This thesis deals with optimization of a press line part for the manufacture of reflectors present at the Automotive Lighting Company, Jihlava. The first part focuses on describing the current workplace layout of the press line. The workplaces are located inconveniently and thus require a larger number of operators and a considerable amount of manual work. The second part of the thesis proposes layout solutions for the injection presses and for other machine parts. At the same time, a smoother transition design is proposed for the press line and for the manufacturing section that follows. Based on an evaluation of selected criteria, the optimum version is chosen, thereby adding to the efficiency of the molding process by reducing the number of operators required, by lowering the proportion of manual work relative to other activities, and by limiting the risk of poor quality. The conclusion of the thesis sums up the necessary investment costs and offers an economic assessment of introducing the selected press line arrangement to operation.

This diploma thesis deals with a study of low-profile directional antennas, followed by design and optimization of parabolic reflector antenna in centimeter and millimeter band. The first part of this work is focused on the analysis of several kinds of directional antennas, mainly on parabolic reflector and on SIW technology, which will be used for final antenna realization. The next part of this project is about the particular concept of the substrate integrated parabolic antenna for 60 GHz ISM band, its simulation and optimization in the CST Microwave Studio software. The final part of this thesis is devoted to the results achieved.

This thesis deals with the design of omnidirectional monopole antennas. Using the parabolic reflector and the directors, the directional characteristics of monopole antennas are modified. This directional antenna, together with the omnidirectional antenna, examines the effect of various materials, the emission characteristics and the input reflection factor, near the antennas. These antennas are made of 3D textile, measured in anechoic chamber and compared to the designed antennas. At the end of the thesis is the summary and evaluation of the result.

New Horizons, Voyager 1 & 2, and Pioneer 10 & 11 are the only spacecraft to ever venture past Pluto and provide information about space at those large distances. These spacecraft were very expensive and primarily designed to study planets during gravitational assist maneuvers. They were not designed to explore space past Pluto and their study of this environment is at best a secondary mission. These spacecraft rely on radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to provide power, an expensive yet necessary approach to generating sufficient power. With Cubesats graduating to interplanetary capabilities, such as the Mars-bound MarCO spacecraft, matching the modest payload requirements to study the outer Solar System (OSS) with the capabilities of low-power nano-satellites may enable much more affordable access to deep space. This paper explores a design concept for a low-cost, small spacecraft, designed to study the OSS and satisfy mission requirements with solar power. The general spacecraft design incorporates a parabolic reflector that acts as both a solar concentrator and a high gain antenna. This paper explores a working design concept for a small spacecraft to operate up to 100 astronomical units (AU) from the sun. Deployable reflector designs, thermal and radiation environments, communications and power requirements, solar system escape trajectory options, and scientific payload requirements are detailed, and a working system is proposed that can fulfill mission requirements with expected near-future innovations in a few key technologies.

The short-term jitter and longer-term wander of the frequency sweep profile of a Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) laser at 1550 nm used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other sensing applications is characterized in this work. The VT-DBR has demonstrated success in source-swept OCT (SSOCT), performing both intensity and phase-sensitive OCT. The purpose of this paper is to investigate one of the unique aspects of the VT-DBR laser that makes it successful in OCT: the stability of the linear optical frequency sweep. A highly stable linear optical frequency sweep implies benefits for further fiber sensing applications including fiber Bragg grating and spectroscopy sensors. Short-term jitter measurements of the optical frequency sweep are taken using a 3-cavity 100 GHz free spectral range solid etalon, an athermal fiber Bragg grating, a molecular-based gas absorption reference cell, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. These four optical filters are used to convert time fluctuations into intensity fluctuations that can be measured by high speed optical receivers. Short term jitter values on the order of 0.5 – 0.6 pm RMS (63 – 82 MHz RMS) are typical values in the VT-DBR lasers systems characterized in this work. This level of jitter is compelling for OCT and fiber-sensing applications. Longer-term wander is characterized using a multiple-gas absorption reference cell. The long term stability and temperature insensitivity of the absorption cell is ideal for long-term wander characterization of the laser frequency sweeps. Wander values on the order of 2.6 pm of wavelength shift over an 8 hour time frame are reported in this work. The slope of the frequency versus time function of the laser sweep, on the order of 100 MHz/sample, is found to deviate by no more than 0.03% over the same 8 hour time frame. Both the long term wavelength shift and consistency of the slope indicate that these sources will perform well in OCT and fiber sensing applications. Mechanisms responsible for short-term jitter and longer- term wavelength wander likely include contributions from the laser source itself and from the high speed electronic drive circuitry that creates the wavelength ramp. Investigation of ambient temperature’s influence on the wavelength wander is also highlighted in the work.

This thesis describes the incorporation within a semiconductor laser of a multiple quantum well InGaAsP/InP Electron Bragg Reflector (EBR). The EBR is intended to improve laser performance by inhibiting the escape of hot electrons from the laser active region by quantum mechanical Bragg reflection. To the author's knowledge, this investigation represents the first attempt to realize an EBR in the InGaAsP/InP material system. Computer models based on a transfer matrix method for the solution of Schrodinger's equation were written to obtain the EBR design. The transfer matrix method is described. Extensions to the transfer matrix method for optics are presented and are demonstrated to provide more than an order of magnitude improvement in computational efficiency for the calculation of the complex TE-mode propagation constant for planar graded-index waveguides with absorption or gain. The EBR designed for this work incorporates several new features. Deleterious band bending in the vicinity of the EBR is minimized by exploiting material strain to reduce the density of hole states in the EBR quantum wells. To maximize reflection bandwidth and relax fabrication tolerances, the EBR design used well widths that decreased with increasing depth into the p-type InP cladding. By the placement of the EBR adjacent to the separate confinement region, a return path was provided for electrons that scattered inelastically within the EBR. Moreover, the EBR structure was designed to support no bound electron states, so that the recombination of electrons with holes in the EBR would be minimal. To the author's knowledge, the EBR-equipped laser fabricated for this work represents the first attempt to exploit electron state exclusion. To explore the effectiveness of EBRs in the InGaAsP/InP material system, two nearly identical ridge waveguide lasers (one with an EBR, and one without) were designed, fabricated, and tested. The EBR-equipped lasers exhibited an anomalous threshold current temperature dependence which featured a "negative-To" regime (in which the threshold current decreases with increasing temperature), attaining a minimum in threshold current between T=150 K and T=200 K. These lasers had a threshold current temperature stability superior to that of standard lasers within a ~70 K window around the minimum threshold temperature. Experimental evidence suggests that the improved stability is not due to quantum mechanical Bragg reflection provided by the EBR, but is attributable to the temperature-dependent rate of hole escape from the EBR quantum wells into the separate confinement region. The proposed mechanism is described in detail and is supported by theoretical and experimental evidence. The results have implications for device design, because the mechanism by which the superior temperature stability is achieved does not rely on the electron coherence effects; the mathematical model suggests that the mechanism can be exploited to provide superior temperature stability in semiconductor lasers at 300 K or above. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

The annual gain of stationary solar thermal collectors can be increased by non-focusing reflectors. Such concentrators make use of diffuse irradiance. A collector’s incidence angle modifier for diffuse (diffuse-IAM) accounts for this utilization. The diffuse irra-diance varies over the collector hemisphere, which dynamically influences the diffuse-IAM. This is not considered by state-of-the-art collector models. They simply calculate with one constant IAM value for isotropic diffuse irradiance from sky and ground. This work is based on the development of a stationary, double-covered process heat flat-plate collector with a one-sided, segmented booster reflector (RefleC). This reflector approximates one branch of a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). Optical meas-urement results of the collector components as well as raytracing results of different variants are given. The thermal and optical characterization of test samples up to 190 °C in an outdoor laboratory as well as the validation of the raytracing are discussed. A collector simulation model with varying diffuse-IAM is described. Therein, ground reflected and sky diffuse irradiance are treated separately. Sky diffuse is weighted with an anisotropic IAM, which is re-calculated in every time step. This is realized by gener-ating an anisotropic sky radiance distribution with the model of Brunger and Hooper, and by weighting the irradiance from distinct sky elements with their raytraced beam-IAM values. According to the simulations, the RefleC booster increases the annual out-put of the double-covered flat-plate in Würzburg, Germany, by 87 % at a constant inlet temperature of 120 °C and by 20 % at 40 °C. Variations of the sky diffuse-IAM of up to 25 % during one day are found. A constant, isotropic diffuse-IAM would have under-valued the gains from the booster by 40 % at 40 °C and by 20 % at 120 °C. The results indicate that the gain of all non-focusing solar collectors is undervalued when constant, isotropic diffuse-IAMs calculated from raytracing or steady-state test data are used. Process heat generation with RefleC is demonstrated in a monitored pilot plant at work-ing temperatures of up to 130 °C. The measured annual system utilization ratio is 35 %. Comparing the gains at all inlet temperatures above 80 °C, the booster increases the an-nual output of the double-covered flat-plates by 78 %. Taking all inlet temperatures, the total annual gains of RefleC are 39 % above that of the flat-plates without reflectors. A qualitative comparison of the new simulation model results to the laboratory results and monitoring data shows good agreement. It is shown that the accuracy of existing collector models can be increased with low effort by calculating separate isotropic IAMs for diffuse sky and ground reflected irradiance. The highest relevance of this work is seen for stationary collectors with very distinctive radiation acceptance.

The objective of the research in this thesis is to develop manufacturable high-efficiency silicon solar cells at low-cost through advanced cell design and technological innovations using industrially feasible processes and equipment on commercial grade Czochralski (Cz) large-area (239 cm2) silicon wafers. This is accomplished by reducing both the electrical and optical losses in solar cells through fundamental understanding, applied research and demonstrating the success by fabricating large-area commercial ready cells with much higher efficiency than the traditional Si cells. By developing and integrating multiple efficiency enhancement features, namely low-cost high sheet resistance homogeneous emitter, optimized surface passivation, optimized rear reflector, back line contacts, and improved screen-printing with narrow grid lines, 20.8% efficient screen-printed PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) solar cells were achieved on commercial grade 239 cm2 p-type Cz silicon wafers.

Le concentrateur à réflecteur linéaire de Fresnel (LFR) est une technologie solaire thermodynamique en plein essor : petites applications industrielles (chaleur, froid, électricité) à centrales électriques (10-100 MWel). Ce travail de thèse établit un modèle global du procédé solaire, en régime permanent, pour un prédimensionnement du système. Le modèle comprend trois parties chaînées : (i) les transferts radiatifs dans le concentrateur optique, modélisés précisément par une méthode de Monte Carlo (environnement EDStar) ; (ii) les transferts thermiques dans le récepteur, évalués analytiquement (puissances, températures) ; (iii) le cycle thermodynamique, avec Thermoptim. L’application étudiée couple un concentrateur LFR à un moteur Ericsson. L’air est fluide caloporteur et de travail. Un prototype est en construction. L’hybridation et le stockage thermique sont des options clés. Un modèle systémique permettrait d’optimiser l’opération du procédé, en étudiant son comportement dynamique. / Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) is a promising Concentrating Solar Power technology. Research is booming and industrial applications are emerging. Applications range from small production units (heat, cold, electricity) to utility scale power plants (several tenths of MW). This PhD work establishes a global model of the solar process, in order to improve our knowledge of the system’s performances. It is a static model suited for a pre-design of the system. The model is chaining three parts. Radiative heat transfer in the optical concentrator is modelled by Monte Carlo statistical Method. The algorithm enables a detailed study of any geometrical configuration, especially through absorbed power flux maps on the receiver. The simulation tool is using the environment of development EDStar. The thermal model calculates analytically the useful thermal power, losses and temperature profiles along the receiver (glass cover, fluid, pipe...). The thermodynamic cycle is simulated analytically using the software Thermoptim. The studied application uses air as heat transfer and working fluid. Air directly feeds an Ericsson engine. The engine developed by LaTEP laboratory is promising for small scale cogeneration (1 to several tenths of kWel). The prototype Linear Fresnel Reflector built in Ecole des Mines d’Albi will enable experimental study of a solar process coupling an LFR concentrator and an Ericsson engine. The technology under study can feed a power plant or a cogeneration system in the industry, producing electricity and heat at 100 to 250°C. Hybridisation with an other energy source (biomass, gas...) and thermal storage (molten salt?) are key features to investigate. To optimise the operating strategy of the process, dynamic behaviour must be studied: a systemic or agent based model is a very relevant approach.

[pt] Este trabalho aborda o projeto de antenas omnidirecionais de duplorefletores, onde o refletor principal é obtido a partir de uma geratriz circular. A antena é composta de refletores circularmente simétricos e concêntricos que são alimentados por uma corneta cônica coaxial excitada pelo modo TEM para a produção de polarização vertical. Para realizar este estudo são utilizadas técnicas de síntese e de análise eletromagnética rigorosa. A técnica de análise eletromagnética rigorosa é baseada na associação do Método de Casamento de Modos para representar os campos no interior do alimentador e do Método dos Momentos para solucionar as equações integrais para o campo elétrico e para o campo magnético e determinar a corrente elétrica induzidas sobre as paredes metálicas externas e a amplitude dos modos sobre a abertura da corneta. A técnica de síntese destas antenas é baseada na aplicação dos princípios da Ótica Geométrica para modelar o subrefletor que irá produzir uma distribuição de fase uniforme em uma abertura cônica colocada em frente ao refletor principal com geratriz circular. O estudo exploratório sobre o desempenho destas antenas é dividido em três partes. Na primeira, as soluções fornecidas pela síntese ótica e aproximações para os campos na abertura são utilizadas para identificar configurações de antenas compactas ou que maximizem o ganho ao longo do plano horizontal. Entretanto, pode-se obter uma melhor iluminação da área de cobertura através da inclinação do lobo principal (down tilt). Para reduzir o custo de fabricação de um conjunto de antenas que atendam diferentes áreas de cobertura, pode-se utilizar o mesmo refletor principal e modelar os subrefletores para deslocar a direção de máximo do diagrama. Assim, em uma segunda etapa do estudo paramétrico, são considerados alguns refletores principais, e, para cada um deles, é obtida uma família de subrefletores modelados para deslocar o máximo do diagrama no plano vertical. Esta estratégia se torna efetiva na medida em que o custo de fabricação do subrefletor é menor do que o do refletor principal. Na terceira parte, utilizando o método híbrido composto pelo Método do Casamento de Modos e pelo Método dos Momentos, é feito o modelamento da corneta coaxial TEM com o objetivo de reduzir sua perda de retorno e estender sua banda de operação. Por fim, ainda utilizando este método híbrido, é feita uma análise rigorosa das antenas duplo-refletoras propostas neste trabalho, procurando otimizar o desempenho destas antenas em termos do diagrama de radiação e da perda de retorno. / [en] This work presents a design study of omnidirectional dual-reflector antennas, where the main reflector is obtained from a circular generatrix. The antenna is composed of two concentric circularly symmetric reflectors and it is fed by a coaxial conical horn excited by TEM mode to produce vertical polarization. To obtain the subreflector surface, the study employs a GO synthesis technique to shape the subreflector in order to produce a uniform phase distribution in a conical aperture placed in front of the main reflector. To validate the results, it is employed a rigorous electromagnetic analysis technique based on the association of Mode Matching Technique to represent the fields inside the horn and Method of Moments to solve the integral equations of electric and magnetic fields. The solution of Method of Moments yields the induced electric current on the outer surface of the horn and the amplitude of the modes on the aperture of the horn. The exploratory study is divided in three parts. First, by using the GO approximations for the aperture fields, the geometry parameters are explored to identify compact antenna configurations that maximize the gain along the horizontal plane. However, a more uniform coverage of the ground can be obtained by tilting the main lobe. Thus, in a second step of the parametric study, it is considered a family of designs with the same main reflector and a set of subreflectors that are designed for different tilt angle of main lobe. This strategy is effective to reduce the manufacturing costs of a family of antennas designed to provide different coverage. Third, by using the hybrid method, the TEM coaxial horn is shaped to reduce the return loss and extend its operating band, and, finally, the overall antennas performance is optimized by controlling radiation pattern and return loss.