För att upptäcka defekta luftmunstycken har Ecco FinishingABi Skara tagit fram en ny provutrustning som ska ersätta en otillförlitlig och osäker befintlig provmaskin. Ecco Fi-nishing AB vill hitta en tillförlitlig och säker mätmetod som ska mäta mängd vatten i 50 provrör. Examensarbetets övergripande mål är att hitta en noggrann och repeterbarmätmetod för nivåmätning av vätska i provrören. Två mätmetoder utvärderades som är mest lämpliga för nivåmätningen, visionsystem och mätning genom vägning. Anledningen till att valet ham-nade på dessa två mätmetoder är provutrustningens provrör, dels att det är många mätpunkter och för att det är små provrör. Det gjordes tjugo experiment för visionsystem och tjugoex-periment för vägningsmetodför att utvärdera och beskriva för -och nackdelar. Experimenten av visionsystem och vägning gjordes först i laborationsfas för att sedan testas på företagets befintliga provutrustning. Resultaten av mätningar sparades i ett Excel-ark som användes för att utvärdera insamlade data. Utvärderingarna jämfördes mot uppsatta mål, tillförlitlighet, noggrannhet, repeterbarhet, automatisk rapportering av resultat och tid för mätningen. Vis-ionsystem rekommenderas för fortsatt arbete och implementation på den befintliga provut-rustningen. / To detect defective air nozzles, Ecco Finishing AB in Skara has developed a new test equip-ment to replace an unreliable and uncertain existing test machine. Ecco Finishing AB wants to find a reliable and safe measurement method that will measure the amount of water in 50 test tubes. The overall goal of the thesis is to find a precise and repeatable measurement method for level measurement of fluid in the test tubes. Two measurement methods were evaluated that are most suitable for level measurement, vision systems and measurement by weighing. The reason for the choice of these two measurement methods is the test tubes of the test equipment, and that there are many measuring points and because of the small test tubes. Twenty experiments for vision systems and twenty experiments for weighingmethodwere made to evaluate and describe pros and cons. The experiments of vision systems and weighing were first made in the laboratory phase and then tested on the company's existing test equipment. The results of measurements were saved in an Excel sheet used to evaluate collected data. The evaluations were compared to set goals, reliability, accuracy, repeatabil-ity, automatic reporting of results and time of measurement. Vision systems are recom-mended for continued work and implementation on the existing test equipment

A crescente demanda por biocombustíveis e a concorrência dos combustíveis fósseis torna necessária a otimização dos meios já existentes e o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para produção de biocombustíveis, principalmente em projetos envolvendo biorreatores e fotobiorreatores (FBR) industriais. A dinâmica dos fluidos computacional (CFD) vem sendo utilizada em vários trabalhos para o estudo de parâmetros fluidodinâmicos que podem influenciar no rendimento dos processos químicos envolvidos, como tensão de cisalhamento, perfis de velocidade, tempo de residência e a influência da geometria sobre esses parâmetros. Contudo, não existe ainda um número abrangente de trabalhos que utilize técnicas de otimização acopladas com a resolução numérica do problema fluidodinâmico. Em alguns estudos, algoritmos de otimização são utilizados para determinar os melhores coeficientes das reações químicas. No entanto, não há estudos, até o momento, que reportem a otimização multiobjetivo simultânea dos parâmetros geométricos e do escoamento aplicados a equipamentos da indústria sucro-energética. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho de pesquisa tem como objetivo contribuir para o avanço científico e tecnológico através da implementação de um software aberto (PyCFD-O) que permita o acoplamento CFD-otimização e o desenvolvimento das bases de uma metodologia de projeto otimizado bem como de operação de biorreatores e FBRs de escala industrial. O PyCFD-O foi testado em dois estudos de caso que podem ser estendidos a um fermentador contínuo e um FBR. Os parâmetros geométricos de ambos os reatores foram otimizados de forma a minimizar simultaneamente a tensão de cisalhamento e a variância da distribuição do tempo de residência. O software PyCFD-O mostrou-se robusto, revelando que o processo global de otimização realiza de fato a busca pela fronteira de Pareto. Além da obtenção das geometrias otimizadas, também foram discutidos a influência dos parâmetros geométricos na hidrodinâmica do escoamento em ambos os casos. / The growing demand for biofuels and its competition with fossil fuels create the need to optimize the existing resources and development of new technologies for production of biofuels, particularly in projects involving industrial bioreactors and photobioreactors (PBR). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used in several studies for the study of fluid dynamics parameters that can influence the performance of the chemical process involved, such as shear stress, velocity profiles, residence time and the influence of these parameters on the reactor geometry. However, there are lacks of studies that utilize optimization techniques coupled with the numerical resolution of the fluid dynamic problem. The use of optimization algorithms has been reported in some cases, but there have not been reports on studies combining the optimization of flow parameters and multiobjective algorithms to choose ideal geometric parameters applied to the equipment of the sugar-energy industry. In this context, this research project aims to contribute to the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge trhough the implementation of open source software (PyCFD-O) for the CFD-optimization coupling and the development of the bases of a methodology for optimal design and operation of industrial scale bioreactors and PBR. The PyCFD-O software was tested in two case studies with characteristics that can be extended to a continuos fermenter and PBR. The geometric parameters of both reactors were simultaneously optimized in order to minimize the shear stress and the variance of residence time distribuition. The PyCFD-O software showed robustness, revealing that overall optimization process actually performs the search of Pareto frontier. In addition to the geometry optimization, the influence of the geometrical parameters of the hydrodynamic of the flow was discussed in both case studies.

A new method for making software is stealthily gaining ground in the computer industry, offering a promise of better, cheaper software and the empowerment of the user. The open source movement could revolutionize the software industry...if it succeeds. Open source means software that you are allowed to copy, modify, and give to friends. Source code , the lists of instructions which tell computers how to run, is readily available, allowing you to look inside the workings of a program and change it to suit your needs. A group of programmers, companies, users, and activists have gathered in support of this empowering technology, seeking to persuade businesses and users that open source is the way to go. However, open source faces stiff challenges. The economic basis for the software industry is to charge users by the copy when they buy software. Copying and modification are illegal. The industry and its customers are so mired in this worldview that the idea of giving out a program's "recipe," along with a license to change or copy it at will, seems preposterous. Powerful players in the software industry, such as Microsoft, see open source as a threat to their bottom line, and have devoted their energies to discrediting and marginalizing the movement. Beginning from the assumption that cheap, reliable software that empowers the user is a good thing, this thesis looks at the claims made by advocates about the benefits of open source. I explore how the advocates make their case to the business world, the public, and government. I also look at ways in which the government could help bring about an open source revolution, using the policy tools of procurement, research funding, standards enforcement, and antitrust law. I conclude that programmers and public interest lobbyists must join forces to carry this revolution forward, and that the time for action is now, while Microsoft is on trial.

The geographic information systems (GIS) are great potential tools to support organizations management. The requirements for implantation and use of this system are computational (the hardware and software) and human resources. Due to the high cost of some systems and involvement of many professionals in the geoprocessment area, the implantation of these systems can become onerous. A possible solution to reduce costs is the development of geographic information systems capable to be remotely managed, through web interface and using free software and open source code tools. This work has for its objective the development of a multiusing system to publish georeferenced information to support management tasks. The system is based on a web visualization interface, made by free software and open source code tools; tools for data administration through web; platform independence in the client with web browser; database management system; tools to generate web maps to the InterNet and ways to create new queries through web. / Os sistemas de informações geográficas (SIG) são ferramentas de grande potencial para apoiar a gestão de organizações. A implantação e uso desses sistemas requerem, como requisitos fundamentais, recursos computacionais (hardware e software) e recursos humanos (pessoal qualificado). Devido ao custo elevado de alguns sistemas e envolvimento de muitos profissionais na área de geoprocessamento, a implantação destes sistemas pode se tornar onerosa. Uma possível solução para reduzir custos é o desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação geográfica capazes de serem administrados remotamente, através de interface web e da utilização de ferramentas de software livre e de código fonte aberto. Este trabalho tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de um sistema multiusuário para publicação de informações georreferenciadas para apoio à tomada de decisões. O sistema criado está baseado em: interface de visualização para web, construído a partir de ferramentas de software livre e código fonte aberto; mecanismo para criação de novas consultas através da web; mecanismo de administração dos dados através da web; independência de plataforma no cliente com o uso de navegador web; sistema de gerenciamento de banco de dados e ferramenta para geração de mapas através da Internet (webmaps).

A crescente demanda por biocombustíveis e a concorrência dos combustíveis fósseis torna necessária a otimização dos meios já existentes e o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para produção de biocombustíveis, principalmente em projetos envolvendo biorreatores e fotobiorreatores (FBR) industriais. A dinâmica dos fluidos computacional (CFD) vem sendo utilizada em vários trabalhos para o estudo de parâmetros fluidodinâmicos que podem influenciar no rendimento dos processos químicos envolvidos, como tensão de cisalhamento, perfis de velocidade, tempo de residência e a influência da geometria sobre esses parâmetros. Contudo, não existe ainda um número abrangente de trabalhos que utilize técnicas de otimização acopladas com a resolução numérica do problema fluidodinâmico. Em alguns estudos, algoritmos de otimização são utilizados para determinar os melhores coeficientes das reações químicas. No entanto, não há estudos, até o momento, que reportem a otimização multiobjetivo simultânea dos parâmetros geométricos e do escoamento aplicados a equipamentos da indústria sucro-energética. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho de pesquisa tem como objetivo contribuir para o avanço científico e tecnológico através da implementação de um software aberto (PyCFD-O) que permita o acoplamento CFD-otimização e o desenvolvimento das bases de uma metodologia de projeto otimizado bem como de operação de biorreatores e FBRs de escala industrial. O PyCFD-O foi testado em dois estudos de caso que podem ser estendidos a um fermentador contínuo e um FBR. Os parâmetros geométricos de ambos os reatores foram otimizados de forma a minimizar simultaneamente a tensão de cisalhamento e a variância da distribuição do tempo de residência. O software PyCFD-O mostrou-se robusto, revelando que o processo global de otimização realiza de fato a busca pela fronteira de Pareto. Além da obtenção das geometrias otimizadas, também foram discutidos a influência dos parâmetros geométricos na hidrodinâmica do escoamento em ambos os casos. / The growing demand for biofuels and its competition with fossil fuels create the need to optimize the existing resources and development of new technologies for production of biofuels, particularly in projects involving industrial bioreactors and photobioreactors (PBR). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used in several studies for the study of fluid dynamics parameters that can influence the performance of the chemical process involved, such as shear stress, velocity profiles, residence time and the influence of these parameters on the reactor geometry. However, there are lacks of studies that utilize optimization techniques coupled with the numerical resolution of the fluid dynamic problem. The use of optimization algorithms has been reported in some cases, but there have not been reports on studies combining the optimization of flow parameters and multiobjective algorithms to choose ideal geometric parameters applied to the equipment of the sugar-energy industry. In this context, this research project aims to contribute to the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge trhough the implementation of open source software (PyCFD-O) for the CFD-optimization coupling and the development of the bases of a methodology for optimal design and operation of industrial scale bioreactors and PBR. The PyCFD-O software was tested in two case studies with characteristics that can be extended to a continuos fermenter and PBR. The geometric parameters of both reactors were simultaneously optimized in order to minimize the shear stress and the variance of residence time distribuition. The PyCFD-O software showed robustness, revealing that overall optimization process actually performs the search of Pareto frontier. In addition to the geometry optimization, the influence of the geometrical parameters of the hydrodynamic of the flow was discussed in both case studies.

För att upptäcka defekta luftmunstycken har Ecco Finishing AB i Skara tagit fram en ny provutrustning som ska ersätta en otillförlitlig och osäker befintlig provmaskin. Ecco Fi-nishing AB vill hitta en tillförlitlig och säker mätmetod som ska mäta mängd vatten i 50 provrör. Examensarbetets övergripande mål är att hitta en noggrann och repeterbar mätmetod för nivåmätning av vätska i provrören. Två mätmetoder utvärderades som är mest lämpliga för nivåmätningen, visionsystem och mätning genom vägning. Anledningen till att valet ham-nade på dessa två mätmetoder är provutrustningens provrör, dels att det är många mätpunkter och för att det är små provrör. Det gjordes tjugo experiment för visionsystem och tjugo ex-periment för vägningsmetod för att utvärdera och beskriva för - och nackdelar. Experimenten av visionsystem och vägning gjordes först i laborationsfas för att sedan testas på företagets befintliga provutrustning. Resultaten av mätningar sparades i ett Excel-ark som användes för att utvärdera insamlade data. Utvärderingarna jämfördes mot uppsatta mål, tillförlitlighet, noggrannhet, repeterbarhet, automatisk rapportering av resultat och tid för mätningen. Vis-ionsystem rekommenderas för fortsatt arbete och implementation på den befintliga provut-rustningen. / To detect defective air nozzles, Ecco Finishing AB in Skara has developed a new test equip-ment to replace an unreliable and uncertain existing test machine. Ecco Finishing AB wants to find a reliable and safe measurement method that will measure the amount of water in 50 test tubes. The overall goal of the thesis is to find a precise and repeatable measurement method for level measurement of fluid in the test tubes. Two measurement methods were evaluated that are most suitable for level measurement, vision systems and measurement by weighing. The reason for the choice of these two measurement methods is the test tubes of the test equipment, and that there are many measuring points and because of the small test tubes. Twenty experiments for vision systems and twenty experiments for weighing method were made to evaluate and describe pros and cons. The experiments of vision systems and weighing were first made in the laboratory phase and then tested on the company's existing test equipment. The results of measurements were saved in an Excel sheet used to evaluate collected data. The evaluations were compared to set goals, reliability, accuracy, repeatabil-ity, automatic reporting of results and time of measurement. Vision systems are recom-mended for continued work and implementation on the existing test equipment.