Scum is an integral component of solids management in MWWTP and is composed of fats, oils, grease and other entrained floatable materials that are collected during primary clarification. Lab scale BMP tests showed the addition of 14.5 g VS/L of scum exhibited the greatest increase in biogas production of 1.6 times per g VS added compared to the control, while a higher additional scum loading of 33.7 g VS/L reduced the biogas yield to 32% of the control reactor. Lab scale semi-continuous digestion measured the effects of scum loading and temperature of pretreatment in the scum concentrator. At 15 d and 20 d HRTs the greatest observed improvement in biogas was achieved by adding 3% scum by volume and pretreating the scum at 70°C in a scum concentrator with respective improvements of 24% and 16%.

The need to save energy, cut costs, and increase profit margin in process manufactureincreases continually. There is also a global drive to reduce energy use and cut down co2 emission and combat climate change. These in turn have led to more stringent requirements on process control performance. Hence, the requirements for modern systems are often not achievable using classical control techniques. Therefore, advanced control strategies are often required to ensure optimal process performance. Despite these challenges, PID has continued to be the dominant industrial control scheme. However, for systems with complex dynamics and/or high performance requirements, PID control may not be sufficient. Therefore, a significant number of industrial control loops are not performing optimally and more advanced control than PID may be required in order to achieve optimal performance. MPC is one of the advanced control schemes that has had a significant impact in the industry. Despite the benefits associated with the implementation of MPC, the technology has remained a niche application in process manufacture. This thesis seeks to address these issues by developing ways that could lead to widespread application of MPC. In the first part of this thesis, a study was carried out to understand the characteristics of processes that would benefit from the application of MPC at the regulatory control level even in the single-input single-output (SISO) case. This is a departure from the common practice in which MPC is applied at the supervisory control layer delivering set points to PID controllers at the regulatory control layer. Both numerical simulation and industrial studies were used to show and quantify benefits of MPC for SISO applications at the regulatory control layer. Some issues that have led to the limited application of MPC include the cost and human efforts associated with modelling and controller design. And to achieve high process performance, accurate models are required. To address this issue, in the second part of this thesis, a novel technique for designing MPC from routine plant data – routine data MPC (RMPC) is proposed. The proposed technique was successfully implemented on process models. This technique would reduce the high human cost associated with MPC deployment, which could make it a widespread rather than niche application in the process manufacturing industry.

This thesis identifies Jewish mystical elements in the Dead Sea Scrolls and compares them with analogous elements in the Corinthian Correspondence, to illuminate through differences and similarities how Paul advocates a mystical and communal participation in the spirit. After defining early Jewish mysticism and introducing methodology—heuristic comparison—in chapter 1, Part I identifies and investigates mystical elements in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Chapter 2 explores how the spirit facilitates a liturgica mystica with angels in Hodayota. Chapter 3 shows from 1QS and Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice that the Qumran temple community, in an archetypal relationship, shares in the priestly service of the angels. Chapter 4 argues that Moses-Δόξα traditions in the Scrolls portray Moses as an exalted, angelic-like mediator with supernatural authority—an ideal model for the Qumran priesthood. The ascent texts surveyed in chapter 5 reveal the conceivability of heavenly ascent at Qumran. In light of these studies, the Qumran community’s worship praxis and apperception of divine transcendence can be characterised as a liturgical and communal mysticism. Part II compares these findings with corresponding elements related to participation in the spirit in 1 and 2 Corinthians. Chapter 6 shows how Paul advances an epistemology of the spirit and participation (κοινωνία) in the spirit that is communal. Chapter 7 analyses angelic presence and angelic tongues as extensions of the spirit-enabled temple metaphor. Chapter 8 demonstrates how Paul democratises the spirit-facilitated, mystical encounter with the glory of the Lord and supports an ongoing, christomorphic and theotic transformation of the community. Chapter 9 examines how Paul’s heavenly ascent functions rhetorically to build up and instruct the ekklesia with a cruciform perspective of communal participation. Chapter 10 draws final conclusions showing the fruitfulness and validity of heuristic comparison. Paul appropriates Jewish mystical traditions and reinterprets them to promote the ongoing Christological and mystical transformation of the Corinthian community in and by the spirit. This reveals the predominantly corporate tenor of participation in the spirit for Paul. Overall, this investigation builds upon and contributes to studies of Jewish mysticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Paul and Jewish mysticism, Corinthians, spirit, and notions of communal participation and theosis.

Planejamento probabilístico lida com a tomada de decisão sequencial em ambientes estocásticos e geralmente é modelado por um Processo de Decisão Markoviano (Markovian Decision Process - MDP). Um MDP modela a interação entre um agente e o seu ambiente: em cada estágio, o agente decide executar uma ação, com efeitos probabilísticos e um certo custo, que irá produzir um estado futuro. O objetivo do agente MDP é minimizar o custo esperado ao longo de uma sequência de escolhas de ação. O número de estágios que o agente atua no ambiente é chamado de horizonte, o qual pode ser finito, infinito ou indefinido. Um exemplo de MDP com horizonte indefinido é o Stochastic Shortest Path MDP (SSP MDP), que estende a definição de MDP adicionando um conjunto de estados meta (o agente para de agir ao alcançar um estado meta). Num SSP MDP é feita a suposição de que é sempre possível alcançar um estado meta a partir de qualquer estado do mundo. No entanto, essa é uma suposição muito forte e que não pode ser garantida em aplicações práticas. Estados a partir dos quais é impossível atingir a meta são chamados de becos-sem-saída. Um beco-sem-saída pode ser evitável ou inevitável (se nenhuma política leva do estado inicial para a meta com probabilidade um). Em trabalhos recentes foram propostas extensões para SSP MDP que permitem a existência de diferentes tipos de beco-sem-saída, bem como algoritmos para resolvê-los. No entanto, a detecção de becos-sem-saída é feita utilizando: (i) heurísticas que podem falhar para becos-sem-saída implícitos ou (ii) métodos mais confiáveis, mas que demandam alto custo computacional. Neste projeto fazemos uma caracterização formal de modelos de planejamento probabilístico com becos-sem-saída. Além disso, propomos uma nova técnica para detecção de becos-sem-saída baseada nessa caracterização e adaptamos algoritmos de planejamento probabilístico para utilizarem esse novo método de detecção. Os resultados empíricos mostram que o método proposto é capaz de detectar todos os becos-sem-saída de um dado conjunto de estados e, quando usado com planejadores probabilísticos, pode tornar esses planejadores mais eficientes em domínios com becos-sem-saída difíceis de serem detectados / Probabilistic planning deals with sequential decision making in stochastic environments and is modeled by a Markovian Decision Process (MDP). An MDP models the interaction between an agent and its environment: at each stage, the agent decides to execute an action, with probabilistic effects and a certain cost which produces a future state. The purpose of the MDP agent is to minimize the expected cost along a sequence of choices. The number of stages that the agent acts in the environment is called horizon, which can be finite, infinite or undefined. An example of MDP with undefined horizon is the Stochastic Shortest Path MDP, which extends the definition of MDP by adding a set of goal states (the agent stops acting after reaching a goal state). In an SSP MDP the assumption is made that it is always possible to achieve a goal state from every state of the world. However, this is a very strong assumption and cannot be guaranteed in practical applications. States from which it is impossible to reach the goal are called dead-ends. A dead-end may be avoidable or unavoidable (when no policy leads from the initial state to the goal with probability one). Recent work has proposed extensions to SSP MDP that allow the existence of different types of dead-ends as well as algorithms to solve them. However, the detection of dead-end is done using: (i) heuristics that may fail to detect implicitly dead-ends or (ii) more reliable methods that require a high computational cost. In this project we make a formal characterization of probabilistic planning models with dead-ends. In addition, we propose a new technique for dead-end detection based on this characterization and we adapt probabilistic planning algorithms to use this new detection method. The empirical results show that the proposed method is able to detect all dead-ends of a given set of states and, when used withprobabilistic planners, can make these planners more efficient in domains with difficult to detect dead-ends.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology is presented to predict density stratified flows in the near-field of ships and submarines. The density is solved using a higher-order transport equation coupled with mass and momentum conservation. Turbulence is implemented with a k-ε/k-ω based Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) approach, enabling explicit solution of larger energy-containing vortices in the wake. Validation tests are performed for a two-dimensional square cavity and the three-dimensional stratified flow past a sphere, showing good agreement with available data. The near-field flow of the self-propelled Research Vessel Athena advancing in a stably stratified fluid is studied, as well as the operation in stratified flow of the notional submarine Joubert BB2 also in self-propelled condition. The resulting density, velocity, pressure and turbulent quantities at the exit plane of the near-field computation contain a description of the relevant scales of the flow and can be used to compute the far-field stratified flow, including internal waves. The generation of internal waves is shown in the case of the submarine for two different conditions, one with the pycnocline located at the propeller centerline, and the second with the pycnocline located slightly below the submarine, concluding that distance to the pycnocline strongly affects the internal wave generation due to the presence of the vessel. It is also shown that, as in the case of surface waves, the generation of internal waves requires energy that results in an increase in resistance. For the case of the surface ship the near field wakes are mostly affected by the separation at the wet transom and propeller mixing. However, in the case of the underwater vessel, the disturbance of the background density profile by the presence of the submarine affects the near-field wakes. Finally, the dead-water phenomenon, which occurs at very low Froude numbers, is studied for R/V Athena. Though the dead water problem has been studied in the literature using potential flow methods, this thesis presents the first attempt at using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze the flow. Results show that, while CFD can reproduce trends observed in potential flow studies, viscous effects are significant in the wake and the friction coefficient.

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging technology capable of treating high-saline feeds and operating with low-grade heat energy. However, commercial implementation of MD is limited by so-called temperature polarization, which is the deviation in the temperature at the feed-membrane interface with respect to the bulk fluid. This work presents solutions to alleviate temperature polarization in MD by employing a localized heating concept to deliver heat at the vicinity of the feed-membrane interface. This can be realized in multiple ways, including Joule heating, photothermal heating, electromagnetic induction heating, and nanofluid heating. In the first experiment, a Joule heating concept was implemented and tested, and the results showed a 45% increase in permeate flux and a 57% decrease in specific energy consumption. This concept was further improved by implementing a new dead-end MD configuration, which led to a 132% increase in the gained output ratio. In addition, the accumulation of foulants on the membrane surface could be successfully controlled by intermittent flushing of feedwater. Three-dimensional CFD calculations of conjugate heat transfer revealed a more uniform heat transfer and temperature gradient across the membrane due to the increased feedwater temperature over a larger membrane area. In another approach, a photothermal MD concept was used to heat the feed water locally. A 2-D photothermal material, MXene, recently known for its photothermal property, was used to coat commercial MD membranes. The coated membranes were evaluated under one-sun illumination to yield a permeate flux of 0.77 kg.m$^{−2}$h$^{−1}$ with a photothermal efficiency of 65.3% for a feed concentration of 0.36 g.L$^{−1}$. The system can produce around 6 liters of water per day per square meter of membrane. An energy analysis was also performed to compare the efficiency of various energy sources. Considering the sun as a primary energy source, the performance of different heating modes was compared in terms of performance and scale-up opportunities. Overall this work demonstrates that the application of localized heating will enable the scale-up and the use of renewable energy sources to make the MD process more efficient and sustainable. / The illustrative figure was produced by Ana Bigio, scientific illustrator, KAUST.

The diploma thesis deals with restoration of dead-end meander of the Váh river, which is facing problems with fluctuating water level, inappropriate conditions for fish population and insufficient capacity for water withdrawal to adjacent pond. The thesis consists of description of general characteristics of the area and current state of the dead-end meander, followed by the design of modifications within the meander and technical object at the inlet and hydrotechnical calculations concerning the technical object, excavation works and the time of emptying the meander.

Whilst GPS positioning has been a well used technology for many years in outdoor environments,a ubiquitous solution for indoor positioning is yet to be found, as GPS positioning is unreliableindoors. This thesis focuses on the combination of Inertial Sensor Dead Reckoning and positionsobtained from the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Direction Finding technique. The main objectiveis to reduce the error rate and size of a BLE Direction Finding system. The positioned object is aMicro-Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) with an accelerometer and a gyroscope, placed on atrolley. The accelerometer and gyroscope are used to obtain an orientation, velocity vector, andin turn a position which is combined with the BLE Direction Finding position. To further reducethe error rate of the system, a Stationary Detection functionality is implemented. Because of thetrolley movement pattern causing noise in the sensor signals, and the limited sensor setup, it is notpossible to increase the accuracy of the system using the proposed method. However, the StationaryDetection is able to correctly determine a stationary state and thus decreasing error rate and powerconsumption. / GPS är en väl använd teknologi sedan många år, men på grund av dess bristande precision vid inomhuspositionering, behöver en ny teknologi för detta område hittas. Denna studie är fokuserad på Dead Reckoning som ett stöd till ett Bluetooth Direction Finding positioneringssystem. Det främsta målet är att minska felfrekvensen och felstorleken i BLE Direction Finding systemet. Föremålet som positioneras är en Micro-Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) med en accelerometer och ett gyroskop, placerad på en vagn. Accelerometern och gyroskopet används för att erhålla en orientering, hastighetsvektor och därefter en position som kombineras med den position som ges av BLE Direction Finding. För att minska felfrekvensen ytterligare hos systemet, implementeras en funktionalitet som detekterar om MEMS-enheten är stillastående, kallad Stationary Detection. På grund av vagnens rörelsemönster, som bidrar till brus hos sensorsignalerna, samt den begränsade sensorkonfigurationen, är det inte möjligt att förbättra systemets precision med den föreslagna metoden. Dock kan Stationary Detection korrekt fastställa ett stationärt tillstånd och därmed minska felfrekvensen och energiförbrukningen för enheten.

This study compared the length, diameter, volume and amount of dead wood in reaches of the Lögde River and its tributaries one year and three years post instream restoration. This was part of a follow up of the ReBorN restoration project. Wood pieces greater than 1 m in length and 0,1 m in diameter was surveyed. The variables were compared between above and below the former highest coastline and between mainstem and tributary. Wood clustering and placement within each reach was also examined. There were no differences in length, diameter, volume and amount dead wood between one year and three years post restoration. However, in some of the reaches individual differences were significant for some of the variables. The result indicates greater difference between one year and three years post restoration in mainstem and above the highest coastline. The clustering of dead wood in the reaches was not coherent, but in a majority of the reaches the dead wood were more clustered year three. It may have been too close in time after restoration to see any effect. It is also possible that the instream restoration is not sufficient to increase the presence of dead wood in the Lögde River. Further follow up is suggested to draw a conclusion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use and frequency of euphemisms for die, dying or dead in the American English-language using the Corpus of Contemporary American English. To fulfill the purpose, three research questions were answered. I wanted to know in which genres, of Spoken, Fiction, Magazines, Newspapers, Academic texts, TV/Movies, Blogs and web-gnl, the euphemisms occurred the most. I also wanted to investigate which euphemism, in terms of frequency, of pass away, demise, decease and last breath was the most common one, and how frequent they are compared to the “standard” die, dying or dead. How the frequency of the euphemisms developed over the time span 1990-2019, was also something the study wanted to answer. To answer these questions, studies which defined and discussed taboo, euphemisms, and metonymy were used. The conclusion was that even the least occurring genre in the standard has got a higher frequency than all the euphemisms together. However, demise was the most frequent euphemism and Fiction, TV/Movies and Academic were the genres in which the euphemisms occur the most in. Moreover, although demise was the most frequent euphemism, it was also the one that decreased the most over the period of 30 years. pass away, however, increased the most over time.