Detecting an abnormality in a recovery boiler using dynamic multivariate data analysis with parallel coordinate plots

Data visualization techniques are powerful in the handling and analysis of multivariate systems. One such technique known as parallel coordinates was used to support the diagnosis of an event, detected by a neural network-based monitoring system, in a boiler at a Brazilian Kraft pulp mill. Its attractiveness is the possibility of the visualization of several variables simultaneously. The diagnostic procedure was carried out step-by-step going through exploratory, explanatory, confirmatory, and communicative goals. This tool allowed the visualization of the boiler dynamics in an easier way, compared to commonly used univariate trend plots. In addition it facilitated analysis of other aspects, namely relationships among process variables, distinct modes of operation and discrepant data. The whole analysis revealed firstly that the period involving the detected event was associated with a transition between two distinct normal modes of operation, and secondly the presence of unusual changes in process variables at this time.

Automatization of feeding the heat flux data to water circulation simulations of recovery boilers

Tässä työssä perehdytään soodakattiloiden vesikiertomallin rakentamiseen. Työn päätavoitteena on kehittää simulointimallia varten taulukkolaskentapohja, jonka avulla soodakattilan lämpövuotietoja on yksinkertaista ja nopeaa käsitellä ja siirtää Apros 6 -simulointiohjelmaan. Lisäksi tarkoituksena on pyrkiä automatisoimaan työvaiheet mahdollisimman pitkälle, jolloin vesikiertolaskennan tekeminen yksinkertaistuisi, yhtenäistyisi ja tarkentuisi. Tämä on mahdollista Excel- makrojen ja Apros 6:n uusien toimintojen avulla. Apros 6:ssa on nyt mahdollista hyödyntää SCL- komentotiedostoja, joiden avulla sujuva tiedonsiirto Aproksen ja Excelin välillä vodaan toteuttaa. Vesikiertolaskentaan käytettävän datan käsittely on aikaisemmin ollut työlästä ja sen tarkkuus on pitkälti riippunut mallintajasta. Tässä diplomityössä päästään hyödyntämään uusimpia ja realistisempia soodakattiloiden CFD- malleja, joiden avulla pystytään luomaan aikaisempaa tarkemmat lämpövuojakaumat soodakattilan lämpöpinnoille. Tämä muutos parantaa vesikiertolaskennan tarkkuutta. Työn kokeellisessa osassa uutta Excel laskentatyökalua ja uusia lämpövuoarvoja testataan käytännössä. Eräs vanha Apros- vesikiertomalli päivitetään uusilla lämpövuoarvoilla ja sen rakenteeseen tehdään muutoksia tarkkuuden parantamiseksi. Uuden mallin toimivuutta testataan myös 115 %:n kapasiteetilla ja tutkitaan kuinka kyseinen vesikiertopiiri reagoi suurempaan lämpötehoon. Näitä kolmea eri tilannetta vertaillaan toisiinsa ja tarkastellaan eroavaisuuksia niiden vesi-höyrypiireissä.

Aspectos técnicos e ambientais da incorporação de novas tecnologias no setor sucroalcooleiro: produção de hidrogênio e gaseificação do bagaço

The purpose of this work is to study the incorporation of hydrogen production (Case A) and the process of gasification of sugarcane bagasse associated with combined cycle gas turbine and steam turbine (Case B) for Distillery Pioneers process. These technologies can be used to improve the energy supply in the sugarcane mill. Initially the processes for obtaining sugar and ethanol from sugarcane is discussed, with a theoretical introduction to hydrogen, the process of steam reforming and gasification of biomass (bagasse) by inserting a turbine associated with the recovery boiler gas. Subsequently makes up the energy and exergy analysis of the incorporation of the above technologies. In end stage makes it an ecological analysis considering or not the carbon cycle (photosynthesis), to determine the levels of emissions of pollutants, carbon dioxide equivalent, indicators of pollution and ecological efficiencies associated with technological developments proposed. It is concluded that hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol and gasification of bagasse are viable alternatives from the point of view of technical and environmental applications in the biofuels industry, contributing to the development of the sector in the country

Estudo de falhas por fadiga em caldeiras

In recent years, increasing demand for energy has led to studies to increase the amount of electricity produced. Due to this fact, more and more boilers are becoming important sources of electricity generation. To raise the efficiency of energy generated in the boilers is necessary to raise the steam pressure and temperature to values previously unimaginable. The use of more resistant materials and maintenance practices and most appropriate operation made it possible. The objective of this study is to test the main types of failure in a chemical recovery boiler, in particular due to fatigue in the superheater, because it is a component subjected to high temperatures and thus more subject to different failures. In this manner this study aims to reduce the incidence of unscheduled maintenance shutdowns, increasing the operation time under appropriate conditions. Modeling performed in this study, the failure did not occur, because we considered only the mechanical stress. Under normal conditions, mechanical stress in combination with thermal stresses can cause cracks in the tubes due to cyclical stresses, leading to fatigue failure

Performance tests of two small trigeneration pilot plants

Trigeneration systems have been used with advantage in the last years in distributed electricity generation systems as a function of a growth of natural gas pipeline network distribution system, tax incentives, and energy regulation policies. Typically, a trigeneration system is used to produce electrical power simultaneously with supplying heating and cooling load by recovering the combustion products thermal power content that otherwise would be driven to atmosphere. Concerning that, two small scale trigeneration plants have been tested for overall efficiency evaluation and operational comparison. The first system is based on a 30 kW (ISO) natural gas powered microturbine, and the second one uses a 26 kW natural gas powered internal combustion engine coupled to an electrical generator as a prime mover. The stack gases from both machines were directed to a 17.6 kW ammonia-water absorption refrigeration chiller for producing chilled water first and next to a water heat recovery boiler in order to produce hot water. Experimental results are presented along with relevant system operational parameters for appropriate operation including natural gas consumption, net electrical and thermal power production, i.e., hot and cold water production rates, primary energy saving index, and the energy utilization factor over total and partial electrical load operational conditions. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Investigation of Cognitive, Emotional and Negative Behavioural Responses to Service Recovery Strategies

Despite the best intentions of service providers and organisations, service delivery is rarely error-free. While numerous studies have investigated specific cognitive, emotional or behavioural responses to service failure and recovery, these studies do not fully capture the complexity of the services encounter. Consequently, this research develops a more holistic understanding of how specific service recovery strategies affect the responses of customers by combining two existing models—Smith & Bolton’s (2002) model of emotional responses to service performance and Fullerton and Punj’s (1993) structural model of aberrant consumer behaviour—into a conceptual framework. Specific service recovery strategies are proposed to influence consumer cognition, emotion and behaviour. This research was conducted using a 2x2 between-subjects quasi-experimental design that was administered via written survey. The experimental design manipulated two levels of two specific service recovery strategies: compensation and apology. The effect of the four recovery strategies were investigated by collecting data from 18-25 year olds and were analysed using multivariate analysis of covariance and multiple regression analysis. The results suggest that different service recovery strategies are associated with varying scores of satisfaction, perceived distributive justice, positive emotions, negative emotions and negative functional behaviour, but not dysfunctional behaviour. These finding have significant implications for the theory and practice of managing service recovery.

Comparing the diffusion of online service recovery in small and large organisations

A key concern organisations face is how to incorporate Internet tools into their marketing communications mix. Where and how should companies invest their human, technological and financial resources? This paper explores a subset of this problem, online complaining and electronic customer service. It applies diffusion of innovation as a theoretical framework to investigate organisational implementation of email technology and explain the outcome of annual customer service surveys in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The results add to the small body of research on electronic service recovery by extending diffusion of innovations to email service recovery and underscoring the importance of adoption phases, particularly for SMEs. Larger companies provide more channels for submitting complaints, which represents an early phase of adoption. There was little difference in how large and small companies respond to online complaints, a later phase of adoption.

A Review of Customer Involvement in Evaluations of Case Management : Consistency with a recovery paradigm

This Open Forum examines research on case management that draws on consumer perspectives. It clarifies the extent of consumer involvement and whether evaluations were informed by recovery perspectives. Searches of three databases revealed l3 studies that sought to investigate consumer perspectives. Only one study asked consumers about experiences of recovery. Most evaluations did not adequately assess consumers' views, and active consumer participation in research was rare. Supporting an individual's recovery requires commitment to a recovery paradigm that incorporates traditional symptom reduction and improved functioning, with broader recovery principles, and a shift in focus from illness to wellbeing. It also requires greater involvement of consumers in the implementation of case management and ownership of their own recovery process, not just in research that evaluates the practice.

Exercise for health : a breast cancer recovery program - quality of life benefits [Conference Abstract]

Introduction: Five-year survival from breast cancer in Australia is 87%. Hence, ensuring a good quality of life (QOL) has become a focal point of cancer research and clinical interest. Exercise during and after treatment has been identified as a potential strategy to optimise QOL of women diagnosed with breast cancer.----- Methods: Exercise for Health is a randomised controlled trial of an eight-month, exercise intervention delivered by Exercise Physiologists. An objective of this study was to assess the impact of the exercise program during and following treatment on QOL. Queensland women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer in 2006/07 were eligible to participate. Those living in urban-Brisbane (n=194) were allocated to either the face-to-face exercise group, the telephone exercise group, or the usual-care group, and those living in rural Queensland (n=143) were allocated to the telephone exercise group or the usual-care group. QOL, as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B+4) questionnaire, was measured at 4-6 weeks (pre-intervention), 6 months (mid-intervention) and 12 months (three months post-intervention) post-surgery.----- Results: Significant (P<0.01) increases in QOL were observed between pre-intervention and three months post-intervention 12 months post-surgery for all women. Women in the exercise groups experienced greater mean positive changes in QOL during this time (+10 points) compared with the usual-care groups (+5 to +7 points) after adjusting for baseline QOL. Although all groups experienced an overall increase in QOL, approximately 20% of urban and rural women in the usual-care groups reported a decline in QOL, compared with 10% of women in the exercise groups.----- Conclusions: This work highlights the potential importance of participating in physical activity to optimise QOL following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Results suggest that the telephone may be an effective medium for delivering exercise counselling to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

Preliminary Results from Exercise for Health : A Breast Cancer Recovery Project [Abstract]

The Exercise for Health program is a telephone-delivered exercise intervention for women with breast cancer (BC) living in regional Queensland. The effect of the program is being evaluated in the context of a randomised controlled trial. Consenting, newly diagnosed BC patients, treated in one of 8 regional Queensland hospitals, were randomly allocated to telephone-based exercise counselling (EC) or usual care (UC) at 6-weeks post-surgery. EC participants received an exercise workbook and 16 calls from an exercise physiologist over 8 months. Physical activity levels (PA) (Active Australia & CHAMPS), quality-of-life (FACTB+4), upper-body function (DASH) and fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) were assessed at baseline (4-6 weeks post-surgery), 6- and 12-months post-surgery. Preliminary analyses of available 6-month data were conducted using t-tests and repeated measures ANCOVAs. Participating women (n=143; EC n=73, UC n=70) were aged 53±9 years and 30% met PA guidelines at baseline. Up to two thirds of the women received adjuvant therapy during the first 6 months following surgery. Greater improvements (mean change+SD) occurred for the EC vs UC group in weekly sessions of walking (1.83±4.3 vs -0.5±5.5, p=0.029) moderate-vigorous PA (5.0±6.5 vs -1.1±6.1, p=0.005) and strength training (1.9±2.9 vs -0.5±4.2 p<0.001), and in upper-body function, reflected by lower log-transformed disability scores (-0.34±0.44 vs -0.17±0.28, p=0.038). More EC than UC participants met PA guidelines at 6 months (46.3% vs 32.7%). Preliminary findings from this ongoing trial suggest that the telephone is a feasible and effective medium for delivering exercise counselling to newly diagnosed BC patients living in regional areas.

Recovery and exercise interventions following breast cancer [Abstract]

Over 13,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia and approximately 90% of these women will survive longer than 5-years. However, survival following treatment for breast cancer is often associated with adverse physical and psychosocial side effects, which persist beyond treatment cessation. As incidence and survival rates associated with breast cancer continue to rise, there is an imperative need to understand the extent of treatment-related concerns and ways in which these concerns can be minimized and/or overcome. A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates that extensive quality of life benefits can be attained through exercise during and following breast cancer treatment. Such benefits observed include improvements in psychosocial and physical outcomes, as well as better compliance with treatment regimens and reduced impact of disease symptoms and treatment-related side effects. There is also evidence to suggest that post-diagnosis physical activity can improve survival. However, the majority of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia are not sufficiently active and the majority experience further declines in their physical activity levels during treatment. Throughout the course of this presentation, which draws on data from cohort studies and randomized trials of exercise interventions conducted in Queensland, the potential benefits of exercising during and following breast cancer treatment, the exercise prescription recommended for breast cancer survivors, the limits of our evidence-based knowledge and the issues faced by clinicians and patients with respect to exercise following a cancer diagnosis will be discussed. The question is no longer whether people with breast cancer should be active during and following their treatment, but is how do health care professionals best assist people to become and stay active in an endeavor to live healthy lives beyond their cancer experience.

Collaborative recovery: An integrative model for working with individuals that experience chronic or recurring mental illness.

Objectives: Recovery is an emerging movement in mental health. Evidence for recovery-based approaches is not well developed and approaches to implement recovery-oriented services are not well articulated. The collaborative recovery model (CRM) is presented as a model that assists clinicians to use evidence-based skills with consumers, in a manner consistent with the recovery movement. A current 5 year multisite Australian study to evaluate the effectiveness of CRM is briefly described. Conclusion: The collaborative recovery model puts into practice several aspects of policy regarding recovery-oriented services, using evidence-based practices to assist individuals who have chronic or recurring mental disorders (CRMD). It is argued that this model provides an integrative framework combining (i) evidence-based practice; (ii) manageable and modularized competencies relevant to case management and psychosocial rehabilitation contexts; and (iii) recognition of the subjective experiences of consumers.