The reduction of the impact of energy consumption is a priority issue and a major challenge that concerns every country in the world. This is a complex task that needs to be tackled from several angles in the search for areas where optimizations and savings can be made. In Sweden an electricity meter reading reform was fully implemented by 1st July 2009, including 5.2 million customers, and this created new set of circumstances in the Swedish electricity market. The main purpose of this thesis work has been to investigate the possibilities of increasing the use of remote meter readings. Two research questions have been: “How can the electricity market benefit from remote collected meter readings?” and “Where do barriers appear when utilizing meter readings?”. The work started in 2000/2001 to study Internet based applications that visualize electricity consumption patterns. Over these years the daily internet users have increased from approximately 40 % to 73 % and new markets for web-based applications have evolved. These solutions can be important in the forthcoming years as energy portals that hold new energy services. Experiences from new installations indicate that at least interested customers do submit information concerning building and household properties through internet. Still, it is challenging to enable the majority of customers to take part in these new solutions. It may therefore be important to remind customers on a regular basis in order maintain the frequency using the application and to make it habitual. Further the introduction of demand-based pricing allows electricity distribution utilities to achieve a stronger correlation between peak loads in the distribution network area and their revenues.

In December 2015 the Paris Agreement was signed in order to create a better global climate. According to the agreement, all countries 'emissions shall be reported to the UN. To be able to do this current emission levels must be known, which means measurement and calculation of emissions are necessary.   The state-owned mining company Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) operates iron ore mines in Northen Sweden. The iron ore products produced at the KK4 coal mill in Kiruna, consists of some additives that form carbon dioxide when burned. The amount of additives burned is measured using two flowmeters. To ensure that these meters have approved accuracy, annual calibrations are performed where measured volume is compared to a reference volume. In order to ensure that LKAB's calibration method works, another type of calibration was performed by an external company. The results between the two calibration methods differ significantly, which led to this report.   The purpose of this work is to develop improvement proposals for LKAB's calibration method and to present suggestions on how LKAB can create better conditions for the other so called transit time calibration method. By analyzing each method and performing measurements, tests and calculations, weaknesses are noted. Tests show that a weakness of LKAB's calibration is that the level measurement method used is person-dependent. Level measurement with laser range gauge is tested with good results, why this type of measurement is recommended in the future. The main weakness with transit time method is primarily that it is sensitive to variation of the inner diameter of the pipe. In order for this method to provide reliable results, rebuilding of pipes and carefully measured internal diameter are required. Accurate flow measurement means that current carbon dioxide emissions can be calculated, which enables continued work towards set environmental goals. Flowmeters also have a significant role in product quality in KK4, which means that this report can contribute to higher quality and economic profitability. / I december 2015 undertecknades Parisavtalet i syfte att skapa ett bättre globalt klimat. Enligt avtalet ska alla länders utsläpp redovisas till FN. En förutsättning för att Sverige ska kunna redovisa utsläppen är att nuvarande utsläppsnivåer är kända, varför mätning och beräkning av utsläpp är nödvändig.   Det statligt ägda gruvbolaget Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) driver järnmalmsgruvor i Malmfälten. Den järnmalmspellets som tillverkas vid kulsinterverket KK4 i Kiruna består till viss del av tillsatsmedel, som vid förbränning bildar koldioxid. Hur mycket tillsatsmedel som förbränns mäts med hjälp av två flödesmätare. För att säkerställa att dessa mätare har godkänd noggrannhet utförs årliga kalibreringar där uppmätt volym jämförs med en referensvolym. I syfte att säkerställa att LKAB:s kalibreringsmetod fungerar har ett externt företag utfört kalibrering med en annan metod där mätsensorer placeras på tillsatsmedelledningen. Resultaten mellan de två kalibreringsmetoderna skiljer sig avsevärt, vilket föranlett denna rapport.   Syftet med arbetet är att ta fram förbättringsåtgärder för LKAB:s kalibreringsmetod samt presentera förslag på hur LKAB kan skapa bättre förutsättningar för den andra så kallade pulshastighetsmetoden. Genom att analysera respektive kalibreringsmetod och utföra mätningar, tester och beräkningar tas svagheter fram. Tester visar att en svaghet med LKAB:s kalibrering är att den nivåmätningsmetod som används är personberoende. Nivåmätning med laseravståndsmätare testas med gott resultat varför denna typ av mätning rekommenderas framöver.   En svaghet med pulshastigheten är att den är känslig för variation av rörens innerdiameter. För att denna metod ska ge tillförlitliga resultat krävs ombyggnation av ledningar samt noga uppmätt innerdiameter.   Noggrann flödesmätning leder till att nuvarande koldioxidutsläpp kan beräknas vilket skapar förutsättningar för fortsatt arbete mot uppställda miljömål. Flödesmätarna har även en betydande roll för produktkvaliteten i KK4 vilket innebär att denna rapport kan bidra till högre kvalitet och ekonomisk lönsamhet.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-09-30. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-11859a.pdf: 1971801 bytes, checksum: dc22083567fcbecdefe8d1bc1ef866e9 (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 2 Publico-11859a.pdf: 1971801 bytes, checksum: dc22083567fcbecdefe8d1bc1ef866e9 (MD5) Publico-11859b.pdf: 1464854 bytes, checksum: ed8fffe60a11710f362faadbbbf6b037 (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 3 Publico-11859a.pdf: 1971801 bytes, checksum: dc22083567fcbecdefe8d1bc1ef866e9 (MD5) Publico-11859b.pdf: 1464854 bytes, checksum: ed8fffe60a11710f362faadbbbf6b037 (MD5) Publico-11859c.pdf: 618900 bytes, checksum: ce78a0221e4d7c2792bf114602ddb45d (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 4 Publico-11859a.pdf: 1971801 bytes, checksum: dc22083567fcbecdefe8d1bc1ef866e9 (MD5) Publico-11859b.pdf: 1464854 bytes, checksum: ed8fffe60a11710f362faadbbbf6b037 (MD5) Publico-11859c.pdf: 618900 bytes, checksum: ce78a0221e4d7c2792bf114602ddb45d (MD5) Publico-11859d.pdf: 1753706 bytes, checksum: 1aa5162c1f98a814fc5f261944e41f5a (MD5) / Desenho do estudo: Transversal, não experimental. Objetivos: Detectar e comparar as alterações funcionais esofágicas e da junção esôfago-gástrica em dois grupos de pacientes com lesão medular crônica, um no nível da inervação frênica e o outro em níveis torácicos superiores, e relacioná-las à contenção do refluxo gastroesofágico. Sumário e contexto: Em lesados medulares não há estudo manométrico esofágico associado à pHmetria. A estatística mundial revela que a prevalência de doença do refluxo gastroesofágico em lesados medulares é maior que a população geral, em torno de 22 a 27%. A "crura diafragmática" vem sendo reconhecida como importante barreira antirefluxo e, funcionalmente, deveria ser considerada como um músculo separado do diafragma costal, mas permanece a dúvida se essa diferença está relacionada com sua inervação. Métodos: O estudo é transversal em que participaram 29 pacientes com lesão medular completa, sendo 14 tetraplégicos (nível C4) e 15 paraplégicos (níveis T1 a T7). As alterações funcionais da junção esôfagogástrica, esôfago e diafragma foram avaliadas através da manometria esofágica e vídeo-fluoroscopia diafragmática; presença de refluxo gastroesofágico por dados subjetivos (pirose e regurgitação) e objetivos (dados pHmétricos e endoscópicos). Resultados: A prevalência da doença do refluxo gastroesofágico foi de 27,6%, sem diferença entre os grupos. Esta foi estatisticamente significante quando se comparou as médias da pressão da crura diafragmática (tetraplégico: 37,517,8; paraplégico: 26,67,2; p=0,048). Também teve significância em relação à prevalência de no mínimo um dos achados objetivos e/ou subjetivos de refluxo e/ou do peristaltismo esofágico (tetraplégico: 85,7%; paraplégico: 40%; p=0,011). Conclusões: A lesão medular no nível da inervação frênica não predispôs os tetraplégicos a um risco maior para desenvolver a doença do refluxo gastroesofágico. Paradoxalmente, a manometria mostrou uma contractilidade da crura diafragmática significantemente maior nos tetraplégicos. / Study design: Cross-sectional and non-experimental. Objective: To detect and compare functional abnormalities in the esophagus and esophagogastric junction in two groups with chronic spinal injuries, one with injuries at the phrenic innervation level and the other at upper thoracic levels, and to relate these to gastroesophageal reflux containment. Summary of background data: There are no studies on esophageal manometry with pH metering among spinal cord injury patients. Worldwide statistics reveal that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease among spinal cord injury patients is greater than among the general population, at around 22 to 27%. The "diaphragmatic crura" has been recognized as an important antireflux barrier and should functionally be considered to be a muscle separated from the costal diaphragm. However, doubts remain regarding whether this difference relates to its innervation. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 29 patients with complete spinal cord injuries: 14 quadriplegics (level C4) and 15 paraplegics (levels T1 to T7). Functional abnormalities of the esophagogastric junction, esophagus and diaphragm were investigated using esophageal manometry and diaphragmatic video fluoroscopy. Presence of gastroesophageal reflux was investigated subjectively (pyrosis and regurgitation) and objectively (pH metering and endoscopy). Results: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was 27.6%, without difference between the groups. This became statistically significant when the mean diaphragmatic crura pressures were compared (quadriplegics: 37.5  17.8; paraplegics: 26.6  7.2; p=0.048). It was also significant in relation to the prevalence of at least one of the objective and/or subjective reflux findings and/or esophageal peristaltism (quadriplegics: 85.7%; paraplegics: 40%; p=0.011). Conclusions: Spinal injury at the level of the phrenic innervation did not predispose the quadriplegics towards greater risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease. Paradoxically, manometry showed significantly greater crura contractility among the quadriplegics. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

A redução das perdas em sistemas de distribuição de água tem se tornado, além de uma questão ética, um determinante da eficiência e mesmo da sobrevivência das concessionárias destes serviços. A quantificação e determinação da natureza das vazões perdidas, que possuem relação íntima com as pressões de operação, são aspectos que ainda merecem análises mais profundas e práticas. Os parâmetros do modelo pressão-vazamento permitem o detalhamento das perdas físicas e foram obtidos por meio de calibrações para um setor de distribuição de água da cidade de Piracicaba, SP, em padrões hidráulicos distintos - sob hipótese de consumo noturno nulo (vazão mínima noturna), descargas de rede, patamares de pressão e sob consumo diurno dirigido pela pressão através de curvas encontradas na literatura e propostas. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que os valores dos parâmetros do modelo pressão-vazamento não são fixos, mas variam conforme o padrão hidráulico de operação da rede. Estudos acerca do parque de hidrômetros e seus desvios de indicação também foram realizados, em conjunto com uma análise das vazões típicas de abastecimento residencial, e apontaram para fortes erros de medição em razão do uso de reservatórios domiciliares. / Losses reduction on water supply networks came to be, beyond the ethical question, a condition for efficiency and even survival of enterprises which develop those services. Quantification and determination of the nature of leakage, which are closely related to operational pressure, are aspects which still claim for deeper and more practical analysis. Parameters to the pressure-leakage model allows to detail physical losses at one given system, and they were obtained throughout employment of distinct hydraulic patterns - minimal night flow (no usage), network flush situations, pressure levels and day usage driven by pressure from curves found on lectures and author\'s propositions - when proceeding calibration at a water supply section at the Piracicaba city, SP. Achieved results have shown that pressure-leakage model parameters values are not constant, but really change according to network\'s operational hydraulic pattern. Studies concerning section\'s water flow meters and its measuring deviation were also done, and joined to an analysis of typical patterns of home usage flows; they have pointed to huge metering errors because of employment of home reservoirs.

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire de thèse s’inscrivent dans le cadre des Systèmes de TransportIntelligents (STI). Bien que les premières études sur ces systèmes ont commencé dans les années 60, leurdéveloppement reposant sur les techniques de l’information et de la communication, a atteint sa maturitédans le début des années 80. Les STI, sont composés de différents systèmes et intègrent différents concepts(systèmes embarqués, capteurs intelligents, autoroutes intelligentes, . . .) afin d’optimiser le rendementdes infrastructures routières et répondre aux problèmes quotidiens des congestions. Ce mémoire présentequatre contributions dans le cadre du trafic routier et aborde les problèmes de l’estimation et de lacommande afin d’éliminer les problèmes de congestions « récurrentes ». Le premier point traite unproblème crucial dans le domaine des STI qui est celui de l’estimation. En effet, la mise en oeuvre delois de commande pour réguler le trafic impose de disposer de l’ensemble des informations concernantl’évolution de l’état du trafic. Dans ce contexte, deux algorithmes d’estimation sont proposés. Le premierrepose sur l’emploi du modèle METANET et les techniques de modes de glissement d’ordre supérieur. Lesecond est basé sur les CTM (Cell Transmission Models). Plusieurs études comparatives avec les filtresde Kalman sont proposées. La seconde contribution concerne la régulation du trafic. L’accent est mis surle contrôle d’accès isolé en utilisant les algorithmes issus du mode de glissement d’ordre supérieur. Cettecommande est enrichie en introduisant une commande intégrée combinant le contrôle d’accès et le routagedynamique. L’ensemble des résultats, validé par simulation, est ensuite comparé aux stratégies classiquesnotamment le contrôle d’accès avec l’algorithme ALINEA. La troisième contribution traite des problèmesde coordination. En effet, l’objectif est d’appliquer le principe de la commande prédictive pour contrôlerplusieurs rampes d’accès simultanément. L’ensemble des contributions ont été validées en utilisant desdonnées réelles issues en grande partie de mesures effectuées sur des autoroutes françaises. Les résultatsobtenus ont montré un gain substantiel en termes de performances tels que la diminution du trajet, dutemps d’attente, de la consommation énergétique, ainsi que l’augmentation de la vitesse moyenne. Cesrésultats permettent d’envisager plusieurs perspectives nouvelles de développement des recherches dansce domaine susceptibles d’apporter des solutions intéressantes. / The works presented in this PhD dissertation fit into the framework of Intelligent TransportationSystems. Although the beginnings of these systems have started since the 60s, their development, basedon information and communication technologies, has reached maturity during the early 80s. The ITS usesthe intelligence of different systems (embedded systems, intelligents sensors, intelligents highways, etc.)in order to optimize road infrastructures performances and respond to the daily problems of congestions.The dissertation presents four contributions into the framework of road traffic flow and tackles theestimation and control problems in order to eliminate or at least reduce the “recurrent" congestionsphenomena. The first point treats the problem of traffic state estimation which is of most importance inthe field of ITS. Indeed, the implementation and performance of any control strategy is closely relatedto the ability to have all needed information about the traffic state describing the dynamic behavior ofthe studied system. Two estimation algorithms are then proposed. The first one uses the “metanet"model and high order sliding mode techniques. The second is based on the so-called Cell TransmissionModels. Several comparative studies with the Kalman filters, which are the most used in road traffic flowengineering, are established in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. Thethree other contributions concern the problem of traffic flow control. At first, the focus is on the isolatedramp metering using an algorithm based on the high order sliding mode control. The second contributiondeals with the dynamic traffic routing problem based on the high order sliding mode control. Such controlstrategy is enriched by introducing the concept of integration, in the third contribution. Indeed, integratedcontrol consists of a combination of several traffic control algorithms. In this thesis the proposed approachcombines an algorithm of on-ramp control with a dynamic traffic routing control. The obtained results arevalidated via numerical simulations. The validated results of the proposed isolated ramp metering controlare compared with the most used ramp metering strategy : ALINEA. Finally, the last contributiontreats the coordination problems. The objective is to coordinate several ramps which cooperate andchange information in order to optimize the highway traffic flow and reduce the total travel time in theapplied area. All these contributions were validated using real data mostly from French freeways. Theobtained results show substantial gains in term of performances such as travel time, energetic consumptiondecreasing, as well as the increasing in the mean speed. These results allow to consider several furtherworks in order to provide more interesting and efficient solutions in the ITS field.

The aim of this thesis is on selected locations to assess the actual condition of drinking water losses from water mains and propose option to reduce them.

This Master’s thesis deals with design of a new method for voltage quality benchmarking using voltage quality index. This index should determinate total voltage quality in the power grid and compare voltage quality in different places. There is design of several algorithms which value measured parameters in this thesis. The best suitable algorithm is selected. Program for this algorithm was compiled in GUI Matlab. The algorithm is verified by using measured parameters in this program. The last part of this thesis is focused on possible usage of created algorithm.

The presented thesis deals with lane merging at lane drops. The theory of traffic flow is briefly introduced and put into the perspective of lane merging. Forming of queues at lane drops, the capacity drop and traffic flow behaviour at lane merging is explained. A review of existing measures at lane drops at work zones and elsewhere is provided. Measurements of traffic flow from three different locations are presented. The locations are introduced, the methods used for analysis of the data are explained and the results are provided and discussed. The capacity drop is confirmed and the first proof of concept of the later introduced metering system is presented. The behaviour of the merging drivers was found to have a significant influence on the merging capacity during congestion. Further, an overview of existing applications of traffic light in traffic flow control is provided and ramp metering and mainstream metering is explained. The new metering system for lane drops is presented including several possible modifications and extensions. Finally, the proposed metering system is tested in microsimulation software Aimsun. The simulations further confirm the viability of such systems. It brings significant capacity improvements and consequently even greater improvements of delays and travel times due to shorter queues.

Intresset för småskaliga vindkraftverk på byggnader har ökat under de senaste åren. Allt fler människor blir mer energi- och miljömedvetna samt ser fördelarna med att elektriciteten produceras där den konsumeras; i den bebyggda miljön. Det är dock en större utmaning att installera ett vindkraftverk i urban miljö, jämfört med i öppet landskap, då det finns många faktorer som skall beaktas. Stadens komplexa uppbyggnad gör att vindens hastighet och riktning varierar och ger upphov till turbulenta strukturer i den omgivande luften. Många av dagens vindkraftverk kan ej operera effektivt vid turbulens, därför måste dessa vindkraftverken placeras på höga höjder för att nå den laminärt strömmande vinden över staden, vilket ger orealistiska längder på de master som krävs, även om vindkraftverket monteras på en byggnad. För att kunna utnyttja de vindar som uppkommer i urbana miljöer bör vertikalaxlade vindkraftverk med en helixformad geometri på rotorn användas. Dessa har visat sig vara både de effektivaste och de vindkraftverk som utsätter omgivningen för lägst nivå av störningar. Att placera ett vindkraftverk på en byggnad i urban miljö, där många människor vistas, kräver god kunskap om säkert montage samt vilka störningar som vindkraftverket kan generera. Ett vindkraftverk som monteras felaktigt kan bidra till hälso- och säkerhetsrisker, och om dessa risker blir för stora kan vindkraftverket tvingas att tas ur drift. För att vara säker på att vindkraftsanläggningen är tillförlitligt bör vindkraftverket och montaget vara stadardiserat och certifierat, något som i dagsläget saknas i Sverige. I dag finns inga direkta stöd för småskaliga vindkraftverk i Sverige, vilket är en bidragande faktor till att ekonomin kring dessa vindkraftverk är bristfällig. Elcertifikatsystemet som skall ge stöd åt förnyelsebar energi är inte utformat för småskalig elproduktion. Men i takt med att detta användningsområde för vindkraft utvecklas samt att priset för energi förväntas stiga kommer troligtvis byggnadsmonterade vindkraftverk bli en lönsam investering i framtiden. / The interest for small-scale wind turbines mounted on buildings has increased during the last couple of years. More and more people are giving more consideration to energy and environmental questions and are appreciative of the benefits of producing electricity where it is consumed; in the urban environment. However it is a greater challenge to install a wind turbine in the urban environment, compared to an open landscape, because of the many factors that needs to be taken in consideration. The complex structure of the city has an effect on the speed and direction of the wind and causes turbulent structures in the surrounding air. Many of today’s wind turbines cannot operate effectively in turbulence, this is why these turbines need to be placed on high heights to reach the laminar wind flow over the city, which gives unrealistic lengths of the towers that are required, even if the turbine is mounted on a building. To be able to utilize the existing wind in urban environments a vertical axis wind turbine with a helix shaped rotor should be used. These turbines have shown themselves to not only be the most effective but also the turbines that expose the surroundings to the lowest level of disturbances. To place a wind turbine on a building in an urban environment, where a lot of people reside, requires a good knowledge of how to securely mount the turbine but also what kind of disturbances that a turbine can emit. A turbine that is mounted incorrectly can contribute to health and safety hazards, and if these risks become to great the turbine may be forced to be taken out of operation. To be certain that the wind turbine and its components are trustworthy the turbine and mounting should be standardized and certified, a feature that don’t exist today in Sweden.  Currently there is no direct support scheme for small-scale wind turbines in Sweden, which is a contributing factor to the inadequate economics surrounding these wind turbines. The Swedish system with certificates is meant to give support renewable energy but the system is not suited for small-scale production of electricity.  But the more this field of application for wind turbines develops, together with the assumption of rising cost of energy will most likely make building mounted wind turbines a profitable investment in the future.

Oscillating positive displacement pumps are used in many industrial sectors. Mechanical stroke generators / drives such as crank drive, spring-cam drive etc have reached a high technological level, but to which are set mechanical limits. Especially in the smallest dosing range <1 l/h at a pressure range from 100 … 400 bar considerable optimisation is still required with regard to precision and continuity / control range of the dosing flow. In order to expand the current application possibilities for the diaphragm metering pump technology, it is necessary to use new drive systems such as linear motor technology. A linear motor is an electric drive unit which transmits the oscillating delivery movement of the dosing pumps directly to the displacer (hydraulic piston, diaphragm, etc.) without any mechanics, so that highly dynamic movements can be carried out with maximum precision, an individual kinematic profile and a control range of 1:200. The examples of gas odorization and filling processes show how the linear motor drive can be used to technologically solve and even optimize the customer's process requirements. The linear motor pump can realize an integrated 3-parameter control and is therefore suitable for almost any kinematically solvable dosing task.