This project has investigated the degradation of freshly harvested Willow chips, thermally treated wood pellets and white wood pellets in both indoor and outdoor storage. Novel research has been carried out, by combining a range of fuels, storage scenarios, stockpile sizes and weather/seasonal patterns. A wide spectrum of tests was regularly performed on the stored fuel samples, to determine the extent of chemical, mechanical and biological degradation. The storage trials have been divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2, with Phase 1 starting in April 2011 and Phase 2 in November 2011. The results showed that the extent of chemical degradation was not significant for the different fuels. The main concern for the Willow storage was the high concentration of different fungi on the chips and two pathogenic fungi were identified. In order to fully appreciate the deposition, inhalation and ingestion potential of fungal spores, the release mechanism of the spores from the wood fuels into the air would be recommended as future work. The indoor white wood pellet pile stored in an open barn suffered severe mechanical degradation and it would be therefore advisable to store white wood pellets in a fully enclosed environment with no exposure to ambient temperature and humidity. For the thermally treated pellets, the extent of degradation in the outdoor piles was far more significant than in the indoor one, with rainfall and humidity having an impact on the extent of degradation. Therefore, while the long term storage of thermally treated wood pellets in an open barn with covered storage would be a viable option; pellets stored in outdoor stockpiles would still be vulnerable to mechanical degradation. So outside storage of thermally treated pellets might be an option for short term strategic stocks, but in the majority of cases, covered storage would still be necessary.

Radical innovation has been identified as one of the central topics of innovation management, being relevant to the development process, the categories, and the R&D department’s responsibilities for development. Based on the above three individual research conversations, this research aimed to determine, when the R&D department of a large telecommunications operator engaged in radical innovation, which capabilities they used and how the use of these capabilities was affected by different contextual factors at each stage of the radical innovation development cycle. By comparing the aim of the current research with other researchers’ findings on relevant topics, three gaps in the research were identified, and two research questions were raised, as below: • RQ1: What capabilities do the R&D department of an STO use for each separate activity during its radical innovation development process? • RQ2: Within the radical innovation development process of an STO, which contextual factors explain the differential uses of the R&D department’s capabilities? Following the above research questions and based on the philosophical views of interpretivism and social constructivism, this PhD study uses a qualitative research strategy and a case study research approach for guiding the research design. Based on the data collected from 29 interviews plus a three-month, full-time participant observation, four case studies were conducted, which are the telematics service within China Mobile, the Xi-He system within China Telecom, and 21CN and BT Fusion within British Telecom (BT). By comparing the four cases, the R&D departments’ uses of capabilities in each separate activity of its radical innovation development cycle were identified, and the reasons for the different uses of these capabilities were described in relation to six contextual factors derived from the literature. Based on the four case studies and the data analysis, from the perspective of the R&D department eight theoretical propositions were put forward for an STO to develop its radical innovation. The propositions concerned the capabilities involved at each stage of the R&D department’s radical innovation development cycle, as well as the contextual factors that played the most significant roles in affecting these capabilities at all of the radical innovation development stages. In addition to the eight theoretical propositions, practically, five guidelines were also proposed in this study, which contributes to the understanding of the R&D managers and strategy people of other Chinese and British STOs, in terms of the impacts that the contextual factor of cultural contexts would have on their radical innovation development activities.

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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Increased operational costs and reductions in force size are two of the major factors driving the need for improved computer simulations within the military community. Human performance models are used in various aspects of simulation, including controlling computer generated forces, tactical decision aides, intelligent tutoring systems and new system design. This research makes a comparison between two categories of human performance models, multi-agent systems and rule-based architectures. Each type of model has its own strengths and weaknesses, and is therefore better suited for certain applications. Complex military simulations need human performance models that take advantage of the strengths of more than one type of model. The purpose of this research is to compare the implementation and performance of these two models, and to demonstrate the need for hybrid systems that employ the best aspects of models for a given situation. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Sound Dimension ämnar att starta upp utvecklingen av nästa produkt till deras varumärke aiFi. Idag är aiFi en smart högtalare som när flera placeras tillsammans skapar ett utbyggnadsbart ljudsystem. Sound Dimension söker nu nästa produkt till aiFi familjen och vill ha hjälp att ta fram ett koncept för denna. I kombination med utveckling av det nya konceptet vill de även ha hjälp med att identifiera problem kring användandet av dagens produkt och få förslag på hur dessa kan förbättras.   I rapporten behandlas produktutvecklingsprocessen av ett nytt koncept i kombination med användarstudier och implementering av förändringar i ett redan styrt formspråk. Projektet är ett examensarbete vid Karlstads universitet för högskoleingenjörsprogrammet i innovationsteknik och design, MSGC12. Projektet motsvarar 22.5hp och utförs vid fakulteten hälsa, natur- och teknikvetenskap. Rapporten är skriven av Wilhelm Lidström, handledare industridesigner Kristina Gullander och examinator professor Leo De Vin.   Under processen har skiss och modellarbete använts flitigt för att dokumentera processen och för att testa och visualisera olika idéer. Modeller har byggts både för att verifiera former och proportioner samt testa funktioner. Det slutliga konceptet presenteras i skiss, 3D-format med renderade bilder samt i form av en enkel fysisk prototyp.   Det slutliga konceptet utgår från att uppfylla den kravspecifikation som framkommit under projektet. Kravspecifikationen har skapats utifrån de krav och önskemål uppdragsgivaren hade på projektet, samt en gedigen förstudie innehållande en litteraturstudie kring intressanta områden projektet berör. Ett stort antal intervjuer genomförs med fokus på hur dagens produkt uppfattas och användarvänligheten, både utifrån befintliga användare och personer som aldrig tidigare varit i kontakt med produkten för att få en så bred bild som möjligt av uppfattningen om dagens produkt.   Resultatet är ett koncept med en form och storlek som gör den kompatibel med dagens produkt. Manöverpanelen har fått en ny position och ett förenklat gränssnitt vilket gör produkten tydligare både ur ett semantisktpersketiv och användarsynpunkt.

The silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and the downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh) are the most common broadleaved species in Swedish forests. Both species have a lot in common in appearance and are often misleadingly referred to simply as ”birch”. They have however different requirements and possibilities to grow on different sites. Downy birch grows well on moist and wet sites thanks to the fact that its roots are adapted to these type of environments. Silver birch has on the other hand the ability to grow on dry sites. Both species prefer soil moisture class somewhere in between wet and dry.   To be able to promote the correct birch species on each site, it is important to identify the two species during the clearing process. Both buds and shoots are characteristic for each species why those parts can be used to separate them. Buds from silver birch are pointy shaped and those from downy birch are round shaped. When it comes to shoots the silver birch has nubby shoots and the downy birch has hairy shoots.  The aim of this study was to a) investigate the occurrence of each of the two birch species on sites with different soil moisture class, b) investigate if it was possible to visually identify each species during clearing with a clearing saw and c) to find out if and how the height of the stand influenced the possibility of species identification. This study shows that it is possible to identify the two species. It is however important to start the clearing process at an early age, since the parts of the tree used for identification otherwise will grow beyond sight.  This is particularly important on moist sites, where both birch species regenerate willingly. In the long run, downy birch will have higher ability to develop high quality timber on these sites. In order to do that, the right stems must be chosen at each clearing occasion. It is important to start the clearing process at an early age, since the characteristic parts of the tree otherwise will grow beyond sight.  Keywords

Manufacturing companies are facing many challenges with globalisation, changing customer demands and technology development. In order to stay competitive, manufacturing companies have to constantly develop their processes and products, and at the same time generating innovations to meet future demands. This increasing demand for development is shifting the generation of innovations from single units to collaboration within the whole organisation. Technology roadmap is a strategic management tool to help organisations map the future and identify potential products and technology, determining needed resource allocations to meet future demands. Research regarding Technology roadmaps has previously been associated with exploratory innovations and development, not mentioning or discussing the use of it for exploitative development. This study will investigate Technology roadmaps for exploitative development, based on a single case study in a large high technology manufacturing company.  The results shows that manufacturing units have troubles with deciding appropriate detailed level in the map, and the purpose for exploitative development to illustrating what needs to be done in order to meet future demands, rather on aligning product development with long term business strategy that is associated with exploratory development. The findings from this study put the theoretical implications for Technology roadmap in a new categorization of Exploitative development and the need of research regarding different hierarchical roadmaps within an organisation. Practical implications from the study are highlighting challenges and purposes for exploitative development units to adapt and use technology roadmaps, and that there are major differences between exploratory development and exploitative development with designing and purpose of the technology roadmap.

This work has been carried out on behalf of and together with Falu Energi och Vatten. The purpose of the work was to study under what circumstances it´s economically profitable to expand the district heating network to residential area with electrical heating compared to keep it as it is today. The expansion of the district heating network will also be simulated to investigate if the existing dimensions of the network are big enough to provide enough heat after the expansion. In this work three different areas in Falun city area has been studied. Two areas (Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen and Digertäktsvägen) where there is no district heating today, and one area (residential district Haraldsbo) where a part of the area is connected to the district heating network and some are not. The study has been performed under the assumption that the production in the facilities are sufficient for providing also the new areas with heat without any need of new facilities. Another limitation that has been set is that only fuel costs will be taken into account in the production costs for district heating. From the calculations of the net present value for the three different areas with expansions of the district heating system, compared to the calculations of the net present value of keeping it as it is today showed that Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen will need to have at least 30-35% households connected to have the same or higher net present value. The corresponding values for Digertäktsvägen is 35-45% connected households and för Haraldsbo around 15% connected households. It was also examined how the connection rates influenced the prize for the households, if the net present value was going to be equal or bigger than for the present situation without any connection cost.  It was found that for Harladsbo where there already are some households with district heating only 15% of the today not connected needed to sign up for district heating and in the areas that does not have any district heating today (Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen and Digertäktsvägen) 50-70% needed to sign up for district heating. “Falu Energi och Vatten” calculations today demand a payback time of 12 years of the investment in the district heating infrastructure. To get that 30 -40% needed to connect in Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen and Digertäktsvägen, on Haraldsbo the connection rate had to be over 15%. The results from the simulations made on the district heating infrastructure showed that on Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen the network is sufficient to supply the whole area with heat at the dimensional outdoor temperature of -23°C, also with 100% connections on Haraldsbo the pressure difference, flow speed and pressure gradient are within the permitted span. Simulations of Haraldsbo showed that with a connection rate of 100% the pressure difference got to low in one corner of the area. If the connection rate instead is 50% at Haraldsbo the area manage to keep the pressure difference at an approved level of 160 kPa, if we then also connect 100% at Ritar-, and Skrivarvägen, the pressure difference sinks down to 100 kPa which is the absolute lowest that is permitted.

In Sweden, June 1, 2014, law 2014: 266 on energy mapping in large companies came into force. An energy mapping is a map of the company's energy use. It describes what type of energy carrier is used, electricity, district heating, fuel, and how big the consumption is. It also describes the part in which this energy is used within the company, for example in business or transport. The purpose of making an energy mapping is to get an overview of the consumption of energy in the company and to find possible actions to reduce the consumption and the cost for energy. This energy mapping deals with Norconsult's 18 offices operations in Sweden. The project also includes Norconsult Fältgeoteknik AB, a subsidiary of Norconsult. The result from the energy mapping was that the total energy consumption for the company 2016 was 3 588 MWh. The total cost of all consumed energy is estimated to approximately 3 100 000 SEK in 2016. The energy consumption of the company is divided into three different uses, district heating, electricity and transport. From the result the total use for the transport accounts for 56 percent of total consumption, 26 percent of transportation is Norconsult's consumption of gasoline and 20 percent is Norconsult Fältgeoteknik's consumption of diesel. 21 percent of the total consumption is electricity, and 20 percent is district heating.  Based on the overall energy use, examples for energy reductions have been made for the various areas, which has given an opportunity to improve energy use at the company Norconsult. The suggestions are presented below.  The Gothenburg office uses district heating and district cooling. For several months in 2016, these systems were running simultaneously. The conclusion is that there is a significant savings possibility, as there is no need for costing to fix the problem, just an adjustment of the control of heat and cooling. Monitors and computers are often in sleep mode during evenings and weekends, which causes unnecessary energy. By establishing routines for shutting down screens, computers and printers, it can make energy saving of 2.4 percent of total electricity consumption.   In 2016 Norconsult personnel flew 159 times from Stockholm to Gothenburg. This resulted in an increased energy consumption of 13.18 MWh compared to if the travels were made by train. This amount stands for 0.37 percent of the total energy consumption, which is not very much. However, air transport consumes energy through combustion of aviation fuel, while energy consumption for trains is by electricity. Electricity is a much purer source of energy emissions, which results in a reduced environmental impact. The conclusion it that it is possible to save both money, time and reducing the negative effect on the environment by switching from flights to rail transport.

Fundamental processes of cement hydration were studied at elevated temperatures, between 100 and 200oC at saturated steam pressure, using hydrothermal curing. Initial investigations centred on treatments on Ca3SiO5 and -Ca_2SiO_4, synthesised in the laboratory, having compositions similar to those which occur in cement clinker. Their reaction products, either separately or with blending agents such as quartz or silicic acid, were identified by x-ray diffraction. Further characterisation data were obtained for tobermorite, xonotlite, hillebrandite, gyrolite, truscottite, kilchoanite, calciochondrodite, -dicalcium silicate hydrate and tricalcium silicate hydrate using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The current postulated structures of hillebrandite and tricalcium silicate hydrate were reassessed. The factors affecting compressive strength development of cement pastes were reviewed. Theoretical volume changes were calculated for the formation of hydrothermal calciumsilicate hydrates. These may be a useful aid in assessing the suitability of a particular phase and estimating the likely consequences of phase changes on strength. The nature of the silica source affects the type of products obtained. A more detailed study of the reaction between Ca3SiO5 and various blending agents was undertaken in order to correlate between formulation, mineralogy after hydrothermal treatment, compressive strength and porosity. Actual cement blends were studied using a typical class G oilwell cement and various blending agents. In short term tests the mineralogy and compressive strength were determined with varying compositions and temperatures. It is hoped that this information will be an aid in predicting optimum compositions by correlating properties with the nature of the materials and their chemistry. Class J cement hydration and class G cement blends were also studied by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.