The majority of internal gravity wave energy in the ocean is produced by tidal flow over bottom topography. Regions of critical topography, where the topographic slope is equal to the slope of the internal gravity waves, is often believed to contribute most significantly to the radiated internal gravity wave power. Here, we present 2D computational studies of internal gravity wave generation by tidal flow over several types of topographic ridges. We vary the criticality parameter [epsilon], which is the ratio of the topographic slope to the wave beam slope, by independently changing the tidal frequency, stratification and topographic slope, which allows to study subcritical ([epsilon] < 1), critical ([epsilon] = 1), and supercritical ([epsilon] > 1) topography. This parameter variation allows us to explore a large range of criticality parameter, namely 0.1< [epsilon] < 10, as well as beam slope S, 0.05< S < 10. As in prior work [Zhang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. (2008)], we observe resonant boundary currents for [epsilon] = 1. However, we find that the normalized radiated power monotonically increases with internal wave beam slope. We show that an appropriate normalization condition leads to a universal scaling of the radiated power that is proportional to the inverse of the beam slope 1/S and the tidal intensity I[subscript tide], except near [epsilon] = 1 where the behavior undergoes a transition. We characterize this transition and the overall scaling with the criticality parameter f([epsilon]), which is weak compared to the scalings mentioned before and only varies by a factor of two over the entire range of criticality parameter that we explored. Our results therefore suggest that estimates of the ocean energy budget must account for the strong scaling with the local beam slope, which dominates the conversion of tidal motions to internal wave energy. Thus we argue that detailed characterization of the stratification in the ocean is more important for global ocean models than high-resolution bathymetry to determine the criticality parameter. / text

Interest in exploring renewable energy resources has increased globally, especially with recent worldwide intentions to maintain the global climate. Looking at the oceans as a vast sustainable clean energy resource to satisfy present high humankind energy demands has been strongly recommended. Several types of renewable energy resources exist in the oceans: waves, tides, thermal and salinity variations, currents, and offshore winds. Exploiting tidal currents is considered one of the most effective approaches to the generation of electricity. Tidal turbines are deployed beneath the sea surface to transfer the kinetic energy in tidal currents to mechanical energy suitable for ongoing conversion to electricity and subsequent transmission. However, choosing a suitable site to deploy these turbines is not a trivial process. Various constraints must be satisfied subject to basic criteria dependent upon local factors, technology limitation and economic consideration. In addition, an important issue to consider is taking care to harness energy from tidal currents with minimum possible impact on the surrounding environment. The present study justifies the nomination of the Strait of Messina as an exceptional tidal current energy resource within the Mediterranean Sea basin. The maximum tidal current velocity at spring peak tide through the Strait may exceed 3 m/s. This mainly results from the tidal phase-difference (180°) between the northern (Tyrrhenian Sea) and southern (Ionian Sea) tips of the Strait, associated with a difference of 0.27 m in tidal wave amplitudes. In addition, the complex coastline configuration of the Strait plays an important role in enhancing tidal current velocities. Therefore, the Strait of Messina fulfils the basic criterion (2 m/s tidal current velocity) to be considered as a valid tidal current energy resource. This massive tidal current energy resource is assessed in the present study. A detailed full desk-based Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study is performed using the interactive matrix approach in order to investigate the anticipated environmental impacts on the marine ecosystem of the Strait of Messina resulting from the harnessing of energy from its tidal currents. Through the EIA study the different environmental components, both biotic and abiotic, which may be affected by the energy extraction process, are explained. In addition, the proposed key project activities are listed; the likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of impact interaction with the environmental components are evaluated. The final judgment matrix guides to make a right decision on the proposed project. From the resulted matrix, the major impacts do not exceed 10% of the total anticipated effects. The positive point is that all the expected impacts, including the majors, can be controlled and minimised to the lowest possible limits by applying a good monitoring programme. The University of Edinburgh “Tidal Flow Development (TFD)” numerical model is used to mimic the tidal environment of the Strait of Messina in different cases. The model successfully simulates the tidal flow regime within the Strait under some exceptional conditions. Modifications to the main numerical code and coefficients were necessary in the present research to adjust the model according to each case study. In the three different cases of simulation, using these exceptional coefficients, the model simulates the main tidal characteristics of the tidal flow within the Strait. According to the results of the numerical simulation process, tidal currents are more intensive close to the eastern coast of the Strait of Messina near to Punta Pezzo. This area is far from any ferry route between Italy and Sicily. The best location to deploy tidal turbines for the energy extraction process is therefore recommended to be within these surroundings. Finally, a physical (laboratory) model is used to simulate the flow regime within the Strait of Messina. The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was applied in the flow-table tank at the University of Edinburgh. The physical model simulates the flow behaviour within the Strait of Messina to a satisfactory degree. The cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motions observed at the southern extremity of the Strait are also very well simulated. The results of the present study assure confidence in the use of tidal currents within the Strait of Messina as a renewable energy resource. The safety of the environment must be ensured by following environmental guidelines, respecting the energy extraction limits and by applying an effective monitoring programme. The later is strongly recommended to be an adaptive one in which higher environmental authorities are able to watch, revise and control the environmental team within the project. These authorities are also able to postpone the project in case of any severe environmental case. The simulation processes emphasize the effect of morphometry and topography in enhancing tidal currents in the Strait of Messina. Moreover, numerical simulation assures that the complex morphometry and bathymetry, in addition to the open boundaries of the Strait of Messina, are challenging issues for modellers in order to mimic the real tidal current resource in the case of the Strait of Messina. The study also strongly recommends applying a more effective numerical model than TFD to assess the tidal hydrodynamical environment before and after any proposed energy extraction process. This will certainly, with the EIA of the marine ecosystem, help to make a right decision about the proposed project in order to achieve the goal of using clean and clear renewable energy resources while maintaining both natural and hydrodynamical environments to the most possible safest degree.

Värmdö is a commuter municipality to Stockholm. Road 222 between Värmdö and Stockholm is the main commuter route for both bus and car traffic. Road 222 is a bottleneck at Farstabron in the direction towards Värmdö, where the motorway will go from two to one lane and become a non-meeting motorway. Towards Stockholm, the bridge has two lanes, which is why capacity is not affected as strongly in that direction. The accessibility problems arise mainly in the direction of Värmdö during maximum hours in the afternoon and during weekends and summer time as the municipality also has many holiday homes. Measures to improve accessibility have been raised by both the municipality and the Swedish Transport Administration. Building a new bridge is not relevant as the remaining expected technical life of the bridge is long. The Swedish Transport Administration has an idea for a reversible lane solution on the bridge, which is the proposal studied in this thesis. Data collection and traffic analysis has been performed to study how the travel time effect would be if Farstabron was rebuilt into a reversible 2 + 1 road, with or without a reversible bus lane. The tool used is the microsimulation program PTV VISSIM. The results show that a reversible solution without a bus lane is the alternative that provides by far the largest travel time gains for both car and bus in 2040. The degree project contains a chapter that deals with traffic engineering theory and traffic simulation theory as well as a literature study chapter that summarizes the knowledge about reversible lanes. The information about reversible lanes, even international studies, is poor.Experiences of reversible lanes is good and is mainly to be recommended as the flow in one direction is significantly greater than in the other. The traffic safety risk is primarily linked to unprotected road users. The most common internationally according to what has been identified is to implement reversible lanes on motorways with protective barriers. However, no reversible lane without a barrier have been identified holding 80km/h. Studies have shown that reversible lanes could have a cost-benefit ratio of around 7, which means that the benefit outweighed the costs 7 times in money measured. The weaving dynamics of VISSIM from two to one lane were challenging to calibrate against the reality. Preparatory behavior during lane changes is mainly affected by car-following and lane-changing models in VISSIM. In the simulation the correlation with collected data was slightly more accurate with the car following model for W99 (freeway) rather than W74 (weaving urban rd).

Avloppsreningsverket i Forsmark renar vattnet med aktivt slam i en satsvis biologisk rening (SBR) reaktor samt med våtmarker. Våtmarkerna består av fyra pulskärr och en damm. Pulskärren är utformade som bassänger fyllda med grus som filtermaterial där ytan är bevuxen. Pulskärren beskickas satsvis med 60 m^3 vatten när någon av SBR-reaktorerna töms, vattnet rinner då ut över ytan samtidigt som det perkolerar ner i bädden. När SBR-reaktorn har tömts är hela pulskärret mättat. Tömningen av pulskärret sker genom ett dränerande gruslager i botten och sedan flödar vattnet vidare ut genom ett ställbart dräneringsrör till slutdammen. Pulskärrens uppgift är att stoppa partiklar och att fungera som ett nitrifierande steg ifall verket i framtiden skulle få ökade reningskrav. I detta arbete har pulskärrens funktion som nitrifierare av ammonium undersökts. Detta genom att sammanställa befintliga driftdata från reningsverket, fältstudier samt en litteraturgenomgång. Målet med fältstudien var att mäta halten ammonium, nitrat och totalkväve i vattnet som gick in och ut ur pulskärret för att se hur halterna ändrades. Dessutom mättes temperatur, syrehalt, pH och konduktivitet. Provtagningen genomfördes på två pulskärr med tömningstiderna två respektive fyra timmar. Resultaten visade att ammoniumhalterna halveras i pulskärren. Inkommande ammonium till pulskärren var cirka 3 mg/l under studien men om ammoniumkoncentrationen skulle öka kommer nitrifikationen antagligen ske i liknande utsträckning. Detta då liknande system påvisat sådana resultat. Ökad tömningstid för pulskärren medför ökad nitrifikation, pulskärren bör därför ställas om så att tömning sker under cirka fyra timmar. För att hitta en optimal tömningstid bör vidare undersökningar göras. Forsmarks avloppsreningsverk möter de reningskrav som ställts med marginal. Trots att detta inte var syftet, avskiljs 80 % av inkommande kväve och det kunde konstateras att den största kväveavskiljningen sker i SBR-reaktorn. Kvävereduktionen har uppstått då verket haft låg belastning samtidigt som mycket syre tillsatts till processen. Då rening genom pulskärr sker efter att vattnet passerat genom SBR-reaktorerna borde luftningen kunna minskas för att istället utnyttja pulskärrens nitrifierande egenskaper. Svensk kärnbränslehantering AB har planer på att leda lakvatten till reningsverket för att avskilja kväverester, skulle detta ske kommer flödena över pulskärren att öka. Att den hydrauliska belastningen ökar borde inte utgöra några problem då flödena troligen inte kommer överstiga pulskärrens kapacitetsgränser. I extrema fall kan tömningstiden på pulskärren minskas. / Forsmark wastewater treatment plant treats wastewater using an active sludge process in sequencing batch reactors (SBR:s) and followed by constructed wetlands. The wetlands consist of four intermittent loaded soil filters (ILS:s) and a pond. The ILS:s is designed as pools filled with filter material and with a plant-grown surface. One of the ILS:s fills up with water when one of the SBR reactors is emptied. The water flows out over the surface as it percolates into the bed. When the SBR reactor is emptied, the entire ILS becomes saturated. The ILS then drains through a drainage gravel layer at the bottom and further through an adjustable drainage pipe into the dam. The purpose of the ILS:s is to work as extra filter for removal of the remaining particles and escaping sludge. They have also been thought to act as a nitrifying step if the plant would have tougher cleaning requirements in the future. In this report, the function of the ILS:s as nitrifying steps was investigated by compiling existing operating data from the treatment plant, with conducted field studies and through a literature review. The field study aimed at measuring ammonium, nitrate and total nitrogen in the water at the entering and the outlet in the ILS to see how the different nitrogen concentrations was affected. Temperature, oxygen, pH and electricalconductivity were also measured. The sampling was done on two ILS with different drainage time, two and four hours. The results showed that the ILS:s nitrifies the incoming water with an average efficiency of 50 % depending on the ammonium contentration in the incoming water. An increased drainage time for the ILS seamed to result in better nitrification. Therefore, the ILS:s should be changed to drain for at least four hours. Should the ammonium concentration increase above 3 mg/l the nitrification rate would probably be about the same. Similar systems such as have shown similar nitrification removal but with higher ammonia concentrations. Forsmarks wastewater treatment plant meets the purification requirements imposed on the plant with margin. It is remarkable that, without planning for any nitrogen removal, the removal is about 80 % of incoming nitrogen, most of which is removed in the SBR reactor. Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB plans to lead leachate to the treatment plant for nitrogen removal. If this plan is fulfilled, the flows through the ILS will increase. This should not be a problem as the total flow trought the ILS will not exceed the capacity limits of the ILS. In case of high flows, the emptying time of the ILS:s can be reduced.