Modeling, Identification and Control at Telemark University College

Master studies in process automation started in 1989 at what soon became Telemark University College, and the 20 year anniversary marks the start of our own PhD degree in Process, Energy and Automation Engineering. The paper gives an overview of research activities related to control engineering at Department of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics

Modeling, Identification and Control at Telemark University College

Master studies in process automation started in 1989 at what soon became Telemark University College, and the 20 year anniversary marks the start of our own PhD degree in Process, Energy and Automation Engineering. The paper gives an overview of research activities related to control engineering at Department of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics

The role of CSR, culture, and identity in accommodating the green transition

I takt med økende miljøbevissthet over hele verden blir det avgjørende for industri- og næringsaktører å bidra til en grønnere og mer bærekraftig verden. Denne studien søker å gi innsikt i hvordan bedrifters samfunnsansvar (CSR), grønn organisasjonsidentitet (GOI) og grønn organisasjonskultur (GOC) oppfattes i lys av det grønne skiftet. Videre søker oppgaven å avdekke utfordringer og muligheter som oppstår i møte med disse konseptene. Eksisterende litteratur er blitt brukt for å forstå betydningen og potensielle implikasjoner av funnene som presenteres i denne oppgaven. Den teoretiske bakgrunnen består av kvantitative studier som undersøker hvordan CSR, GOC og GOI kan påvirke andre faktorer som innovasjon, ytelse, legitimitet og konkurransefortrinn. Disse studiene viser generelt at alle konseptene kan bidra til slike faktorer. En kvalitativ studie av to organisasjoner som utvikler løsninger for flytende solceller (FPV) er blitt gjennomført for å supplere eksisterende forskning og gi mer dyptgående funn. De empiriske dataene ble samlet inn gjennom syv intervjuer med ledere fra de to organisasjonene. Intervjuene ble gjennomført og transkribert ved hjelp av Microsoft Teams, og kodet ved bruk av Nvivo. Våre funn indikerer at lederne i de to organisasjonene oppfatter konseptene forskjellig. Én organisasjon viser motvilje mot å tilpasse seg konseptene, mens den andre viser større vilje. Funnene avdekket at CSR, GOI og GOC kan påvirke konkurransefortrinn, og at det finnes andre måter å drive innovasjon på enn å bruke teknologi. En viktig utfordring som begge organisasjonene nevnte, er å finne en balanse mellom lønnsomhet og bærekraft. Videre fant vi en felles oppfatning blant respondentene om at fremtredende aktører i bransjen forventes å delta og akselerere det grønne skiftet i større grad. Disse konseptene vil øke organisasjonens legitimitet når det gjelder deres grønne påstander og redusere risikoen for grønnvasking. Forskningens implikasjoner kan fungere som anbefalinger både for de organisasjonene som ble intervjuet, og for organisasjoner i lignende situasjoner. De avdekkede erfaringene kan gi innsikt i hvordan man kan navigere i et raskt skiftende og svært konkurransedyktig miljø. Videre muliggjør konseptene at organisasjoner kan tilpasse seg FNs bærekraftsmål, spesielt nummer syv, ni og tretten.As environmental concern is growing worldwide it will be crucial for industrial and commercial actors to contribute toward a greener and more sustainable world. This study seeks to provide insight on how corporate social responsibility (CSR), green organizational identity (GOI), and green organizational culture (GOC) are perceived in the context of accommodating the green transition. Furthermore, the thesis also seek to discover challenges and opportunities that arise when faced with the concepts. Existing literature has been utilized to comprehend the significance and potential implications of the findings presented in this thesis. The base theory consists of quantitative studies investigating how CSR, GOC and GOI can affect other factors, such as innovation, performance, legitimacy and competitive advantage. These studies generally display that all concepts might further stimulate such factors. A qualitative study of two organizations developing floating photovoltaics (FPV) solutions has been conducted to serve as an supplement to existing research, but also to provide more in-depth findings. The empirical data of this study was collected through seven interviews with managers working in the two organizations. Interviews were conducted and transcribed using Microsoft Teams, and coded using Nvivo. Our findings indicate that the managers in the two organizations perceive the concepts different. One organization display reluctance towards the adaptation of the concepts, while the other organization display more willingness. The findings revealed that CSR, GOI, and GOC could affect competitive advantage, and that there are other ways of innovating than utilizing technology. One major challenge mentioned from both organizations is balancing profitability and sustainability. Further, we found a uniform perception amongst our respondents that prominent actors within the industry are expected to participate and accelerate the green transition to a larger degree. These concepts will increase the legitimacy of the organization’s green claims and reduce the risk of greenwashing. The implications of the research might serve as recommendations for both organizations interviewed, but also for organizations in similar situations. The uncovered experience can provide insight in how to navigate a rapid-changing, highly competitive environment. Furthermore, the concepts enable organizations to accommodate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals - especially number seven, nine, and thirteen

Spray drop size characterization in an external-mixing bluff-body atomizer based on acoustics and Multivariate Analysis

Air-assist atomizers have been widely used in various applications such as the aerospace industry, internal combustion engines, molten metal, food processing, etc. The mean drop size for these atomizers was obtained through the Shadowgraph imaging technique. This study aims to assess the feasibility of the acoustic chemometrics approach for classifying the atomizer types and predicting the mean drop size, such as Sauter mean diameter (SMD), for a two-phase spray atomizer employed. The droplet size measurements were carried out at three radial locations and one axial location for various air and liquid (water) flow rates. The acoustic signals were recorded through two different sensors: accelerometers and microphones. The main objective of this work is to implement prediction models for the mean drop sizes (SMD) measured at various locations. The model prediction is based on the dimensionless number B, whose unique values correspond to different two-phase flow working conditions. This analysis will further cater to the question that whether the acoustics chemometrics approach, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R), is suitable for extracting valuable information such as predicting mean drop size (SMD) in two-phase flows through recorded acoustic signals.publishedVersio

Characterization of the Flow (Breakup) Regimes in a Twin-Fluid Atomizer based on Nozzle Vibrations and Multivariate Analysis

In the study, a new non-intrusive approach based on acoustic chemometrics, which includes vibration signal collection using glued-on accelerometers, was assessed for the classification of the different flow (breakup) regimes spanning a whole range of fluids (water and air) flow rates in this twin-fluid atomizer (one-analyte system). This study aims to determine the flow regimes based on the dimensionless number (B), whose unique values correspond to different flow (breakup) regimes. The principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to visually classify the breakup regimes through cluster formation using score plots. The model prediction performance was studied using PLS-R, RMSEP values show error ranges within acceptable limit when tested on independent data. The present acoustic study can serve as a good alternative to the imaging methods employed for flow classification

HYDROGEN POWERED VESSELS AT SEA:FUEL CELL & BATTERY UPSCALING

There is today a strong effort in developing fuel cell / battery systems for ship propulsion to achieve zero-emission maritime transport, in accordance with UN sustainability goals and the Fit For 55 plan to achieve the climate goals agreed by the EU Council and the European Parliament. Critical for successful implementation of fuel cell / battery systems are system design and control during operation. Fuel cells and batteries have ideal operating ranges. Use outside of this range will cause degradation, impacting system lifecycle. Fuel cell / battery systems are used for transport today but applying such systems for maritime transport requires significant upscaling. Cars typically have a power of 100 to 300 kW, while ocean going ships require tens of MW of power to handle the loads required. To achieve such system capacity, systems are assembled with multiple fuel cells and batteries in stacks. A better understanding of the effect of such upscaling, and system dynamics with respect to load, is therefore required for successful implementation of fuel cell / battery systems for maritime transport. This paper discusses fuel cell types, methods and models applicable for this purpose.HYDROGEN POWERED VESSELS AT SEA:FUEL CELL & BATTERY UPSCALINGpublishedVersio

Monitoring of scaling in dilute phase pneumatic conveying systems using non-intrusive acoustic sensors – A feasibility study

Scale formation in pneumatic conveying systems is a major industrial challenge. The underlying scale formation mechanisms can be intricate as they often involve a combination of several mutually enhancing binding forces and can be affected by a number of different factors. A non-intrusive monitoring technique capable of measuring scale growth would be a valuable tool to investigate different scaling mechanisms. In this study, the feasibility of an active acoustic sensor technique for monitoring of scale growth in a pneumatic conveying system is evaluated. Tests are performed in a pilot scale pneumatic conveying system transporting sand in dilute phase. The acoustic sensors conducts measurements on test pipes which are coated with a primer/powder mixture, one layer after the other, to simulate scale progression. Reference measurements of the coating layer thickness in the test pipes are obtained by a laser imaging technique for each added coating layer. A multivariate method is used to calibrate prediction models of the scale thickness using acoustic measurements as independent variables and the reference measurements as the dependent variable. Results show that the active monitoring method is capable of monitoring scale growth in pneumatic conveying systems and that dilute phase conveying of sand does not affect the precision of predictions made by the method.acceptedVersio

Compartmentalization of TNF and IL-6 in meningitis and septic shock

We examined the compartmentalization of bioactive tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) to the subarachnoid space and systemic circulation in patients with meningococcal meningitis and septic shock/bacteraemia. In patients with meningitis, median levels of TNF in 31 paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were respectively 783 pg/ml and below detection limit (p < 0.001) and median levels of IL-6 were 150 ng/ml and 0.3 ng/ml (p < 0.0001). In patients with septic shock without meningitis, median levels in paired samples of CSF and serum were respectively below detection limit and 65 pg/ml (not significant, (ns)) (TNF, eleven patients) and 1.3 ng/ml–3 ng/ml (ns) (IL-6, nine patients). The data show that TNF and IL-6 are localized to the subarachnoid space in patients with meningitis although the blood–brain barrier is penetrable to serum proteins. On the other hand, patients with septic shock tend to have cytokines in both serum and CSF