Communication Solutions for LVDC Island Networks

Production and generation of electrical power is evolving to more environmental friendly technologies and schemes. Pushed by the increasing cost of fossil fuels, the operational costs of producing electrical power with fossil fuels and the effect in the environment, like pollution and global warming, renewable energy sources gain con-stant impulse into the global energy economy. In consequence, the introduction of distributed energy sources has brought a new complexity to the electrical networks. In the new concept of smart grids and decen-tralized power generation; control, protection and measurement are also distributed and requiring, among other things, a new scheme of communication to operate with each other in balance and improve performance. In this research, an analysis of different communication technologies (power line communication, Ethernet over unshielded twisted pair (UTP), optic fiber, Wi-Fi, Wi-MAX, and Long Term Evolution) and their respective characteristics will be carried out. With the objective of pointing out strengths and weaknesses from different points of view (technical, economical, deployment, etc.) to establish a richer context on which a decision for communication approach can be done depending on the specific application scenario of a new smart grid deployment. As a result, a description of possible optimal deployment solutions for communication will be shown considering different options for technologies, and a mention of different important considerations to be taken into account will be made for some of the possible network implementation scenarios.

Limittelymenetelmän hyödyntäminen verkkovaihtosuuntaajassa: LCL-suotimen mitoitus

Teollisuudessa yleinen trendi on saada entistä tehokkaampia, halvempia, hyötysuhteeltaan parempia ja fyysisiltä mitoiltaan pienempiä sähkökäyttöjä. Luonnollisesti nämä vaatimukset ovat samoja myös taajuusmuuttajilla. Näiden vaatimusten välillä täytyy aina tehdä kompromisseja ja kehittää uusia menetelmiä. Monissa teollisuuden sähkökäytöissä tarvitaan verkkovaihtosuuntaajaa syöttämään tehoa generaattorilta tai jarrutettavalta moottorilta sähköverkkoon. Verkkovaihtosuuntaajassa käytännössä tarvitaan aina LCL-suodin, joka on fyysisesti järjestelmän suurin ja kallein yksittäinen komponentti, ja luonnollisesti suuritehoinen laite vaatii suuren LCL-suotimen. LCL-Suotimen fyysinen koko on kääntäen verrannollinen kytkentätaajuuteen. Tässä diplomityössä esitellään interleaving eli limittelymenetelmä, jonka avulla pystytään kasvattamaan verkkovaihtosuuntaajan ekvivalenttista kytkentätaajuutta ja pienentämään virran värettä sekä kokonaisharmonista säröä. Menetelmästä aiheutuu myös merkittävä haaste, kiertovirrat, joiden suodatusta tutkitaan kahdella eri menetelmällä. Käytetyt suodatustavat ovat LCL-suodin, jossa on lisäksi CM-kuristin ja LCL-suodin, jossa käytetään solujen välistä muuntajaa, ICT:tä. Työ suoritettiin teoriatutkimuksena ja simuloimalla. Tulokset osoittavat, että molemmat suodatustavat voivat toimia todellisessa sovelluksessa. Kuitenkin vain ICT:n omaava suodin on selkeästi vastaavan kokoista kaksitasoista verkkovaihtosuuntaajan suodinta pienempi. Tutkimus osoittaa myös sen, että tutkitussa sovelluskohteessa pelkkä fyysinen suodin ei riitä suodattamaan kiertovirtoja, vaan säätimeen täytyy tehdä myös muutoksia.

Electrical status epilepticus during sleep. Continuous spikes and waves during sleep

ABSTRACT Maria Peltola Electrical status epilepticus during sleep – Continuous spikes and waves during sleep Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Turku Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital Annales Universitatis Turkuensis, Medica-Odontologica, Turku, Finland, 2014 Background: Electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) is an EEG phenomenon of frequent spikes and waves occurring in slow sleep. ESES relates to cognitive deterioration in heterogeneous childhood epilepsies. Validated methods to quantitate ESES are missing. The clinical syndrome, called epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spikes and waves during sleep (CSWS) is pharmacoresistant in half of the patients. Limited data exists on surgical treatment of CSWS. Aims and methods: The effects of surgical treatment were studied by investigating electroclinical outcomes in 13 operated patients (nine callosotomies, four resections) with pharmacoresistant CSWS and cognitive decline. Secondly, an objective paradigm was searched for assessing ESES by the semiautomatic quantification of spike index (SI) and measuring spike strength from EEG. Results: Postoperatively, cognitive deterioration was stopped in 12 (92%) patients. Three out of four patients became seizure-free after resective surgery. Callosotomy resulted in greater than 90% reduction of atypical absences in six out of eight patients. The preoperative propagation of ESES from one hemisphere to the other was associated with a good response. Semiautomatic quantification of SI was a robust method when the maximal interspike interval of three seconds was used to determine the “continuous” discharge in ten EEGs. SI of the first hour of sleep appeared representative of the whole night SI. Furthermore, the spikes’ root mean square was found to be a stable measure of spike strength when spatially integrated over multiple electrodes during steady NREM sleep. Conclusions: Patients with pharmacoresistant CSWS, based on structural etiology, may benefit from resective surgery or corpus callosotomy regarding both seizure outcome and cognitive prognosis. The semiautomated SI quantification, with proper userdefined settings and the new spatially integrated measure of spike strength, are robust and promising tools for quantifying ESES. Keywords: Electrical status epilepticus during sleep, ESES, continuous spikes and waves during sleep, CSWS, epilepsy surgery, spike index, spike strength, RMS TIIVISTELMÄ Maria Peltola Unenaikainen sähköinen status epilepticus Kliininen neurofysiologia, Turun yliopisto Kliininen neurofysiologia ja lastenneurologia, Lasten ja nuorten sairaala, Helsingin yliopistollinen keskussairaala Annales Universitatis Turkuensis, Medica-Odontologica, Turku, Suomi, 2014 Tausta: Sähköinen status epilepticus unessa (ESES) on aivosähkökäyrä (EEG)-ilmiö, jossa hidasaaltounen aikana esiintyy tiheä piikkihidasaaltopurkaus. ESES:n kvantifioimiseen ei ole olemassa validoituja menetelmiä. ESES on liitetty kognitiivisen tason laskuun ja tällöin puhutaan CSWS (continuous spikes and waves during sleep) - oireyhtymästä. CSWS ei vastaa lääkehoitoon puolella potilaista ja sen epilepsiakirurgisesta hoidosta on olemassa vain vähän tietoa. Tavoitteet ja menetelmät: Selvitimme retrospektiivisesti epilepsiakirurgian vaikusta elektrokliinisiin löydöksiin 13:lla lääkeresistenttiä CSWS-oireyhtymää sairastavalla lapsella, joilla oli rakenteellinen aivojen poikkeavuus. Toinen tavoite oli löytää objektiivinen puoliautomaattinen tapa mitata purkauksen määrää ja piikkien voimakkuutta EEG:stä. Tulokset: Kognitiivisen tason jatkuva heikentyminen loppui 12 (92 %) potilaalla leikkauksen jälkeen. Kolme neljästä resektiopotilaasta tuli kohtauksettomaksi. Kallosotomian jälkeen kuudella kahdeksasta potilaasta päivittäiset kohtaukset vähenivät yli 90 %:lla. Purkauksen leviäminen leikkausta edeltävästi vain yhdestä hemisfääristä toiseen liittyi hyvään leikkaushoitovasteeseen. Piikki-indeksi, jossa käytetään jatkuvan purkauksen määritelmänä maksimissaan kolmea sekuntia piikkien välillä, osoittautui luotettavaksi menetelmäksi ESES:n kvantifioimiseen. Useammasta elektrodista integroitu piikkien neliöllinen keskiarvo oli piikin voimakkuuden vakaa mitta häiriintymättömässä NREM-unessa. Päätelmät: Lääkehoidolle vastaamatonta CSWS:ää sairastavat potilaat, joilla on rakenteellinen aivopoikkeavuus ja yhdensuuntainen purkauksen leviämismalli, näyttävät kohtausten vähenemisen lisäksi hyötyvän epilepsiakirurgiasta kognitiivisesti. Puoliautomaattinen piikki-indeksin kvantifiointi sopivilla käyttäjäasetuksilla ja uusi spatiaalisesti integroitu piikin voimakkuuden mittari ovat stabiileja ja lupaavia ESES:n kvantitatiivisia mittareita. Avainsanat: Unenaikainen sähköinen status epilepticus, ESES, CSWS, epilepsiakirurgia, piikki-indeksi, piikin voimakkuus, neliöllinen keskiarvo

Application of Carbon Nanotubes in Rotating Electrical Machines

Demand for increased energy efficiency has put an immense need for novel energy efficient systems. Electrical machines are considered as a much matured technology. Further improvement in this technology needs of finding new material to incorporate in electrical machines. Progress of carbon nanotubes research over the latest decade can open a new horizon in this aspect. Commonly known as ‘magic material’, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have promising material properties that can change considerably the course of electrical machine design. It is believed that winding material based on carbon nanotubes create the biggest hope for a giant leap of modern technology and energy efficient systems. Though carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown amazing properties theoretically and practically during the latest 20 years, to the best knowledge of the author, no research has been carried out to find the future possibilities of utilizing carbon nanotubes as conductors in rotating electrical machines. In this thesis, the possibilities of utilizing carbon nanotubes in electrical machines have been studied. The design changes of electrical machine upon using carbon nanotubes instead of copper have been discussed vividly. A roadmap for this carbon nanotube winding machine has been discussed from synthesis, manufacturing and operational points of view.

Signaled two-way avoidance learning using electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus as negative reinforcement: effects of visual and auditory cues as warning stimuli

The inferior colliculus is a primary relay for the processing of auditory information in the brainstem. The inferior colliculus is also part of the so-called brain aversion system as animals learn to switch off the electrical stimulation of this structure. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether associative learning occurs between aversion induced by electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus and visual and auditory warning stimuli. Rats implanted with electrodes into the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus were placed inside an open-field and thresholds for the escape response to electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus were determined. The rats were then placed inside a shuttle-box and submitted to a two-way avoidance paradigm. Electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus at the escape threshold (98.12 ± 6.15 (A, peak-to-peak) was used as negative reinforcement and light or tone as the warning stimulus. Each session consisted of 50 trials and was divided into two segments of 25 trials in order to determine the learning rate of the animals during the sessions. The rats learned to avoid the inferior colliculus stimulation when light was used as the warning stimulus (13.25 ± 0.60 s and 8.63 ± 0.93 s for latencies and 12.5 ± 2.04 and 19.62 ± 1.65 for frequencies in the first and second halves of the sessions, respectively, P<0.01 in both cases). No significant changes in latencies (14.75 ± 1.63 and 12.75 ± 1.44 s) or frequencies of responses (8.75 ± 1.20 and 11.25 ± 1.13) were seen when tone was used as the warning stimulus (P>0.05 in both cases). Taken together, the present results suggest that rats learn to avoid the inferior colliculus stimulation when light is used as the warning stimulus. However, this learning process does not occur when the neutral stimulus used is an acoustic one. Electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus may disturb the signal transmission of the stimulus to be conditioned from the inferior colliculus to higher brain structures such as amygdala

Bradykinin enhances membrane electrical activity of pancreatic beta cells in the presence of low glucose concentrations

In most of cells bradykinin (BK) induces intracellular calcium mobilization. In pancreatic beta cells intracellular calcium is a major signal for insulin secretion. In these cells, glucose metabolism yields intracellular ATP which blocks membrane potassium channels. The membrane depolarizes, voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are activated and the intracellular calcium load allows insulin secretion. Repolarization occurs due to activation of the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel. The insulin secretion depends on the integrity of this oscillatory process (bursts). Therefore, we decided to determine whether BK (100 nM) induces bursts in the presence of a non-stimulatory glucose concentration (5.6 mM). During continuous membrane voltage recording, our results showed that bursts were obtained with 11 mM glucose, blocked with 5.6 mM glucose and recovered with 5.6 mM glucose plus 100 nM BK. Thus, the stimulatory process obtained in the presence of BK and of a non-stimulatory concentration of glucose in the present study suggests that BK may facilitate the action of glucose on beta cell secretion.

The Impact of Electrical Capacity Market Mechanisms on Capacity Mobility and End Use Customer Pricing

Potential impacts of electrical capacity market design on capacity mobility and end use customer pricing are analyzed. Market rules and historical evolution are summarized to provide a background for the analysis. The summarized rules are then examined for impacts on capacity mobility. A summary of the aspects of successful capacity markets is provided. Two United States market regions are chosen for analysis based upon their market history and proximity to each other. The MISO region is chosen due to recent developments in capacity market mechanisms. The PJM region neighbors the MISO region and is similar in size and makeup. The PJM region has had a capacity market mechanism for over a decade and allows for a controlled comparison of the MISO region’s developments. Capacity rules are found to have an impact on the mobility of capacity between regions. Regulatory restrictions and financial penalties for the movement of capacity between regions are found which effectively hinder such mobility. Capacity market evolution timelines are formed from the historical evolution previously summarized and compared to historical pricing to inspect for a correlation. No direct and immediate impact on end use customer pricing was found due to capacity market design. The components of end use customer pricing are briefly examined.

Two-phase flow measurements with spacer grid in a rod bundle geometry

Heat transfer effectiveness in nuclear rod bundles is of great importance to nuclear reactor safety and economics. An important design parameter is the Critical Heat Flux (CHF), which limits the transferred heat from the fuel to the coolant. The CHF is determined by flow behaviour, especially the turbulence created inside the fuel rod bundle. Adiabatic experiments can be used to characterize the flow behaviour separately from the heat transfer phenomena in diabatic flow. To enhance the turbulence, mixing vanes are attached to spacer grids, which hold the rods in place. The vanes either make the flow swirl around a single sub-channel or induce cross-mixing between adjacent sub-channels. In adiabatic two-phase conditions an important phenomenon that can be investigated is the effect of the spacer on canceling the lift force, which collects the small bubbles to the rod surfaces leading to decreased CHF in diabatic conditions and thus limits the reactor power. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be used to simulate the flow numerically and to test how different spacer configurations affect the flow. Experimental data is needed to validate and verify the used CFD models. Especially the modeling of turbulence is challenging even for single-phase flow inside the complex sub-channel geometry. In two-phase flow other factors such as bubble dynamics further complicate the modeling. To investigate the spacer grid effect on two-phase flow, and to provide further experimental data for CFD validation, a series of experiments was run on an adiabatic sub-channel flow loop using a duct-type spacer grid with different configurations. Utilizing the wire-mesh sensor technology, the facility gives high resolution experimental data in both time and space. The experimental results indicate that the duct-type spacer grid is less effective in canceling the lift force effect than the egg-crate type spacer tested earlier.

Lightweight, liquid-cooled, direct-drive generator for highpower wind turbines: motivation, concept, and performance

Thesis: A liquid-cooled, direct-drive, permanent-magnet, synchronous generator with helical, double-layer, non-overlapping windings formed from a copper conductor with a coaxial internal coolant conduit offers an excellent combination of attributes to reliably provide economic wind power for the coming generation of wind turbines with power ratings between 5 and 20MW. A generator based on the liquid-cooled architecture proposed here will be reliable and cost effective. Its smaller size and mass will reduce build, transport, and installation costs. Summary: Converting wind energy into electricity and transmitting it to an electrical power grid to supply consumers is a relatively new and rapidly developing method of electricity generation. In the most recent decade, the increase in wind energy’s share of overall energy production has been remarkable. Thousands of land-based and offshore wind turbines have been commissioned around the globe, and thousands more are being planned. The technologies have evolved rapidly and are continuing to evolve, and wind turbine sizes and power ratings are continually increasing. Many of the newer wind turbine designs feature drivetrains based on Direct-Drive, Permanent-Magnet, Synchronous Generators (DD-PMSGs). Being low-speed high-torque machines, the diameters of air-cooled DD-PMSGs become very large to generate higher levels of power. The largest direct-drive wind turbine generator in operation today, rated just below 8MW, is 12m in diameter and approximately 220 tonne. To generate higher powers, traditional DD-PMSGs would need to become extraordinarily large. A 15MW air-cooled direct-drive generator would be of colossal size and tremendous mass and no longer economically viable. One alternative to increasing diameter is instead to increase torque density. In a permanent magnet machine, this is best done by increasing the linear current density of the stator windings. However, greater linear current density results in more Joule heating, and the additional heat cannot be removed practically using a traditional air-cooling approach. Direct liquid cooling is more effective, and when applied directly to the stator windings, higher linear current densities can be sustained leading to substantial increases in torque density. The higher torque density, in turn, makes possible significant reductions in DD-PMSG size. Over the past five years, a multidisciplinary team of researchers has applied a holistic approach to explore the application of liquid cooling to permanent-magnet wind turbine generator design. The approach has considered wind energy markets and the economics of wind power, system reliability, electromagnetic behaviors and design, thermal design and performance, mechanical architecture and behaviors, and the performance modeling of installed wind turbines. This dissertation is based on seven publications that chronicle the work. The primary outcomes are the proposal of a novel generator architecture, a multidisciplinary set of analyses to predict the behaviors, and experimentation to demonstrate some of the key principles and validate the analyses. The proposed generator concept is a direct-drive, surface-magnet, synchronous generator with fractional-slot, duplex-helical, double-layer, non-overlapping windings formed from a copper conductor with a coaxial internal coolant conduit to accommodate liquid coolant flow. The novel liquid-cooling architecture is referred to as LC DD-PMSG. The first of the seven publications summarized in this dissertation discusses the technological and economic benefits and limitations of DD-PMSGs as applied to wind energy. The second publication addresses the long-term reliability of the proposed LC DD-PMSG design. Publication 3 examines the machine’s electromagnetic design, and Publication 4 introduces an optimization tool developed to quickly define basic machine parameters. The static and harmonic behaviors of the stator and rotor wheel structures are the subject of Publication 5. And finally, Publications 6 and 7 examine steady-state and transient thermal behaviors. There have been a number of ancillary concrete outcomes associated with the work including the following. X Intellectual Property (IP) for direct liquid cooling of stator windings via an embedded coaxial coolant conduit, IP for a lightweight wheel structure for lowspeed, high-torque electrical machinery, and IP for numerous other details of the LC DD-PMSG design X Analytical demonstrations of the equivalent reliability of the LC DD-PMSG; validated electromagnetic, thermal, structural, and dynamic prediction models; and an analytical demonstration of the superior partial load efficiency and annual energy output of an LC DD-PMSG design X A set of LC DD-PMSG design guidelines and an analytical tool to establish optimal geometries quickly and early on X Proposed 8 MW LC DD-PMSG concepts for both inner and outer rotor configurations Furthermore, three technologies introduced could be relevant across a broader spectrum of applications. 1) The cost optimization methodology developed as part of this work could be further improved to produce a simple tool to establish base geometries for various electromagnetic machine types. 2) The layered sheet-steel element construction technology used for the LC DD-PMSG stator and rotor wheel structures has potential for a wide range of applications. And finally, 3) the direct liquid-cooling technology could be beneficial in higher speed electromotive applications such as vehicular electric drives.

Modulation of hormone secretion by functional electrical stimulation of the intact and incompletely dysfunctional dog pancreas

The purpose of the present study was to modulate the secretion of insulin and glucagon in Beagle dogs by stimulation of nerves innervating the intact and partly dysfunctional pancreas. Three 33-electrode spiral cuffs were implanted on the vagus, splanchnic and pancreatic nerves in each of two animals. Partial dysfunction of the pancreas was induced with alloxan. The nerves were stimulated using rectangular, charge-balanced, biphasic, and constant current pulses (200 µs, 1 mA, 20 Hz, with a 100-µs delay between biphasic phases). Blood samples from the femoral artery were drawn before the experiment, at the beginning of stimulation, after 5 min of stimulation, and 5 min after the end of stimulation. Radioimmunoassay data showed that in the intact pancreas stimulation of the vagal nerve increased insulin (+99.2 µU/ml) and glucagon (+18.7 pg/ml) secretion and decreased C-peptide secretion (-0.15 ng/ml). Splanchnic nerve stimulation increased insulin (+1.7 µU/ml), C-peptide (+0.01 ng/ml), and glucagon (+50 pg/ml) secretion, whereas pancreatic nerve stimulation did not cause a marked change in any of the three hormones. In the partly dysfunctional pancreas, vagus nerve stimulation increased insulin (+15.5 µU/ml), glucagon (+11 pg/ml), and C-peptide (+0.03 ng/ml) secretion. Splanchnic nerve stimulation reduced insulin secretion (-2.5 µU/ml) and increased glucagon (+58.7 pg/ml) and C-peptide (+0.39 ng/ml) secretion, and pancreatic nerve stimulation increased insulin (+0.2 µU/ml), glucagon (+5.2 pg/ml), and C-peptide (+0.08 ng/ml) secretion. It was concluded that vagal nerve stimulation can significantly increase insulin secretion for a prolonged period of time in intact and in partly dysfunctional pancreas.

Electrical parameters and water permeability properties of monolayers formed by T84 cells cultured on permeable supports

T84 is an established cell line expressing an enterocyte phenotype whose permeability properties have been widely explored. Osmotic permeability (P OSM), hydraulic permeability (P HYDR) and transport-associated net water fluxes (J W-transp), as well as short-circuit current (I SC), transepithelial resistance (R T), and potential difference (deltaV T) were measured in T84 monolayers with the following results: P OSM 1.3 ± 0.1 cm.s-1 x 10-3; P HYDR 0.27 ± 0.02 cm.s-1; R T 2426 ± 109 omega.cm², and deltaV T 1.31 ± 0.38 mV. The effect of 50 µM 5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (DCEBIO), a "net Cl- secretory agent", on T84 cells was also studied. We confirm the reported important increase in I SC induced by DCEBIO which was associated here with a modest secretory deltaJ W-transp. The present results were compared with those reported using the same experimental approach applied to established cell lines originating from intestinal and renal epithelial cells (Caco-2, LLC-PK1 and RCCD-1). No clear association between P HYDR and R T could be demonstrated and high P HYDR values were observed in an electrically tight epithelium, supporting the view that a "water leaky" barrier is not necessarily an "electrically leaky" one. Furthermore, the modest secretory deltaJ W-transp was not consistent with previous results obtained with RCCD-1 cells stimulated with vasopressin (absorptive fluxes) or with T84 cells secreting water under the action of Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin. We conclude that, while the presence of aquaporins is necessary to dissipate an external osmotic gradient, coupling between water and ion transport cannot be explained by a simple and common underlying mechanism.

Hysteresis Losses in Sintered NdFeB Permanent Magnets in Rotating Electrical Machines

Permanent magnet materials are nowadays widely used in the electrical machine manufacturing industry. Eddy current loss models of permanent magnets used in electrical machines are frequently discussed in research papers. In magnetic steel materials we have, in addition to eddy current losses, hysteresis losses when AC or a rotating flux travels through the material. Should a similar phenomenon also be taken into account in calculating the losses of permanent magnets? Actually, every now and then authors seem to assume that some significant hysteresis losses are present in rotating machine PMs. This paper studies the mechanisms of possible hysteresis losses in PMs and their role in PMs when used in rotating electrical machines.

Fundraising and investor relations in social enterprise: Marketing your way out of the pioneer gap in African off-grid renewable energy

Social enterprises apply the best of business for the pursuit of social or environmental mission while also generating revenues. Globally, nearly 1,3 billion people lack access to electricity, as well as another billion having access to only low quality and infrequent electricity. Off-grid renewable energy, like solar, will increasingly have a key role in the solution of the energy access issue. The pioneer gap in off-grid renewable energy consists of financing (or funding) gaps and capacity gaps, to do with both the early stage of the enterprises in question, as well as the early stage of the whole industry. The gaps are emphasised by specific characteristics of off-grid renewable energy business models and the requirements of operating in bottom-of-the-pyramid markets. The marketing perspective to fundraising is chosen to uncover the possible role enterprises themselves have in bridging the pioneer gap. The purpose of this thesis is to study how social enterprises operating in off-grid renewable energy in Africa utilise marketing activities in their investor relations in bridging the pioneer gap. This main research question is divided into the following sub-questions:  How does the pioneer gap affect fundraising for these enterprises?  How are the funding needs for these enterprises characterised?  How do these enterprises build trust in their investor relations? The theoretic framework is built on relationship marketing and investor relations, with an emphasis on creation of trust. The research is conducted as a thematical case study. Primary data is gathered via semi-structured interviews with six solar energy companies and two accelerators. According to the findings, the main components affecting trust-creation are diminished information asymmetry and perceived risk, mission alignment as well as a personal fit or relationship with the investor. Therefore, an enterprise can utilise e.g. the following marketing activities in their investor relations to bridge the pioneer gap: ensuring investor material, the enterprise story and presenting of them is clear, concise and complete to “package” the enterprise as an investment; taking investor needs and motivations into account as well as utilising existing investors as ambassadors.

Replacing Copper with New Carbon Nanomaterials in Electrical Machine Windings

Electrical machines have significant improvement potential. Nevertheless, the field is characterized by incremental innovations. Admittedly, steady improvement has been achieved, but no breakthrough development. Radical development in the field would require the introduction of new elements, such that may change the whole electrical machine industry system. Recent technological advancements in nanomaterials have opened up new horizons for the macroscopic application of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibres. With values of 100 MS/m measured on individual CNTs, CNT fibre materials hold promise for conductivities far beyond those of metals. Highly conductive, lightweight and strong CNT yarn is finally within reach; it could replace copper as a potentially better winding material. Although not yet providing low resistivity, the newest CNT yarn offers attractive perspectives for accelerated efficiency improvement of electrical machines. In this article, the potential for using new CNT materials to replace copper in machine windings is introduced. It does so, firstly, by describing the environment for a change that could revolutionize the industry and, secondly, by presenting the breakthrough results of a prototype construction. In the test motor, which is to our knowledge the first in its kind, the presently most electrically conductive carbon nanotube yarn replaces usual copper in the windings.

Piilevien asiakastarpeiden tunnistaminen – repertory grid -tekniikka

Tässä työssä tutkitaan asiakaslähtöisyyttä tuotekehityksessä ja piilevien asiakastarpeiden selvittämistä ja hyödyntämistä asiakaslähtöisyydessä. Tavoitteena on selvittää asiakaslähtöisyyden tärkeyttä ja etuja tuotekehityksessä, sekä käydä läpi erilaisia asiakastarpeiden selvittämismetodeja erityisesti keskittyen repertory grid –tekniikkaan (RGT). Asiakaslähtöisyys tuo yrityksille merkittävää kilpailuetua tuotekehityksen alkupäähän. Erityisesti piilevät asiakastarpeet voivat mahdollistaa tuoteinnovaatioita, joilla saavutetaan huomattavasti parempaa asiakastyytyväisyyttä ja etulyöntiasemaa kilpailijoihin nähden. Piileviä asiakastarpeita voi tunnistaa repertory grid –tekniikalla, jota on avattu tässä työssä. Tekniikka mahdollistaa piilevien asiakastarpeiden tunnistamisen, mikä osaltaan edistää etulyöntiaseman antavia asiakaslähtöisiä tuoteinnovaatioita, joilla yritys voi differoitua muista markkinoilla olevista yrityksistä. Asiakaslähtöisyyden tulee tuotekehityksen lähtökohdan lisäksi olla osa yrityksen strategiaa ja kulttuuria, jotta yritys voi menestyä asiakaslähtöisyydellä.