Engineering Change Research Articles

“PROCESS”: Systems studies of spherical tokamaks

With a reduced aspect ratio, spherical tokamaks have a number of attractive features for a fusion power plant. This can be studied using systems codes, which allow for the rapid conceptual study of power plants covering everything, from the plasma through to electricity generation. In this paper, we describe models in the systems code process that have been added specifically for spherical tokamaks. Within process an alternative relation for the plasma current is included which accounts for the increased ratio of Ip/aB. We have tested this against a series of equilibria created with the free boundary equilibrium code fiesta, and additionally performed our own fit. We also outline the engineering changes that can be made to the device and describe a water-cooled copper centrepost model. To test our models we recreate the published designs for the Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) and a High Temperature Superconducting Pilot Plant (HTS-PP) and find good agreement. We conclude by highlighting the efficiencies needed to produce net electricity from small fusion devices.

3-Step Rectilinear Minimum Spanning Tree Construction for Obstacle-Avoiding Component-to-Component Routing

The continuous growth of digital integrated designs demands constant improvement in tools and development processes. Engineering change order (ECO) are design changes that occur late in the design process and require that subsequent stages must be adapted. ECO changes after the place and route flow can result in a large number of disconnected components and design tools are expected to reconnect these components on the fly. The ICCAD 2017 contest problem B launched a race to solve this challenge. This article presents two new solutions that outperform the top published solutions for this problem, with reduced routing costs and 21% shorter execution time. Moreover, our solutions are simpler, more general and pave the way for optimal minimum spanning tree-based obstacle-avoiding component-to-component routing.

Personal watercraft (PWC) injury hazards – analyses, technical advancements, and continuing safety challenges

ABSTRACTPWCs are sporty recreational boats that can hold a pilot and up to 2 additional passengers. These vessels have powerful engines driving an internal impeller that forces water through a steerable jet nozzle. This pressurized water provides thrust used for both propulsion and steering. Three-person PWCs can have 200 hp engines, and can speed across the water at 60-70 mph. PWCs are popular throughout the country and around the world. But, since the 1970’s, there has been a history of serious injuries and fatalities involving PWC operators, passengers, and bystanders. Many such incidents have been of two principal types – a.) steering-related collisions, and b.) body cavity water intrusion injuries to passengers who fell off the back of an accelerating PWC, and suffered body orifice damages caused by exposure to the pressurized water jet. PWC manufacturers tried to address both these types of hazards via precautionary instructions and warnings alone, but casualty rates remained high. Recently, engineering changes were introduced that have enhanced PWC steering, and have resulted in improved craft safety. However, no engineering changes have addressed the pressurized water intrusion type injuries. Total reliance on warnings, and deficient aspects of those warnings, continue to negatively impact PWC safety.

Mechanising migration: Transnational relationships, business structure and diffusing steam on the Atlantic

The diffusion of steam into the transatlantic migration system of the nineteenth century, one of the most important developments in the history of human demography, is often explained by the technical progress of ships, which made the carrying of migrants under steam profitable. Existing historiography posits that early, basic paddle steamers were sustainable only with government mail contracts, whilst iron screw steamers later facilitated the emergence of a mass migrant trade. Data on steam company formation, durability and accounting for the mid-nineteenth century show that technical thresholds are not sufficient to explain the transfer to steam shipping of migrants. Determining factors were inter-regional relationships connecting engineering and demographic change, and, critically, the abandonment of capitalising novel steam lines. This article demonstrates that steam became usable because of endogenous transfer within well-established sailing services, a pivotal strategy adopted by those connected to centres of both innovation and migration.

Application of resilience assessment grid in production of aircraft components

The paper evaluates an application of the resilience measuring tool Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG) in the aircraft components production. For the purpose of the evaluation a specific RAG model for a change process is created. The paper contains a description of change process and the approval process of the engineering change proposal. Paper describes BPMN and FRAM models created to support model RAG and which both clarify relations among the functions inside the management of change process. The paper presents a possible approach for the Resilience Assessment Grid model creation. The outcome is a creation of a change process profile in a company producing aircraft components in which change process and approval of the engineering proposed change is managed, and a recording of a current state of four process potentials that can be used by the company management to develop wider safety awareness among employees.

DC Motors. reasons for failure

This article summarizes the shortcomings of irregular electric motors, the reasons for their immediate failure, and the failure of each motor. It also provides information on thermal changes in engines. It practically does not consume power, thanks to its electronic filling. There are a lot of similar relays on the market at the moment. But the right choice requires, first of all, a competent electrical calculation and optimization calculation. The winding is laid on a steel core mounted on a shaft (not shown in the figure). Suppose that the core is made in the form of a hollow cylinder, on the outer and inner surfaces of which conductors are placed. From the end sides, these conductors are interconnected, forming a closed loop. Brushes or brush contact provides switching of the next conductor with the network.

Modeling industrial engineering change processes using the design structure matrix for sequence analysis: a comparison of multiple projects

The problem at hand is that vast amount of data on industrial changes is captured and stored; yet the present challenge is to systematically retrieve and use them in a purposeful way. This paper presents an industrial case study where complex product development processes are modeled using the design structure matrix (DSM) to analyze engineering change requests sequences. Engineering change requests are documents used to initiate a change process to enhance a product. Due to the amount of changes made in different projects, engineers want to be able to analyze these change processes to identify patterns and propose the best practices. The previous work has not specifically explored modeling engineering change requests in a DSM to holistically analyze sequences. This case study analyzes engineering change request sequences from four recent industrial product development projects and compares patterns among them. In the end, this research can help to identify and guide process improvement work within projects.

Modelling and Assessment of the Impact of Supply Disruption and Cost of Recovery using System Dynamics Approach

Shorter product life cycles and customisation have exposed the hidden problems in the supply chain. Supply disruptions, caused due any sudden event, is one of the major concerns of the manufacturing industry. This paper focuses on the impact of non-availability of parts from a supplier due to unpredictable events and the cost of recovery from such disruption. System dynamics approach is used to model the interactions between the variables required to maintain the availability of parts. In this model, time to restore operations, time to find alternate suppliers, inventory consumption till restoration, safety stock availability and backlogs are considered. This model was then used to assess disruption impact on inventory, lead time and recovery costs using iThink software. Assessment of supply disruption for all the procured parts will help the company to recognise and take proactive steps, such as identifying alternate suppliers, making engineering changes and modifying the manufacturing processes.

Impact and risk analysis in the integrated development of product and production system

The assessment of risks and influences of engineering changes of a product or production system on affected technical (sub-) systems of the same or a different domain are of great importance in order to evaluate possible alternatives and to select solutions. The increasing complexity of mechatronic products and production systems with Industry 4.0 technology reinforces the demand for a method that supports engineers in decision making in both technical and strategic issues. By using the method presented in this contribution, interdependencies between product functions, product features and the corresponding production processes and machines can be modelled and used to estimate the impact and risks of changes in one of those domains. Using the method, the change propagation of variations in and between the domains can be evaluated. The objective of the method is to support decision making in different use-cases like integrated product- and production system development, product variations while carrying over most of the production system or varying production processes while carrying over the product to improve production key performance indicators (KPI). Based on the model of PGE – Product Generation Engineering, the information of the reference system is used to identify the interdependencies. The inclusion of strategic factors like know-how and costs is implemented in the model, as well as the quantity and type of variations. The method consists of a representative model for a quick, holistic overview about the interdependencies and of a tool based model by using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for an automatic connection and evaluation of the data. The contribution is part of the project I4TP - Sino German Industry 4.0 Factory Automation Platform (i4tp.org), in which a platform is developed to automatically configure a turnkey production system for a product in development.

A Metadata Repository for Semantic Product Lifecycle Management

Abstract Current processes for highly interdisciplinary and complex smart products rely on the support of a big variety of IT systems. At the lowest level, authoring systems are used to create digital models and engineering data objects. A multitude of data management systems which in turn have to be integrated into comprehensive Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions enable the management of this product information and engineering processes (e.g. for engineering change and release management) along the entire product lifecycle. Engineers use these information management approaches for their daily work processes like engineering change or release management. In industrial environments, several heterogeneous IT systems coexist but cannot easily be connected and thus provide critical barriers for engineering collaboration. Being able to flexible access required engineering information from these IT systems supported by a platform that provides integrated metadata repository engineering could improve engineering workflows like change management dramatically. The approach introduced in this paper describes a Metadata Repository for Semantic Product Lifecycle Management (SP2IDER) which provides an additional information management layer that uses an IT architecture based on a minimalistic core to view and access data from a multitude of IT source systems. Instead of storing data from these source systems in SP2IDER, open web technologies like Linked Data principles and JSON-LD allow providing real-time access to the source systems.

Cassia javanica biodiesel blends with SiO2 nanoparticles for IC Engine applications

Crude oil production and its resources have been restricted today due to its depletion and consumption rate. Biodiesel involves less production cost, environmentally friendly, renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. In this examination, a novel source likes Cassia javanica has been used as a feedstock for biodiesel utilizing the transesterification process. The impacts in biodiesel on exhaust gas emissions vary depending on the type of biodiesel and petrodiesel. Blends of biodiesel up to 20% mixed with petrodiesel fuels have been be used in all diesel engines and is more easily storage and distribution tools. The purpose of the current study investigates the analysis of biodiesel and their blends with diesel oil in four-stroke ICE applications like unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrated aromatic hydrocarbons. It ended that Cassia javanica methyl ester biodiesel blend (B20) with the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles exhibits a better engine performance and emission reduced compared to fossil fuels. Cassia javanica methyl ester can use directly in diesel engines without requiring extensive engine changes.

Numerical simulation of the effect of diluents on NO<sub>x</sub> formation in methane and methyl formate fuels in counter flow diffusion flame

The increasing global demand for energy, the need to reduce green house gasses, and the depletion of fossil fuel resources have led for the need for renewable fuel sources such as biodiesel fuels. In the diesel engines, biodiesel fuels can also be used directly without comprehensive engine changes. Biodiesel relates to a diesel fuel that is based on vegetable oil or animal fat consisting of longchain of methyl, ethyl, or propyl esters. Methyl ester fuel burns more efficiently and has lower emissions of particulate matter, unburnt hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide than fossil fuels. However, combustion of methyl ester fuel results in increased nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions relative to fossil fuels. This study is concerned with characterizing the formation of NOx in the combustion of methyl formate under a counter diffusion flame. This was carried out in an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. Simulation of the process was done using Combustion Simulation Laboratory Software (COSILAB), and involved simulating the reactions of methyl formate fuel. The results obtained were compared to those of the methane/air diffusion flame, which is a well-characterized system. The extension validated the results obtained for the methyl formate/air diffusion flame. The reduction of NOx was found to be 26% and 14% in methane and methyl formate diffusion flame respectively from 0% to 29.5% of EGR. Increased EGR from 0% to 29.5% increased NOx reduction. Compared to methane/air diffusion flame, methyl formate/air diffusion flame with and without EGR had lower NOx emission. This was found to be true when examining the amount of other metrics viz. temperature, H, OH and N radicals associated with NOx. This showed that EGR system have an effect on NOx formation.

GREENHOUSE GASES DISPOSAL IN GEOLOGICAL TRAPS FOR OIL AND GAS STIMULATION

Background The emission of technogenic greenhouse gases is closely related to the negative climate change on Earth. In this regard, the international community has recognized the need for coordinated measures to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases, including CO2, into the atmosphere, establishing laws at the state level to protect the environment. Only significant changes in traditional power engineering, the transition to regenerative energy sources, and sequestration of technogenic CO2 will slow down growth and then completely reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the promising areas for Russia is the disposal of oil reservoirs and hydrate formations in greenhouse gas. There are no reserves of natural carbon dioxide in Russia, however, the reserves of greenhouse gases (flue gases and CO2) have unlimited resources and can be used for the extraction of hydrocarbons. CO2 sequestration for the production of hard-to-recover reserves (TRIZ) of oil can be more effective than traditional waterflooding due to increased oil recovery of depleted fields of low and medium viscosity oil. The main disadvantage of sequestration is the high investment cost. It is almost impossible to start a sequestration project without creating a plant for capturing, concentrating and dehydrating CO2, transport infrastructure and a fully equipped trap. There are also problems of increasing the capacity of water layers and increasing the safety of storing greenhouse gases in them. Thus, solving the problems of technological improvement and reducing the cost of greenhouse gas disposal is an urgent task. Aims and Objectives Development of scientific foundations of the process of greenhouse gases sequestration in geological traps for oil and gas stimulation, as well as increasing the capacity of geological traps and the reliability of the sequestrate storage. Results The processes of CO2 sequestration in a deep-lying aquifer, the influence of the injection of carbon dioxide water and the direction of the displacement front on the change in the volume of the geological trap are considered. Research on sequestration of greenhouse gases in Devonian reservoirs using flue gas and technogenic CO2 for oil production has been carried out. The oil-displacing and filtration characteristics of water-gas mixtures (WGM) containing greenhouse gases have been investigated. The dynamics of filtration when displacing the residual oil of the WGM from the enriched flue gas is indicated, and the optimal content of CO2 in the WGM for injection into injection wells with reduced injectivity is revealed.

Использование геоинформационных систем для решения прогнозных инженерно-геологических задач при разработке месторождений полезных ископаемых

One of the priorities of engineering geology in the development of underground mineral deposits is the dynamics of changes in geotechnical conditions as a result of anthropogenic factors and the degree of impact on existing buildings and structures. The most significant anthropogenic impact is associated with the extraction of minerals and host rocks. As a result of the development of the underground space, deformations of the earth's surface occur. It results in the subsidence features, changes in curvature, slope, compression and extension of rocks as a result of horizontal and vertical deformations. In turn, it leads to a change in the hydrological and hydrogeological regime, activation of exogenous processes, etc. This article presents the results of the creation of a GIS system to solve the forecast problems of changing engineering and geological conditions as a result of anthropogenic impact. The use of GIS technologies allows specialists to provide reliable and relevant information for assessing geotechnical risks in mining areas and making proper management decisions. The result of prognostic modeling should be a set of maps (cartographic layers) in the zone of influence of mining operations, containing the following information: forecast of the degree of anthropogenic impact, forecast of changes in geotechnical, hydrogeological, engineering and geological conditions, identification of objects on the earth’s surface that are in danger. Based on these predictive calculations, it is necessary to develop measures to reduce the negative impact. Such informational models of the territory should be supported at all stages of the life cycle of the field that will allow receiving high-quality information about the engineering and geological conditions of the developed territory at any time.

Emission analysis of CuO2 nanoparticle addition with blend of Botryococcus braunii algae biodiesel on CI engine

The energy crisis is due to two reasons: one is the rapid growth of the global human population, and the other is the transformation of the residing human style. Traditional fuel is also a major component of adding pollutants to the environment. Changes in fuel consumption play a major role in increasing engine efficiency and reducing emissions.In the current research, fuel changes in the diesel engine were developed. The single-cylinder diesel engine was initially equipped with Botryococcus braunii algae oil methyl ester and its diesel blends with CuO2 nano additives B20, B20 + 25 ppm, B20 + 50 ppm, B20 + 75 ppm, B20 + 100 ppm at different loads at steady engine speed. From the experimental analysis, it has been shown that B20 is the more efficient fuel ratio than other blends. The results showed a significant reduction in CO, HC and smoke emissions. The current analysis shows that BBAME's biodiesel with CuO2 nano additives is best suited as an alternative diesel engine fuel.

Combustion analysis of CuO2 nanoparticle addition with blend of botryococcus braunii algae biodiesel on CI engine

The energy crisis is attributed to two reasons: one is the rapid growth of the global human population and the other is the evolution of the human lifestyle. Modern oil is also a key component in introducing contaminants to the atmosphere. Changes in fuel consumption play a key role in increasing engine efficiency and reducing emissions. In the current research, fuel changes in the diesel engine were developed. The single-cylinder diesel engine was initially equipped with botryococcus braunii algae oil methyl ester and its diesel blends with CuO2 nano additives B20, B20 + 25 ppm, B20 + 50 ppm, B20 + 75 ppm, B20 + 100 ppm at different loads at steady engine speed. From the experimental analysis, it has been shown that B20 is the more efficient fuel ratio than other blends. The results showed a significant reduction in CO, HC and smoke emissions. The current analysis shows that BBAME's biodiesel with CuO2 nano additives is best suited as an alternative diesel engine fuel.

Parametric modeling and structure verification of asphalt pavement based on BIM-ABAQUS

As a result of progressive use of BIM in effective collaboration and sophisticated data management, the amount of diverse project information is rapidly increased, thus its appearance directly led to revolutionary change in intelligent engineering and production mode. However, it has not been quite advanced in supporting road engineering, especially in conducting a structural calculation for asphalt pavement. Relying on the capabilities of BIM and finite element modeling software ABAQUS, this paper proposed a data conversion interface that can not only present three-dimensional visual modeling but also conduct structural calculation for asphalt pavement. A 3D visualization modeling of asphalt pavement was firstly carried out through Revit modeling software. Afterward, the generated model file (.RVT) was imported into the transferring software YJK, and the model was transformed into a file named INP by the transferring software. Thus, the generated model file (.INP) was analyzed by the software ABAQUS. This study effectively strengthened the BIM with structural analysis capability by developing a conversion interface based on BIM-ABAQUS. The framework provided a supporting platform for the integration of BIM-based highway route design and pavement structural analysis in pavement engineering.

Waste plastic to pyrolytic oil and its utilization in CI engine: Performance analysis and combustion characteristics

For application of pure plastic pyrolytic oil (PPO) several modifications in the engine is required which rejects the utilization of the existing engines while a blend of conventional fuel and PPO can be used with a slight change in engine without having a high impact on engine performance and hence the blends are preferred over the utilization of PPO as crude oil for diesel engines. In this study, the non-catalytic pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste at a temperature of 450 °C is done to obtain high-grade pyrolytic oil having a composition similar to petroleum fuels such as gasoline and diesel. Physical properties of the PPO were analysed, and the compound analysis was done with GC–MS. Further FTIR of PPO and diesel were analysed and compared. Five different ratios of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% PPO with diesel in blends were utilized as a fuel in a diesel engine to determine the engine performance and characteristics. The higher presence of PPO in blend increases the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and reduces specific fuel consumption (SFC) with an increase in load as reported. The presence of PPO results in high heat release and delayed ignition resulting in high in-cylinder pressure. Further high amount of oxygenated compounds in PPO helps in reducing the emission from the combustion. The utilization of PPO with diesel upto 50% in the blend can be used in diesel engines with a slight increase in emission of CO at higher loads.

Transitioning the NASA SLR network to Event Timing Mode for reduced systematics, improved stability and data precision

NASA’s legacy Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) network produces about one-third of the global SLR data to support space geodesy. This network of globally distributed stations has been using Time Interval Units (TIU) for range measurements for the last 25 + years. To improve the reliability of the SLR network and satisfy the need for stable millimeter precision data, a phased replacement of the TIUs in the network with picosecond-precise Event Timer Modules was initiated in 2015. This scheme allowed the time of flight and laser transmit epoch measurement to one picosecond resolution. For a network with global scientific impact, transitioning to a new data generation metrological scheme requires significant data scrutiny and long-term science data validation. Any long-term testing/measurement has the potential to interrupt the station’s daily operational data flow to the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) as the station under test will have to put its test data into quarantine. We have demonstrated a very effective way to test and implement the new device without removing the old hardware and without the need for the orbit analysis. This operationally noninvasive scheme performed concurrent test measurements enabling uninterrupted operational data flow to the users, while allowing simultaneous test data capture for short- and long-term systematics and stability analysis. Extensive analysis of the test data was performed by the NASA SLR engineering team and the ILRS Analysis Standing Committee, to uncover biases and any dependencies on the satellite ranges (for nonlinear scale issues). Multi-ETM comparison was also performed at two of the SLR stations through the interchange of hardware to establish the inter-device range biases and stability. Such benchmarked hardware was subsequently sent to the remaining stations to allow traceability and normalize the network performance. The range bias intercomparison performed using the multiyear SLR data analysis agreed well with the engineering changes, thus validating the approach to flush out station-specific ranging systematics affecting precise orbit determination. Such an improvement and rebalancing of the current network will allow an orderly transition of the current NASA SLR network operating at a maximum rate of 10 Hz to the NASA next generation Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR) network operating at 2 kHz (McGarry et al. in J Geod, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-018-1191-6; Merkowitz et al. in J Geod, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-018-1204-5).

Multiagent Control of an Air-Jet Engine

When an air-jet (turbojet) engine is operated, continuous parameter monitoring is required—specifically, of the gas temperature behind the combustion chamber (gas chamber, rotational frequencies of the free pressure turbine, rotational frequencies of a turbocharger rotor, etc.). The operation of the circuits is regulated by a selective controller, which asynchronously logically continuously controls the flow of fuel (kerosene, gas) through the metering device and analyzes the deviations of parameters of a turbojet engine. All circuits have software control and implement the principle of regulation by deviation. The software implementation of the control circuit operation of the turbojet engine is performed by the engine control unit (ECU). The calculations of optimal settings of regulators in the circuits are performed according to the technical optimum, provided that the static characteristics are constant. However, the actual static characteristics of a turbojet engine change during operation and the previously calculated settings of regulators in the circuits may not be optimal. Software control of the system enables the appropriate selection of coefficients from the ECU memory without taking into account the changes in the static characteristics of the turbojet engine at the current time. This method of calculating control system parameters is not effective, since it requires an exact mathematical description of the object and its changes at a given instant in time. Other uncertainties involve the conditions of the dispenser elements, fuel quality, etc. Currently, the aforementioned parameters are all regulated separately, which is a disadvantage. It has been proposed to replace regulators of the turbojet engine parameters with one regulator of state that would control the dispenser in order to eliminate the selector from turbojet engine control. A fuzzy state controller made on the base of adaptive fuzzifier with a fuzzy implication is considered. To adapt the fuzzifier, the objective function is used, with the help of which the coefficients of first-order polynomials are calculated.