<p>The aim of this thesis is to discuss and analyse the influenceof data uncertainties with regard to the reliability of materialflow analysis (MFA) studies. MFA, as a part of environmentalsystems analysis, is a method belonging to the research field ofindustrial ecology and more specifically industrial metabolism.As such, the method strives at giving a holistic view of thecomplex world we live in, in order to reduce negativeenvironmental impact. Among other things, MFA studies have beenproposed to be useful for priority setting and following up inmunicipalities.</p><p>Serving as a starting point is a local case study of flows ofnitrogen in a Swedish municipality, Västerås. The casestudy has been performed using the ComBoxmodel. The years studiedare 1995 and 1998. The main sectors in society emitting nitrogento water were identified as the agricultural and householdsectors. The dominating sectors emitting nitrogen to air wereidentified as the agricultural, transport and infrastructuresectors.</p><p>As a basis for discussing data uncertainties qualitatively andquantitatively a literature survey was performed. 50 articles andbooks were identified as in some way or another dealing with datauncertainties in MFA. The literature survey showed that theuncertainties for results from a MFA study might vary between±30 % and a factor 10 depending on what kind of parameter isinvestigated. Only one method was found that dealt with datauncertainties in MFA in a complete way; a model developed byHedbrant and Sörme (HS model).</p><p>When applying the HS model to the case study of nitrogen flowsin Västerås, it was found that when uncertaintyintervals were calculated the possible conclusions changed. Ofthe two pair of flows compared in relation to priority setting,none of the earlier conclusions remained. Of the three flowsanalysed in relation to following up, only the flow from onepoint source supported the same conclusion when uncertainty wasconsidered.</p><p>In all, it is concluded that data uncertainties in MFAanalysis are an important aspect and that further research isneeded in order to improve input data quality estimations andframeworks for determining, calculating and presenting data, datauncertainties and results from MFA studies. However, theunderlying reality remains, e.g. that management of materialflows are important for understanding and reducing the negativeenvironmental impact. Thus, MFA is one useful tool in thiswork.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>data uncertainties, sensitivity analysis,Material flow analysis, MFA, method to determine datauncertainties, case study, ComBox model, nitrogenflows.</p>

The aim of this thesis is to discuss and analyse the influenceof data uncertainties with regard to the reliability of materialflow analysis (MFA) studies. MFA, as a part of environmentalsystems analysis, is a method belonging to the research field ofindustrial ecology and more specifically industrial metabolism.As such, the method strives at giving a holistic view of thecomplex world we live in, in order to reduce negativeenvironmental impact. Among other things, MFA studies have beenproposed to be useful for priority setting and following up inmunicipalities. Serving as a starting point is a local case study of flows ofnitrogen in a Swedish municipality, Västerås. The casestudy has been performed using the ComBoxmodel. The years studiedare 1995 and 1998. The main sectors in society emitting nitrogento water were identified as the agricultural and householdsectors. The dominating sectors emitting nitrogen to air wereidentified as the agricultural, transport and infrastructuresectors. As a basis for discussing data uncertainties qualitatively andquantitatively a literature survey was performed. 50 articles andbooks were identified as in some way or another dealing with datauncertainties in MFA. The literature survey showed that theuncertainties for results from a MFA study might vary between±30 % and a factor 10 depending on what kind of parameter isinvestigated. Only one method was found that dealt with datauncertainties in MFA in a complete way; a model developed byHedbrant and Sörme (HS model). When applying the HS model to the case study of nitrogen flowsin Västerås, it was found that when uncertaintyintervals were calculated the possible conclusions changed. Ofthe two pair of flows compared in relation to priority setting,none of the earlier conclusions remained. Of the three flowsanalysed in relation to following up, only the flow from onepoint source supported the same conclusion when uncertainty wasconsidered. In all, it is concluded that data uncertainties in MFAanalysis are an important aspect and that further research isneeded in order to improve input data quality estimations andframeworks for determining, calculating and presenting data, datauncertainties and results from MFA studies. However, theunderlying reality remains, e.g. that management of materialflows are important for understanding and reducing the negativeenvironmental impact. Thus, MFA is one useful tool in thiswork. <b>Keywords:</b>data uncertainties, sensitivity analysis,Material flow analysis, MFA, method to determine datauncertainties, case study, ComBox model, nitrogenflows. / NR 20140805

Switches and crossings are vital components of the railway network. Obstacles to the smooth functioning of these components could result in delays and network traffic. Given the geographical location of Sweden, snow is one of the major obstacles for the switches. The presence and hardening of snow act as an obstacle to the movement of the switch rail, thus hindering its function. Electrically heated switches melt and clear the snow for movement of the switch rail. They typically operate at a power level of 10 kW–30 kW. With 6800 switches operational in Sweden, the potential for energy savings is huge. This master thesis intends to investigate the possibility of reducing energy consumption through insulating a side of the rail. To achieve that, a comprehensive transient conjugate heat transfer analysis is carried out using CFD simulations. The initial refinement of the measured data highlighted the uncertainties in them, and which shaped the course of the thesis. The analysis of these uncertainties gave critical insights and led to useful recommendations for future work. The fluid-solid interactions between the rail and flow of air and their impact on transient heat loss have been analyzed to gain critical insights regarding the choice of side of implementation of insulation. The validation of the model at lower electrical power levels threw light on the dire requirement of numerical modeling of snow melting, which happens at the higher power levels of the heating element. One of the critical observations made after the implementation of the insulation is the reduction in the temperature of the heating element, which leads us to conclude that the insulation not only saves energy but also prolongs the life of the heating element by reducing thermal fatigue. / Växlar och korsningar är viktiga komponenter i järnvägsnätet. Om dessa komponenter inte fungerar smidigt kan det resultera i förseningar och avbruten nätverkstrafik. Med tanke på Sveriges geografiska läge är snö ett av de största hindren för växlarna. Snö och hårt packad snö kan hindra spårväxelns rörelse och funktion. Elektriskt uppvärmda spårväxlar smälter bort snön så att spårväxeln kan fungera. Spårväxlarna har vanligtvis en effektnivå på 10 kW - 30 kW. Med 6 800 växlar i drift i Sverige är potentialen för energibesparingar är enorm. Denna masteruppsats syftar till att undersöka möjligheten att minska energiförbrukningen genom att isolera en sida av rälsen. För att uppnå detta utförs en omfattande transient konjugerad värmeöverföringsanalys med hjälp av CFD-simuleringar. Den inledande dataförädlingen av mätdata belyste osäkerheterna i datan vilket formade det fortsatta arbetet med avhandlingen. Analysen av dessa osäkerheter gav kritiska insikter och användbara rekommendationer för framtida arbete. Fluid - solid-interaktionerna mellan skenan och luftflödet och deras inverkan på den transienta värmeförlusten har analyserats för att få kritiska insikter om valet av sida för isolering. Valideringen av modellen vid lägre effektnivåer kastade ljus över det akuta behovet av numerisk modellering av snösmältningen som sker vid värmeelementets högre effektnivåer. En av de kritiska observationerna som gjordes efter implementeringen av isoleringen är minskningen av värmeelementets temperatur, vilket drar slutsatsen att isoleringen inte bara sparar energiförbrukningen utan också förlänger elementets livslängd genom att minska den termiska utmattningen.