Structured Analysis of Pump Systems Unleashing Novel Horizons of Energy Savings

Abstract Pumps are large consumers of energy and play a vital role in daily operations at the Oil &amp; Gas processing facilities. General tendency to oversize pumps during design phase in order to tackle all possible scenarios or conditions leads to inefficient pump operation thus resulting in higher energy costs. Changes in feed characteristics and throughput for a given facility due to numerous reasons also supplements higher energy costs and inefficient pump operations. Energy performance study has been conducted for selected pumps at an Oil &amp; Gas processing facility. In this study, most of the pumps indicated higher head than actual requirements for the given flow conditions, highlighting potential of energy savings. Generally, multiple solutions are applicable for optimization of any pump operation. Potential solutions include changing running / standby configuration, installing Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), replacing pump motor, trimming impeller, replacing pump and modifying the system resistance by adding, removing or changing the components like valves and orifices etc. Each solution exhibits different magnitude of energy savings and CAPEX requirements. This paper introduces a systematic methodology for a structured analysis of pump systems, to explore and evaluate potential solutions for energy efficiency improvement. Targeting pumping system improvement thru this structured approach would help to evaluate all pertinent solutions, in conjunction with techno commercial analysis, and identify the best solution. Proposed methodology has been applied on four different cases of pump operation optimization and the results are discussed in this paper.</jats:p

Diversity Management: The case of the United Arab Emirates

PurposeDiversity management in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is of particular importance given the fact the UAE is the sixth country in the world for hosting the largest number of international migrants in 2017. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how diversity is managed in the public and private sector and to identify the most important factors to diversity manangemet in the UAE context.Research MethodologyA Grounded Theory approach to research was used to explore this very sensitive issue for the case study. In the absence of robust data on diversity management in the UAE, this inductive qualitative method was preferred since it does not presuppose a hypothesis and allows a contextually relevant theory to be derived from the data, which were collected through interviews with the participants from the public and private sector. An open-ended interview schedule was emailed to the purposefully selected group. Careful thematic analysis was undertaken to identify the resonant issues related to diversity management in this context.FindingsThis heralds increased demographic diversity in the public sector, even if only at a strategic level in order to achieve political and social objectives. Further, as the UAE embarks on being a Smart nation, successful diversity management will be a critical indicator of public sector reform.Research LimitationsThe study analyzed the perceptions of the participants using a qualitatitve method which might not be considered to be as objective. Hence a confirmatory follow up study using quantitatve design will be required to verify the findings.Practical ImplicationsThis chapter will explore the diversity management in the public and private sectors of the UAE, the role leaders and managers have to play, challenges faced, and what is on the horizon in this new public–private partnership environment.Social ImplicationsThis chapter suggests the need for a unified understanding of diversity management among leaders in the public and private sector of the UAE as a crucial enabler of productivity, development and social cohesion.OriginalityThis heralds increased demographic diversity in the public sector, even if only at a strategic level in order to achieve political and social objectives. Further, as the UAE embarks on being a Smart nation, successful diversity management will be a critical indicator of public sector reform. This chapter will explore the diversity management in the public and private sectors of the UAE, the role leaders and managers have to play, challenges faced, and what is on the horizon in this new public–private partnership environment

Exploring the Affordance of Distance Learning Platform (DLP) in COVID19 Remote Learning Environment

2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Higher Education has been facing the dilemma of the preferred delivery method for over two decades. COVID19 pandemic in 2020 made the need for further exploration of the same even more imperative. Although the urgency of events did not leave much time for policymakers and educators to decide, it did inspire the authors of this article to analyse the affordances of Distance Learning Platform (DLP), and the ways students perceived the online learning due to current uncertain circumstances. Students as critical stakeholders in the learning process were on the receiving end of the decisions taken to facilitate distance learning. The focus of this study was to understand students\u27 experience of using the Distance Learning Platform (DLP) in a crises-induced environment at a university in the United Arab Emirates. A sample size of 60 undergraduate students who took academic study skills classes was used to collect data. Students were asked to reflect on their experience of distance learning, and the data were analysed to understand the students\u27 preferences of their study method while enabling them to recognise their cognitive skillset. The data indicated reasons behind students\u27 preferences of the preferred delivery method