Comparing Carbon Footprint Methodologies for SMEs

Carbon footprints are useful and important tools in the fight against climate change, which are now being used widely by larger companies. These large corporations have recognised not only their use as an environmental tool but also their potential to attract customers and reduce costs. However, this is not yet the case for many smaller companies who still consider environmental assessment to be a burden which is too difficult and costly to undertake. In order to encourage small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to take more responsibility for their environmental impact, a carbon footprint tool needs to be developed specifically for them, which addresses their particular requirements, namely their lack of knowledge of environmental issues and their lack of time and money. There are currently two basic methodological approaches to produce the conversion factors required to convert quantitative values of material used into the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by that material usage. One methodology is called lifecycle analysis (LCA) as it looks at all the steps individually throughout the lifecycle of a product and adds them together to form an overall picture. The other, called environmental input output analysis (EIO), uses economic purchase and sales data combined with sector emissions to derive conversion factors based on the amount of money spent within a different sector. This study compares both of these methodologies to determine which of them is most suitable to use in the development of a tool for SMEs. Two tools were created, one based upon each methodology. The most noticeable difference between these two tools was that whereas the LCA tool asked for information in terms of the quantity of a material used, the EIO tool asked for information about the amount of money spent within a sector

SME application of LCA-based carbon footprints

Following a brief introduction about the need for businesses to respond to climate change, this paper considers the development of the phrase ‘carbon footprint’. Widely used definitions are considered before the authors offer their own interpretation of how the term should be used. The paper focuses on the contribution small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make to the economy and their level of influence in stimulating change within organisations. The experience of an outreach team from the Engineering Department of a UK university is used which draws on the experience of delivering regional economic growth projects funded principally through the European Regional Development Fund. Case studies are used including the development of bespoke carbon footprints for SMEs from an initiative delivered by the outreach team. Limitations of current carbon footprints are identified based on this higher education-industry knowledge exchange mechanism around three main themes of scope, the assessment method and conversion factors. Evidence and discussions are presented that conclude with the presentation of some solutions based on the work undertaken with SMEs and a discussion on the merits of the two principally used methodologies: life-cycle analysis and economic input–output assessment

Effect of Thermal and Mechanical Deformation of Metamaterial FDM Components

At Lancaster University, research is currently investigating the use of rapid manufacturing (RM) to realise metamaterials, although key to the success of this project is the development of an understanding of how coated RM parts deform under thermal and mechanical stress. The research in this paper presents a comparison of the thermal and mechanical deformation behaviour of RM coated metamaterials components from a numerical context. The research uses the design of a simple metamaterial unit cell as a test model for both the experimental and finite element method (FEM). The investigation of deformation behaviour of sample Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) parts manufactured in different orientations and simulated using commercial FEM code means that the FEM analysis can be utilized for design verification of FDM parts. This research contributes to further research into the development of RM metamaterials, specifically design analysis and verification tools for RM materials

Deep tillage tool optimization by means of finite element method: Case study for a subsoiler tine

Technologies and computer capacity currently available allow us to employ design software and numerical methods to solve complicated problems in very wide disciplines of engineering. It is also important for researches in agriculture. This study focused on obtaining optimum geometry parameters of a subsoiler tine by using computer aided engineering (CAE) applications. A field experiment was conducted to determine draft force of the subsoiler. The results from the experimental study were used in the finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate stress distributions on the subsoiler tine. The maximum equivalent stress of 432.49 MPa was obtained in the FEA. Visual investigations and FEA results showed that according to the tine’s material yield stress point of 355 MPa, plastic deformation was evident. Based on the FEA results, an optimization study was undertaken to obtain optimum geometry parameters without the occurrence of plastic deformation. According to the optimization study results, the optimum parameters of the tine geometry and maximum equivalent stress of 346.61 MPa were obtained. In addition to this, the total mass of the tine was reduced by about 0.367 kg

Representing performance: documentary film, performance theory and the real

This thesis explores the points of intersection between documentary theory and performance theory. Documentary discourse – both practice and theory – concerns itself with the search for an origin; an object in the real world with which the filmmaking apparatus interacts. The object is the nucleus of the documentary text. The fact that the object is taken from the historical world provides the text and its argument with immediacy and relevance. Writing on documentary focuses on the relationship forged between this object and the documentary text. The cynosure of documentary theory is an examination of the practices and processes deployed by the filmmaker in the representation of reality. Where I perceive a gap in documentary theory is in the lack of analysis given to what constitutes reality itself; in particular, the people represented by a documentary. This thesis will argue that human beings can not be regarded as simple, stable objects which yield themselves for the representational practices of the filmmaker. The anthropological, psychological and sociological theories of human behaviour and conduct disseminated by Richard Schechner, Judith Butler and Erving Goffman demonstrate that the individual subject is itself a discursive practice. When a documentary camera represents a human being, it is representing a performance; a consciously and unconsciously maintained ‘act’ composed of gestures, attitudes and characteristics which the subject did not author itself. This thesis will examine four modes of performance in documentary. Performativity illustrates that a subject’s fundamental identity is citational; the origin of any documentary subject’s performance does not reside within that subject, but is rather dislocated and relocated onto the cultural field within which its identity is formed. The presentation of self demonstrates the ways in which a documentary subject can wilfully command and control the manner in which it presents itself, and thus control the manner in which it is represented. Interaction is a dialectical performance which occurs between filmmaker and subject. This is a means by which the filmmaker may use performative strategies of his/her own in order to challenge or pressure the performance of the subject. In documentary reenactments, the historical figure whom the documentary represents is reembodied in the actor who plays him/her. Issues surrounding surrogacy, fantasy and identification come to the fore in this mode of performance. This thesis will explore the impact these modes of performance have upon the documentary quest to represent reality

A Potential Research Area Under Shadow In Engineering:Agricultural Machinery Design and Manufacturing

As a branch of the global machinery industry, the agricultural (farm) machinery design and manufacturing or agricultural engineering industry has become one of the most important industries to be supported and focussed on in the era of hunger threats foreseen in the World’s future. In order to produce sufficient volumes of food from current limited agricultural land, well-designed machinery and high technology-supported mechanisation of the agricultural production processes is a vital necessity. However, although novel improvements are observed in this area, they are very limited. There is a lack of implementation of advanced engineering design and manufacturing technologies in this industry, therefore agricultural engineering could be considered a potential engineering research area with this in mind. This study aims to highlight the potential, gaps, sector specific challenges and limitations of the agricultural engineering research area at a macro level. Under consideration of the sector-specific indicators, the study revealed a major result: there is an insufficient level of sector-specific research on implementation strategies for up-to-date design and manufacturing technologies

Single camera photogrammetry for reverse engineering and fabrication of ancient and modern artifacts

Photogrammetry has been used for recording objects for well over one hundred and fifty years. Modern photogrammetry, or digital image capture, can be used with the aid of a single medium range digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, to transform two-dimensional images into three-dimensional CAD spatial representations, and together with the use of additive manufacturing or 3D Printing technology, geometric representations of original cultural, historic and geological artifacts can be fabricated in a process known as Reverse Engineering. Being able to replicate such objects is of great benefit in education; if the original object cannot be handled because it is too old or delicate, then replicas can give the handler a chance to experience the size, texture and weight of rare objects. Photogrammetry equipment is discussed, the objective being simplicity of execution for eventual realisation of physical products such as the artifacts discussed. As the processing power of computers has increased and become more widely available, and with the use of computer software programs it is now possible to digitally combine multi-view photographs, taken from 360° around the object, into 3D CAD representational virtual images. The resulting Data is then reprocessed, with a secondary computer program, to produce the STL file that the additive manufacturing machines can read, so as to produce replicated models of the originals. Three case studies are documented: the reproduction of a small modern clay sculpture; a 3000-year-old Egyptian artifact; and an Ammonite fossil, all successfully recreated, using additive manufacturing technology

Injection mould tool manufacture in less than five days

Using novel rapid prototyping (RP) technology combined with established electroforming tehniques and electro-discharge machining (EDM), injection mould tools have been produced in days rather than weeks. These moulds are manufactured in new silicon-aluminium alloys developed by Osprey Metals, containing 50% or more silicon. The synthesis of these processes shows great potential for use in the rapid tooling sector

An investigation into the use of additive manufacture for the production of metallic bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks

The bipolar plate is of critical importance to the efficient and long lasting operation of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) stack. With advances in membrane electrode assembly design, greater attention has been focused on the bipolar plate and the important role it plays. Although carbon composite plates are a likely candidate for the mass introduction of fuel cells, it is metallic plates made from thin strip materials which could deliver significant advantages in terms of part cost, electrical performance and size. However, there are some disadvantages. Firstly, interfacial stability of the metal interconnect is difficult to achieve. Secondly, and the issue addressed here, is the difficultly and cost in developing new plate designs when there are very significant tooling costs associated with manufacture. The use of selective laser melting (SLM: an additive manufacturing technique) was explored to produce metallic bipolar plates for PEMFC as a route to inexpensively test several plate designs without committing to tooling. Crucial to this was proving that, electrically, bipolar plates fabricated by SLM behave similarly to those produced by conventional manufacturing techniques. This research presents the development of a small stack to compare the short term performance of metallic plates made by machining against those made by SLM. Experimental results demonstrate that the cell performance in this case was unaffected by the manufacturing method used and it is therefore concluded that additive manufacturing could be a very useful tool to aid the rapid development of metallic bipolar plate designs

Non-stochastic lattice structures for novel filter applications fabricated via additive manufacturing

Non-stochastic lattice structures are widely used in a variety of applications such as biomedical implants and heat exchangers. However, the utilisation of these structures for filtration applications is rather new. Additive manufacturing techniques such as selective laser melting allows lattice structures to be bespoke depending on the type of filter and its intended function. This study considers the flow characteristics and structural strength of a disc filter with a layer of repeated 1.8 mm lattice unit cell as the filter mesh. Computational fluid dynamics simulation is used to analyse the pressure and flow velocity across the filter, while finite element analysis is utilised to analyse the structural characteristics of the lattice mesh under fluid load. The results show a minimal decrease in pressure and small increases in velocity, with the mesh capable of withstanding higher loads. The ultimate failure load of the structure is also determined. These findings indicate that more layers of lattice structures could be used as filter mesh and the flexibility of AM allows the filter properties to be tailored as required for a given application