<p>The optimization of the electrical system voltage range of a mild hybrid electric vehicle is examined in this research study. The objective is to evaluate and propose the optimized vehicle voltage level for the mild hybrid electric vehicle from both technical and economic aspects. The approach is to evaluate the fuel economy improvement from the mild hybrid electric vehicle of various voltage level for the cost benefit study. The evaluation is conducted from the vehicle system level with discussions of components selection for system optimization. Autonomie, a simulation tool widely used by academic and automotive industry, is used for the vehicle simulation and fuel economy evaluation. The cost analysis is based on the system cost factoring in the component cost based forecasted production volume. </p> <p>The driver for this study is to propose an optimized voltage for the mild hybrid electric vehicle for the vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to standardize the implementation to meet the fuel economy and emission requirements and vehicle power demand. The standardization of the vehicle voltage level can improve design and development efficiency, reusability and reduce cost in developing non-standard voltage levels of the mild hybrid vehicle. The synergy in standardized voltage level for the mild hybrid vehicle can accelerate technology implementation toward mass production to meet regulatory emission and fuel economy requirements. </p>

This thesis work is part of the BTH research lab, focusing on developing the early product development, by analyzing how to integrate the manufacturing process with the early design process. A known problem in the manufacturing industry is the knowledge gap between the designers and the manufacturing process. Where in the early stages of the product development a knowledge regarding the manufacture process is needed. This is in many cases ignored by the designers because it is commonly thought that the responsibility of selecting the manufacturing processes for a product falls upon the manufacturers, despite the fact that the manufacturing processes in reality is highly dependent upon the design choses such as materials, size, shape, finishing and tolerances of the product. To mitigate this problem a variations of product ‘team’ approaches have been used where the idea is to involve a multitude of people with the necessary experience to produce a ‘production friendly product’. Those approaches have a few drawbacks mainly the problem of finding people with the relevant experiences or that the expertise only covers the manufacturing processes already used in the organization, losing the opportunity to benefit from any alternative manufacturing process. This thesis focuses on how the welding manufacturing technic, analysis can be integrated into the design process with the help of a digital model? To improve the communications between the manufacturers and designers, two excel files were developed. The first excel file aimed at the manufacturers where they can present the specific machines used in the workshop. Focusing on specific machine and workshops instead of on the general welding method will give the designers a better understanding of the feasibility of producing their design in a specific workshop instead of focusing on a specific manufacturing method. The second excel file is aimed at calculating and comparing the weld methods where the cost and requirements are derived for general welding methods and compared with the machine specifications gathered from the manufacturers using the first excel file. To assess the excel files, a parametrized CAD model of the rear engine turbine structure was developed, and three different cases were used to evaluate the developed excel files. The values used are presented in Appendix A: Table 11–15, and were gathered from public sources. Values were also approximated using regression analysis. / Avhandlingen är en del av BTH research lab och fokuserar på det tidiga produktutvecklingsstadiet. Närmare kontrolleras hur produkttillverkningsprocessen kan integreras in i det tidiga produktutvecklingsstadiet. Ett känt problem för detta område är skillnaden på kunskapen som designer och tillverkaren besitter under det tidiga produktutvecklingsstadiet, då kunskapen om tillverkningsprocessen inte existerar. Vanligtvis tar inte produktutvecklare hänsyn till detta, eftersom ansvaret för valet av tillverkningsprocessen bedöms falla på tillverkaren. Trots att tillverkningsprocessen beror på många aspekter som bestäms under designprocessen som till exempel materialval, geometrin, efterbehandlingar och toleranser på produkten. För att minimera problemet involverar industrin en stor variation av människor med kompetens och erfarenhet, som sedan kan tillverka en produkt rätt anpassad för tillverkningsprocessen. Dock har denna lösning några nackdelar, då det kan vara svårt att hitta människor med rätt erfarenhet, men då man fokuserar på ett tillverkningssätt så kan företaget gå miste om fördelarna med alternativa tillverkningsprocesser. Denna avhandling fokuserar på hur analysen av svetstillverkningstekniken kan integreras in i designprocessen med hjälp av en digital modell. För att förbättra kommunikationen mellan tillverkare och designer har 2 Excel filer utvecklats. Den första Excel filen är riktat mot tillverkarna där dem kan nämna maskinerna som finns tillgängliga i deras verkstad. Den andra Excel filen är till för att kunna göra en kostnadskalkyl och jämföra dem olika tillverkningsmetoderna med hjälp av maskinspecifikationerna som fanns presenterade i den första Excel filen. För att utvärdera Excel filerna, har en parametrisk CAD modell skapats och 3 fall har använts för att testa de utvecklade CAD modellera. Värdena som använts i detta examensarbete finns i Appendix A: Table 11–15 och är hämtade från allmänt tillgängliga källor. Värden uppskattades också med hjälp av regressionsanalyser.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / The provision of health care in South Africa is undergoing major restructuring. The aim is to achieve substantial, visible and sustainable improvements to the efficiency and accessibility of primary healthcare (PHC) services for all South Africans. One of the country's most critical problems is the weak and fragmented public sector PHC system. The most critical problems contributing to this are the maldistribution of resources (financial, physical and human) between hospitals and the primary care system, and between rural and urban areas. The health sector, therefore, faces the challenge of a complete restructuring and transformation of the national health care delivery system and related institutions. Choices need to be made about which services to cut, which to streamline and where savings can be made. Ways need to be found to use ALL of South Africa's resources optimally. This process of restructuring would be facilitated by the availability of accurate information on resource utilisation in the health sector. This study estimates the difference in the cost of primary diabetes treatment at dayhospitals and a provincial hospital in the Western Cape in 1992/93. Health economics is in its infancy in South Africa and serious data limitations exist. This study is therefore a pioneering effort in many ways. An appropriate methodological framework in which to conduct the costing had to be developed. The South African health sector, health spending arid the cost of primary diabetes treatment at day-hospitals and the provincial hospital are reviewed. Theoretical perspectives of the health care market and the methodologies of cost analysis are discussed. The cost analysis method of study is chosen, and arguments are advanced for its suitability in the South African context. A simple method of calculating the direct costs to obtain the average cost is proposed for the purpose of the study. Direct costs consist of staff costs and other related costs, such as medical supplies, non-medical supplies, building operations, equipment etc. These costs are then used to calculate the average costs per diabetic patient at the day-hospitals and the provincial hospital. The average cost per diabetic patient at day-hospitals amounted to R18.76, while at the provincial hospital the cost was R59.60.

No description available.

The future of electric aircraft is closing in, with several companies racing to develop the first electric aircraft for commercial use. Researchers believe that electric aircraft have many benefits compared to conventional aircraft: the decrease of emissions, cheaper costs in the chain of development from manufacturing to ticket prices and a decrease in both fuel costs and overall operating costs. Amidst the race for the development of electric aircraft for commercial purposes between new and existing manufacturers, there is missing information which is needed to understand the profitability of electric aircraft. The question remains of how much the cost will change between conventional aircraft and electric aircraft. The aim of this study is to compare the operating cost of an electric aircraft (with 19 seats) to similar conventional aircraft on regional routes. The comparison would inform the decision of airlines interested in investing in electric aviation. To help achieve the aim of the study, a comparison analysis, a cost calculation, and analysis, as well as a SWOT analysis were performed using data gathered through literature search, a case study, and interviews. The study was performed on two conventional aircraft, the Beechcraft 1900D and the Jetstream JS31, both turboprop aircraft powered by jet fuel, and an electric aircraft, Heart Aerospace’s ES-19. Common for all aircraft is the capacity of 19 seats and their utilization for short-range flights. The total cost of electric aircraft is between 15 to 22% cheaper than the operating cost for conventional aircraft. The most expensive category for electric aircraft is the ownership cost, which can be reduced through mass production of electric aircraft, as the ownership cost of aircraft is generally higher when fewer aircraft are made. The electric aircraft is currently at a disadvantage due to the weight of the batteries and overall aircraft weight, which increases the weight-related airport charges. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>

Bioretention is increasingly being employed as a stormwater management tool in urban areas, with the intent of using infiltration to address both water quantity and quality concerns. However, bioretention soil media (BSM) has limited removal capacity for dissolved contaminants; hence, amendments may be justified to improve performance. In this study, the potential of five low-cost sorbents as BSM amendments – waste tire crumb rubber (WTCR), coconut coir fiber (CCF), blast furnace slag (BFS), biochar (BC) and iron coated biochar (FeBC) – were investigated for removing several classes of contaminants from simulated stormwater (SSW). The contaminated SSW contained a mixture of metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn), nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate) and PAHs (pyrene (PYR), phenanthrene (PHE), acenaphthylene (ACY) and naphthalene (NAP)). First, batch studies were used to investigate the sorption capacities, kinetics, and the effects of different water quality parameters on sorbents performance. Then, a long-term vegetated column study was conducted to investigate the performance of three amendments (CCF, WTCR, and BFS) under intermittent runoff condition considering different runoff intensities and antecedent dry periods (ADP). The long-term effects of amendments on plant health and infiltration rate of all media were also investigated. Finally, HYDRUS-1D and a cost model were used to investigate longevity and cost-effectiveness of all BSM. Batch test results revealed that among all sorbents, BC and FeBC were only effective for removing PAHs; CFF had high sorption capacity for both metals and PAHs; BFS was very effective for metals; and WTCR was effective for some of metals and PAHs. Metal removal by BFS occurred primarily via precipitation was due to the BFS mineral structure and high/alkaline pH. The effectiveness of CCF for removing both metals and PAHs was due to its lignocellulose structure and diverse functional groups. CCF could remove metals through several mechanisms including cation exchange, complexation, and electrostatic attraction, and remove PAHs through hydrophobic interaction. Biochar in this study had a highly aromatic structure with less O-containing functional groups, and PAHs were sorbed through hydrophobic pi-pi interactions. The selectivity orders of sorbents for the removal of different metals and PAHs were Cr~Cu~Pb > Ni > Cd > Zn and PYR > PHE > ACY > NAP. This selectivity was mainly caused by differences in properties of metal ions (e.g., ionic radius, hydrogen energy, etc.) and PAHs (e.g., hydrophobicity). Phosphate was removed by BFS due to its Al, Fe and Ca contents, but the other sorbents were ineffective for nutrient removal. Metals sorption capacity of sorbents was greater at higher pH, lower salinity and lower DOC; however, PAHs sorption capacity of sorbents was generally not sensitive to water quality parameters. Column experiments showed that almost all amended and non-amended BSM were able to remove > 99% of influent metals over the 7-month experiment period (except Zn in WTCR media). Cu and Cr effluent concentrations in all media (except BFS media) increased to ~ 10% of influent concentrations during heavy rainfall which was probably due to decomposition of Cu/Cr-organic matter complexes. All bioretention columns removed > 99% of PHE and PYR (higher molecular weight PAHs) regardless of rain intensity and ADP, while the performance of different media for removing the lower molecular weight PAHs (NAP and ACY) varied with the rain intensity, and removal decreased when larger storms were experimentally simulated. For nutrients, among all media, BFS-amended media had high phosphate removal capacity (> 90%). Nitrate removal in all columns was notably affected by changes in stormwater intensity and ADP, likely due to difference in degree of saturation and the potential that anoxic conditions were created, which are favorable for denitrification. All media were ineffective in ammonium removal, and ammonium production occurred throughout experiment which might be due to the lack of nitrifiers in the media. Hydraulic properties of all media were appropriate over the entire experiment. BFS-amended media had the greatest negative effect on plant health, while CCF-amended media was supportive for plants. The transport model results showed that the predicted metal breakthrough times (according to EPA criteria) for different media were 6 years for non-amended media, 7 years for WTCR media, 25 years for CCF media, and 70 years for BFS media. Modeling PAHs, nutrients and some metals (Cr and Cu) under intermittent flow conditions are complicated and other processes and models need to be investigated as future study. Finally, cost analysis results showed that among all bioretention media, CCF- and BFS-amended media with the lowest capital and maintenance costs were the most cost-effective BSM. This research will improve our understanding of BSM amendments that will improve water quality while simultaneously support bioretention system hydrologic function as well as estimating costs of bioretention systems for a long-term application. / Civil Engineering

Enligt Folkhälsomyndighetens uppgifter påstår 18 procent av den vuxna populationen att de lider av symtom relaterat till inomhusmiljön. Symtomen kan beröra alldagliga ohälsor däribland trötthet och huvudvärk till allvarliga åkommor såsom cancer (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2013). Då ventilationens huvuduppgift är att tillgodose kraven på inomhusklimatet och därmed förebygga ohälsa, berör detta examensarbete problematiken kring ventilationssystemets utformning och dess ekonomiska konsekvenser. Syftet med arbetet var att identifiera vilken luftflödesprincip som är kostnadseffektivast för kontorsverksamhet utifrån två skilda typplanlösningar. Tre luftflödesprinciper har studerats, där slutligen ett CAV-, VAV- och DCV- system har utformats och dimensionerats utifrån realistiska förutsättningar och krav berörande inomhusklimatet. Ventilationssystemen utformas på skilda sätt med avseende på vilken luftflödesprincip som används, vilket bidrar till ekonomiska för- och nackdelar. Den ekonomiska undersökningen utförs genom jämförelser utifrån respektive ventilationssystems livscykelanalys, där luftflödesprinciper med likartade förutsättningar studeras i förhållande till varandra. Rapporten hanterar generella problem och tillvägagångssätt gällande problematiken kring dimensionering och utformning av ventilationssystem. De ekonomiska analyserna har resulterat i tydliga skillnader gällande investering-, drift- och underhållskostnader för respektive system. Resultatet påvisar att investeringskostnaden är den viktigaste faktorn vid val av ventilationssystem. / According to Folkhälsomyndigheten, 18 precent of the adult population claims they experience symptoms related to the indoor environment. These symptoms can consist of both common illnesses, such as fatigue and headache, to more serious diseases such as cancer (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2013). The main task of a ventilation system is to satisfy the requirements regarding the indoor climate and thereby consequently prevent poor health. This report focuses on the complex problems regarding ventilation systems design and it´s economic consquences. The purpose with this report is to identify which airflow principle is the most cost effective for office operations basad on two distinct floor plans. Three airflow principles have been studied; consist of the CAV-, VAV- and DCV-principle. All principles were designed and dimensioned based on realistic conditions and the specific requirement regarding the indoor environment. Each ventilation system was designed differently depending on the applied airflow principle, which led to different economic pros and cons for each ventilation system. The airflow principle´s life cycle cost has been compared in an economic analysis. The economic analysises were based on comparisons between each ventilation system’s life cycle cost and it´s reigning conditions. The report deals with general problems and processes regarding the dimensioning and designing of the ventilation systems. The economic comparisons resulted in a substantial difference in investment- , operation- and the maintenance cost for each system. The results proved that the investment cost is the key factor when comparing the airflow principle´s life cycle cost.

For the grid to be stable, the supply of power must equal the demands of the consumer at every moment during the day. The unpredictable intermittent nature of wind results in inconsistent power generation. Energy storage technologies coupled with a wind farm can not only provide power during fluctuations but also maintain a stable and reliable grid. The objective of the thesis is to perform a comprehensive analysis of different types of energy storage technologies that can be coupled with a wind farm. The analysis is performed on the basis of multiple characteristics which affect their viability. We identified key characteristics for a range of storage technologies, including lead-acid, sodium-sulphur, nickel cadmium, lithium-ion, superconducting magnetic energy storage, electrochemical capacitors, flywheels, flow batteries, pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage systems. We performed a comparison study to analyze trade-offs and assessed potential improvement areas that will make them more competitive in the electric power industry. We suggested viable energy storage systems that could be better and suitable for different applications for an electric grid integrated with a wind farm.

Bakgrund: Som resultat av globaliseringen och den ökade miljömedvetenheten har det medfört att logistikens roll blivit allt viktigare. För att företag ska förbli konkurrenskraftiga måste de koncentrera sig på att vara kostnadseffektiva samtidigt som de upprätthåller en hög nivå av kundservice. För att beslutsfattare ska kunna fatta bra beslut är en totalkostnadsanalys (TCA) ett viktigt verktyg för att stödja deras arbete. En TCA tar dock inte hänsyn till hur logistikkostnader kan utvecklas i framtiden vilket kan leda till en missvisande analys som kan få negativa konsekvenserför ett SME företag. Eftersom framtiden är svår att förutsäga kan en scenarioplanering vara ett verktyg för beslutsfattare eftersom denna metod tar hänsyn till externa faktorer och skiljer sig därmed från traditionella prognoser. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att upprätta en totalkostnadsanalys för respektive alternativ med fokus på logistikkostnader till Timber Windows som sedan ska kunna användas som underlag för beslutsfattande vid placering av hubb. Studiens syftar också till att skapa förståelse och undersöka hur en scenarioplanering kan addera mervärde till en totalkostnadsanalys med fokus på logistikkostnader för att utvärdera placering av hubb. Metod: För att kunna svara på studiens första två forskningsfrågor har en kvantitativfallstudie genomförts tillsammans med en deduktiv ansats. Till studiens tredje och sista forskningsfråga har istället en induktiv ansats använts. Primärdata har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer och därefter kompletterats med sekundärdata från fallföretaget Timer Windows, vetenskapliga artiklar, litteratur samt inhämtning av data från olika webbplatser. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att de identifierade logistikkostnader för Timber Windows nuvarande hubb i Vimmerby samt vid en eventuell flytt till Jönköping eller Stockholm är lastbil, drivmedel, personal, lager och truckkostnader. Studiens sammantagna totalkostnadsanalys visar att en flytt från Vimmerby inte skulle minskaTimber Windows logistikkostnader. Detta resultat kan ifrågasättas efter att scenarioplaneringen med scenariot High score genomförts som visar att Jönköping om tio år skulle kunna vara det bättre alternativet, jämfört med Vimmerby, eftersom det skulle bidra till kortare transportsträckor och därmed göra det möjligt för Timber Windows att utnyttja sina styrkor. Sammanfattningsvis kan studien konstatera att en scenarioplanering kan ge ett mervärde till en totalkostnadsanalys med fokus på logistikkostnader genom att beakta hur olika trender och drivkrafter kan komma att påverka framtiden. Vilket ger beslutsfattare i Timber Windows en mer omfattande och realistisk bild av potentiella framtida händelser som kan påverka logistikkostnaderna för valet av hubb. / Background: The result of globalization and increased environmental awareness has made the role of logistics increased significantly. Furthermore, this has also meant that companies must concentrate on being cost-effective while maintaining a high level ofcustomer service to remain competitive. For decision-makers to make good decisions,a total cost analysis (TCA) could be an important tool in order to support them. However, a TCA does not take into consideration how the logistical cost may changei n the future. By only including current costs without taking into account that these may change can lead to a misleading analysis which could have negative consequences for a SME. Because the future is difficult to predict, scenario planningcan be a great tool to the decision-makers as the method takes into account external factors and thus differs from traditional forcastings. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish a total cost analysis for each option(Vimmerby, Jönköping or Stockholm) with a focus on logistics costs for TimberWindows, which can then be used as a basis for decision-making on the location of thehub. The study also aims to understand and explore how scenario planning can add value to a total cost analysis focusing on logistics costs to evaluate the location of the hub. Method: To answer the study's two research questions, a quantitative case study with a deductive approach has been conducted. To answer the study's third and final research question, an inductive approach has been used instead. Furthermore, primarydata has been collected through semi-structured interviews and then complemented with secondary data from Timber Windows, scientific articles, literature and different websites. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the logistics costs identified in Timber Windows current hub and in a location in Jönköping or Stockholm are truck costs, fuel costs, storage costs, personnel costs and vehicle costs. The study's total cost analysis shows that a move from Vimmerby would not reduce the logistics costs for Timber Windows, a result that can be questioned after the created scenario High score, which shows that in 10 years, Jönköping may be the better choice, instead of Vimmerby, as it contributes to shorter transport distances and enables Timber Windows to utilize its strengths. In conclusion, the study shows that scenario planning can add value to a total cost analysis focusing on logistics costs by addressing how different trends and drivers may affect the future, giving Timber Windows decision-makers a more comprehensive and realistic picture of potential future events and potential situations that may affect the logistics costs of the hub selection.

As a result of high crash frequencies on roadways, transportation safety has become a high priority for the United States Department of Transportation and the Utah Department of Transportation. A large percentage of fatal and injury crashes on roadways occur at intersections and traffic signals have been implemented to reduce these severe crashes. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the traffic signal improvements through the development of Crash Modification Factors (CMFs). Recent research has shown that traditional safety evaluation methods have been inadequate in developing CMFs. In recent years, Bayesian statistical methods have been utilized in traffic safety studies to more accurately analyze the effectiveness of safety improvements. The hierarchical Bayesian method is an advanced statistical technique that has the capability to account for the shortcomings of traditional methods and to more fully reflect the effectiveness of safety improvements. This report uses a hierarchical Bayesian model to analyze the effectiveness of new traffic signal installations and modified traffic signals. CMFs were developed for multiple scenarios for both new and modified traffic signals. A benefit-to-cost (B/C) analysis was also performed for each improvement to determine how long it would take to recover the cost of installation. The results showed that there was an increase in overall crashes for both new signal installations and modifications to existing signals. The severe crash analysis revealed that there was an increase in non-severe crashes and a reduction in severe crashes; the improvements are effectively reducing severe crashes and improving safety at intersections. The B/C analyses indicate that there is a safety benefit to both improvements and that new signal installation costs can be recovered in approximately 5 years while the installation of a left-turn signal modification can be recovered in approximately 9 weeks.