Solar energy is increasingly being considered a promising solution to reduce the emissions of CO2 and green house gas. The performance of solar collectors largely depends on the ability to absorb incoming solar radiation with minimal thermal radiation losses. To weigh the potential absorbed energy to thermal losses, the performance criterion (PC) can be used, calculated as PC =α−xε, where α is absorptance, ε is emittance and x is a scaling factor < 1. It has been shown by G. Vargas et al. that Co-Cr alloys excibit great potential (α = 0.98 and ε = 0.03) for use in solar concentrators. The main goal of this project is to quantify the impact of key factors (controlled input variables) on an electroplating process of Co-Cr alloys, using the design of experiment (DOE) methodology. It is part of an ongoing collaboration between Absolicon and the physics department at Umeå university. Six factors were investigated using a fractional factorial (FrF) design. Data was collected through a series of experiments where stainless steel substrates were electroplated with Co-Cr alloys. The resulting samples were analyzed in terms of α and ε as well as the quality of deposition (QD). Using the experimental results, three models were made in a DOE-software called MODDE. Models are used to correlate the factors with each response, i.e. α, ε and QD. Ideally the predictive power of the models (Q2) should be as high as possible, and at least > 0.5. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to determine the significance of the models. Based on the models, the ’Optimizer’ tool in MODDE was used to predict two set of optimum factor settings, producing two samples, S1 and S2. S1 and S2 were evaluated in terms of α, ε and QD as well as chemical composition and structural properties of the coatings. The predictive power of the models was 0.49 for α, 0.38 for ε and 0.53 for QD. The predictive power of the models were therefore limited. ANOVA-test showed that the models for α and QD were statistically significant. For all three responses the significant effects were mostly two factor interactions. All three models showed significant lack of fit (model error) as a result of high reproducibility. S1 had the best PCAbsolicon (performance criterion for Absolicons solar collectors) of all samples with 0.858. S2 was not as good, even though it was predicted to have a higher value of PCAbsolicon by MODDE. EDS, XPS and SEM measurements of samples S1 and S2 showed that the two samples were very similar in terms of chemical composition. The main difference was that the coating of S1 was more porous, and also thicker than S2, 0.81 μm compared to 0.26 μm. Even though the models showed some predictive capabilities, the impact of the factors could not be fully determined. That is due to the nature of the FrF-design, which cannot accurately determine two-factor interactions.

Orientador: Jose Vicente Hallak D'Angelo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T14:06:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cipolato_Liza_M.pdf: 1029854 bytes, checksum: e29def5b437d5ad6a00d8fc677c63bf5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: O comércio de gás natural liquefeito apresenta um crescente interesse por parte tanto de países exportadores como dependentes desta fonte energética. Apesar de o transporte por gasoduto ser muito menos suscetível a perdas, ele se torna inviável a longas distâncias ou a demandas variáveis. A liquefação do gás natural também proporciona o armazenamento desta fonte energética numa forma estável e de alto potencial energético,evidenciando o caráter estratégico do processo. Desde a década de 60 a tecnologia para liquefação do gás natural é utilizada, porém, apenas há alguns anos os países iniciaram o comércio desta fonte energética em larga escala e isto acarretará um aumento mundial tanto no número de terminais exportadores (plantas de liquefação) quanto importadores (terminais de regaseificação). O processo de liquefação do gás natural ocorre através de uma sequência de ciclos termodinâmicos de refrigeração, e estes, por sua vez, precisam trabalhar de forma otimizada para reduzir perdas. A análise exergética é uma ferramenta muito útil para avaliar estas perdas e pode ser essencial na instalação de uma nova planta ou melhoria de uma já existente. O presente trabalho realizou uma análise exergética de um ciclo de refrigeração utilizado para a liquefação de gás natural, o qual é do tipo multiestágio em cascata, padrão utilizado atualmente, sendo o mais conhecido e difundido entre as indústrias da área. Primeiramente, o processo foi simulado em software comercial Hysys (versão 3.2 da Aspen Technology). O resultado obtido da simulação foi validado através de comparação com dados da literatura, mostrando-se adequado. Em seguida, a simulação foi testada em diferentes condições operacionais, seguindo um planejamento fatorial completo, o qual teve como objetivo verificar a influência da variação das pressões de seis pontos específicos do ciclo sobre a variável resposta, que é a taxa de exergia total destruída no processo, visando sua minimização. Os resultados obtidos levaram a uma nova condição de operação para o ciclo de refrigeração com redução de aproximadamente 48% da taxa de exergia destruída com relação aos dados do caso obtido da literatura. Tal resultado evidencia o potencial da metodologia termodinâmica utilizada, demonstrando sua aplicação em estudos de melhoria do desempenho de ciclos de refrigeração para a indústria de liquefação de gás natural / Abstract: The liquefied natural gas trade shows a growing interest either from countries which are exporters or countries which depend on this kind of energetic source. Although gas pipelines are less susceptible of transportation losses, they become impracticable when distances are too long or when demands are highly variable. The liquefaction of natural gas also enables its storage in a stable way, in which energetic potential is high, expressing the strategic purpose of the process. Since the 1960 decade natural gas liquefying technology is been used, but only a few years ago countries have started the trade of this kind of energetic source on a large scale. Consequently, the number of exporter terminals (liquefaction industries) and importer terminals (regasification plants) will increase worldwide. The natural gas liquefaction process is based on a sequence of refrigeration thermodynamics cycles, which need to work in an optimized way in order to reduce losses. The exergy analysis is a very useful tool to evaluate these losses and can be crucial in a new plant installation or in a current one improvement. This dissertation performed an exergy analysis of a multistage cascade refrigeration cycle applied in natural gas liquefaction. The multistage cascade cycle is currently the standard type, being the most known and diffused among industries. Firstly, the process was simulated in commercial software Hysys (version 3.2 of Aspen Technology). The result obtained from the simulation was validated by comparison with the literature data and showed a very adequate similarity. After that, the simulation was checked in different operational conditions, according to the complete factorial design of experiments. The design of experiments¿ objective was to verify the pressure influence of six specific points of the cycle over the response variable, which is the rate of total exergy destroyed in the cycle, in order to reach its minimal value. The results showed a new operational condition to the refrigeration cycle, in which the destroyed exergy rate was reduced by approximately 48% in comparison with literature data. This result provides evidence of the high potential of the thermodynamic tool used, showing its application in studies of performance improvements for refrigeration cycles in industries of natural gas liquefaction / Mestrado / Sistemas de Processos Quimicos e Informatica / Mestre em Engenharia Química

Tooling design is crucial for the production of cost-effective and durable composite products. As part of the current search for cost reduction (by reducing capital investment, energy use and cycle time), integrally-heated tooling is one of the technologies available for ‘out-of-autoclave’ processing of advanced thermoset polymer composites. Despite their advantages, integrally-heated tools can suffer from uneven distribution of temperature, variability in heat flow rate and inconsistency in heating/cooling time. This research, therefore, investigates a number of design variables such as shape and layout of heating channels in order to improve the heating performance of an integrally-heated tool. Design of Experiments (DoE) has been carried out using Taguchi’s Orthogonal Array (OA) method to set several combinations of design parameters. Each of these design combinations has been evaluated through numerical simulation to investigate heating time and mould surface temperature variation. The simulation results suggest that the layout of the channels and their separation play a vital role in the heating performance. Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA) have been applied to the results obtained to identify the optimal design combination of the integrally-heated tool. Statistical analysis reveals that the heating performance of an integrally-heated tool can be significantly improved when the channels’ layout is parallel. The shape of the channels has negligible effect and the distance between the channels should be determined based on the production requirement. According to the predicted optimal design, a developed integrally water-heated tool is manufactured. The actual thermal properties of the constituent materials of the produced tool are also measured. Then a numerical model of the experimental tool model is simulated in ANSYS software, with setting the actual material properties and boundary condition to define the temperature uniformity and heating rate of the experimental tool. Comparison of the experimental and numerical results of the experimental tool confirmed the well assigning of the boundary conditions and material properties during simulation the heated tool. The experimental results also confirmed the predicted optimal design of the integrally heated tool. Finally, in order to define its thermomechanical behaviour under the effective (in service) thermal loads, a tool model is simulated. Numerical results presented that the produced extremes of thermal deformation, elastic strain, normal and plane shear stresses, under the effective thermal loading, are within the allowable elastic limits of the participated materials.

The aim of Master's thesis is to apply statistical methods in production process. The assignment of the thesis is to describe and evaluate pressing process which is the part of posistor production. The first theoretical part contains introduction to the mathematical statistics, verifying assumptions about the data, describing the regression analysis, the analysis of variance and the part of the design of experiment. The second practical part is focused on design, performing and interpreting of experiments. The thesis is developed according to requirements of company EPCOS s.r.o. Šumperk. Statistical program MINITAB Rlease 14, which is supported by company, was used for all computations.

The main subject of this master thesis is to evaluate using of Design of Experiment in industrial company in the development of LED modules for cars. In background study Design of Experiment methodology is described. Next part of background study describes the general principles of termography measurements, next chapter includes the information’s about LED technology and temperature degradation. At the beginning of the practical part is a description of the team analysis due to selection of factors, next chapter validates importance of vias. In next chapter methodology of print circuit board preparations and measuring are described. A next chapter describes the implementation of design of experiment at voltages 8 V, 13,5 V, 16,5 V. Designs of Experiments were made for four or five factors. The reason for this decision was the manual adjustment of printed circuit boards. At the end of each Design of Experiment is the recommendation of factors and interactions settings with regard on response, which is the minimal temperature. At the end of master’s thesis is the final evaluation.

This thesis deals with the possibility of applying the method of Design of Experiments (DoE) on specific data. In the first chapter of theoretical part, this method is described in detail. The basic principles and guidelines for the design of the experiment are written there. In the next two chapters, factorial design of the experiment and response surface design are described. The latter one includes a central composite design and Box-Behnken design. The following chapter contains practical part, which focuses on modelling firing range of ball from a catapult using the above three types of experimental design. In this work, the models are analysed together with their different characteristics. Their comparison is made by using prediction and confidence intervals and by response optimizing. The last part of the thesis comprises overall evaluation.

This thesis is focused on experimental work in the domain of vacuum evaporation efficiency improvement. The first part introduces theory of liquids evaporation and its influencing factors, then multi-stage flash distillation technology. The next part of theory is an overview of other technologies used for desalination of sea water and introduction to the design of experiments. In the practical part are selected factors affecting efficiency of device and experiment plan is designed for them. When the experiment is done, optimal operating conditions of technology are designed on basis of analysis.

Les batteries aux ions lithium sont certainement un des moteurs à la mobilité qu’a vu notre vie quotidienne ces 30 dernières années, depuis leur commercialisation par Sony pour alimenter des caméscopes portatifs. Cette électrification est aujourd’hui omniprésente : nous pouvons rester connectés en tout temps à Internet grâce à nos téléphones ou encore nous déplacer dans un véhicule qui n’émet pas de gaz à effet de serre. Cette révolution est en particulier alimentée par une recherche qui ne cesse de croître et qui s’attache à augmenter l’énergie des matériaux d’électrodes, réduire les risques d’incendie ou encore diminuer l’empreinte carbone des procédés de manufactures de batteries. En effet, les électrodes sont communément enduites, ce qui nécessite d’énormes quantités de solvant pendant leur phase de fabrication. Ces solvants, nécessaires pour former la porosité des membranes composites et avoir une dispersion homogène des particules, entrainent malheureusement des coûts très importants et sont souvent cancérigènes, mutagènes et reprotoxiques. Ce manuscrit détaille les travaux réalisés en partenariat avec une entreprise privée avec laquelle a été mis au point un nouveau procédé de réalisation d’électrodes sans solvant basé sur l’extrusion de poudres et de polymères fondus. La contrainte principale du procédé est la nécessité d’utiliser un élastomère dans la formulation de l’électrode ; or cette classe de matériau est très peu répandue dans le domaine des batteries. Ces travaux ont donc validé l’emploi d’un nouveau polymère commercial dans les nouvelles formulations sans solvant, grâce à sa très grande stabilité chimique et électrochimique. À l’aide de plans d’expériences de mélange, formalisés et utilisés pour la première fois en formulation d’électrode, il a été possible d’optimiser des électrodes de batteries Li-ion de puissance en maximisant la quantité de matière active. Ces formulations optimales ont alors été utilisées pour réaliser sans solvant des électrodes de nouvelle génération, ce qui a permis d’identifier l’effet néfaste du procédé sur la qualité du réseau électronique, d’où la nécessité de revoir le protocole de réalisation. Ce projet ouvre la voie vers une utilisation plus systématique de méthodes statistiques et de prédiction pour étudier et optimiser de nouveaux matériaux ou composites. / Li-ion batteries are one of the driving forces of everyday mobility since they were introduced on the market in 1991 by Sony to power portable cameras. Today, electrification is ubiquitous. We are always connected to the Internet with our phones and we can travel in vehicles that do not emit greenhouse gases. The ever-growing research in the field is certainly powering this revolution, with improvements towards the maximum energy in a device, as well as increasing their safety or mitigating the carbon footprint related to their manufacture. Indeed, electrodes are usually tape-casted, a process that requires huge quantities of solvents. These solvents are often organic and hence very toxic. They are also necessary to create the porosity in the composite membranes and to provide a continuous medium to homogeneously disperse the electrode’s components. This manuscript details the work that was conducted in collaboration with a private industrial partner who developed a new and solvent-free process to manufacture electrodes based on powder extrusions and melted polymers. The main constraint to this process is the need to employ elastomers, a class of materials seldom used in the Li-ion battery community. Here, the use of a commercial thermoplastic elastomer in the new dry process was thus validated through chemical and electrochemical stability studies. Designs of Experiments were first formalized to optimize the Li-ion battery electrodes’ formulations before applying it to two systems. It was found that it is necessary to maximize the active material weight content and keep a very small fraction of carbon additives to maximize the capacity retention. Finally, by extruding these optimal formulations, it was discovered that the dry process has a significant impact on the electronic network’s quality, and changes to both formulation and mixing protocol ought to be carried out. This project certainly opens the way to a more systematic use of predictive and statistical methods to optimize and study new materials and composites.

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease that affects the articular cartilage of the joints. Millions of people suffer worldwide and it is a major cause of disability in the United States. Current research for treatments of osteoarthritis are studying tissue-engineered cartilage in vitro generated by articular chondrocytes. A challenge faced in vitro for cartilage tissue engineering is the failure of chondrocytes to produce adequate expression of type II collagen. Surprisingly, the media commonly used in vitro lacks 14 vitamins and minerals present in the physiological environment of chondrocytes. Therefore, studying the interactions between micronutrients and chondrocytes may help in potentially increasing the amount of type II collagen expressed by these cells. This project studied the combinatorial effects of vitamins and minerals in defined chondrogenic media on type II collagen expression. Linolenic acid was determined to have predominantly negative effects on chondrogenesis and Vitamin B7 to have beneficial effects. Multiple vitamins and minerals displayed significant interactions, both positive and negative.

No description available.