Analysis and design of multifunctional agricultural landscapes : a graph theoretic approach

This thesis deals with the development of quantitative methodologies for the evaluation of landscape functions and their interactions in multifunctional agricultural landscapes. It focuses on the spatial coherence of hedgerow networks for ecological functions and landscape character for perception of landscape identity, and on their integration in a multifunctional and multiscale trade-off analysis. Graph theory provided the basis for new methodologies that are applied in this research

Design Optimization Strategy for Multifunctional 3D Printing

An optimization based design methodology for the additive manufacture of multifunctional parts (for example, a structure with embedded electronic/electrical systems and associated conductive paths) is presented. This work introduces a coupled optimization strategy where Topology Optimization (TO) is combined with an automated placement and routing approach that enables determination of an efficient internal system configuration. This permits the effect of the incorporation of the internal system on the structural response of the part to be taken into account and therefore enables the overall optimization of the structure-system unit. An example test case is included in the paper to evaluate the optimization strategy and demonstrate the methods effectiveness. The capability of this method allows the exploitation of the manufacturing capability under development within the Additive Manufacturing (AM) community to produce 3D internal systems within complex structures.Mechanical Engineerin

Urban Runoff Control and Sponge City Construction

The rapid urbanization, sometimes lacking adequate planning and design, has led to worsening city syndrome situations, such as urban flooding, water pollution, heat island effects, and ecologic deterioration. Sponge city construction have become the new paradigm for a sustainable urban stormwater management strategy. Deviating from the traditional rapid draining approach, the new paradigm calls for the use of natural systems, such as soil and vegetation, as part of the urban runoff control strategy. It has become a widespread focus in urban water management research and practices globally. In this Special Issue reprint, there are 13 original scientific articles that address the different related urban runoff control issues. We are happy to see that all papers presented findings characterized as innovative and methodologically new. We hope that the readers can enjoy and learn deeply about urban runoff control and sponge city construction using the published material, and we hope that sharing of the researches results with the scientific community, policymakers and stakeholders can prompt the urban runoff control and sponge city construction globally

Modelling of small capacity absorption chillers driven by solar thermal energy or waste heat

Aquesta recerca es centra en el desenvolupament de models en règim estacionari de màquines d’absorció de petita potència, els quals estan basats en dades altament fiables obtingudes en un banc d’assajos d’última tecnologia. Aquests models podran ser utilitzats en aplicacions de simulació, o bé per a desenvolupar estratègies de control de supervisió dels sistemes d’aire condicionat amb màquines d’absorció. Per tant, l’objectiu principal d’aquesta investigació és desenvolupar i descriure una metodologia comprensible i que englobi el procés sencer: tant els assajos, com la modelització, com també el desenvolupament d’una estratègia de control per a les màquines d’absorció de petita potència. Basant-se en la informació obtinguda de forma experimental en el banc d’assajos, s’han desenvolupat cinc models, cadascun amb una base teòrica diferent. Els resultats mostren que és possible obtenir models empírics summament precisos utilitzant únicament com a paràmetres d’entrada les variables dels circuits externs d’aigua. Aquest treball finalitza amb la proposta de dues estratègies òptimes de control i el seu ús per al control on-line de sistemes basats en refredadores tèrmiques d’absorció.This research deals with the development of the simple, yet accurate steady-state models of small capacity absorption machines which are based on highly reliable data obtained in the state-of-the-art test bench. These models can further be used in simulation tools or to develop supervisory control strategies for air-conditioning systems with absorption machines. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to develop and to describe a comprehensive methodology which encloses entire process which consists of testing, modelling and control strategy development of small capacity absorption machines. Five different models are developed based on the experimental data obtained in the test bench. The results show that it is possible to develop highly accurate empirical models by using only the variables of external water circuits as input parameters. Finally, two optimal control strategies are developed to demonstrate how these models can be used for on-line control of absorption systems

Economic aspect of solar thermal collectors integration into facade of multifamily housing

The subject of this research is the Life cycle costs analysis of the building in order to evaluate the economic efficiency and cost-effectiveness of investments in various variants of application of active solar systems in aim to achieve the reduction of energy consumption and environmental pollution. Different variants of solar thermal collector’s application to the existing prefabricated residential building in the settlement Konjarnik in Belgrade, Serbia, are considered from the economic point of view. Cost-effectiveness and feasibility of various scenarios of energy optimization achieved by application of solar thermal collectors into the building envelope are evaluated on the basis of final energy consumption (within the EU-ISO standards). The methodological approach involves the analysis of the costs of energy consumption for water heating, financial analysis of costs and savings over the life cycle of the existing building in case of solar thermal collectors’ application to the building envelope as well as a comparative analysis of achieved results. Criteria for the economic analysis include the amount of investment, energy costs and life cycle costs of the building. According to the adopted criteria, the most suitable models are selected. This methodological approach is generally applicable in the analysis of investments in improvement of building energy performances, while possible technical solutions and the resulting economic benefits must be carefully considered