The modern industry is steadily facing new demands for more energy efficient solutions. These improvements can come from technological advances, using existing technology smarter or a combination of the two. Today a vacuum conveying system is manually tuned for each factory application when installed and is in most cases not handled afterwards except for maintenance reasons. This in combination with the difficulties in tuning a system to run efficiently and robustly whilst offering high capacity indicates that a large number of systems are running with non optimal settings. The aim of this thesis was therefore to explore the possibility of introducing an auto tuning property to the vacuum conveying system and investigate the possible benefits. This thesis has investigated two main components for such an autotuner, the system design and optimisation strategy. The system design is critical for allowing process control and monitoring. In the optimisation the main challenge was to robustly produce good results for a wide variety of materials. Based on this a laboratory system was developed that monitored the capacity, efficiency, gentleness and robustness performance of the conveying. This information was then used in anevolutionary optimisation algorithm based on differential evolution to find the best settings for optimal performance. The results of this thesis indicate that such a system would offer benefits bothin terms of initial tuning and run-time performance. The suggested auto tuner is adaptable to a large set of materials with varying material properties and demands on the conveying process. The time required for the laboratory rig to optimise within a region with only small deviations in performance is comparable to that of a human operator. Also with the added benefit of never having to stop the optimisation process, thus constantly improving performance and counteracting environmental changes. / Den moderna industrin möter ständigt nya krav på ökad effektivitet. Dessa förbättringar kan komma utifrån tillämpning av ny teknologi eller bättre utnyttjande av befintlig teknologi eller en kombination. Idag när en vakuum transportör installeras finjusteras den manuellt för att uppnå önskad prestanda och hanteras därefter ofta inte bortsett från underhållsarbete. Detta i kombination med svårigheten att justera ett system så att det går effektivt och robust samtidigt som en god kapacitet upprätthålls föranleder slutsatsen att många system ute i industrin inte presterar optimalt. Målet med detta examensarbete var därför att utreda möjligheten att skapa en automatisk system inställare samt utvärdera de möjliga fördelarna och nackdelarna. Arbetet har undersökt två huvudkomponenter i en sådan automatisk system inställare, system design och optimerings strategi. System design var vital för att tillåta styrning och monitorering av systemet och optimeringsstrategi för att tillförlitligt kunna prestera goda resultat trots skiftande beteende med olika material i systemet. Baserat på detta utvecklades en laboratorie-utrustning som övervakade kapacitet, effektivitet, robusthet och försiktighet i varje transportcykel. Denna information nyttjades sedan i en evolutionär algoritm baserad på differentierad evolution för att finna de optimala system-inställningarna. Arbetet indikerar att ett sådant system skulle erbjuda prestanda-fördelar både i driftsättande och kontinuerliga driften av en vakuum-transportör. Den föreslagna automatiska systeminställaren kan anpassas till en stor mängd material och skilda krav på önskat driftläge för systemet. Tiden för att optimera systemet så att de större variationerna i prestanda uppnås är jämförbar med en mänsklig operatör menkan fortlöpa över tiden och ständigt söka förbättringar på ett sätt som ej är möjligt för en mänsklig operatör.

Research on bainite and martensite structures has indicated that lower bainite needles have a refining effect on the lath martensitic structure. Lower bainte needles partitions prior austenite grains and will consequently have a refining effect on the subsequent formed lath martensite. Smaller austenite grains will result in smaller lath martensitic packets and blocks and will result in enhanced mechanical properties.   In order to create a variation of lower bainte structure in a matrix of martensite, two different heat treating methods were tested. The work was focused towards the formation of lower bainite during isothermal heat treating in molten salt, above and below the MS-temperature. Both un-tempered and tempered samples were analyzed .Two different materials were tested, both were AISI 4140 but with a slightly difference in hardenability. The material provided by Ovako Steel is 326C and 326F the later had a higher hardenability. In order to better distinguish the two structures from each other when studied under a microscope, a variation of etching methods were tested.  It was possible to create a variation of lower bainite structures in a matrix of martensite.  326F shows less amount of lower bainite and provides a higher average surface hardness before tempering.

The control of non-metallic inclusions is very important for the improvement of performance during the application of tool steel. This present study was performed to see the effect of changing of some process parameters during the vacuum degassing of the melt and how these changing parameters affects the characteristics of inclusions in tool steel. The main parameters that were changed during the vacuum degassing were the change of induction stirring, argon flow rate from both the plug 1 and 2 and different ladle ages for different heat. Electrolytic extraction method was used to observe the morphology and characteristics of inclusions as a 3 dimensional view in tool steel. Four lollipop samples from four different heats were used for the experiment and all the samples were after vacuum (AV) degassing. In this study four different types of inclusions were found and they are classified as type 1, 2, 3 and 4. Of them type 1 inclusion was the major one with mostly spherical shaped. This study shows that among the three parameters, induction stirring has the biggest effect for the total number of inclusions per volume in the sample than the other two parameters Heat 4A showed the lowest number of inclusions per volume comparing with the other heats. The main reason behind this can be said that the induction stirring was the lowest comparing with the other heats with moderate argon flow and ladle age of 12. Extreme value analysis was used in this study to predict the probability of getting largest size inclusions in a certain volume of the metal. For the prediction of the largest inclusion size, both the electrolytic extraction (3D) and cross-sectional (2D) method was used. Later in this study comparison was done to determine the accuracy of both the methods and it is concluded that for the type 1 inclusions electrolytic extraction method shows almost similar trend with cross-sectional method and electrolytic extraction method shows better accuracy for the prediction of largest size inclusions than the cross-sectional method. Electrolytic Extraction method is also applicable for the prediction of largest size inclusions for multiple types of inclusions.

Leakage in a vacuum system causes the pressure to rise if it is not compensated like in case the supply energy carriers fail. This leads to the workpiece to be dropped. So in order to design vacuum gripping systems that can withstand a failure of the supply energy carriers over a predefined amount of time, it is crucial to know the influences and effects of leakage. In previous examinations the behavior of leakage has been examined on the basis of a closed fluidic reservoir with a hole in its wall. But the only impacts taken into account here are the volume of the reservoir, the diameter of the hole and the pressure difference. Whereas when it comes to vacuum gripping systems, the leakage has significantly more influencing factors as it is neither a single component nor a closed system. In vacuum gripping systems leakage mostly occurs at the interface between the suction cups and the workpiece. So in this contribution the focus is on the impact of the properties of those components, and how the variation of these properties affects leakage. To achieve this, a theoretical description is done based on the aforementioned research, which is expanded in order to the relevant characteristics of a vacuum gripping system. After that the description is evaluated on a test bench. The goal is to be able to make a statement about the leakage rate for a vacuum gripping system composed of standard components. This can then be used in the design process of such gripping systems, which have to fulfil the requirement of compensating leakage in case the energy supply fails.

Pressgjutna Al-Si komponenter förekommer mer och mer i förbränningsmotorer med syfte att reducera vikt och förbättra hållbarhet. Ett problem vid pressgjutning, en process kännetecknad av kostnadseffektivitet vid massproduktion, är porositetsbildning vilket kan resultera i läckage, strukturell svaghet och försämrad hållbarhet och livslängd för tillverkade komponenter. Då porer oftast bildas internt försvåras dessutom identifiering av potentiellt trasiga komponenter. Det är därför av vikt att finna parameterinställningar i pressgjutningsprocessen vilka konsekvent minimerar porositetsbildning. Ett företag som drabbas av återkommande porositets-relaterade defekter är Husqvarna Group. De använder vakuumassisterad pressgjutning för att, bland annat, producera motorcylindrar av Al-Si. Kassationsgraden, specifikt hänförbar till porositet, för en cylindermodell har under de senaste tre åren fördubblats vilket har resulterat i slöseri av produktionstid och kvalitetsbristkostnader. Vakuumassisterad pressgjutning kan beskrivas stegvis: (1) smält metall hälls i en cylindrisk fyllkammare, (2) en skottkolv trycker smältan mot ett mindre inlopp i låg hastighet för att undvika turbulens, samtidigt som vakuum ansätts i fyllkammare och gjutverktyg, (3) skottkolvshastigheten ökar markant vid en förinställd omslagspunkt, vilket spray-fyller gjutverktyget, och (4) högt tryck ansätts för att eftermata smälta till gjutverktyget när solidifiering sker. Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att undersöka om och hur diverse parametrar, hänförbara till de nämnda processtegen, påverkar porositetsbildning i en industriell produkt. Därefter applicerades den erhållna processförståelsen för att identifera parametrar kritiska för porositetsbildning och slutligen rekommendera parameterinställningar som konsekvent minimerar porositetsgraden. Det experimentella upplägget bestod av två steg varav det första ämnade undersöka, via simulering, vilka av 6 parametrar som påverkade porositetsgraden utifrån en reducerad tvånivåers försöksdesign. Det andra steget var ett verkligt experiment i produktionsmiljö där de tre identiferade parametrarna från screening-experimentet varierades enligt en central-composite design. Analysen av experimenten resulterade i parameterinställningar som förväntas reducera porositetsgraden med över 70%. En lägre porositetsgrad kommer troligen reducera kassationsgraden av den undersökta cylindermodellen, vilket hade resulterat i finansiell besparing och effektivare produktion. I ett industriellt kontext bidrar detta exjobb huvudsakligen med en systematisk kvalitetsförbättrande metod för pressgjutna komponenter baserad i såväl simulerad som verklig miljö. / Pressure die casted Al-Si components are increasingly found inside internal combustion engines, resulting in weight reduction and increased durability. Characteristic to die casting, commonly associated with cost-effective mass production, is the formation of pores which, if unnoticed, can cause leakage, structural deficiencies, and thus reduced durability and life-length of components. Pores commonly appear internally, making identification of faulty components difficult. Therefore, finding parameter settings in the die casting process that consistently minimizes the formation of pores is of importance. A company struggling with porosity-related defects is Husqvarna Group, currently using vacuum-assisted die casting to produce engine cylinders of Al-Si. Scrap-rate, specifically related to porosity, of a particular cylinder model has doubled in the last three years, causing waste of both precious production time and higher quality deficiency costs. A vacuum-assisted die casting process consists of several steps: (1) liquid Al-Si is poured into a cylindrical shot sleeve, (2) a plunger is moved towards a small gate, leading to the die cavity, at low velocity as to not cause turbulence, whilst vacuum is applied throughout the cavity and shot sleeve, (3) plunger velocity is increased substantially at a predetermined switch point, resulting in a spray-filling of the die cavity, and (4) high pressure is applied to continue the feed of molten metal into the cavity as solidification occurs. The purpose of the thesis has been to investigate if and how various parameters, related to the aforementioned four steps of the die casting process, impact the porosity amount in an industrial product. The acquired process knowledge was then applied to identify parameters affecting porosity and recommend settings that consistently minimize the porosity amount. The experimental procedure consisted of two steps: firstly, a screening experiment of six process parameters was made by simulating the die casting process according to a fractional factorial design. Secondly, a real-world experiment was conducted following a central-composite design by varying the three most impactful parameters from the screening experiment.   Analysis of the experiments resulted in a selection of parameter settings, anticipated to reduce porosity by over 70%. A lower porosity amount will most likely reduce the scrap rate of the cylinder model, resulting in substantial savings and higher production efficiency. For practitioners, the main contribution of this thesis is a method of systematic quality-improvement to die-casted components by a combination of simulation experiments and real-world tests.

Hybrid composites play a key role in sustainable development. For many years, carbon fibres in an epoxy matrix have been an attractive option for many structural applications because of their higher specific mechanical properties mostly. However, recycling and sustainability are some of the composite shortcomings; and in that context, natural fibres have gained popularity.  The present study aimed to design and manufacture short carbon/flax hybrid composites. Two different arrangements were chosen: random and layers configuration. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) was used to fabricate these hybrid composites. Mechanical tests and optical microscopy technique were conducted to understand the effect of the interaction of these two different reinforcements. Mechanical tests showed a remarkable difference between the hybrid configurations under flexural loadings. Furthermore, outstanding property values were observed in the hybrid configurations compared to single fibre composites. The resultant materials have seemed an attractive combination of fibres with a remarkable balance between mechanical performance and eco-friendliness.

Die Suche nach alternativen Strahlungsquellen für quecksilberhaltige Lampen ist derzeit ein großes Forschungsgebiet. Während für allgemeine Beleuchtungsanwendungen LEDs einen effizienten Ersatz bieten, sind für Anwendungen die UV-Strahlung benötigen gegenwärtig keine effizienten Alternativen auf dem Markt erhältlich. Einen möglichen Ersatz für die aktuellen Quecksilber-Niederdruck-Entladungslampen könnten Xenon-Excimerentladungslampen bilden. Die Entladungswellenlänge dieser Lampen liegt bei 172 nm, was deutlich energiereicher im Vergleich zu den Quecksilber-Niederdruck-Entladungslampen (254 nm) ist. Um die Xenon-Excimerentladungslampen einem möglichst großen Anwendungsbereich zur Verfügung zu stellen, wird die 172 nm Entladung mit Hilfe von Leuchtstoffen in andere Spektralbereiche konvertiert. An diese Leuchtstoffe werden hohe Anforderungen gestellt, wie zum Beispiel eine hohe Absorptionsstärke, hohe Effizienzen und eine hohe Langzeitstabilität, so dass sie für jede Anwendung entwickelt werden müssen. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurde trivalentes Praseodym (Pr3+) als Aktivatorion in binären und ternären fluoridischen Wirtsstrukturen untersucht. Mit trivalentem Praseodym ist es möglich, eine breite Palette unterschiedlicher Lumineszenzspektren mit Emissionen im ultravioletten und sichtbaren bis hin zum infraroten Spektralbereich zu realisieren. Sowohl Emissionsspektren mit breiten Emissionsbanden, als auch mit schmalen Emissionslinien sind darstellbar. Die Wirtsstruktur und die damit verbundene kristallographische Position des Pr3+ beeinflussen die Entstehung von Banden- oder Linienemission sowie die genaue energetische Lage der Emission. Die fluoridischen Wirtsmaterialien eignen sich wiederum hervorragend zur Bestimmung der hochenergetischen Zustände des Aktivatorions, da sie unter allen Materialklassen die höchsten Bandlücken besitzen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass in fluoridischen Wirtsstrukturen, bei denen sich das Pr3+ in großen Koordinationspolyedern (KZ > 8) befindet, die Emissionsspektren hauptsächlich durch schmale Emissionslinien dominiert werden. Im Gegenzug besitzen die Emissionsspektren, bei denen sich das Pr3+ in kleinen Koordinationspolyedern (KZ < 8) befindet, breite Emissionsbanden. Die Begründung für diese Ergebnisse ist in dem Zusammenspiel zwischen dem nephelauxetischen Effekt und der Kristallfeldaufspaltung der 5d-Orbitale, auch optische Elektronegativität genannt, zu finden. Erfahrungsgemäß weisen die fluoridischen Wirtsstrukturen nur einen geringen nephelauxetischen Effekt auf. Bei oxidischen Wirtsstrukturen ist dieser Effekt deutlich größer, was ebenfalls in der vorliegenden Untersuchung gezeigt werden konnte.

Les systèmes d'imagerie à rayons X (RX) sont des appareils volumineux et contraignants en termes de contrôle du faisceau. L'industrie des tubes électroniques est donc à la recherche de solutions pour assurer la stabilité du courant tout en permettant la miniaturisation du système.Ce travail opte pour l'amélioration de la source d'électrons, en remplaçant l'émission thermoïonique historique par l'émission de champ. En particulier, les cathodes froides à base de nanotubes de carbone possèdent l'avantage de pouvoir délivrer de forts courants (>1A/cm^2), tout en ayant un faible temps de réponse.A travers le développement d'une structure innovante de cathodes à nanotubes de carbone à grille intégrée, l'objectif de cette étude est de réaliser des sources commutables et régulées, pour des sources de rayons X miniatures, portables ou polyvalentes.La modélisation électrostatique de la nouvelle structure a conduit à la fabrication de cathodes à grille optimisées, sur lesquelles est cru un réseau vertical de nanotubes de carbone. L'analyse de défaillance permet finalement d'obtenir des dispositifs isolés fiables. Leur caractérisation en émission de champ indique des performances de modulation de courant inégalées, de l'ordre de 10^6 pour +/-40V de polarisation de grille. La régulation du courant a également été démontrée avec l'obtention d'une stabilité à 0,02% sur 100 h.Pour pallier les limitations rencontrées (courant de fuite et croissance parasite), une structure de grille enterrée a été proposée avec succès, ainsi qu'une nouvelle méthode de fabrication d'émetteurs courts et fins. Ces cathodes fonctionnelles ont finalement été intégrées en tube à rayons X et ont montré pour la première fois une modulation de courant de 2000 à une haute tension fixe de 60 kV. / This work chooses to improve the electron source by replacing thermionic emission with field emission. More especially, carbon nanotubes based cold cathodes stand out by their ability to supply high currents (>1A/cm^2) while responding fast.Through the development of an innovative structure of in-plane gated carbon nanotube based cathode, this study aims at making switchable and regulated sources for miniature, portable or polyvalent X-rays sources.The electrostatic modelling of the new structure led to the fabrication of optimized gated cathodes, where a vertically aligned array of carbon nanotubes is grown. Default analysis allows to get reliable insulated devices.Field emission characterization shows unprecedented current modulation of 10^6 at +/-40V bias voltage. Current regulation is also achieved with a stability of 0.02% over 100 h.Another structure with a burried gate electrode was designed to successfully cope with leak current and parasitic growth. A new way of growing short and thin nanotubes was tackled.Finally, gated cathodes were integrated in a compact X-ray tube and showed a current modulation of 2000 at a high voltage of 60 kV.

Ces dernières années ont été marquées par de grandes évolutions technologiques à travers notamment une course à la miniaturisation. De gros efforts de recherche se concentrent en particulier sur le domaine de l’électronique organique mais aussi sur de nouveaux matériaux bidimensionnels comme le graphène. Ces matériaux 2D présentent des propriétés physiques exceptionnelles et sont des candidats prometteurs pour le développement de futurs dispositifs électroniques. Au cours de cette thèse, l’approche ascendante, qui consiste à assembler ensemble des petites briques élémentaires, a été utilisée pour élaborer des nanostructures bidimensionnelles originales sur des surfaces. Des états électroniques localisés dus à un couplage électronique latéral particulier entre les molécules ont été observés. Quatre nanoarchitectures hybrides ioniques-organiques différentes ont été réalisées en faisant varier la température de la surface. Des nanostructures organiques covalentes ont aussi été élaborées par une réaction de couplage d’Ullmann sur la surface. Deux précurseurs différents en forme d’étoile avec des substituants iodés et bromés respectivement, ont été étudiés. De grandes nanostructures carbonées hexagonales poreuses ont notamment été synthétisées en faisant varier la température du substrat. Ces travaux ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives pour la réalisation de matériaux organiques bidimensionnels aux propriétés contrôlées. / Over the last few years, important technological developments were made following a trend towards miniaturization. In particular, lots of research efforts are put into the research on organic electronics and on 2D materials like graphene. Such 2D materials show great physical properties and are promising candidates for the development of future electronic devices.In this project, bottom-up approach consisting in assembling elementary building blocks together, was used to engineer novel twodimensional nanostructures on metal surfaces. The properties of these two-dimensional nanostructures were investigated using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS). Two-dimensional nanostructures based on the self-assembly of organic building blocks stabilized by intermolecular interactions were engineered. In particular, nanostructures stabilized by hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds and ionic-organic interactions were investigated. Localized electronic states due to specific molecular lateral electronic coupling were observed. Four different ionic-organic nanoarchitectures were engineered varying the substrate temperature. Covalent organic nanostructures were also engineered by onsurface Ullmann coupling reaction. Two different star-shaped precursors with iodine and bromine substituents respectively, were investigated. Large periodic porous 2D covalent hexagonal carbon nanostructures weresuccessfully engineered by temperature driven hierarchal Ullmann coupling. These results open new perspectives for the development of 2D organic materials with controlled structures and properties.

The subject of this diploma thesis is a proposal of a warehouse hall and an operation hall in Sokolnice. A land of the investor is located on Kobylnická street. Designed building is devided into two buildings which are a warehouse hall and an administrative building. The warehouse hall is designed as three-ship and has one floor above the ground. This building is designed for feed storage and breeding needs. The administrative building has got two floors above the ground. There is an office space for administrative company activity, facilities for employees and a company store. The support system of both buildings is made of steel structure, which is clad with insulating sandwich panels. A ceiling construction in the administrative building is also designed of steel support elements and trapezoidal sheet metal which is covered with a concrete layer. A roof construction of both buildings is flat, single skin and drained by means of a vacuum pipe. A roof composition consists of trapezoidal sheet metal, vapor barriers, dropped thermal insulator and from coating waterproofing. Internal layout is designed from plasterboard partitions. Thermal insulation in the plinth area at the warehouse is solved by using ETICS system. Foundation structures are designed as monolithic. Diploma thesis, according to the assignment, contain the creating of project documentation for the construction.