Ilmanpoisto kiertovoiteluöljystä

Työn kirjallisuusosassa esitellään paperi- ja kartonkikoneiden kiertovoitelujärjestelmien rakennetta ja voitelussa käytettyjen öljyjen ominaisuuksia. Lisäksi on selvitetty voiteluöljyn kunnossapidon kannalta keskeisten epäpuhtauksien kuten veden, hiukkasten ja ilmakuplien analysointia. Suurissa voitelujärjestelmissä öljyn suuri ilmapitoisuus on usein ongelma, mihin ei ole ollut selkeää ratkaisua. Työn tavoitteena oli tutkia ilmakuplien poistamista voiteluöljystä alipainekäsittelyn avulla. Alipaineen vaikusta eri öljyille ja lämpötiloilla tutkittiin laboratoriossa standarditestillä ja määritettiin sopiva alipaine tehdaskokeisiin. Testeissä havaittiin odotutetusti viskositeetin eli käytännössä lämpötilan olevan ratkaiseva tekijä ilman poistumisnopeuteen. Tehdasmittakaavan kokeissa mitattiin rakenteeltaan yksinkertaisen ja vähän energiaa kuluttavan ilmanpoistolaitteen toimintaa. Laitteisto sijoitetaan paluuöljyputkistoon ja sen ei tarvitse olla kiertovoitelukeskuksen yhteydessä. Täysimittainen laitteisto rakennettiin kartonkikoneen ja paperikoneen kiertovoitelujärjestelmiin. Laitteen avulla voidaan käsitellä koko voitelujärjestelmän öljy. Tuloksien mukaan laite toimii odotetulla tavalla ja vähentää merkittävästi ilmapitoisuutta. Järjestelmä on heikoimmillaan tilanteessa, jossa lämpötilat on pidettävä alhaisina ja ilmakuplia on runsaasti.

Genetic regulatory networks in avian B cells

Biology is turning into an information science. The science of systems biology seeks to understand the genetic networks that govern organism development and functions. In this study the chicken was used as a model organism in the study of B cell regulatory factors. These studies open new avenues for plasma cell research by connecting the down regulation of the B cell gene expression program directly to the initiation of plasma cell differentiation. The unique advantages of the DT40 avian B cell model system, specifically its high homologous recombination rate, were utilized to study gene regulation in Pax5 knock out cell lines and to gain new insights into the B cell to plasma cell transitions that underlie the secretion of antibodies as part of the adaptive immune response. The Pax5 transcription factor is central to the commitment, development and maintenance of the B cell phenotype. Mice lacking the Pax5 gene have an arrest in development at the pro-B lymphocyte stage while DT40 cells have been derived from cells at a more mature stage of development. The DT40 Pax5-/- cells exhibited gene expression similarities with primary chicken plasma cells. The expression of the plasma cell transcription factors Blimp-1 and XBP-1 were significantly upregulated while the expression of the germinal centre factor BCL6 was diminished in Pax5-/- cells, and this alteration was normalized by Pax5 re-introduction. The Pax5-deficient cells further manifested substantially elevated secretion of IgM into the supernatant, another characteristic of plasma cells. These results for the first time indicated that the downregulation of the Pax5 gene in B cells promotes plasma cell differentiation. Cross-species meta-analysis of chicken and mouse Pax5 gene knockout studies uncovers genes and pathways whose regulatory relationship to Pax5 has remained unchanged for over 300 million years. Restriction of the hematopoietic stem cell fate to produce T, B and NK cell lineages is dependent on the Ikaros and its molecular partners, the closely related Helios and Aiolos. Ikaros family members are zinc finger proteins which act as transcriptional repressors while helping to activate lymphoid genes. Helios in mice is expressed from the hematopoietic stem cell level onwards, although later in development its expression seems to predominate in the T cell lineage. This study establishes the emergence and sequence of the chicken Ikaros family members. Helios expression in the bursa of Fabricius, germinal centres and B cell lines suggested a role for Helios in the avian B-cell lineage, too. Phylogenetic studies of the Ikaros family connect the expansion of the Ikaros family, and thus possibly the emergence of the adaptive immune system, with the second round of genome duplications originally proposed by Ohno. Paralogs that have arisen as a result of genome-wide duplications are sometimes termed ohnologs – Ikaros family proteins appear to fit that definition. This study highlighted the opportunities afforded by the genome sequencing efforts and somatic cell reverse genetics approaches using the DT40 cell line. The DT40 cell line and the avian model system promise to remain a fruitful model for mechanistic insight in the post-genomic era as well.

Pallomaisen rullalaakerin vauriotutkimus kartonkikoneen kiertoöljyvoidellulla kuivatusosalla

Tämä työ on tehty Stora Enson Imatran kartonkitehtaan kunnossapidosta vastaavalle Efora Oy:lle. Tavoitteena oli selvittää syy Imatran Kartonkikone 5:n kuivatussylinterien laakerivaurioiden suureen määrään verrattuna tehtaiden kolmeen muuhun kartonkikoneeseen. Tutkimuksissa keskityttiin laakerien käyttöolosuhteisiin. Syyn selvittämiseksi työssä vertailtiin eri kartonkikoneiden kiertoöljyvoitelujärjestelmiä, voiteluöljyjä, voiteluolosuhteita, öljyjen kuntoa ja kunnon seurantaa. Myös laakereihin kohdistuvia kuormia arvioitiin. Alan kirjallisuuden avulla on käyty läpi kartonkikoneen rakennetta ja toimintaa tarvittavassa laajuudessa, voitelun ja laakerin vaurioitumisen teoriaa sekä voiteluaineiden ominaisuuksien ja koostumuksen perusteita. Vertailevissa tutkimuksissa ei löytynyt vauriomäärien eroja selittäviä eroavaisuuksia Imatran tehtaiden eri kartonkikoneiden välillä, joskin Kartonkikone 5:n kiertovoiteluöljyn puhtaustaso oli muita Imatran kartonkikoneita heikompi. Laakerikuormien osalta havaittiin joidenkin laakerien käyvän laakerille asetetun vähimmäiskuorman alittavilla kuormituksilla. Vähimmäiskuormaa pienempi radiaalikuorma voi johtaa laakerin virheelliseen toimintaan ja edelleen vaurioitumiseen. Voiteluolosuhteet todettiin erittäin vaikeiksi ja niillä on epäilemättä vaikutusta voiteluöljyn ja laakerien lyhentyneeseen käyttöikään.

DFMA- Analysis and Aspects of Applying Internet Based Collaborative Design for Axial Eccentric Oil-Pump Design

The integrated system of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) and internet based collaborative design are presented to support product design, manufacturing process, and assembly planning for axial eccentric oil-pump design. The presented system manages and schedules group oriented collaborative activities. The design guidelines of internet based collaborative design & DFMA are expressed. The components and the manufacturing stages of axial eccentric oil-pump are expressed in detail. The file formats of the presented system include the data types of collaborative design of the product, assembly design, assembly planning and assembly system design. Product design and assembly planning can be operated synchronously and intelligently and they are integrated under the condition of internet based collaborative design and DFMA. The technologies of collaborative modelling, collaborative manufacturing, and internet based collaborative assembly for the specific pump construction are developed. A seven-security level is presented to ensure the security of the internet based collaborative design system.

Improvement of pyrolysis oil quality by scrubbing

Diplomityössä tutkittiin kuuman pyrolyysihöyryn puhdistamista haisevista ja kevyistä haihtuvista yhdisteistä. Työn kirjallisuusosassa selvitettiin pyrolyysiöljyn kannattavuutta uusiutuvana energialähteenä. Lisäksi eri pesurityyppejä tarkasteltiin ja ja vertailtiin. Työn kokeellisessa osassa käytettiin kahta erilaista koelaitteistoa. Tuotteen talteenotossa vertailtiin reaktorilämpötilan ja raaka-aineen kosteuden vaikutusta pyrolyysisaantoihin. Komponenttien talteenotossa tutkittiin epästabiilien ja pistävän hajuisten yhdisteiden poistamista kuumasta pyrolyysihöyrystä. Raaka-aineena käytettiin kuusen metsätäh-dehaketta, joka sisältää runsaasti neulasia ja kaarnaa. Kokeet toteutettiin lämpötila-alueella 460 - 520 °C. Koelaitteistot koostuivat kaasun (N2) syöttöjärjestelmään kytketystä kuumasta ja kyl-mästä puolesta. Tuotteen talteenotossa kuuma pyrolyysihöyry jäähdytettiin ja otettiin talteen. Komponenttien talteenotossa tuote kerättiin suodattimelle ja metyleeniklo-ridiloukkuun. Tuotteiden koostumukset analysoitiin kaasukromatokrafilla. Korkeimmat orgaaniset saannot saatiin 480 °C reaktorilämpötilalla ja 8-9 p-% raaka-ainekosteudella. Pyrolyysiveden määrä putosi raaka-aineen kosteutta nostettaessa. Eri reaktorilämpötiloilla ja raaka-ainekosteuksilla ei ollut vaikutusta hiiltosaantoihin. Kaasusaannot (pääosin CO2, CO ja hiilivedyt) olivat noin 10 p-%. Komponenttien talteenotossa suodatin tukkeutui matalissa (< 250 °C) lämpötiloissa. Suodattimelle jäänyt materiaali oli pääosin neulasista ja kaarnasta peräisin olevia uuteaineita (pääosin hartsi- rasvahappoja) ja sokereita. Korkeimmissa lämpötiloissa (> 250 °C) uuteaineet läpäisivät suodattimen paremmin. 250 ja 300 °C:n lämpötiloissa suuri määrä lyhytketjuisia helposti haihtuvia epästabiileja ja haisevia yhdisteitä (ketoneja, furaani- ja furfuraalijohdannaisia jne.) jäi metyleenikloridi- ja metanoliloukkuihin.

Sustainability of palm oil production and opportunities for Finnish technology and know-how transfer

The global demand for palm oil is growing, thus prompting an increase in the global production particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. Such increasing demand for palm oil is due to palm oil’s relatively cheap price and versatile advantage both in edible and non-edible applications. Along with the increasing demand for palm oil, particularly for the production of biofuel, is a heated debate on its sustainability. Ecological degradation, climate change and social issues are among the main sustainability issues pressing the whole palm oil industry today. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects fulfilling the imperatives of the Kyoto Protocol are starting to gain momentum in Malaysia as reflected by the increasing registration of CDM projects in the palm oil mills. Most CDM projects in palm oil mills are on waste-to-energy, cocomposting, and methane recovery with the latter being the most common. The study on greenhouse gases (GHG) in the milling process points that biogas collection and energy utilisation has the greatest positive effect on GHG balance. On the other hand, empty fruit bunches (EFB) end-use as energy and high energy efficiency of the mill have the least effect on GHG balance of the mill. The range of direct GHG emissions from the palm oil mill is from 2.5 to 27 gCO2e/MJCPO, while the range of GHG emissions with all indirect and avoided emissions included is from -9 to 29 gCO2e/MJCPO. Comparing this GHG balance result with that of the EU RES-Directive suggests a further check on the values and emissions consideration of the latter.

The health effects of sea buckthorn berries and oil

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë) berries are ingredients of the Chinese traditional medicine. In addition to China, they are nowadays cultivated for food in several European countries, Russia, Canada, the USA, and Japan. Sea buckthorn berries are a rich source of flavonoids, mainly flavonol glycosides and proanthocyanidins. Depending on the genetic background, growth conditions, and ripeness of the berries, vitamin C concentrations up to over 1 g/100 ml juice, have been reported. Sea buckthorn berries contain inositols and methyl inositols, components of messenger molecules in humans. Sea buckthorn seed oil is rich in essential aplha-linolenic and linoleic acids, whereas the most abundant fatty acids in the berry oil are palmitoleic, palmitic and oleic acids. Other potentially beneficial lipophilic compounds of sea buckthorn seeds and berries include carotenoids, phytosterols, tocopherols and tocotrienols. The effects of sea buckthorn fractions on inflammation, platelet aggregation, oxidation injuries, the liver, skin and mucosa, among others, have been reported. The aim of the thesis work was to investigate the health effects of sea buckthorn berries and oil in humans. The physiological effects of sea buckthorn berries, berry components, and oil have mostly been studied in vitro and in animal models, leaving a demand for more clinical trials. In the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of this thesis healthy adults consumed 28 g/day of sea buckthorn berries for three months. The main objective was to investigate the effects on the common cold. In addition, effects on other infections, inflammation and circulating lipid markers associated with cardiovascular disease risk were studied. In the second randomized, placebocontrolled trial participants reporting dry eye symptoms consumed 2 g/day of sea buckthorn oil from the seeds and berries for three months. The effects on symptoms and clinical signs of dry eye were monitored. In addition, the effects on circulating markers of inflammation and liver functions were analyzed. Sea buckthorn berries did not affect the common cold or other infections in healthy adults. However, a decrease in serum C-reactive protein was detected, indicating effects on inflammation. Fasting concentrations of serum flavonols, typical to sea buckthorn berry, increased without affecting the circulating total, HDL, LDL cholesterol, or triacylglycerol concentrations. Tear film hyperosmolarity and activation of inflammation at the ocular surface are among the core mechanisms of dry eye. Combined sea buckthorn berry and seed oil attenuated the rise in tear film osmolarity taking place during the cold season. It also positively affected some of the dry eye symptoms. Based on the tear film fatty acid analysis, the effects were not mediated through direct incorporation of sea buckthorn oil fatty acids to tear film lipids. It is likely that the fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols and tocotrienols of sea buckthorn oil affected the inflammation of the ocular surface, lacrimal and/or meibomian glands. The effects on the differentiation of meibomian gland cells are also possible. Sea buckthorn oil did not affect the serum concentrations of inflammation markers or liver enzymes investigated. In conclusion, this thesis work suggests positive effects of sea buckthorn berries and oil on inflammation and dry eye, respectively, in humans.

Economics of combined power plant and pyrolysis bio-oil production

There are reasons of necessity in bio-fuel use and bio-energy fast development. It includes the material about bio-energy technologies, applications and methods. There are basic thermodynamics and economic theories. The economic calculation presents the comparison between two combinations. There are boiler plant below 20 MW in combination with ablative pyrolysis plant for bio-oil production and CHP plant below 100 MW in combination with the RTP pyrolysis bio-oil production technology. It provides a material about wood chips and bio-oil characteristics and explains it nature, presents the situation around the bio-fuel market or bio-fuel trade. There is a description of pyrolysis technologies such as ablative and RTP. The liquid product of the pyrolysis processes is bio-oil. The bio-oil could be different even of the same production process, because of the raw material nature and characteristics. The calculation shows advantages and weaknesses of combinations and obtained a proof of suppositions. The next thing, proven by this work is the fact that to get more efficiency from energy project it is good possibility to built plants in combinations.

Marketing-Sales Cooperation and its Relation on Direct Sales Performance: an Example of a Medium-sized Oil Company

The study touches upon marketing-sales departments’ cooperation and investigates marketing-sales cooperative model within the case company. So that research increases understanding of linkages between Marketing and Sales departments with an illustrative example of Russian medium-sized oil company (LLC Neste St. Petersburg), the subsidiary of Finnish-based Neste Oil. The empirical study is done from marketing and sales perspectives. And for sales main attention was brought to direct sales, both B2B and B2C. Research considers all five domains of cooperation, and among others, study reveals the attitude towards external (market) and internal (product) knowledge, and its mutual use by marketing and sales managers. A qualitative research method, participant observations, and in-depth interviews with upper-management made it possible to explore all facets of joint work. Moreover, research responses the changes in a model of cooperation between marketing and sales when moving from medium size to large company.

Corporate Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Industry: Environmental Management Systems as a Source of Sustainable Development

The environmental aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expressed through the process of the EMS implementation in the oil and gas companies is identified as the main subject of this research. In the theoretical part, the basic attention is paid to justification of a link between CSR and environmental management. The achievement of sustainable competitive advantage as a result of environmental capital growth and inclusion of the socially responsible activities in the corporate strategy is another issue that is of special significance here. Besides, two basic forms of environmental management systems (environmental decision support systems and environmental information management systems) are explored and their role in effective stakeholder interaction is tackled. The most crucial benefits of EMS are also analyzed to underline its importance as a source of sustainable development. Further research is based on the survey of 51 sampled oil and gas companies (both publicly owned and state owned ones) originated from different countries all over the world and providing reports on sustainability issues in the open access. To analyze their approach to sustainable development, a specifically designed evaluation matrix with 37 indicators developed in accordance with the General Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines for non-financial reporting was prepared. Additionally, the quality of environmental information disclosure was measured on the basis of a quality – quantity matrix. According to results of research, oil and gas companies prefer implementing reactive measures to the costly and knowledge-intensive proactive techniques for elimination of the negative environmental impacts. Besides, it was identified that the environmental performance disclosure is mostly rather limited, so that the quality of non-financial reporting can be judged as quite insufficient. In spite of the fact that most of the oil and gas companies in the sample claim the EMS to be embedded currently in their structure, they often do not provide any details for the process of their implementation. As a potential for the further development of EMS, author mentions possible integration of their different forms in a single entity, extension of existing structure on the basis of consolidation of the structural and strategic precautions as well as development of a unified certification standard instead of several ones that exist today in order to enhance control on the EMS implementation.

Development of a Radiometer Front End for Detection of Oil Spill on Sea Surface

Kaikki kappaleet säteilevät sähkömagneettista energiaa. Radiometreillä voidaan mitata tätä säteilyä, ja mittausten avulla voidaan kaukokartoituksessa analysoida monia ilmakehään ja maan pintaan liittyviä ilmiöitä. Säteilyä kerätään useimmiten radiometriin kytketyn antennin avulla. Mikroaaltoalueella säteilystä saatava teho on verrannollinen kohteen kirkkauslämpötilaan. Kirkkauslämpötila on puolestaan verrannollinen kohteen fyysiseen lämpötilaan materiaalin emissiivisyyden kautta. Emissiivisyys voi vaihdella suuresti eri pintojen ja materiaalien välillä. Näin ollen mittaamalla kohteen kirkkauslämpötilaa saadaan tietoa sen ominaisuuksista. Mikroaaltoradiometrin avulla voidaan havaita öljyläikkä meren pinnalta, sekä määrittää öljyläikän paksuus. Öljy muodostaa ohuen kalvon meren pinnalla. Ohuen kalvon ylä- ja alapinnasta heijastuneet aallot kulkevat eri matkan, jonka seurauksena muodostuu interferenssikuvio. Interferenssi on joko konstruktiivinen tai destruktiivinen riippuen heijastusten vaihe-erosta. Pistetaajuudella tästä seuraa kalvon paksuudesta riippuva sinimuotoinen emissiivisyys. Mallintamalla tämä ilmiö riittävän tarkasti voidaan radiometrin mittaamaa kirkkauslämpötilaa verrata mallinnettuun arvoon ja täten määrittää öljykerroksen paksuus. Tässä työssä esitetään kahden radiometrin suunnittelu ja testaus. Työ rajoittuu radiometrien alustavaan testausvaiheeseen. Radiometrit on suunniteltu 36,5GHz sekä 89GHz taajuuksille. Työn suurin kontribuutio on radiometrien etupään suunnittelussa ja testauksessa, kalibraatiomenetelmien kehittämisessä sekä kylmäkuorman suunnittelussa. Lisäksi työssä esitetään radiometrien systeemisuunnittelu sekä siihen liittyvät simulaatiot.

Oil Transportation in the Gulf of Finland in 2020 and 2030

This study is part of the Minimizing risks of maritime oil transport by holistic safety strategies (MIMIC) project. The purpose of this study is to provide a current state analysis of oil transportation volumes in the Baltic Sea and to create scenarios for oil transportation in the Gulf of Finland for the years 2020 and 2030. Future scenarios and information about oil transportation will be utilized in the modelling of oil transportation risks, which will be carried out as part of the MIMIC project. Approximately 290 million tons of oil and oil products were transported in the Baltic Sea in 2009, of which 55% (160 million tons) via the Gulf of Finland. Oil transportation volumes in the Gulf of Finland have increased from 40 million to almost 160 million tonnes over the last ten years. In Russia and Estonia, oil transportation mainly consists of export transports of the Russian oil industry. In Finnish ports in the Gulf of Finland, the majority of oil traffic is concentrated to the port of Sköldvik, while the remainder mainly consists of different oil products for domestic use. Transit transports to/from Russia make up small volumes of oil transportation. The largest oil ports in the Gulf of Finland are Primorsk, Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Sköldvik. The basis for the scenarios for the years 2020 and 2030 is formed by national energy strategies, the EU`s climate and energy strategies as well other energy and transportation forecasts for the years 2020 and 2030. Three alternative scenarios were produced for both 2020 and 2030. The oil volumes are based on the expert estimates of nine specialists. The specialists gave three volumes for each scenario: the expected oil transport volumes, and the minimum and maximum volumes. Variations in the volumes between the scenarios are not large, but each scenario tends to have rather a large difference between the figures for minimum and maximum volumes. This variation between the minimum and maximum volumes ranges around 30 to 40 million tonnes depending on the scenario. On the basis of this study, no a dramatic increase in oil transportation volumes in the Gulf of Finland is to be expected. Most of the scenarios only forecasted a moderate growth in maritime oil transportation compared to the current levels. The effects of the European energy policy favouring renewable energy sources can be seen in the 2030 scenarios, in which the transported oil volumes are smaller than in the 2020 scenarios. In the Slow development 2020 scenario, oil transport volumes for 2020 are expected to be 170.6 Mt (million tonnes), in the Average development 2020 187.1 Mt and in the Strong development 2020 201.5 Mt. The corresponding oil volumes for the 2030 scenarios were 165 Mt for the Stagnating development 2030 scenario, 177.5 Mt for the Towards a greener society 2030 scenario and 169.5 Mt in the Decarbonising society 2030 scenario.

Managing innovation in oil and gas companies: A proposed framework for the management of innovation at Ecopetrol S.A.

Actually, the term innovation seems to be one of the most used in any kind of business practices. However, in order to get value from it, companies need to define a systematic and structured way to manage innovation. This process can be difficult and very risky since it is associated with the development of firm´s capabilities which involves human and technical challenges according to the context of a firm. Additionally, it seems not to exist a magic formula to manage innovation and what may work in a company may not work in another, even though in the same type of industry. In this sense, the purpose of this research is to identify how the oil and gas companies can manage innovation and what are the main elements, their interrelations and structure, required for managing innovation effectively in this critical sector for the world economy. The study follows a holistic single case study in a National Oil Company (NOC) of a developing country to explore how innovation performs in the industry, what are the main elements regarding innovation management and their interactions according to the nature of the industry. Contributory literature and qualitative data from the case study company (with the use of non-standardized interviews) is collected and analyzed. The research confirms the relevance and importance of the definition and implementation of an innovation framework in order to ensure the generation of value and organize as well as guide the efforts in innovation done by a firm. In this way based on the theoretical background, research´s findings, and in the company´s innovation environment and conditions, a framework for managing innovation at the case study company is suggested. This study is one of the few, if not only one, that has reviewed the way as oil and gas companies manage innovation and its practical implementation in a company from a developing country. Both researchers and practitioners will get a photograph of understanding innovation management in the oil and gas industry and its growing necessity in the business world. Some issues have been highlighted, so that future study can be focused in those directions. In fact, even though research on innovation management has significantly grown, there are still many issues that need to be addressed to get insight about managing innovation in various contexts and industries. Studies are mostly performed in the context of large firms and in developed countries, so then research in the context of developing countries is still almost an untouched area, especially in the oil and gas industry. Finally, from the research it seems crucial to explore the effect of some innovation-related variables such as: open innovation in third world economies and in state-own companies; the impact of mergers and acquisitions in innovation performance in oil and gas companies; value measurement in the first stages of the innovation process; and, development of innovation capabilities in companies from developing nations.