Flexibility oriented design of production systems

Philosophy regarding the design of production systems

Combining economic and social goals in the design of production systems by using ergonomics standards

This paper presents an efficient algorithm based on imperialist competitive algorithm for optimal energy management of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) including different distributed generation units and energy storage devices. A collection of Distributed Energy Resources, energy storage devices, and controllable loads which are aggregated and then are managed by an Energy Management System and can operate as a single power plant is called VPP. The proposed approach employs imperialist competitive algorithm to minimize the total operating cost of the VPP, considering energy loss cost in a 24-hour time interval through 3 different scenarios while satisfying various operating constraints. This method has the benefit of escaping from the local optima while converging fast. In order to see the effectiveness and satisfying performance of the proposed algorithm, a case study including Renewable Energy Resources (RESs), storage battery, and controllable loads is studied as test system.

This dissertation studies the process of operations systems design within the context of the manufacturing organization. Using the DRAMA (Design Routine for Adopting Modular Assembly) model as developed by a team from the IDOM Research Unit at Aston University as a starting point, the research employed empirically based fieldwork and a survey to investigate the process of production systems design and implementation within four UK manufacturing industries: electronics assembly, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and carpet manufacturing. The intention was to validate the basic DRAMA model as a framework for research enquiry within the electronics industry, where the initial IDOM work was conducted, and then to test its generic applicability, further developing the model where appropriate, within the other industries selected. The thesis contains a review of production systems design theory and practice prior to presenting thirteen industrial case studies of production systems design from the four industry sectors. The results and analysis of the postal survey into production systems design are then presented. The strategic decisions of manufacturing and their relationship to production systems design, and the detailed process of production systems design and operation are then discussed. These analyses are used to develop the generic model of production systems design entitled DRAMA II (Decision Rules for Analysing Manufacturing Activities). The model contains three main constituent parts: the basic DRAMA model, the extended DRAMA II model showing the imperatives and relationships within the design process, and a benchmark generic approach for the design and analysis of each component in the design process. DRAMA II is primarily intended for use by researchers as an analytical framework of enquiry, but is also seen as having application for manufacturing practitioners.

Worldwide, the current energy system increasingly shows economic, social and environmental drawbacks and it does not appear to be sustainable. Among the most pressing problems are climate change due to CO2 emissions, the depletion of fossil resources, the security of energy supply, and threats to economic development. These problems can be addressed by moving towards energy systems that increasingly rely on renewable and sustainable energy sources. At the same time, the rapid progress in renewable energy harvesting and information and telecommunication technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for energy generation, distribution and management, and to more strongly involve people in the process of energy generation and management, which is needed to further enhance the sustainable energy systems. Indeed, renewable and sustainable energy sources are likely to be produced and distributed in a decentralised manner, and require energy management systems that differ greatly from the current centralised system. Hence, the integration of renewable sources has major implications for the design and management of energy systems, relying on innovative ICT solutions and stronger user involvement that facilitate supply and demand matching. Effective energy management requires the active participation and support of end users, who should accept the energy management systems, and adapt their energy use to the available demand as to enhance the efficiency and stability of the energy system. Hence, the design of future smart grids should be based on sound behavioural models, which should be integrated in ICT centred solutions that facilitate supply and demand matching. More specifically, we need to understand how truly complex information on energy production, use and storage can be effectively communicated among relevant actors, and what type of information and incentives should be provided to realise effective supply and demand matching. In addition, we need to understand how to take into account cultural specifics in the design of energy management systems, to enhance effective energy management across the world. The active and aware involvement of the end-user can only be achieved if a scalable and reliable ICT infrastructure is in place, which naturally interfaces the energy flows with the decision autonomy of the people. Hence, the design of effective energy management systems should be take into account key behavioural as well as ICT requirements in an integrated way. Our proposal is thus to investigate (1) ICT based solutions for monitoring and controlling the power grid focusing on the distribution networks (medium-low voltage) and buildings (offices and residential complexes) specific to the Qatar context; (2) behavioural models on effective and acceptable incentives to match energy supply and demand; (3) cultural specificities in the design of energy management systems by comparing results from research in Qatar to similar research in other parts of the world, in particular Europe. Together, these will provide important insights in how to promote efficient and stable renewable energy systems that meet Qatar's sustainability goals.

This paper proposes a conceptual design tool, based upon inferential design theory. It has been specifically developed for the design of production and operations systems, but its use can be extended to other engineering areas, such as mechanical and structural systems. Inferential design theory and its foundation in the inferential theory of learning are briefly outlined. Both theories are based on the idea of using specialised knowledge operators in learning and design, termed knowledge transmutations and design knowledge transmutations respectively. The 24 transmutations existing in the two theories are outlined, and a further 12 design-specific transmutations are proposed. These have been developed as a result of our research. A conceptual design process is proposed, in which design knowledge transmutations are used. A software tool for design, CREDO, is also described and an example of its use in the generation of design concepts for an after-sales service facility is presented. The conclusions discuss the initial methodological experience of using CREDO to generate design concepts. They are based on the introductory use of CREDO at Technion in Israel for teaching purposes. Directions for further research are also provided.

Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, and Disassembly is important in today’s production systems because if this aspect is not considered, it could lead to inefficient operations and excessive material usage, both of which have a significant impact on manufacturing cost and time. Attention to this topic is important in achieving the target standards of Industry 4.0 which is inclusive of material utilisation, manufacturing operations, machine utilisation, features selection of the products, and development of suitable interfaces with information communication technologies (ICT) and other evolving technologies. Design for manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) have been around since the 1980’s for rectifying and overcoming the difficulties and waste related to the manufacturing as well as assembly at the design stage. Furthermore, this domain includes a decision support system and knowledge base with manufacturing and design guidelines following the adoption of ICT. With this in mind, ‘Design for manufacturing and assembly/disassembly: Joint design of products and production systems’, a special issue has been conceived and its contents are elaborated in detail. In this paper, a background of the topics pertaining to DFM, DFA and related topics seen in today’s manufacturing systems are discussed. The accepted papers of this issue are categorised in multiple sections and their significant features are outlined.

Most research done on the design of cellular production systems also has examined one of the main areas of design including cell formation, cellular layout, and material handling. Some research studies also have been done by considering the lack of independence of these areas, two areas simultaneously, and three areas sequentially. The main goal of this research is to present a mathematical framework for designing and also providing the efficient methods for solving the desired problem. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to determine the same component according to the characteristics of designs and production requirements. For this purpose, an overall design of a cellular production system or material handling system with cellular layout is examined. Then, the mathematical formulation is presented for the problem and then an efficient solution is presented for the problem. In the provided model, the interaction effects between designs fields are provided. A branch and bound algorithm is also provided to solve this problem. The performance of the provided algorithm and the performance of the provided approach are investigated by using different numerical samples. The results show the performance of the provided algorithm and approach in the design of cellular production systems.

Numerous markets are characterized by increasing individualization and high dynamics. A company’s ability to quickly adjust its production system to future needs and conditions with minimum effort is a key competitive factor. Especially in high-wage countries, two conflicts increasingly complicate the design of production systems: the conflict between scale and scope on the one hand and the conflict between a high planning orientation and maximizing value-added activities on the other hand. For future production systems in high-wage countries, effective means are needed to minimize the gaps resulting from this poly-lemma. This contribution introduces a measurable target system to assess the degree of target achievement with regard to these criteria. Based on this target measurement system, a new approach that introduces object-oriented-design to production systems is presented. The central element of object-oriented design of production systems is the definition of objects, e.g. product functions, with homogeneous change drivers, which are consistently handled from product planning up to process design. Both product and process design are driven by interfaces between the defined objects and their inter-dependencies. The findings show that a consistent application of objectoriented design to production systems will significantly increase the flexibility in implementing product changes, minimize engineering change and process planning efforts and support process synchronization to achieve economies of scale more efficiently. Two case studies illustrate the implementation and impact of this approach.

The design of production and logistic systems is a process of managing both technical and organisational variants in order to identify the best solution for a given system. This paper discusses design issues of production systems that are applied to an internal logistic system in the automotive industry. As far as the production systems design (PSD) is concerned, three basic classes of software tools usually pertain: computer-aided design (CAD), process simulation, and information systems. However, these software tools have been used with low levels of integration. Vik et al. (2010b, 2010c) proposed integrating these software resources in production systems and developed an advanced tool called integrated design of systems (IDS). The proposed IDS tool involves a wide set of functions for the most common tasks of PSD, from conceptualisation to implementation, including systems analysis (P-Q, cluster, and material flow analysis), automatic generation of simulation models, generation of alternatives for the layout of facilities and factories, material flows display, transportation system design, and iterative buffer size specification. The IDS approach takes advantage of simulation, CAD systems, and their integration. This paper will demonstrate the concept and functionalities of the proposed tool in a real industrial case study.

This dissertation consists of three essays exploring the externalities that arise from energy production and development in a developing country, Nigeria, and agricultural production in a developed nation, the United States (US). The research examines the benefits of energy development in terms of its impact on local wealth and the associated costs, including the health effects on communities living near energy production sites. Additionally, the dissertation analyzes the opportunity costs of policies aimed at preventing the relocation of nutrients, particularly nitrogen fertilizers, within the agricultural sector and their impact on the producer and consumer surplus. The first essay examines the impacts of power plants on nearby residents’ well-being using six rounds of Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) and comprehensive power plant operations data in Nigeria. I find that households within 10 km of operational power plants have gained a higher asset-based wealth score index by 0.20-2.71 than those located 10-20 km away. These wealth increases are most pronounced for households near larger-capacity plants and those with members in manual labor and sales/services occupations, likely driven by heightened demand during power plants' construction and operational phases. Additionally, the likelihood of electricity access increases with power plant operations. The results highlight the potential role of increased economic opportunities and electricity access in driving wealth gains through power plant construction and operations and offer policy insights into aligning economic advancement initiatives with the national electricity development plan for Nigeria and other developing countries. In the second essay, the dissertation addresses the rare quantitative evidence of the negative externalities of power plants in developing countries by analyzing their impact on infant and child mortality using NDHS data and detailed power plant operation records. Infants born within a 5-25 km radius of active power plants experience approximately 0.027 more deaths during their first month than those born before power plants became operational or near non-operational power plants. Pollutants generated by non-renewables are likely the cause as the mortality rates are more significant by 0.010 for those near power plants fueled by non-renewable energy sources. In contrast, the impact of renewable energy-fueled power plants is insignificant. These results further justify electricity generation by renewable energy sources in addressing Nigeria and other developing countries’ pressing energy deficits with health and carbon-related benefits. Finally, the third essay investigates the interdependence of nutrient runoff from agricultural production in three major US watersheds. It quantifies Nitrogen loading leakage across

Perception-based foraging for competing resources: Assessing pest population dynamics at the landscape scale from heterogeneous resource distribution

The current approach to carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) from pulverized coal-fired power plants is not economically viable without either large subsidies or a very high price on carbon. Current schemes require roughly a third of a power plant's energy for carbon dioxide capture and pressurization. The production of energy from geopressured aquifers has evolved as a separate, independent technology from the sequestration of carbon dioxide in deep, saline aquifers. A gamechanging new idea is described here that combines the two technologies and adds another: dissolution of carbon dioxide into extracted brine which is then re-injected. A systematic investigation over a range of conditions was performed to explore the best strategy for the coupled process of CO2 sequestration and energy production. Geological models of geopressuredgeothermal aquifers were developed using available data from studies of Gulf Coast aquifers. These geological models were used to perform compositional reservoir simulations of realistic processes with coupled aquifer and wellbore models. Introduction The sequestration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in deep saline aquifers (Keith, 2009) as well as the extraction of methane and geothermal energy (heat) from deep geopressured-geothermal aquifers (Jones, 1975) have been studied independently in the past. However, capturing and storing CO2 in aquifers is an expensive process without any monetary return on investment. On the other hand, energy extraction from deep geopressured aquifers was abandoned as a result of low natural gas prices in the 70s and 80s (Griggs, 2005), which prevented this process from becoming economically feasible. In this study, we present a new strategy in which the CO2 sequestration and methane/geothermal energy extraction are combined. In fact, we suggest that the cost of the former can be offset by the profits from the latter. Geologic formations are capable of storing huge amounts of CO2. Specifically, deep saline aquifers are the best candidates for the storage of significant amounts of CO2 emitted by pulverized coal-fired power plants. However, the storage technology faces several constraints. The most important constraint is the cost of the storage process which includes capturing, purifying, pressurizing, and injecting CO2 (Rochelle, 2009). In addition to the storage cost, other possible constraints exist such as the injection capacity of the aquifer and environmental hazards. Formations of abnormally high pressure and temperature lie along the Gulf Coast of the United States at depths exceeding 10,000 feet. The brine in these formations is saturated with methane. The methane content of this brine is on the order of 30- 45 SCF of methane per barrel and the total amount is estimated to be between 3000 to 46000 TCF (Griggs, 2005). For example, at 34 SCF per barrel, a small geopressured aquifer with a pore volume of 1 billion barrels would hold a volume of dissolved methane of 34 BCF with an energy content of 35 trillion Btu. When CO2 is dissolved in brine saturated with methane, almost all of the methane comes out of the solution and forms a gas phase of almost pure methane (Taggart, 2009). The production of this methane could help offset the cost of CO2 storage. Moreover, the production of methane gas and/or brine saturated with methane while CO2 is being injected will reduce or eliminate concerns about pressure build-up accompanying CO2 injection. This pressure build-up is a key constraint on large-scale sequestration, because it significantly reduces achievable rates of CO2 injection.

This study presents an integrated water-energy nexus analysis through the dynamic simulation of a combined hydro-thermal power plant, focusing on a case study within the water-scarce region of Iran. The investigation aims to assess the mutual interactions between water resources and energy production, providing valuable insights for sustainable water and energy management practices. The simulation model incorporates system dynamics to capture the complex feedback loops between water availability, energy demand, and the operation of the power plant. The power plant is modeled as a combined hydro-thermal system, where water availability influences both hydroelectric and thermal power generation. The system's response to water availability is further modulated by feedback loops that consider the dynamics of water and energy demand. In the context of the Iranian water plant case study, the simulation is executed over 100-time steps to analyze the dynamic behavior of the system. The water supply response to water availability is characterized by a multiplier, and the energy supply response is modulated by a similar multiplier, reflecting the inherent connection between water and energy in the power generation process. Additionally, the thermal efficiency of the power plant is considered in the simulation to account for the impact of water availability on thermal power generation. The results of the simulation are visually represented through a heat map, providing a comprehensive overview of the temporal evolution of water demand, water supply, and energy supply. The custom colormap enhances visualization, enabling a clear interpretation of the interdependencies within the water-energy nexus [1]. The numerical results derived from the simulation offer valuable insights into the sustainable operation of the combined hydro-thermal power plant. The analysis highlights the importance of considering water availability in energy production decisions, showcasing the impact on both hydroelectric and thermal power generation. Furthermore, the simulation provides quantitative assessments of water shortage and energy shortfall, aiding in the identification of critical time periods and informing strategies for resource allocation and infrastructure planning [2]. By focusing on the Iranian context, where water scarcity is a prevalent concern, this study contributes to the development of region-specific water and energy policies. The findings underscore the need for integrated water and energy management strategies to address the challenges posed by changing water availability patterns and growing energy demands [3]. The presented simulation framework can serve as a valuable tool for policymakers and researchers in optimizing the operation of similar water-energy systems in arid regions, fostering sustainable development in the face of increasing water and energy challenges. Keywords: Water-Energy Nexus; Power Plants; Programming; Sustainability; Performance assessment

This study presents an innovative optimization method for resource scheduling in multi-energy storage systems, focusing on improving resource allocation while considering supply-demand flexibility and renewable energy integration. As renewable energy gains popularity and multi-energy systems become more complex, effective utilization of energy storage to achieve supply-demand balance, optimize energy scheduling, and maximize renewable energy integration is crucial. To address this challenge, a Markov dynamic model is developed to capture the dynamic changes in energy supply and demand within the multi-energy storage system. The model is then solved using a reinforcement learning approach to optimize resource scheduling decisions. Numerical simulations and case studies are conducted to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method, showcasing its potential to enhance operational efficiency and reliability in multi-energy storage systems amidst constantly changing energy patterns. This research provides valuable insights and decision support for the design and operation of multi-energy storage systems, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy utilization and promoting sustainable development in the energy sector.