηλιακό προσομοιωτή. Προκειμένου να βελτιώσουμε τη συγκέντρωση της ακτινοβολίας και να επιτύχουμε υψηλότερη θερμοκρασία στον εξατμιστή του CPL χρησιμοποιήθηκε παραβολικό κάτοπτρο σε συνδυασμό με συγκεντρωτικό συλλέκτη. Η πειραματική εγκατάσταση που σχεδιάσθηκε και κατασκευάστηκε είχε ως στόχο τη μελέτη της συμπεριφοράς του CPL σε θερμικά φορτία υπό μεταβλητές συνθήκες πλήρωσης της εγκατάστασης, ενώ εξετάστηκε και η συμπεριφορά της τριχοειδούς αντλίας όταν ο εξατμιστής βρίσκονταν υπό κλίση ως προς το επίπεδο, και έγινε σύγκριση των πειραματικών αποτελεσμάτων που προέκυψαν με τα αντίστοιχα για λειτουργία σε οριζόντιο επίπεδο. Η παραμετροποίηση της πειραματικής διερεύνησης του CPL αφορούσε τέσσερις τιμές θερμοκρασίας εισόδου του ρευστού, 15, 25, 35 και 45 οC, τρεις τιμές πίεσης πλήρωσης του κυκλώματος, 0,05, 0,15 και 0,25 bar, και, τέλος, τρεις γωνίες κλίσης, 8ο, 16ο και 23ο. Η διάρκεια των πειραμάτων ήταν αρχικά δέκα ώρες, ώστε να προσομοιώνει τη λειτουργία της εγκατάστασης σε διάστημα ηλιοφάνειας κατά τη διάρκεια της καλοκαιρινής περιόδου, αλλά και εικοσιτέσσερις, ώστε να αποτυπωθεί η απρόσκοπτη διατήρηση της κατάστασης σταθερής λειτουργίας του κυκλώματος. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής παρουσιάζονται τα υπολογιστικά μοντέλα δύο και τριών διαστάσεων, 2Δ και 3Δ, όπως σχεδιάστηκαν στο λογισμικό GAMBIT της Fluent Inc., βάση των διαστάσεων του εξατμιστή της πειραματικής εγκατάστασης. Τα αποτελέσματα της διερεύνησης που πραγματοποιήθηκε αφορούσαν το νερό, την ακετόνη, την αμμωνία σαν ρευστά λειτουργίας, τόσο στο επίπεδο όσο και υπό γωνίες κλίσης, παραμετροποιώντας τόσο το θερμαινόμενο μήκος πορώδους επί του συνολικού μήκους του πορώδους του εξατμιστή, όσο και τη θερμοκρασία κορεσμού. Τα δεδομένα για όλα τα ρευστά συγκεντρώθηκαν σε συγκριτικά διαγράμματα, ώστε να εξαχθούν συμπεράσματα για τα περιθώρια αξιοποίησης αυτών, είτε υπάρχει κλίση είτε όχι. Επιπλέον, τεκμηριώθηκε η επιλογή του νερού σαν καταλληλότερο ρευστό λειτουργίας κάτω από δεδομένες συνθήκες. Στο τρίτο μέρος παρουσιάζεται ο αριθμητικός κώδικας που δημιουργήθηκε για τη μοντελοποίηση ολόκληρης της εγκατάστασης του CPL και παραθέτουμε συγκριτικά διαγράμματα, για τις ίδιες συνθήκες λειτουργίας, με τα πειραματικά, τα αριθμητικά και τα υπολογιστικά αποτελέσματα. Στο τελευταίο μέρος έχουμε σχεδιάσει κυκλώματα, αξιοποιώντας την τριχοειδή αντλία, για τη ψύξη/θέρμανση των χώρων μιας κατοικίας για ολόκληρο το έτος. Μια πρόταση που βασίζεται στην αξιοποίηση της ηλιακής ενέργειας και ανταποκρίνεται στην επιτακτική ανάγκη για εκμετάλλευση των ανανεώσιμων πηγών ενέργειας και τη μείωση της χρήσης ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας, εξοικονομώντας χρήματα και προστατεύοντας το περιβάλλον / Present research was conducted in Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of the Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, and was financed by the operational programme «Herakleitos II», Education and Lifelong Learning Investing in knowledge society. Modern demands in controlling heating load of the cooling systems of mechanical or electrical components are increasing. Cooling systems are divided in active and passive systems. In active systems energy is transported due to sensual heat. While in passive systems due to working fluid latent heat of evaporation because of capillary forces developed in the porous wick inside the evaporator. Passive systems are preferred compared to active systems because they can transfer larger amount of heat, are more reliable, since there are no moving parts, and, finally, lifetime period is longer. The Capillary Pumped Loop (CPL) is a device proper for thermal management control, and was investigated in the present PhD study. The CPL operating principle is based on capillary action, developed in the liquid-vapor phase interface of the working liquid in the porous wick inside the evaporator, and working fluid evaporation and condensation latent heat. The result is that the working fluid is displaced inside the loop without any mechanical pump and heat load is transported in large distances. CPL main components are an evaporator, a condenser, a liquid line, a vapor line and a reservoir. Research regarding the CPL experimental models so far concentrated in the evaporator start-up and steady working state conditions. For all those cases heat load was applied through electric resistances. In the present study heat load was alternatively applied through solar radiation using a solar simulator, designed for this purpose. In order to achieve higher temperature in the evaporator external wall and increase solar radiation exploited, a parabolic mirror was used in combination with a solar collector. The experimental installation was designed in such a way to study the behavior of a CPL when heat load was imposed under different loop charging pressures and for several evaporator inclination angles. Experimental results where compared to the results acquired for evaporator operating at zero inclination angle. The initial values of the working fluid temperature were 15, 25, 35 and 45 oC, of the charging pressure 0,05, 0,15, 0,25 bar and of the inclination angle 8, 16 and 23o. The duration of the experiments was initially ten hours, in order to simulate CPL operating during a typical summer day, and then increased to twenty four hours to investigate continuous operation during all day. In the second section of this study two and three dimensions, 2D and 3D, computational models are presented designed in Gambit, Fluent Inc., based on the exact dimensions of the experimental ones. Computational results were derived for water, acetone and ammonia, as working fluid, for zero inclination and the three values of angles mentioned above. Models were customized for different porous wick heated length and working liquid of different saturation temperature. Comparative figures for all working fluids are presented whether evaporator was under inclination angle or not. Moreover, those comparative figures reviled that water was more suitable as working fluid under steady operating state. In the third section the numerical model simulating the overall CPL function is presented and comparative figures between experimental, computational and numerical results are given, for the same operating conditions. In the last section a potential solar CPL heating/cooling system for domestic use is presented. This potential system could meet the demands for using renewable energy sources in order to reduce electrical energy consumption, save money and protect the environment at the same time.

A relative motion based heaving point absorber wave energy converter is being co-developed by researchers at the University of Victoria and SyncWave Systems Inc. To that end---this thesis represents a multi-faceted contribution to the development effort. A small scale two-body prototype wave energy converter was developed and tested in a wave tank. Although experimental problems were encountered, the results compare reasonably well to the output of a two degree of freedom linear dynamics model in the frequency domain. A two-body wave energy converter design is parameterized as a basis for an optimization and sensitivity study undertaken to illustrate the potential benefits of frequency response tuning. Further, a mechanical system concept for frequency response tuning is presented. The two degree of freedom model is expanded to three degrees of freedom to account for the tuning system. An optimization procedure, utilizing a Sequential Quadratic Programming algorithm, is developed to establish control schedules to maximize power capture as a function of the control variables. A spectral approach is developed to estimate WEC power capture in irregular waves. Finally, as a case study, the modeling, optimization, and spectral methods are applied to predict performance for a large scale wave energy converter deployed offshore of a remote Alaskan island. Using archived sea-state data and community electrical load profiles, a wave/diesel hybrid integration with the remote Alaskan community power system is assessed to be technologically feasible.

"March, 2009". / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Faculty of Science, Dept. of Physics & Engineering, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 145-158. / Introduction -- Frequency selective surfaces -- Absorb/transmit frequency selective surface absorber -- Switchable frequency selective surface for wireless applications -- Energy-saving glass characterisation -- Frequency selective surface solution for energy-saving glass -- Conclusion. / This thesis presents three topics related to frequency selective surfaces (FSSs), namely bsorb/transmit FSSs, active FSSs and passive bandpass FSSs for energy-saving glass used in modern buildings. These three FSSs are unique in their design and functionalities. The absorb/transmit FSS is a novel dual-layer frequency selective surface for 5 GHz WLAN applications. This FSS can stop propagation of specific bands by absorbing as opposed to re ecting, while passing other useful signals. This is in contrast to the conventional Salisbury and Jaumann absorbers, which provide good absorption in the desired band while the out-of-band frequencies are attenuated. The second topic is a single-layer bandpass active FSS that can be switched between ON and OFF states to control the transmission in 2.45 GHz WLAN applications. Previously, researchers have focused on the bandstop and dual-layer versions of the active FSS. This is in contrast to the design presented in this thesis which is single-layer and provides extra advantage in a practical WLAN environment. Also the dc biasing techniques that were used for the active FSS design are easier to implement and provide good frequency stability for different angles of incidence and polarisations in both ON and OFF states. The last topic is on the use of a bandpass FSS in energy-saving glass panels used in building design. The manufacturers of these glass panels apply a very thin metal-oxide coating on one side of the glass panels to provide extra infrared (heat) attenuation. However, due to the presence of the coating, these energy-saving glass panels also attenuate communication signals such as GSM 900, GSM 1800/1900, UMTS and 3G mobile signals etc. This creates a major communication problem when buildings are constructed with windows of this glass. In this thesis, a solution to this problem is presented by designing and etching a cross-dipole bandpass FSS on the coated side of the glass to pass the useful signals while keeping infrared attenuation at an acceptable level. One of the advantages of this FSS design is that measured material values of the metal-oxide coating are used for simulations, which have not been done previously. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 166 p. ill. (some col.)

A demanda por recursos para o desenvolvimento de produtos se tornou uma importante área de pesquisa no início do século 21. O desperdício e o descarte de recursos, sem preocupação alguma com o meio ambiente, era uma atitude corriqueira, e sem grande importância para a sociedade global. Entretanto, o elevado custo para a extração de matérias-primas do meio ambiente, bem como a redução dos recursos no planeta, fez com que a indústria recorresse ao reaproveitamento de materiais ao longo de toda a cadeia de desenvolvimento de produtos bem como ao uso consciente de cada elemento. A partir da integração de conhecimentos das áreas de engenharia, foi identificada a necessidade de entender as influências das abordagens ecoinovadoras no desenvolvimento de produtos para a indústria. Assim essa tese tem por objetivo geral propor estratégias para desenvolvimento de produtos baseadas na ecoinovação como contribuição à melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações. Os objetivos específicos são: (i) definir o conceito de ecoinovação através de uma pesquisa e avaliar exemplos brasileiros de acordo com sua definição; (ii) propor a criação de um produto ecoinovador através da aplicação dos conceitos de ecoeficiência e da filosofia ZERI; (iii) criar uma solução ecoinovadora para a geração de produtos desenvolvidos através do projeto berço-a-berço como alternativa para a redução dos resíduos sólidos; (iv) desenvolver e analisar as características físico-químicas de um compósito ecoinovador elaborado a partir de resíduos de casca de arroz e resíduos de MDF para aplicações de absorvedores de radiações eletromagnéticas; (v) criar um absorvedor piramidal de radiações eletromagnéticas baseado num compósito ecoinovador. Para atingir os objetivos desta tese foram utilizados, métodos e conhecimentos, para a geração de novos produtos com base em recursos obtidos através do reaproveitamento de resíduos. Também foram usadas estratégias que minimizam os impactos ambientais destes novos produtos concebidos no conceito da ecoinovação. Testes experimentais foram realizados com os produtos ecoinovadores desenvolvido por meio dessas abordagens. Os resultados envolveram a obtenção de conhecimento científico acerca do tema do desenvolvimento de produtos ecoinovadores para a melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações, bem como protótipos, apresentados na forma de cinco estudos científicos. / The demand for resources to product development has become an important research area in the early 21st century Waste and the disposal of resources without any concern for the environment, was a commonplace attitude, and without great importance for society global. However, the high cost for the extraction of raw materials from the environment, and the reduction of resources on the planet, made the industry resort to reuse of materials throughout the product development chain and the conscious use of each element. From the integration of knowledge from engineering, we identified the need to understand the influences of ecoinovadoras approaches in product development for the industry. So this thesis has the objective to propose strategies for product development based on eco-innovation as a contribution to improving the sustainability of organizations. The specific objectives are: (i) define the concept of eco-innovation through research and evaluate Brazilian examples according to their definition; (ii) propose the creation of a ecoinovador product through the application of the concepts of eco-efficiency and ZERI philosophy; (iii) create a ecoinovadora solution for the production of products developed through the cradle-to-cradle design as an alternative to the reduction of solid waste; (iv) develop and analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of a ecoinovador composite made from rice husks and MDF waste for absorbers of electromagnetic radiation applications; (v) create a pyramidal absorber of electromagnetic radiation based on a composite ecoinovador. To achieve the objectives of this thesis were used, methodologies and knowledge to generate new products based on resources obtained through the reuse of waste. Also were used strategies that minimize the environmental impacts of these new products designed on the concept of eco-innovation. Experimental tests were performed with the ecoinovadores products developed through these approaches. The results involved obtaining scientific knowledge about ecoinovadores product development theme for improving the sustainability of organizations, as well as prototypes, presented as five scientific studies.

A demanda por recursos para o desenvolvimento de produtos se tornou uma importante área de pesquisa no início do século 21. O desperdício e o descarte de recursos, sem preocupação alguma com o meio ambiente, era uma atitude corriqueira, e sem grande importância para a sociedade global. Entretanto, o elevado custo para a extração de matérias-primas do meio ambiente, bem como a redução dos recursos no planeta, fez com que a indústria recorresse ao reaproveitamento de materiais ao longo de toda a cadeia de desenvolvimento de produtos bem como ao uso consciente de cada elemento. A partir da integração de conhecimentos das áreas de engenharia, foi identificada a necessidade de entender as influências das abordagens ecoinovadoras no desenvolvimento de produtos para a indústria. Assim essa tese tem por objetivo geral propor estratégias para desenvolvimento de produtos baseadas na ecoinovação como contribuição à melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações. Os objetivos específicos são: (i) definir o conceito de ecoinovação através de uma pesquisa e avaliar exemplos brasileiros de acordo com sua definição; (ii) propor a criação de um produto ecoinovador através da aplicação dos conceitos de ecoeficiência e da filosofia ZERI; (iii) criar uma solução ecoinovadora para a geração de produtos desenvolvidos através do projeto berço-a-berço como alternativa para a redução dos resíduos sólidos; (iv) desenvolver e analisar as características físico-químicas de um compósito ecoinovador elaborado a partir de resíduos de casca de arroz e resíduos de MDF para aplicações de absorvedores de radiações eletromagnéticas; (v) criar um absorvedor piramidal de radiações eletromagnéticas baseado num compósito ecoinovador. Para atingir os objetivos desta tese foram utilizados, métodos e conhecimentos, para a geração de novos produtos com base em recursos obtidos através do reaproveitamento de resíduos. Também foram usadas estratégias que minimizam os impactos ambientais destes novos produtos concebidos no conceito da ecoinovação. Testes experimentais foram realizados com os produtos ecoinovadores desenvolvido por meio dessas abordagens. Os resultados envolveram a obtenção de conhecimento científico acerca do tema do desenvolvimento de produtos ecoinovadores para a melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações, bem como protótipos, apresentados na forma de cinco estudos científicos. / The demand for resources to product development has become an important research area in the early 21st century Waste and the disposal of resources without any concern for the environment, was a commonplace attitude, and without great importance for society global. However, the high cost for the extraction of raw materials from the environment, and the reduction of resources on the planet, made the industry resort to reuse of materials throughout the product development chain and the conscious use of each element. From the integration of knowledge from engineering, we identified the need to understand the influences of ecoinovadoras approaches in product development for the industry. So this thesis has the objective to propose strategies for product development based on eco-innovation as a contribution to improving the sustainability of organizations. The specific objectives are: (i) define the concept of eco-innovation through research and evaluate Brazilian examples according to their definition; (ii) propose the creation of a ecoinovador product through the application of the concepts of eco-efficiency and ZERI philosophy; (iii) create a ecoinovadora solution for the production of products developed through the cradle-to-cradle design as an alternative to the reduction of solid waste; (iv) develop and analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of a ecoinovador composite made from rice husks and MDF waste for absorbers of electromagnetic radiation applications; (v) create a pyramidal absorber of electromagnetic radiation based on a composite ecoinovador. To achieve the objectives of this thesis were used, methodologies and knowledge to generate new products based on resources obtained through the reuse of waste. Also were used strategies that minimize the environmental impacts of these new products designed on the concept of eco-innovation. Experimental tests were performed with the ecoinovadores products developed through these approaches. The results involved obtaining scientific knowledge about ecoinovadores product development theme for improving the sustainability of organizations, as well as prototypes, presented as five scientific studies.

Afin d’optimiser la taille et le coût des évaporateurs basse pression utilisés dans les systèmes de climatisation à sorption, une bonne connaissance des phénomènes de vaporisation du fluide frigorigène tels qu’ils pourraient se produire dans ces évaporateurs est nécessaire. Cependant très peu d’études portent sur ce sujet et il y a un sérieux manque de données concernant les phénomènes de vaporisation (ébullition et évaporation) qui pourraient se produire dans des évaporateurs compacts basse pression. Le but de cette étude est donc d’aller plus loin dans la compréhension de ces phénomènes aussi bien d’un point de vue très fondamental que d’un point de vue applicatif. Dans cette optique, deux bancs d’essais ont été réalisés. Le premier banc d’essais permet d’étudier le comportement de l’eau dans une configuration d’ébullition en vase à une pression pouvant atteindre 0.8 kPa. À ces basses pressions, l’influence de la hauteur hydrostatique ne peut être négligée. Cette spécificité du milieu d’ébullition a une influence non négligeable sur la taille et la forme des bulles : cette influence est analysée. Les courbes d’ébullition pour des pressions allant de 0.8 kPa à 100 kPa sont tracées. L’ébullition en vase de l’eau dans un premier temps sans puis avec confinement est également étudiée. Des courbes d’ébullition sont tracées pour différentes pressions de vapeur et différentes hauteur de la colonne d’eau. Puis, six différents espaces de confinement sont testés pour des pressions allant de 1.2 kPa à 5 kPa. Un régime d’ébullition spécifique à la basse pression est observé. L’influence de l’apparition de ce régime sur le transfert de chaleur est montrée. Le deuxième banc expérimental permet d’observer la vaporisation de l’eau dans un canal d’évaporateur à plaques de dimension standard (0.2 m de large x 0.5 m de haut) dans des conditions similaires à celles obtenues dans une climatisation à absorption (pressions de travail variant de 16 kPa à 0.85 kPa, remplissage de la plaque variant de 1/2 à1/10 de la hauteur totale de la plaque). Un plan d’expérience est réalisé pour un espacement entre deux plaques de 2 mm et 4 mm. Trois principaux régimes d’ébullition ont été identifiés ainsi que trois différentes zones de travail: une zone d’ébullition en vase, une zone d’évaporation en film et une zone de vapeur. Il a été mis en évidence que la majorité du transfert de chaleur a lieu dans la zone d’évaporation en film. Le film observé dans cette partie est créé suite à la rupture de la membrane d’une bulle de plusieurs centimètres ayant pris naissance dans la partie d’ébullition en vase. Des puissances frigorifiques allant de 0 à 503 W ont été mesurées. Les conditions pour obtenir la meilleure puissance frigorifique possible sont déterminées. Enfin, dans une première tentative vers un dimensionnement des échangeurs compacts basse pression, des premières réflexions basées sur des nombres adimensionnels ont été proposés. / In order to be able to design properly low pressure evaporators for sorption chillers, knowledge on vaporization of the refrigerant under conditions that might occur in these evaporators is fundamental. However, few studies focus on this subject and there is a lack of knowledge about vaporization (boiling or evaporation) phenomena occurring in compact evaporator at low pressure. The aim of the present thesis is thus to go further into the understanding of these phenomena both from a fundamental point of view and from an applicative point of view. In that goal, two experimental test setups were designed and built. The first experimental setup allows the observation of the water behavior at a pressure down to 0.8 kPa in pool boiling configuration. As the hydrostatic pressure is of the same order of magnitude as the vapor pressure, the boiling environment is highly subcooled. This unusual environment has an influence on the bubble size and on the bubble growth: its influence is analyzed. Boiling curves for pressures ranging from 0.8 kPa to 100 kPa were also plotted. Then, in order to be closer to a plate-type heat exchanger configuration, water pool-boiling in vertical configuration first without and then with confinement was studied. Boiling curves for a pressure ranging from 1.2 kPa to 5 kPa, different heights of the liquid level and for different channel thicknesses were plotted and analyzed. The occurrence of a specific boiling regime is observed. The influence of the onset of this specific regime on the heat transfer is shown. The significance of the Bond number, often used in study of boiling in confined space, is also discussed. The second experimental setup allows the observation of the water vaporization inside a channel of a smooth plate-type heat exchanger (0.2 m width x 0.5 m height) in conditions that might occur in sorption chillers (working pressure ranging from 16 kPa to 0.85 kPa, secondary fluid temperature ranging from 10.9 to 23.1 °C, filling ratio ranging from 1/2 to 1/10 of the whole channel height). The methodology of the design of experiments was followed for a thickness of the channel equal to 2 mm and 4 mm. Three mains flow regimes were observed and three different working areas were identified: a pool boiling area, a film evaporation area and a vapor area. The major part of the cooling capacity achieved is obtained in the film evaporation area. In this part, the creation of a liquid film due to the splashing of droplets is observed. These droplets come from the breaks of the membrane of a previously formed large bubble of several centimeters in the pool boiling area, few centimeters above the free surface. Cooling capacities ranging from 0 to 503 W were measured and conditions to obtain the best cooling capacity were determined. Finally, in order to provide some first guidelines for the design of low pressure evaporators, reflexions based on dimensionless numbers are proposed.

A demanda por recursos para o desenvolvimento de produtos se tornou uma importante área de pesquisa no início do século 21. O desperdício e o descarte de recursos, sem preocupação alguma com o meio ambiente, era uma atitude corriqueira, e sem grande importância para a sociedade global. Entretanto, o elevado custo para a extração de matérias-primas do meio ambiente, bem como a redução dos recursos no planeta, fez com que a indústria recorresse ao reaproveitamento de materiais ao longo de toda a cadeia de desenvolvimento de produtos bem como ao uso consciente de cada elemento. A partir da integração de conhecimentos das áreas de engenharia, foi identificada a necessidade de entender as influências das abordagens ecoinovadoras no desenvolvimento de produtos para a indústria. Assim essa tese tem por objetivo geral propor estratégias para desenvolvimento de produtos baseadas na ecoinovação como contribuição à melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações. Os objetivos específicos são: (i) definir o conceito de ecoinovação através de uma pesquisa e avaliar exemplos brasileiros de acordo com sua definição; (ii) propor a criação de um produto ecoinovador através da aplicação dos conceitos de ecoeficiência e da filosofia ZERI; (iii) criar uma solução ecoinovadora para a geração de produtos desenvolvidos através do projeto berço-a-berço como alternativa para a redução dos resíduos sólidos; (iv) desenvolver e analisar as características físico-químicas de um compósito ecoinovador elaborado a partir de resíduos de casca de arroz e resíduos de MDF para aplicações de absorvedores de radiações eletromagnéticas; (v) criar um absorvedor piramidal de radiações eletromagnéticas baseado num compósito ecoinovador. Para atingir os objetivos desta tese foram utilizados, métodos e conhecimentos, para a geração de novos produtos com base em recursos obtidos através do reaproveitamento de resíduos. Também foram usadas estratégias que minimizam os impactos ambientais destes novos produtos concebidos no conceito da ecoinovação. Testes experimentais foram realizados com os produtos ecoinovadores desenvolvido por meio dessas abordagens. Os resultados envolveram a obtenção de conhecimento científico acerca do tema do desenvolvimento de produtos ecoinovadores para a melhoria da sustentabilidade de organizações, bem como protótipos, apresentados na forma de cinco estudos científicos. / The demand for resources to product development has become an important research area in the early 21st century Waste and the disposal of resources without any concern for the environment, was a commonplace attitude, and without great importance for society global. However, the high cost for the extraction of raw materials from the environment, and the reduction of resources on the planet, made the industry resort to reuse of materials throughout the product development chain and the conscious use of each element. From the integration of knowledge from engineering, we identified the need to understand the influences of ecoinovadoras approaches in product development for the industry. So this thesis has the objective to propose strategies for product development based on eco-innovation as a contribution to improving the sustainability of organizations. The specific objectives are: (i) define the concept of eco-innovation through research and evaluate Brazilian examples according to their definition; (ii) propose the creation of a ecoinovador product through the application of the concepts of eco-efficiency and ZERI philosophy; (iii) create a ecoinovadora solution for the production of products developed through the cradle-to-cradle design as an alternative to the reduction of solid waste; (iv) develop and analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of a ecoinovador composite made from rice husks and MDF waste for absorbers of electromagnetic radiation applications; (v) create a pyramidal absorber of electromagnetic radiation based on a composite ecoinovador. To achieve the objectives of this thesis were used, methodologies and knowledge to generate new products based on resources obtained through the reuse of waste. Also were used strategies that minimize the environmental impacts of these new products designed on the concept of eco-innovation. Experimental tests were performed with the ecoinovadores products developed through these approaches. The results involved obtaining scientific knowledge about ecoinovadores product development theme for improving the sustainability of organizations, as well as prototypes, presented as five scientific studies.