Investigation of gaseous ammonia for NOx control by SCR on an experimental basis

My dissertation argues which of the two reducing agents, urea or pure ammonia, is better suited for reducing NOx emissions in Marine SCR applications. While the question might seem straight forward, there are several upsides and downsides to them both. What proves a challenge with marine diesel engines are the low exhaust gas temperatures, making it a brain twister to reduce NOx across varying engine loads by any respectable amount. Still, theoretically, pure ammonia should be able to do this, or? To put this claim to the test, a micro scale SCR system is designed and built by a team of competent individuals, including myself. A series of NOx reduction tests are then carried out under conditions similar to a diesel SCR process, using gaseous ammonia as reducing agent. While results are varying it is confirmed that pure ammonia does indeed perform well at low temperatures. NOx reduction rates are impressive considering the system is not optimized with regard to dimensioning. Results are presentative but with potential for improvement.Master i EnergiMAMN-ENERGENERGI399

Temporal meta-model framework for Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) development

This thesis has developed a Temporal Meta-Model Framework for semi-automated Enterprise System Development, which can help drastically reduce the time and cost to develop, deploy and maintain Enterprise Information Systems throughout their lifecycle. It proposes that the analysis and requirements gathering can also perform the bulk of the design phase, stored and available in a suitable model which would then be capable of automated execution with the availability of a set of specific runtime components

Design and optimization of an explosive storage policy in internet fulfillment warehouses

This research investigates the warehousing operations of internet retailers. The primary physical process in internet retail is fulfillment, which typically involves a large internet fulfillment warehouse (IFW) that has been built and designed exclusively for online sales and an accompanying parcel delivery network. Based on observational studies of IFW operations at a leading internet retailer, the investigations find that traditional warehousing methods are being replaced by new methods which better leverage information technology and efficiently serve the new internet retail driven supply chain economy. Traditional methods assume a warehouse moves bulk volumes to retail points where the bulks get broken down into individual items and sold. But in internet retail all the middle elements of a supply chain are combined into the IFW. Specifically, six key structural differentiations between traditional and IFW operations are identified: (i) explosive storage policy (ii) very large number of beehive storage locations (iii) bins with commingled SKUs (iv) immediate order fulfillment (v) short picking routes with single unit picks and (vi) high transaction volumes with total digital control. In combination, these have the effect of organizing the entire IFW warehouse like a forward picking area. Several models to describe and control IFW operations are developed and optimized. For IFWs the primary performance metric is order fulfillment time, the interval between order receipt and shipment, with a target of less than four hours to allow for same day shipment. Central to achieving this objective is an explosive storage policy which is defined as: An incoming bulk SKU is exploded into E storage lots such that no lot contains more than 10% of the received quantity, the lots are then stored in E locations anywhere in the warehouse without preset restrictions. The explosion ratio Ψo is introduced that measures the dispersion density, and show that in a randomized storage warehouse Ψoo\u3e0.40. Specific research objectives that are accomplished: (i) Develope a descriptive and prescriptive model for the control of IFW product flows identifying control variables and parameters and their relationship to the fulfillment time performance objective, (ii) Use a simulation analysis and baseline or greedy storage and picking algorithms to confirm that fulfillment time is a convex function of E and sensitive to Ǩ, the pick list size. For an experimental problem the fulfillment time decrease by 7% and 16% for explosion ratios ranging between Ψo=0.1 and 0.8, confirming the benefits of an explosive strategy, (iii) Develope the Bin Weighted Order Fillability (BWOF) heuristic, a fast order picking algorithm which estimates the number of pending orders than can be filled from a specific bin location. For small problems (120 orders) the BWOF performes well against an optimal assignment. For 45 test problems the BWOF matches the optimal in 28 cases and within 10% in five cases. For the large simulation experimental problems the BWOF heuristic further reduces fulfillment time by 18% for Ǩ =13, 27% for Ǩ =15 and 39% for Ǩ =17. The best fulfillment times are achieved at Ψo=0.5, allowing for additional benefits from faster storage times and reduced storage costs

Business process and technology lessons learned, recommendations and best practices for new adopters

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2006."June 2006."Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-118).This thesis focuses on documenting learnings from a RFID data exchange pilot in the fast moving consumer goods industry. The pilot we studied is a collaborative effort between two of the largest retailers in the world and five of their major suppliers, facilitated by EPCglobal and the MIT Auto-ID labs. Currently, manufacturers and suppliers are building the infrastructure to exchange EPC data to validate standards and proof of concepts for RFID adoption. The outcome of these pilots will essentially set the stage for large scale RFID adoption worldwide. Our thesis attempts to document issues relating to data exchange from business process, organizational and technical perspectives. We have synthesized the findings and consolidated the lessons learned during the pilot in an attempt to form a set of actionable recommendations for new companies looking to start on RFID pilot projects.by Rida Chan [and] Sangeeth Ram.M.Eng.in Logistic

Simulation modeling for integrated e-supply chain management

E-supply chain management is an emerging area of interest as companies begin to explore the Internet\u27s potential to restructure supply chain relationships. The environmental impact of e-supply chain management is a critical issue towards sustainability. This thesis discusses and models an integrated e-supply chain network accounting for material and information flows throughout the supply chain in order to analyze the environmental implications and tradeoffis with other system characteristics. The network structure has complex interactions between various entities. In order to understand and analyze dynamic performance, a discrete-event simulation approach is utilized. An integrated tool was developed using the Arena simulation software to simulate the e-business supply chain including lifecycle stages. The modules capture general supply chain process and ebusiness concepts. Consequently, it can be used in wide range of applications. A case study based upon a desktop computer was modeled to illustrate the application of the simulation model, evaluate environmental performance and examine the stochastic behavior of the network

Industrial-Scale Manufacture of Oleosin 30G for Use as Contrast Agent in Echocardiography

In ultrasound sonography, microbubbles are used as contrasting agents to improve the effectiveness of ultrasound imaging. Monodisperse microbubbles are required to achieve the optimal image quality. In order to achieve a uniform size distribution, microbubbles are stabilized with surfactant molecules. One such molecule is Oleosin, an amphiphilic structural protein found in vascular plant oil bodies that contains one hydrophobic and two hydrophilic sections. Controlling the functionalization of microbubbles is a comprehensive and versatile process using recombinant technology to produce a genetically engineered form of Oleosin called Oleosin 30G. With the control of a microfluidic device, uniformly-sized and resonant microbubbles can be readily produced and stored in stable conditions up to one month. Currently, Oleosin microbubbles are limited to the lab-scale; however, through development of an integrated batch bioprocessing model, the overall product yield of Oleosin 30G can be increased to 7.39 kg/year to meet needs on the industrial-scale. An Oleosin-stabilized microbubble suspension as a contrast agent is in a strong position to take a competitive share of the current market, capitalizing on needs unmet by current market leader, Definity®. Based on market dynamics and process logistics, scaled-up production of Oleosin 30G for use as a contrast agent is expected to be both a useful and profitable venture

Systems Approach to EPC Material Procurement Strategy

The criticality of procurement and logistics to the success of Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) projects cannot be over emphasized, as it has been a large area of opportunities that should be adequately exploited to enhance the overall performance of construction projects. EPC firms, which act as a catalyst for a nation’s economy growth, still suffer from work backlog, and this further hinders them from functioning at their optimum level. The work backlog often arises from delay caused by the stakeholders of the complex EPC system. Furthermore, the delay may arise from design or management decisions. Therefore, there is a need to study the effect of decisions taken by stakeholders to know the behaviour of the material procurement system with a focus on the timely delivery of construction materials to construction sites to ensure a smooth running of the construction process and prevent the work backlog due to shortage of materials on sites, which eventually leads to schedule and cost overrun. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel Systems Dynamics (SD) decision support model to improve the construction material supply chain performance. The model emphasizes the essence of information sharing, collaboration, and trust among stakeholders; as such, the model may help EPC managers take effective decisions in an EPC material procurement system. The context of EPC, which this study is focused is to bulk construction materials. This model will be a particularly useful tool to assist decision makers in evaluating the impact of material shortage and time delay by observing the simulated scenarios accordingly and in developing various effective policies

Sustainable development in contract logistics through green warehousing and distribution. Practical case: Maersk warehouse

The thesis is dedicated to the staple part of contract logistics – warehousing and distribution. The nature of this study is to show the sustainable development of (green) warehousing, the crucial changes and achievements in the sector and how these improvements impact the environment and society. The author appeals to the research and analytical methods where he investigates the sources and related documents to analyse the global situation in contract logistics and describe the current situation of green warehousing. The practical method helped to study the Maersk warehouse and to show if it indeed responds to the requirements of sustainable durability as well as highlights the transformations conducting the company towards decarbonisation. The first part dedicated to the general research of warehousing and distribution. The author investigated the main features of warehouse location and its crucial importance, studied different types of layouts, showed the modernisation and application of WMS facilitating the operation’s running, examined the efficiency of equipment usage, light and air conditioning systems and analysed the social impact of warehousing for sustainability. The second chapter observes the practical case of Maersk warehouse as the first logistic centre for the company in Iberia area. The author not only investigated the main features of warehouse, but also showed how the company is implementing the sustainable tools to reduce the environmental impact as well as gave at the glace the future of warehousing via innovation and technology usage

Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injuries

Stem cell-based therapies are an emerging branch of medicine with the purpose of restoring tissue function for patients with serious injuries, such as a spinal cord injury. As a result, scientists and engineers are increasing research efforts in the field of regenerative medicine. Due to the delicate nature of stem cells, producing the large quantity required for a successful therapy has proved challenging. In recent years, research has shown the potential of stem cell-based therapies, and thus there is a need for the commercialization of these treatments. The proposed facility targets the demand for spinal cord injury treatments and can support production for both clinical trials and a commercial release. Bioreactors designed specifically for the culture and growth of stem cells have flexibility in their ability to support different stem cell lines for various therapies. Small reactors in parallel can easily adapt to changes in production size. This process also takes advantage of the best options currently available for purification and preservation to maximize the product yield. Due to the strict regulations set in place by the FDA and lack of adequate funding, there is an untapped market for stem cell therapies for spinal cord injuries. Approximately 250,000 people in the United States suffer from spinal cord injuries, varying in severity, and this patient base increases at a rate of 12,000 new injuries every year (“Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures”, 2009). Future markets include expansion into Europe and Asia. There are two steps to this proposal: the upstream process and the downstream process. The upstream process includes the scale-up, differentiation, and purification of human embryonic stem cells; the downstream process consists of the scale-up of neurons for injection. The upstream process will be built initially and yield enough cells for clinical trials, without incurring the capital costs of building the entire plant. Upon success of the clinical trials, the downstream process will be built for maximum production. The profitability of this proposal is based on running 26 batches a year at 1.02x1010 cells per batch or 2.66x1011 cells per year. By targeting 5,000 patients, two percent of the current market, and charging $45,000 per dose, a profitable profile can be created. Assuming 50$961,892,600, and 242.81% respectively. Using a 50% production capacity allows for higher profit margins upon expansion. The proposed plan will meet the need of this growing market

An assessment of the sustainability of E-fulfilment models for the delivery of fast moving consumer goods to the home

Online retail sales are growing rapidly and have captured a significant proportion of the retail market in many countries. Although companies are under mounting pressure to reduce their environmental impact, the environmental effect of the different online distribution strategies remains unclear. Most previous studies of this subject have only included partial effects and consequences. To enable a more holistic understanding, this study proposes a more inclusive framework of environmental assessment based on life cycle analysis. This was applied to fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). Previous studies have shown that the last mile delivery contributes significantly to the environmental impact of online retailing, mainly because of the nature of the home delivery operations, including narrow time windows and short order lead times. If consumers were to buy products online on a subscription basis and give the supplier more control over the replenishment process there might be less need for fast deliveries, creating opportunities to improve the efficiency of home deliveries and reduce their environmental impact. The study classified different forms of subscription arrangement, assessed their relative attractiveness to consumers and examined their likely impact on the supply chain. Consumer views on subscriptions were surveyed by means of focus group discussions and interviews. To assess the likely supply chain impacts of subscriptions, the literature on vendor-managed inventory was consulted. A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) model was built to quantify and compare the environmental impact of various e-fulfilment models for FMCG products in the United Kingdom. This study reveals that the method of execution have a large influence on the environmental impact. In store-based retailing, the energy consumption within the supermarket is a significant contributor to the total greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, some forms of home delivery, involving for example the use of parcel networks with no pre-agreed time-slots and relatively high rates of delivery failure and customer collection, are also carbon-intensive. This contribution of consumer trips to the total footprint is much smaller in case of van-based deliveries where pre-agreed time-windows are used. Regardless of the business model, the total carbon footprint per item depends heavily on the number of items per delivery. Consequently, companies or consumers looking to decrease the environmental impact of online shopping should maximise the number of items per delivery. The study concludes with an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses and possible environmental improvements of each of the efulfilment methods, taking account of the possible role of subscriptions