Natural ventilation in underground wine cellars

The main objective of this research is to promote passive thermal design techniques in the construction of wineries. Natural ventilation in underground cellars is analyzed, focusing on the entrance tunnel, the ventilation chimney and the cave. A monitoring system was designed in order to detect changes in the indoor conditions and outdoor air infiltration. Monitoring process was carried out during one year. Results show the influence of outside temperature, ventilation chimney and access tunnel on the conditions inside the underground cellar. During hot periods, natural ventilation has a negligible influence on the indoor ambience, despite the permanently open vents in the door and chimney. The tunnel and ventilation chimney work as a temperature regulator, dampening outside fluctuations. Forced ventilation is necessary when a high air exchange ratio is needed. During cold periods, there is greater instability as a result of increased natural ventilation. The temperature differences along the tunnel are reduced, reflecting a homogenization and mixing of the air. The ventilation flow is sufficient to modify the temperature and relative humidity of the cave. Forced ventilation is not necessary in this period. During the intermediate periods --autumn and spring-- occurs different behaviors based on time of day.

Sistema de supervisión y soporte para nodos LTE

El proyecto consiste en la actualización del sistema de soporte operacional (OSS) con respecto a las nuevas redes para acceso móvil LTE/4G. El trabajo es un ejercicio real ejercido para Vodafone, compañía de telefonía en España. El producto OSS de Ericsson España es un sistema de supervisión de soporte de la red para cualquier tipo de nodo, pero el proyecto se centrará en los nodos de red LTE (Long Term Evolution). Con este sistema se puede gestionar cualquier cambio en los nodos, incidencias o actualizaciones en la red de manera fiable y sin pérdida de datos. Se profundizará en la descripción del software y del hardware del producto OSS. Se hablará de la tecnología LTE, detallando la evolución sufrida en las redes, el paso de 2G/3G a 4G y todo ello centrado en la industria puntera de las redes de telefonía móviles, así como las nuevas características que esta tecnología aporta y la compatibilidad con las anteriores. ABSTRACT. This project consists of the upgrade of the operational & support system (OSS) regarding the new functionality implemented for the LTE/4G mobile access networks. The project has been implemented in a live environment in Vodafone Spain. Ericsson OSS product consists of a network monitoring system for support and configuration of Core and Radio network elements. This project will be focused on LTE (Long Term Evolution) network nodes. The OSS system can manage any changes in the nodes, incidents or updates to the network in a reliable way without data loss. The description of OSS software and hardware is going to be explained in detail. LTE technology is going to be introduced, detailing the network evolution from 2G/3G to 4G, all focused on the industry leading mobile phone networks and the new features that this technology provides.

Sistema de monitorización de sistemas distribuidos

La computación distribuida ha estado presente desde hace unos cuantos años, pero es quizás en la actualidad cuando está contando con una mayor repercusión. En los últimos años el modelo de computación en la nube (Cloud computing) ha ganado mucha popularidad, prueba de ello es la cantidad de productos existentes. Todo sistema informático requiere ser controlado a través de sistemas de monitorización que permiten conocer el estado del mismo, de tal manera que pueda ser gestionado fácilmente. Hoy en día la mayoría de los productos de monitorización existentes limitan a la hora de visualizar una representación real de la arquitectura de los sistemas a monitorizar, lo que puede dificultar la tarea de los administradores. Es decir, la visualización que proporcionan de la arquitectura del sistema, en muchos casos se ve influenciada por el diseño del sistema de visualización, lo que impide ver los niveles de la arquitectura y las relaciones entre estos. En este trabajo se presenta un sistema de monitorización para sistemas distribuidos o Cloud, que pretende dar solución a esta problemática, no limitando la representación de la arquitectura del sistema a monitorizar. El sistema está formado por: agentes, que se encargan de la tarea de recolección de las métricas del sistema monitorizado; un servidor, al que los agentes le envían las métricas para que las almacenen en una base de datos; y una aplicación web, a través de la que se visualiza toda la información. El sistema ha sido probado satisfactoriamente con la monitorización de CumuloNimbo, una plataforma como servicio (PaaS), que ofrece interfaz SQL y procesamiento transaccional altamente escalable sobre almacenes clave valor. Este trabajo describe la arquitectura del sistema de monitorización, y en concreto, el desarrollo de la principal contribución al sistema, la aplicación web. ---ABSTRACT---Distributed computing has been around for quite a long time, but now it is becoming more and more important. In the last few years, cloud computing, a branch of distributed computing has become very popular, as its different products in the market can prove. Every computing system requires to be controlled through monitoring systems to keep them functioning correctly. Currently, most of the monitoring systems in the market only provide a view of the architectures of the systems monitored, which in most cases do not permit having a real view of the system. This lack of vision can make administrators’ tasks really difficult. If they do not know the architecture perfectly, controlling the system based on the view that the monitoring system provides is extremely complicated. The project introduces a new monitoring system for distributed or Cloud systems, which shows the real architecture of the system. This new system is composed of several elements: agents, which collect the metrics of the monitored system; a server, which receives the metrics from the agents and saves them in a database; and a web application, which shows all the data collected in an easy way. The monitoring system has been tested successfully with Cumulonimbo. CumuloNimbo is a platform as a service (PaaS) which offers an SQL interface and a high-scalable transactional process. This platform works over key-value storage. This project describes the architecture of the monitoring system, especially, the development of the web application, which is the main contribution to the system.

Uncertainties in the modal estimation from output-only data in civil structures

Cualquier estructura vibra según unas frecuencias propias definidas por sus parámetros modales (frecuencias naturales, amortiguamientos y formas modales). A través de las mediciones de la vibración en puntos clave de la estructura, los parámetros modales pueden ser estimados. En estructuras civiles, es difícil excitar una estructura de manera controlada, por lo tanto, las técnicas que implican la estimación de los parámetros modales sólo registrando su respuesta son de vital importancia para este tipo de estructuras. Esta técnica se conoce como Análisis Modal Operacional (OMA). La técnica del OMA no necesita excitar artificialmente la estructura, atendiendo únicamente a su comportamiento en servicio. La motivación para llevar a cabo pruebas de OMA surge en el campo de la Ingeniería Civil, debido a que excitar artificialmente con éxito grandes estructuras no sólo resulta difícil y costoso, sino que puede incluso dañarse la estructura. Su importancia reside en que el comportamiento global de una estructura está directamente relacionado con sus parámetros modales, y cualquier variación de rigidez, masa o condiciones de apoyo, aunque sean locales, quedan reflejadas en los parámetros modales. Por lo tanto, esta identificación puede integrarse en un sistema de vigilancia de la integridad estructural. La principal dificultad para el uso de los parámetros modales estimados mediante OMA son las incertidumbres asociadas a este proceso de estimación. Existen incertidumbres en el valor de los parámetros modales asociadas al proceso de cálculo (internos) y también asociadas a la influencia de los factores ambientales (externas), como es la temperatura. Este Trabajo Fin de Máster analiza estas dos fuentes de incertidumbre. Es decir, en primer lugar, para una estructura de laboratorio, se estudian y cuantifican las incertidumbres asociadas al programa de OMA utilizado. En segundo lugar, para una estructura en servicio (una pasarela de banda tesa), se estudian tanto el efecto del programa OMA como la influencia del factor ambiental en la estimación de los parámetros modales. Más concretamente, se ha propuesto un método para hacer un seguimiento de las frecuencias naturales de un mismo modo. Este método incluye un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple que permite eliminar la influencia de estos agentes externos. A structure vibrates according to some of its vibration modes, defined by their modal parameters (natural frequencies, damping ratios and modal shapes). Through the measurements of the vibration at key points of the structure, the modal parameters can be estimated. In civil engineering structures, it is difficult to excite structures in a controlled manner, thus, techniques involving output-only modal estimation are of vital importance for these structure. This techniques are known as Operational Modal Analysis (OMA). The OMA technique does not need to excite artificially the structure, this considers its behavior in service only. The motivation for carrying out OMA tests arises in the area of Civil Engineering, because successfully artificially excite large structures is difficult and expensive. It also may even damage the structure. The main goal is that the global behavior of a structure is directly related to their modal parameters, and any variation of stiffness, mass or support conditions, although it is local, is also reflected in the modal parameters. Therefore, this identification may be within a Structural Health Monitoring system. The main difficulty for using the modal parameters estimated by an OMA is the uncertainties associated to this estimation process. Thus, there are uncertainties in the value of the modal parameters associated to the computing process (internal) and the influence of environmental factors (external), such as the temperature. This Master’s Thesis analyzes these two sources of uncertainties. That is, firstly, for a lab structure, the uncertainties associated to the OMA program used are studied and quantified. Secondly, for an in-service structure (a stress-ribbon footbridge), both the effect of the OMA program and the influence of environmental factor on the modal parameters estimation are studied. More concretely, a method to track natural frequencies of the same mode has been proposed. This method includes a multiple linear regression model that allows to remove the influence of these external agents.

Las construcciones subterráneas para bodegas, un modelo de ahorro de energía mediante los sistemas constructivos. Estudio de las condiciones higrotérmicas, ventilación y modelos de simulación

Esta tesis se enmarca dentro de una línea de investigación iniciada en el 2004 focalizada en el estudio de soluciones constructivas energéticamente eficientes para la crianza del vino. El objetivo principal es promover el ahorro energético y la sostenibilidad en el diseño de la sala de crianza de las bodegas. Para ello, se profundiza en el estudio de las bodegas subterráneas, ejemplo de eco-construcción, ya que por lo general proporcionan condiciones adecuadas para la crianza sin gasto energético en climatización. En concreto, se abordan aspectos clave para la caracterización y comprensión del funcionamiento de estas construcciones, que en muchas ocasiones condicionan el éxito o el fracaso de las mismas. Así, se analiza el complejo comportamiento de la ventilación natural a lo largo del año, determinando los factores que la condicionan, desvelando el papel que desempeña tanto el túnel de acceso como las chimeneas de ventilación en su funcionamiento. Además, se desarrollan y validan modelos de simulación mediante CFD, que permiten evaluar y predecir con detalle el comportamiento termofluidodinámico de las construcciones subterráneas. Por otra parte, se cuantifica la uniformidad y estabilidad de la sala de crianza a lo largo del año, información que permite fijar recomendaciones y pautas concretas de diseño de los planes de monitorización. Finalmente, se determinan las diferencias de comportamiento higrotérmico existentes entre un amplio abanico de bodegas subterráneas para vino tinto, bodegas representativas de otras soluciones constructivas alternativas de vino tinto, así como bodegas para cavas y vinos generosos, enmarcando el comportamiento de estas bodegas en un contexto global. Además, se desarrollan metodologías adaptadas a las características particulares de estas construcciones, en concreto un sistema de monitorización basado en termografía infrarroja para llevar a cabo inspecciones puntuales para el control ambiental de grandes naves de crianza. Es de esperar que los estudios técnicos y las herramientas desarrolladas ayuden a mejorar el diseño de nuevas bodegas, y a la mejora de las condiciones higrotérmicas de las ya existentes, colaborando a que España siga situada en la vanguardia de la producción de vino de calidad. ABSTRACT This thesis is part of the research started in 2004 and focusing on the study of the energy efficiency in wine aging constructive solutions. The main objective is to promote energy conservation and sustainability in the design of wine aging rooms. To do so, this study focuses on the analysis of the underground cellars, example of eco-construction, since they usually provide adequate conditions for wine aging without using air-conditioning systems. In particular, key aspects for characterizing and understanding these constructions, which often determine the success or failure of them. Thus, the complex behavior of natural ventilation throughout the year is discussed, determining the influencing factors and revealing the role of both the access tunnel and the ventilation chimney. In addition, numerical models are developed and validated using CFD simulation, allowing an in-depth assessment and prediction of the thermofluidynamic behavior in underground constructions. Moreover, uniformity and stability of the aging room throughout the year is quantified, allowing for precise information useful to set recommendations and design guidelines for defining monitoring plans. Finally, hygrothermal behavior differences between a wide range of underground cellars for red wine, red wine wineries with alternative construction solutions and wineries for generous wines and cava wines, In addition, new methodologies adapted towards the particular characteristics of these constructions, a monitoring system based on infrared thermography to perform periodic inspections for environmental controls of the aging rooms, are developed. It is expected that the technical studies and tools developed here will help to improve the design of new wineries, and also the hygrothermal conditions of the existing ones, headed for keeping Spain in the forefront of the countries producing high quality wine.

Land cover dynamics and climate change implications on water resources in South Pacific Costa Rica

Water is fundamental to human life and the availability of freshwater is often a constraint on human welfare and economic development. Consequently, the potential effects of global changes on hydrology and water resources are considered among the most severe and vital ones. Water scarcity is one of the main problems in the rural communities of Central America, as a result of an important degradation of catchment areas and the over-exploitation of aquifers. The present Thesis is focused on two critical aspects of global changes over water resources: (1) the potential effects of climate change on water quantity and (2) the impacts of land cover and land use changes on the hydrological processes and water cycle. Costa Rica is among the few developing countries that have recently achieved a land use transition with a net increase in forest cover. Osa Region in South Pacific Costa Rica is an appealing study site to assess water supply management plans and to measure the effects of deforestation, forest transitions and climate change projections reported in the region. Rural Community Water Supply systems (ASADAS) in Osa are dealing with an increasing demand of freshwater due to the growing population and the change in the way of life in the rural livelihoods. Land cover mosaics which have resulted from the above mentioned processes are characterized by the abandonment of marginal farmland with the spread over these former grasslands of high return crops and the expansion of secondary forests due to reforestation initiatives. These land use changes have a significant impact on runoff generation in priority water-supply catchments in the humid tropics, as evidenced by the analysis of the Tinoco Experimental Catchment in the Southern Pacific area of Costa Rica. The monitoring system assesses the effects of the different land uses on the runoff responses and on the general water cycle of the basin. Runoff responses at plot scale are analyzed for secondary forests, oil palm plantations, forest plantations and grasslands. The Oil palm plantation plot presented the highest runoff coefficient (mean RC=32.6%), twice that measured under grasslands (mean RC=15.3%) and 20-fold greater than in secondary forest (mean RC=1.7%). A Thornthwaite-type water balance is proposed to assess the impact of land cover and climate change scenarios over water availability for rural communities in Osa Region. Climate change projections were obtained by the downscaling of BCM2, CNCM3 and ECHAM5 models. Precipitation and temperature were averaged and conveyed by the A1B, A2 and B1 IPCC climate scenario for 2030, 2060 and 2080. Precipitation simulations exhibit a positive increase during the dry season for the three scenarios and a decrease during the rainy season, with the highest magnitude (up to 25%) by the end of the 21st century under scenario B1. Monthly mean temperature simulations increase for the three scenarios throughout the year with a maximum increase during the dry season of 5% under A1B and A2 scenarios and 4% under B1 scenario. The Thornthwaite-type Water Balance model indicates important decreases of water surplus for the three climate scenarios during the rainy season, with a maximum decrease on May, which under A1B scenario drop up to 20%, under A2 up to 40% and under B1 scenario drop up to almost 60%. Land cover scenarios were created taking into account current land cover dynamics of the region. Land cover scenario 1 projects a deforestation situation, with forests decreasing up to 15% due to urbanization of the upper catchment areas; land cover scenario 2 projects a forest recovery situation where forested areas increase due to grassland abandonment on areas with more than 30% of slope. Deforestation scenario projects an annual water surplus decrease of 15% while the reforestation scenario projects a water surplus increase of almost 25%. This water balance analysis indicates that climate scenarios are equal contributors as land cover scenarios to future water resource estimations.