This thesis presents an investigation of novel laser assisted micromachining processes that addresses the limitations of micromachining of hard-to-machine materials. Two different laser assisted approaches are used to machine hard metals and high strength ceramics. For hard metals, the basic approach involves localized thermal softening of the workpiece material by focusing a solid-state continuous wave near infra-red laser beam in front of the micro milling tool (end mills of 0.1 to 0.5 mm diameter). By suitably controlling the laser power, spot size and scan speed, it is possible to produce a sufficiently large reduction in the flow strength of the work material and consequently the cutting forces and tool deflections. A force model is developed to predict the cutting forces in Laser Assisted Micro Milling (LAMM) of hard metals. For high strength ceramics, the approach involves use of a two step process. In the first step, thermal cracks are generated in a confined volume by the steep thermal gradients generated by laser irradiation of the workpiece. In the second step, the weakened region is removed by a micro grinding tool. The characterization and modeling of the process serve as bases for users of the two approaches to select optimal process parameters.

Ces travaux sont centrés sur l’étude des potentialités d’utilisation de la pervaporation, procédé de séparation par membrane, en couplage avec des procédés de séparation ou de réaction. L’objectif principal est d’évaluer la faisabilité technico-économique, le gain potentiel mais aussi les limites de son application compatible avec une exploitation industrielle. La détermination de ce gain passe par la simulation des procédés qui nécessite une modélisation correcte des processus élémentaires. Une modélisation à plusieurs niveaux est proposée. Elle permet de prendre en compte les différents systèmes d’études : matériaux membranaires et cas d’application et de donner le choix du nombre de paramètres ajustables en fonction des données expérimentales disponibles. Cette démarche a été appliquée à deux applications différentes. Le premier cas correspond à la récupération de butanol à partir de milieu de fermentation. Cette étude a montré des gains sur la productivité de la fermentation par couplage direct du fermenteur avec la pervaporation équipée de membrane hydrophobe. Le second cas correspond à la séparation eau/acide acétique, avec pour objectif la minimisation de la consommation énergétique pour un cahier des charges fixé. Le couplage retenu met en œuvre une étape de distillation suivie d’une étape de pervaporation équipée d’une membrane hydrophile. Les performances de quatre membranes ont été déterminées expérimentalement pour cette application. Enfin, une méthodologie est proposée permettant de déterminer les performances minimales de membrane permettant d’atteindre, en fonction des spécifications du cahier des charges, un gain énergétique par rapport au procédé conventionnel / The potential economical interest of using pervaporation, a membrane separation process, in hybrid processes (with separation or reaction unit) has been investigated. The main objective is to determine benefits and limitations of its use for an industrial application. The determination of the interest is predicted by simulation which requires a good understanding and a good representation of the elementary phenomenon of mass transfer and thermodynamic. A multilevel pervaporation modelling is developed, which takes into account the system variability (membranes and compounds) and allows choosing the number of fitted parameters according to the available experimental data. Two different industrial applications are studied. First, the recuperation of butanol from a fermentation medium is exposed. This case study has shown the gain on fermentation productivity when pervaporation, equipped with hydrophobic membrane, is used in direct coupling with fermenter. Next, the dehydration of acetic acid is studied with the aim of reduction the energy consumption of the conventional process. The configuration which has been selected involves a distillation column followed by a pervaporation module, equipped with a hydrophilic membrane. Performances of four membranes have been experimentally determined by for this application. Finally, a simulation methodology is developed, which can be applied to determine the membrane performances that need to be achieved to replace conventional processes with a hybrid process while respecting industrial specifications

Nesta pesquisa, proponho trabalhos que consistem em desenhos de híbridos entre homens e máquinas, utilizando o desenho técnico e a figura do pós-humano como suporte para reflexão, metaforizando as relações entre o homem e sua tecnologia, e a substituição de parte das experiências cotidianas pelo uso da máquina. Tratam-se de imagens digitais e linoleogravuras que apresentam diálogos e tensões entre o artesanal e o tecnológico, bem como entre a figura humana e a figura mecânica. O embasamento teórico é estabelecido a partir de definições da filosofia da técnica de Gilbert Simondon em diálogo com apontamentos de Edmund Couchot e Vilém Flusser. Apontamentos sobre o ciborgue são debatidos a partir de Haraway, Santaella e Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny e Belofsky contribuem com referenciais históricos e definições sobre o desenho técnico, em diálogo com observações realizadas em registros de patentes de época. Ainda são abordadas obras de artistas como Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira e Rubem Grilo, como referenciais poéticos que estabelecem relações com a presente produção plástica. Procuro, deste modo, estabelecer proposições dentro do campo da gravura, do desenho técnico e de linguagens híbridas, contribuindo para ampliar a construção do conhecimento no campo das artes visuais. / In this research, I propose works that consist of hybrid designs for men and machines, using technical drawing and figure the posthuman as support for reflection, Indulging in metaphor the relationships between humans and their technology, and replacing part of everyday experiences when using machine. These are digital images and linoleum engraving which feature dialogues and tensions between craft and technology, as well as between the human figure and the figure mechanics. The basement is established by the theoretical literature from definitions of technical philosophy of Gilbert Simondon in dialogue with notes of Edmund Couchot and Flusser. Notes on the cyborg are discussed from Haraway, Santaella and Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny and Belofsky contribute with historical references and definitions of the technical drawing in dialogue with observations made in patent registers. Are still considered works of artists such as Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira and Rubem Grilo as poetic references that establish dialogue with this plastic production. Try, thereby establishing propositions within the field of printmaking, technical drawing and hybrid languages, contributing to enlarge the construction of knowledge in the field of visual arts.

Nesta pesquisa, proponho trabalhos que consistem em desenhos de híbridos entre homens e máquinas, utilizando o desenho técnico e a figura do pós-humano como suporte para reflexão, metaforizando as relações entre o homem e sua tecnologia, e a substituição de parte das experiências cotidianas pelo uso da máquina. Tratam-se de imagens digitais e linoleogravuras que apresentam diálogos e tensões entre o artesanal e o tecnológico, bem como entre a figura humana e a figura mecânica. O embasamento teórico é estabelecido a partir de definições da filosofia da técnica de Gilbert Simondon em diálogo com apontamentos de Edmund Couchot e Vilém Flusser. Apontamentos sobre o ciborgue são debatidos a partir de Haraway, Santaella e Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny e Belofsky contribuem com referenciais históricos e definições sobre o desenho técnico, em diálogo com observações realizadas em registros de patentes de época. Ainda são abordadas obras de artistas como Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira e Rubem Grilo, como referenciais poéticos que estabelecem relações com a presente produção plástica. Procuro, deste modo, estabelecer proposições dentro do campo da gravura, do desenho técnico e de linguagens híbridas, contribuindo para ampliar a construção do conhecimento no campo das artes visuais. / In this research, I propose works that consist of hybrid designs for men and machines, using technical drawing and figure the posthuman as support for reflection, Indulging in metaphor the relationships between humans and their technology, and replacing part of everyday experiences when using machine. These are digital images and linoleum engraving which feature dialogues and tensions between craft and technology, as well as between the human figure and the figure mechanics. The basement is established by the theoretical literature from definitions of technical philosophy of Gilbert Simondon in dialogue with notes of Edmund Couchot and Flusser. Notes on the cyborg are discussed from Haraway, Santaella and Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny and Belofsky contribute with historical references and definitions of the technical drawing in dialogue with observations made in patent registers. Are still considered works of artists such as Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira and Rubem Grilo as poetic references that establish dialogue with this plastic production. Try, thereby establishing propositions within the field of printmaking, technical drawing and hybrid languages, contributing to enlarge the construction of knowledge in the field of visual arts.

Nesta pesquisa, proponho trabalhos que consistem em desenhos de híbridos entre homens e máquinas, utilizando o desenho técnico e a figura do pós-humano como suporte para reflexão, metaforizando as relações entre o homem e sua tecnologia, e a substituição de parte das experiências cotidianas pelo uso da máquina. Tratam-se de imagens digitais e linoleogravuras que apresentam diálogos e tensões entre o artesanal e o tecnológico, bem como entre a figura humana e a figura mecânica. O embasamento teórico é estabelecido a partir de definições da filosofia da técnica de Gilbert Simondon em diálogo com apontamentos de Edmund Couchot e Vilém Flusser. Apontamentos sobre o ciborgue são debatidos a partir de Haraway, Santaella e Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny e Belofsky contribuem com referenciais históricos e definições sobre o desenho técnico, em diálogo com observações realizadas em registros de patentes de época. Ainda são abordadas obras de artistas como Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira e Rubem Grilo, como referenciais poéticos que estabelecem relações com a presente produção plástica. Procuro, deste modo, estabelecer proposições dentro do campo da gravura, do desenho técnico e de linguagens híbridas, contribuindo para ampliar a construção do conhecimento no campo das artes visuais. / In this research, I propose works that consist of hybrid designs for men and machines, using technical drawing and figure the posthuman as support for reflection, Indulging in metaphor the relationships between humans and their technology, and replacing part of everyday experiences when using machine. These are digital images and linoleum engraving which feature dialogues and tensions between craft and technology, as well as between the human figure and the figure mechanics. The basement is established by the theoretical literature from definitions of technical philosophy of Gilbert Simondon in dialogue with notes of Edmund Couchot and Flusser. Notes on the cyborg are discussed from Haraway, Santaella and Novaes. Hoelscher, Springer, Dobrovolny and Belofsky contribute with historical references and definitions of the technical drawing in dialogue with observations made in patent registers. Are still considered works of artists such as Stelarc, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Regina Silveira and Rubem Grilo as poetic references that establish dialogue with this plastic production. Try, thereby establishing propositions within the field of printmaking, technical drawing and hybrid languages, contributing to enlarge the construction of knowledge in the field of visual arts.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest anthropogenic point sources of CO2 emissions worldwide. About 40% of the world's electricity comes from coal. Approximately 49% of the US electricity in 2008 and 23% of the total electricity generation of Canada in 2000 came from coal-fired power plant (World Coal Association, and Statistic Canada). It is likely that in the near future there might be some form of CO2 regulation. Therefore, it is highly probable that CO2 capture will need to be implemented at many US and Canadian coal fired power plants at some point. Several technologies are available for CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants. One option is to separate CO2 from the combustion products using conventional approach such as chemical absorption/stripping with amine solvents, which is commercially available. Another potential alternative, membrane gas separation, involves no moving parts, is compact and modular with a small footprint, is gaining more and more attention. Both technologies can be retrofitted to existing power plants, but they demands significant energy requirement to capture, purify and compress the CO2 for transporting to the sequestration sites. This thesis is a techno-economical evaluation of the two approaches mentioned above along with another approach known as hybrid. This evaluation is based on the recent advancement in membrane materials and properties, and the adoption of systemic design procedures and optimization approach with the help of a commercial process simulator. Comparison of the process performance is developed in AspenPlus process simulation environment with a detailed multicomponent gas separation membrane model, and several rigorous rate-based absorption/stripping models. Fifteen various single and multi-stage membrane process configurations with or without recycle streams are examined through simulation and design study for industrial scale post-combustion CO2 capture. It is found that only two process configurations are capable to satisfy the process specifications i.e., 85% CO2 recovery and 98% CO2 purity for EOR. The power and membrane area requirement can be saved by up to 13% and 8% respectively by the optimizing the base design. A post-optimality sensitivity analysis reveals that any changes in any of the factors such as feed flow rate, feed concentration (CO2), permeate vacuum and compression condition have great impact on plant performance especially on power consumption and product recovery. Two different absorption/stripping process configurations (conventional and Fluor concept) with monoethanolamine (30 wt% MEA) solvent were simulated and designed using same design basis as above with tray columns. Both the rate-based and the equilibrium-stage based modeling approaches were adopted. Two kinetic models for modeling reactive absorption/stripping reactions of CO2 with aqueous MEA solution were evaluated. Depending on the options to account for mass transfer, the chemical reactions in the liquid film/phase, film resistance and film non-ideality, eight different absorber/stripper models were categorized and investigated. From a parametric design study, the optimum CO2 lean solvent loading was determined with respect to minimum reboiler energy requirement by varying the lean solvent flow rate in a closed-loop simulation environment for each model. It was realized that the success of modeling CO2 capture with MEA depends upon how the film discretization is carried out. It revealed that most of the CO2 was reacted in the film not in the bulk liquid. This insight could not be recognized with the traditional equilibrium-stage modeling. It was found that the optimum/or minimum lean solvent loading ranges from 0.29 to 0.40 and the reboiler energy ranges from 3.3 to 5.1 (GJ/ton captured CO2) depending on the model considered. Between the two process alternatives, the Fluor concept process performs well in terms of plant operating (i.e., 8.5% less energy) and capital cost (i.e., 50% less number of strippers). The potentiality of hybrid processes which combines membrane permeation and conventional gas absorption/stripping using MEA were also examined for post-combustion CO2 capture in AspenPlus®. It was found that the hybrid process may not be a promising alternative for post-combustion CO2 capture in terms of energy requirement for capture and compression. On the other hand, a stand-alone membrane gas separation process showed the lowest energy demand for CO2 capture and compression, and could save up to 15 to 35% energy compare to the MEA capture process depending on the absorption/stripping model used.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest anthropogenic point sources of CO2 emissions worldwide. About 40% of the world's electricity comes from coal. Approximately 49% of the US electricity in 2008 and 23% of the total electricity generation of Canada in 2000 came from coal-fired power plant (World Coal Association, and Statistic Canada). It is likely that in the near future there might be some form of CO2 regulation. Therefore, it is highly probable that CO2 capture will need to be implemented at many US and Canadian coal fired power plants at some point. Several technologies are available for CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants. One option is to separate CO2 from the combustion products using conventional approach such as chemical absorption/stripping with amine solvents, which is commercially available. Another potential alternative, membrane gas separation, involves no moving parts, is compact and modular with a small footprint, is gaining more and more attention. Both technologies can be retrofitted to existing power plants, but they demands significant energy requirement to capture, purify and compress the CO2 for transporting to the sequestration sites. This thesis is a techno-economical evaluation of the two approaches mentioned above along with another approach known as hybrid. This evaluation is based on the recent advancement in membrane materials and properties, and the adoption of systemic design procedures and optimization approach with the help of a commercial process simulator. Comparison of the process performance is developed in AspenPlus process simulation environment with a detailed multicomponent gas separation membrane model, and several rigorous rate-based absorption/stripping models. Fifteen various single and multi-stage membrane process configurations with or without recycle streams are examined through simulation and design study for industrial scale post-combustion CO2 capture. It is found that only two process configurations are capable to satisfy the process specifications i.e., 85% CO2 recovery and 98% CO2 purity for EOR. The power and membrane area requirement can be saved by up to 13% and 8% respectively by the optimizing the base design. A post-optimality sensitivity analysis reveals that any changes in any of the factors such as feed flow rate, feed concentration (CO2), permeate vacuum and compression condition have great impact on plant performance especially on power consumption and product recovery. Two different absorption/stripping process configurations (conventional and Fluor concept) with monoethanolamine (30 wt% MEA) solvent were simulated and designed using same design basis as above with tray columns. Both the rate-based and the equilibrium-stage based modeling approaches were adopted. Two kinetic models for modeling reactive absorption/stripping reactions of CO2 with aqueous MEA solution were evaluated. Depending on the options to account for mass transfer, the chemical reactions in the liquid film/phase, film resistance and film non-ideality, eight different absorber/stripper models were categorized and investigated. From a parametric design study, the optimum CO2 lean solvent loading was determined with respect to minimum reboiler energy requirement by varying the lean solvent flow rate in a closed-loop simulation environment for each model. It was realized that the success of modeling CO2 capture with MEA depends upon how the film discretization is carried out. It revealed that most of the CO2 was reacted in the film not in the bulk liquid. This insight could not be recognized with the traditional equilibrium-stage modeling. It was found that the optimum/or minimum lean solvent loading ranges from 0.29 to 0.40 and the reboiler energy ranges from 3.3 to 5.1 (GJ/ton captured CO2) depending on the model considered. Between the two process alternatives, the Fluor concept process performs well in terms of plant operating (i.e., 8.5% less energy) and capital cost (i.e., 50% less number of strippers). The potentiality of hybrid processes which combines membrane permeation and conventional gas absorption/stripping using MEA were also examined for post-combustion CO2 capture in AspenPlus®. It was found that the hybrid process may not be a promising alternative for post-combustion CO2 capture in terms of energy requirement for capture and compression. On the other hand, a stand-alone membrane gas separation process showed the lowest energy demand for CO2 capture and compression, and could save up to 15 to 35% energy compare to the MEA capture process depending on the absorption/stripping model used.

The system of Alternative Dispute Resolution, commonly known as ADR, comprises multiple informal processes. Traditional processes of negotiation, mediation and arbitration are primary processes within the system of ADR. The elements of the primary processes have been combined with one another or with those of public process to form hybrid ADR processes original only to the system of ADR. These hybrid processes are: rent-a-judge, the mini-trial, the summary jury trial, neutral evaluation and mediation/arbitration. Under the auspices of ADR, derivative processes have also been developed, such as expedited arbitration, documents-only arbitration, final-offer arbitration and quality arbitration. Each process is distinct and separate, having its own unique form, function and method of transforming a dispute. Outwardly, this represents a diverse collection of disjunctive processes. Yet an introspective analysis shows that there is an innate centrality that originates in core principles that bind individual processes to each other and to a unified body of theory. These foundational principles of ADR are replicated in each of its processes. In these terms, ADR is therefore conceptualised as a pluralistic system of dispute resolution that consists of autonomous and individual systems of process that conform to a central body of general theory and consensual principles. As a method of extracting the fundamental principles of ADR, the discontinuities and continuities between the theory and principles of civil procedure, as a unitary system .of procedure, and ADR processes are explored. However, in its conclusions, the thesis rejects the premises of a unitary system of procedure as forming the basis for the theory and principles of ADR. Instead, the contrary notion is advanced that ADR is an independent system of dispute resolution which is based on a theory of processual pluralism and supported by cogent processual principles. / Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law / LL.D.

The system of Alternative Dispute Resolution, commonly known as ADR, comprises multiple informal processes. Traditional processes of negotiation, mediation and arbitration are primary processes within the system of ADR. The elements of the primary processes have been combined with one another or with those of public process to form hybrid ADR processes original only to the system of ADR. These hybrid processes are: rent-a-judge, the mini-trial, the summary jury trial, neutral evaluation and mediation/arbitration. Under the auspices of ADR, derivative processes have also been developed, such as expedited arbitration, documents-only arbitration, final-offer arbitration and quality arbitration. Each process is distinct and separate, having its own unique form, function and method of transforming a dispute. Outwardly, this represents a diverse collection of disjunctive processes. Yet an introspective analysis shows that there is an innate centrality that originates in core principles that bind individual processes to each other and to a unified body of theory. These foundational principles of ADR are replicated in each of its processes. In these terms, ADR is therefore conceptualised as a pluralistic system of dispute resolution that consists of autonomous and individual systems of process that conform to a central body of general theory and consensual principles. As a method of extracting the fundamental principles of ADR, the discontinuities and continuities between the theory and principles of civil procedure, as a unitary system .of procedure, and ADR processes are explored. However, in its conclusions, the thesis rejects the premises of a unitary system of procedure as forming the basis for the theory and principles of ADR. Instead, the contrary notion is advanced that ADR is an independent system of dispute resolution which is based on a theory of processual pluralism and supported by cogent processual principles. / Constitutional, International and Indigenous Law / LL.D.