In the process of electricity generation, water is used as the working fluid to transport energy from the fuel to the turbine. This water has to be ultrapure in order to reduce maintenance cost on the boilers. For the production of ultrapure water, a desalination process is used. This process consists of an ultrafiltration pretreatment section, two reverse osmosis stages and a continuous electrodeionisation stage. Reverse osmosis desalination plants are, however, inherently inefficient with a high specific energy consumption. In an attempt to improve the efficiency of low recovery seawater applications, energy recovery devices are installed on the brine outlet of the reverse osmosis stages. The energy recovery device recovers the energy that is released through the high pressure brine stream and reintroduces it to the system. The investigated desalination process has a fresh water feed with a salinity of 71 ppm and is operated at recoveries above 85%. The plant produces demineralised water at a salinity lower than 0.001ppm for the purpose of high pressure boiler feed. A thermodynamic analysis determined the Second Law efficiencies for the first and second reverse osmosis sections as 3.85% and 3.68% respectively. The specific energy consumption for the reverse osmosis plants is 353 Wh/m3 and 1.31 Wh/m3. This was used as the baseline for the investigation. An exergy analysis determined that energy is lost through the brine throttling process and that a pressure exchanging system can be installed on all reverse osmosis brine streams. Energy recovery devices are untested in high recovery fresh water applications due to the low brine pressure and low brine flow. It was determined that pressure exchanging systems can reduce the specific energy consumption of the first reverse osmosis stage with 12.2% whereas the second RO stage energy consumption can be improved with 7.7%. The Second Law efficiency can be improved by 25.6% for the first reverse osmosis stage while the efficiency is improved with 18.1% for the second stage. The optimal operating recovery for the PES is between 80% and 90%. / MIng (Chemical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In an attempt to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, a variety of research initiatives has focused on increasing the efficiency of conventional energy systems. One such approach is to use waste heat recovery to reclaim energy that is typically lost in the form of dissipative heat. An example of such reclamation is the use of waste heat recovery systems that take low-temperature heat and deliver cooling in space-conditioning applications. In this work, an ejector-based chiller driven by waste heat will be studied from the system to component to sub-component levels, with a specific focus on the ejector. The ejector is a passive device used to compress refrigerants in waste heat driven heat pumps without the use of high grade electricity or wear-prone complex moving parts. With such ejectors, the electrical input for the overall system can be reduced or eliminated entirely under certain conditions, and package sizes can be significantly reduced, allowing for a cooling system that can operate in off-grid, mobile, or remote applications. The performance of this system, measured typically as a coefficient of performance, is primarily dependent on the performance of the ejector pump. This work uses analytical and numerical modeling techniques combined with flow visualization to determine the exact mechanisms of ejector operation, and makes suggestions for ejector performance improvement. Specifically, forcing the presence of two-phase flow has been suggested as a potential tool for performance enhancement. This study determines the effect of two-phase flow on momentum transfer characteristics inside the ejector while operating with refrigerants R134a and R245fa. It is found that reducing the superheat at motive nozzle inlet results in a 12-13% increase in COP with a 14-16 K decrease in driving waste heat temperature. The mechanisms of this improvement are found to be a combination of two effects: the choice of operating fluid (wet vs. dry) and the effect of two-phase flow on the effectiveness of momentum transfer. It is recommended that ejector-based chillers be operated such that the motive nozzle inlet is near saturation, and environmentally friendly dry fluids such as R245fa be used to improve performance. This work provides critical methods for ejector modeling and validation through visualization, as well as guidance on measures to improve ejector design with commensurate beneficial effects on cooling system COP.

The research study focused on assessing implementation of the turnaround management strategies in a water board. The location of the study was a water board located in the economic heart of South Africa, Rand Water. The objectives of the study were; (a) to evaluate the turnaround plans implemented in the water sector, (b) to uncover success factors attained when undertaking turnaround plans, (c) to assess selected case studies dealing with the turnaround management strategies in selected industries, and lastly (e) to derive an understanding on determinants and factors that cut across the turnaround plans. The research approach that premised the study was quantitative methodology, which involved distribution of questionnaires as part of field work in the water board. The questionnaires were analysed through statistical approach, and further linked back to the problem statement posed to the research study. Some assumptions were utilized for conducting the research project, including the statistically acceptable sample. The area of focus in the water board was Strategic Asset Management Division which was selected because of its huge impact in the planning and execution of the capital projects. Infrastructure or capital projects form the core of the business sustainability; they ensure the future of the water as well as the region of the country. Various literatures were reviewed pertaining to the turnaround management strategies and certain inferences were made. The results provide interesting relationships between variables that can be explored further. There were certain biases that were obtained, and in certain cases there was no relationships between variables and in most cases there were positive relationships. The turnaround management strategies are extensively carried out across the industries. It can be concluded from the research study that there are certain phenomenona that can be derived from the turnaround plans. It can also be deduced that certain factors or determinants demonstrate a better behaviour than others when tested in the turnaround management environment. Models can be developed utilizing regression tools pertaining to the turnaround plans and adaptation of these models based on conditions or certain unique aspects is recommended to be done. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

My thesis will begin to examine alcoholism and recovery through the lens of moral injury, especially in relationship to the use of spirituality language and the often-invoked correlation between spirituality and sobriety. Through a literature review and interviews with abstaining alcoholics, I will unpack some of the implications of considering alcoholism through the lens of moral injury and begin to frame and examine some of the questions inherent in that consideration. By so doing, I hope to offer a fresh look into those aspects of recovery that fall within the Religious Studies purview.

Dissolution of cellulose is an important but complicated step in biofuel production fromlignocellulosic materials. Steam and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) explosion are two effective methods for dissolution of some lignocellulosic materials. Loading and explosion are the major processes of these methods. Studies of these processes were performed using grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations at different pressure/ temperature conditions on the crystalline structure of cellulose. The COMPASS force field was used for both methods.The validity of the COMPASS force field for these calculations was confirmed by comparingthe energies and structures obtained from this force field with first principles calculations.The structures that were studied are cellobiose (the repeat unit of cellulose), water–cellobiose, water-cellobiose pair and CO2-cellobiose pair systems. The first principles methods were preliminary based on B3LYP density functional theory with and without dispersion correction.A larger disruption of the cellulose crystal structure was seen during loading than that during the explosion process. This was seen by an increased separation of the cellulose chains from the centre of mass of the crystal during the initial stages of the loading, especially for chains in the outer shell of the crystalline structure. The ends of the cellulose crystal showed largerdisruption than the central core; this leads to increasing susceptibility to enzymatic attack in these end regions. There was also change from the syn to the anti torsion angle conformations during steam explosion, especially for chains in the outer cellulose shell. Increasing the temperature increased the disruption of the crystalline structure during loading and explosion. / Akademisk avhandling som för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen vid Chalmers tekniska högskola försvaras vid offentlig disputation den 10 oktober 2014,klockan 13.00 i KS101-salen, Kemigården 4, Göteborg.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Realisation of the depletable nature of fossil fuel has increased the need for its optimal use. Increasing global pressure to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and other harmful gases that affect the chemical cycles or destroy the greenhouse gases in the tropospheric ozone, has attracted a increased worldwide concern. Waste heat recovery devices have been around for more than 50 years and researches and scientists have been very much involved in identifying the correct type of systems to meet the requireme?ts of industries and mankind more efficiently. Waste heat can be identified in the form of unburned but combustible fuel, sensible heat discharges in drain water, and latent and sensible heat discharge in exhaust gases. In this project the feasibility of a small scale waste heat recovery system has been investigated. Sets of preliminary investigations were performed to evaluate the amount of waste heat that can be extracted from the exhaust gases of typical diesel powered truck engines. A waste heat recovery unit was designed, implemented and evaluated through simulation and experimental investigations. Preliminary calculations were performed usmg the readings presented by Koorts (1998) for a typical 6-litre diesel engine. The calculations showed that it is possible to extract about 77kW of waste heat from the exhaust gases from such an engine. A simple Rankine cycle was then investigated to be operated on the waste heat recovered. The optimal parameters for such a Rankine cycle was determined using a spreadsheet program and was found to be an optimal pressure of 800kPa with a temperature of 227.2°C and a water mass flow rate of 0.0015kgls as the working fluid. For such a Rankine cycle, based on the efficiencies of commercially available pumps, turbines and heat exchangers it was found that it is possible to extract 2782kW of power per unit mass flow rate of water. The next stage of the project was designing and implementing an exhaust gas pipe network from the engine test cells at the Centre for Automotive Engineering (CAE) located on the ground floor to the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at the first floor. This pipe network was equipped with a valve system that can be operated from the ESL and allows the selection of the route of the exhaust gases and two bellows to compensate for thermal expansion. A continuous combustion unit was also linked to the exhaust gas supply pipes as an alternative source of exhaust gases. The waste heat exchanger designed and selected was purchased and linked into the exhaust gas stream after calibration tests were carried out on the same in the wind tunnel. The water supply and a steam separator were then connected to the waste heat exchanger. In the final experimental stage of the project, two sets of tests were carried out. The first set of tests was performed using exhaust gases from the continuous combustion unit and the second using exhaust gases from the internal combustion engines in CAE. Superheated steam was obtained in both cases indicating the possibility of operating a turbine with the dry steam generated. With exhaust gases originating from the continuous combustion unit, an air fuel ratio of9.14:1 was used and exhaust gases at a temperature of 540°C were obtained with an air inflow of 1400kglh and a fuel consumption rate of7.11 kg/h. The exhaust gases degraded to 360°C at the waste heat recovery inlet due to losses through the bare pipes. 11.12kW of energy was extracted from the exhaust gases to the water stream with an efficiency of 98%. With the exhaust gases from the 10-litre diesel internal combustion engine, an exhaust gas flow rate of O.22kgls was used and with a heat transfer efficiency of 89%, 18.5kW of power was extracted at the waste heat recovery unit. This represents a 4.9% of the thermal content of the fuel used. A rate of energy production balance on the internal combustion engine showed that 34% is lost in exhaust gases and 29% in coolant and other losses while only 37% is used produced as shaft power. The results obtained therefore show that there is ample room for further investigation for the use afwaste heat in exhaust gases of typical diesel engines. It can therefore be concluded that the aims of the project that were to set up a testing facility and an exhaust gas pipe network and evaluation of a small scale waste heat recovery apparatus were achieved. The tests performed can still be optimised with more waste heat removal from the exhaust gases of typical diesel truck engines and hence better recovery of waste heat and a reduction of fuel consumption. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die besef van die kwynende beskikbaarheid van fosielbrandstof het die behoefte vir die optimale benutting van die brandstof toegeneem. Toenemende globale druk om die emissies van groenhuis gasse en ander gevaarlike gasse wat chemiese siklusse beïnvloed in die troposfeer te verrniner, geniet wêreldwye aandag. Oorskotenergie-toestelle is alreeds beskikbaar die afgelope 50 jaar en navorsers en wetenskaplikes was tot op hede betrokke met die identifisering van die korrekte tipe sisteme om meer effektief aan die industrie en samelewing se behoeftes te voldoen. Oorskotenergie bestaan uit onder andere onverbrande maar brandbare brandstof, voelbare warmte in dreinwater, en latente en voelbare warmte in uitlaatgasse. In hierdie projek word die lewensvatbaarheid van 'n kleinskaal oorskotenergie herwinningsisteem ondersoek. Voorlopige ondersoeke was gedoen om die hoeveelheid oorskotenergie te bepaal wat herwin kan word uit die uitlaatgasse van 'n tipiese 6 liter vragmotor dieselenjin. 'n oorskotenergie herwinningseenheid was ontwerp, geïmplimenteer en ge-evalueer deur similasies en eksperimentele ondersoeke. Voorlopige berekeninge was uitgevoer op data wat deur Koorts (1998) saamgestel is vir 'n tipiese vragmotor dieselenjin. Die berekeninge toon dat dit moontlik is om ongeveer 77kW oorskotenergie van die uitlaatgasse van so enjin te onttrek. Die moontlikheid was toe ondersoek om die herwinne energie te gebruik om 'n eenvoudige Rankine siklus aan te dryf. Die optimale parameters vir die Rankine siklus was bereken deur van 'n sigblad program gebruik te maak en dit was gevind dat die optimale druk is 800kPa, die optimale temperatuur is 227.2°C teen 'n water massa vloeitempo van 0.0015kg/s. Vir so 'n Rankine siklus, gebaseer op die effektiwiteit van kommersiële beskikbare pompe, turbines en warmteruilers, was dit gevind dat dit moontlik is om 2782kW drywing per eenheidsmassa vloeitempo van water, te onttrek. Die volgende stadium van die projek was die ontwerp en implimentering van 'n uitlaatgas pypnetwerk vanaf die toetsselle van die Centre for Automotive Engineering (CAE) op die grondvloer na die Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) op die eerste vloer. Die pypnetwerk was toegerus gewees met 'n kleptstelsel wat vanaf ESL bedryf kan word en wat dit moontlik maak om die roete van die uitlaatgasse te beheer. Twee samedrukbare koppelstukke was ook ingesluit in die lang reguit pypseksie om vir termiese uitsetting te kompenseer. 'n Aaneenlopende verbrandingseenheid was ook gekoppel met die uitlaatgasse toevoerpype as 'n alternatiewe bron van uitlaatgasse. Die oorskotenergie warmteruiier wat ontwerp en geselekteer was, was aangekoop en opgekoppel met die uitlaatgas-stroom nadat kalibrasie toetse op die warmteruiier gedoen was in 'n windtonnel. Die watertoevoer en 'n stoomskeier was gekoppel aan die oorskotenergie warmteruiler. Twee toetse was uitgevoer in die finale eksperimentele stadium van die projek. Die eerste stel toetse was uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van die uitlaatgasse van die aaneenlopende verbrandingseenheid en met die tweede toets is van die uitlaatgasse van die interne verbrandingsenjins van CAE gebruik gemaak. Oorverhitte stoom was verkry in beide gevalle en wys dus dat daar 'n moontlikheid is om 'n turbine met droë stoom aan te dryf. 'n Lug tot brandstof verhouding van 9.14 : 1 was gebruik gewees in die aaneenlopende verbrandingseenheid om uitlaatgasse te verskaf teen 540°C. Die massavloeitempo van die lug was 1400kg/h en die brandstof 7.11kg/h. Die uitlaatgasse se temperatuur het afgeneem tot 360°C tot voor die oorskotenergie herwinningseenheid as gevolg van hitteverliese vanaf die ongeïsoleerde pypnetwerk. 11.12kW energy was onttrek vanaf die uitlaatgasse en oorgedra aan die waterstroom met 'n effektiwiteit van 98%. Die 10 liter diesel interne verbrandingsenjin het uitlaatgas gelewer met 'n massa vloeitempo van O.22kg/s. 18.5kW energie was herwin gewees met 'n effektiwiteit van 89%. Dit verteenwoording 4.9% van die termiese inhoud van die brandstof gebruik. 'n Energie balans op die interne verbrandingsenjin het getoon dat 34% energie gaan verlore in die uitlaatgasse, 29% word aan die verkoelingsmiddeloorgedra en 37% is bruikbare meganiese drywing. Die resultate wat verkry is, wys daarop dat daar nog groot ruimte is vir verdere ondersoeke in die gebruik van oorskotenergie in uitlaatgasse van tipiese vragmotor dieselenjins. Die gevolgtrekking kan dus gemaak word dat die doelwitte van die projek naamlik die opstel van 'n toetsfasiliteit, installering van 'n uitlaatgasse pypnetwerk en die toets van a kleinskaalse oorskotenergie herwinningseenheid, bereik was. Die toetse wat uitgevoer was kan nog ge-optimeer word om meer energie te herwin vanaf die uitlaatgasse van 'n tipiese vragmotor dieselenjin om sodoende beter brandstofverbruik te bewerkstellig.

We have made qualitative interviews with five respondents who were on sick leave in more than six months and then returned and came back to work fully. Those we have interviewed have been on sick leave for different diagnoses. We want to study how social relationships within the private- and working- life contributes to recovery, for people who are on long-term sick leave, and how the factors contributes for that person to return to work. In our respondents privacy life we want to see the importance of relations with friends and acquaintances have for recovery. In the workplace we look for the importance of our respondent’s employer and colleagues have for their recovery. Our respondents declare recovery as a process where the individual needs of sick leave should be in focus. Our results have revealed that the participation of the sick leave of these aforementioned groups have a positive effect on recovery. When our respondents have addressed the nature and “Försäkringskassan” as important recovery factors has this also been included in our study.   Key words: Sick, recovery, social relations, responding

Today the use of resources in the industry are not complete to be considered as sustainable from the perspective of nutrient recovery. In the Swedish pulp and paper industry residual streams such as bark, fiber reject and sludge are returned for more sustainable use more frequently. Around 300 000-600 000 tons of sludge is generated every year from different cleaning processes in the pulp and paper industry. About 15 % of that sludge is so called biosludge that is a result from biological water treatment, where large amounts of phosphorus are used. After the cleaning process the total amount of biosludge generated in Sweden each year is estimated to contain approximately 2000 tons of phosphorus (P). The most common way to discard the biosludge today is by incineration, where aspects such as high content of moisture and ash have proven to be problematic. Besides phosphorus, other elements such as sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl) and calcium (Ca) are often found in the biosludge in larger amounts.   This study included co-combustion experiments of current residual streams from the pulp and paper mill SCA Obbola AB where the aim was to investigate how the ash transformation chemistry was affected. The residual streams comprised of bark, fiber reject and biosludge which were combusted together with stem wood in a bench scaled bubbling fluidized bed. To investigate if different ash related operating and technical problems could be reduced and if there was potential of phosphorus recycling from the ashes, produced ash and other samples were examined by SEM/EDS. The fuel mix from SCA Obbola consisted of large amounts of Ca, S and P relative to more ordinary biomass fuels like stem wood. These elements originated from the biosludge and was confirmed by the fuel analysis. Analysis made on collected samples showed that Ca and P together formed phosphates that either stayed in the bed or was collected in the cyclone which indicated that there could be a potential for recovering phosphorus. Although, the Ca/P ratio in the ashes was too high, which probably leads to that phosphates unsuitable for nutrient recovery are formed.   The fiber reject from SCA Obbola contained large amounts of chlorine according to the fuel analysis which was indicated from the results later in the study. During the combustion most of the Cl left the bottom ash via volatilization. It was true for both the fuel blends with and without fiber reject. When larger amounts of biosludge was added to the fuel mix less of the corrosive compound potassium chloride (KCl) was found in depositions and collected fine particulate matter (PM). This was due to that more sulfur was added in the system when the amount of biosludge was increased which lead to that K reacted with SO2 instead of Cl and formed K2SO4. The observed reduction of KCl resulted in; 1) lower amounts of fine particulate matter which means less loaded particulate filters 2) less risk of high temperature corrosion on heat transfer surfaces. The general conclusion that could be drawn from this study was that by increasing the amount of biosludge in the fuel blend at already high mixings of fiber reject, problems such as corrosion and fine particulate matter could be reduced. These advantages must be considered to the amount of lime stone needed to be added for reducing HCl from a cost perspective.

This study aims to investigate the effects of ventilation rate, indoor air temperature, humidity and using a heat recovery ventilation system on indoor radon concentration and distribution. Methods employed include energy dynamic and computational fluid dynamics simulation, experimental measurement and analytical investigations. Experimental investigations primarily utilize a continuous radon meter and a detached house equipped with a recovery heat exchanger unit. The results of the dynamic simulation show that the heat recovery unit is cost-effective for the cold Swedish climate and an energy saving of about 30 kWh per  floor area per year is possible, while it can be also used to lower radon level. The numerical results showed that ventilation rate and ventilation location have significant impacts on both radon content and distribution, whereas indoor air temperature only has a small effect on radon level and distribution and humidity has no impact on radon level but has a small impact on its distribution.

Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) or Surfactant-Polymer (SP) flooding are attractive chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. However, some reservoir conditions are not favorable for the use of polymers or their use would not be economically attractive due to low permeability, high salinity, or some other unfavorable factors. In such conditions, gas can be an alternative to polymer for improving displacement efficiency in chemical-EOR processes. The co-injection or alternate injection of gas and chemical slug results in the formation of foam. Foam reduces the relative permeability of injected chemical solutions that form microemulsion at ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) conditions and generates sufficient viscous pressure gradient to drive the foamed chemical slug. We have named this technique of foam assisted enhanced oil recovery as Alkali/Surfactant/Gas (ASG) process. The concept of ASG flooding as an enhanced oil recovery technique is relatively new, with very little experimental and theoretical work available on the subject. This dissertation presents a systematic study of ASG process and its potential as an EOR method. We performed a series of high performance surfactant-gas tertiary recovery corefloods on different core samples, under different rock, fluid, and process conditions. In each coreflood, foamed chemical slug was chased by foamed chemical drive. The level of mobility control in corefloods was evaluated on the basis of pressure, oil recovery, and effluent data. Several promising surfactants, with dual properties of foaming and emulsification, were identified and used in the coreflood experiments. We observed a strong synergic effect of foam and ultra-low IFT conditions on oil recovery in ASG corefloods. Oil recoveries in ASG corefloods compared reasonably well with oil recoveries in ASP corefloods, when both were conducted under similar conditions. We found that the negative salinity gradient concept, generally applied to chemical floods, compliments ASG process by increasing foam strength in displacing fluids (slug and drive). A characteristic increase in foam strength was observed, in nearly all ASG corefloods conducted in this study, as the salinity first changed from Type II(+) to Type III environment and then from Type III to Type II(-) environment. We performed foaming and gas-microemulsion flow experiments to study foam stability in different microemulsion environments encountered in chemical flooding. Results showed that foam in oil/water microemulsion (Type II(-)) is the most stable, followed by foam in Type III microemulsion. Foam stability is extremely poor (or non-existent) in water/oil microemulsion (Type II (+)). We investigated the effects of permeability, gas and liquid injection rates (injection foam quality), chemical slug size, and surfactant type on ASG process. The level of mobility control in ASG process increased with the increase in permeability; high permeability ASG corefloods resulting in higher oil recovery due to stronger foam propagation than low permeability corefloods. The displacement efficiency was found to decrease with the increase in injection foam quality. We studied the effect of pressure on ASG process by conducting corefloods at an elevated pressure of 400 psi. Pressure affects ASG process by influencing factors that control foam stability, surfactant phase behavior, and rock-fluid interactions. High solubility of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the aqueous phase and accompanying alkali consumption by carbonic acid, which is formed when dissolved CO₂ reacts with water, reduces the displacement efficiency of the process. Due to their low solubility and less reactivity in aqueous phase, Nitrogen (N₂) forms stronger foam than CO₂. Finally, we implemented a simple model for foam flow in low-IFT microemulsion environment. The model takes into account the effect of solubilized oil on gas mobility in the presence of foam in low-IFT microemulsion environment. / text