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Optimization of a sustainable ultra-low noise microwave amplifier for a planetary space probe based on R9-strategies
This thesis investigates the environmental impact of three aluminium alloys—AA6082, AA6061, and AA7075—used in the design and production of ultra-low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for planetary space probes. With sustainability becoming a critical criterion in space missions, this study applies a triangulated methodology comprising a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) via SolidWorks Sustainability software, a systematic literature review, and expert interviews to evaluate and compare the environmental profiles of these alloys. AA6082 emerged as the most sustainable option according to literature due to its high recycled content and low dependence on primary extraction. However, SolidWorks simulations inaccurately ranked it as the least sustainable, likely due to database limitations and manual data entry issues. AA6061 was shown to perform well across multiple impact categories, especially in air acidification potential, while AA7075, although mechanically superior, posed higher environmental burdens unless recycled. The study also examined circular economy principles by analysing R-strategies, identifying "Reduce," "Rethink," and "Reuse" as most applicable to LNA design. Despite the limited scope of the LCA and expert consultation, the convergence of data from multiple sources enhances the reliability of the conclusions. The findings underscore the importance of early-stage material selection, improved simulation tools, and circular design thinking in reducing the environmental footprint of space electronics. Recommendations are made for future research, including enhanced LCA databases and end-of-life modelling for off-planet components
Quality assurance of manufacturing for microwave amplifiers used in space applications
This thesis explores various manufacturing and testing methods to produce a quality assurance method for the manufacturing of ultra-low noise microwave amplifiers. This was done using three different sources of information being a literature review dimensional 3D analysis and an expert interview along with comparing and combining information using the triangulation method. From this several results were found that the key components of the microwave amplifier were the fit tolerance between the housing plates, the ceiling of the device itself, positioning of the filters respect to the depth of the cavity and the gold coating. To achieve these careful measures were required before, during, and after manufacturing were required. For this aluminium 6061 was selected as the base material for its ubiquity within space industry. This would then be milled, drilled, and tapped being verified with the use of a touch probe and various micrometres to ensure the critical tolerances. After which a zincate coating would be applied to then a gold electroplating and would be verified through x-ray spectroscopy. This would then be sealed using silver with a combination of soldering and sintering producing a hermetic seal which would then be tested using a helium leak detector
The suitability of electric vehicle Vehicle-to-Home functionality in Finland for off-grid cabins
Sähköautojen Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) -toiminto tarjoaa potentiaalisen ratkaisun sähköttömien vapaa-ajan asuntojen sähköistämiseen erityisesti syrjäisillä alueilla, joissa sähköverkkoliitäntä on kallis tai vaikeasti toteutettavissa. Työssä tarkastellaan V2H-tekniikan teknisiä vaatimuksia, käytännön toteutettavuutta ja kustannusvaikutuksia sekä verrataan toimintoa Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) -tekniikkaan ja julkiseen sähkönjakeluverkkoon liittämiseen. Osana tarkastelua kartoitetaan Suomen markkinoilla saatavilla olevia sähköautomalleja, jotka tukevat V2H-toimintoa. Arvioinnissa huomioidaan sähkönsyötön riittävyys, asennustekniset näkökulmat sekä vaikutukset akun elinkaareen. V2H mahdollistaa vapaa-ajan asunnon sähköistämisen erityisesti kesäkaudella, jolloin sähkönkulutus on maltillista ja akuston kapasiteetti riittävä useiden päivien tarpeisiin. Teknologian laajamittaista käyttöönottoa rajoittavat toistaiseksi korkeat alkuinvestoinnit sekä toimintoa tukevien automallien ja latausasemien rajallinen valikoima. V2L tarjoaa yksinkertaisemman ja kustannustehokkaamman vaihtoehdon, mutta soveltuu ainoastaan yksittäisten sähkölaitteiden käyttöön.The Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) functionality of electric vehicles presents a potential solution for electrifying off-grid recreational properties, particularly in remote areas where grid connection is costly or impractical. This study examines the technical requirements, practical feasibility, and cost implications of V2H systems and compares them with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality and conventional grid connection. As part of the analysis, an overview of electric vehicle models available in the Finnish market that support V2H functionality is provided. The evaluation considers power supply adequacy, installation requirements, and impacts on battery lifespan. V2H enables the electrification of recreational cabins especially during summer, when electricity demand is moderate and battery capacity can support several days of usage. However, widespread adoption is currently limited by high initial investment costs and the limited availability of compatible vehicles and charging stations. V2L offers a simpler and more affordable alternative, though it is limited to powering individual electrical devices
Design and analysis of a scissor lift for remote maintenance in fusion reactor
This thesis focuses on mechanical design and analysis a two-story scissor lift. It's made for doing remote maintenance work in fusion reactors. Based on literature review and market research, benchmarks the Autoquip Super Titan STN-012-0410 and JLG ERT2669, target dimensions were established, and a detailed 3D CAD model was created. Finite Element Analysis is conducted by applying a 20-tonne load at the top platform, demonstrated acceptable deformation and stress levels, yielding a safety factor of approximately 0.95 at its fully extended position. While aspects like material cost and radiation shielding were not addressed, the study lays a solid foundation for further refinement of heavy-duty lifting systems for fusion reactor applications
Design and implementation of steel industry chain visualization system
This research focuses on constructing a spatial graph for the Hebei iron and steel industry chain and developing a visualization system to overcome the deficiencies of traditional management approaches. These deficiencies are characterized by the low degree of informatization, challenges in data integration, and insufficient transparency within the industry chain. By leveraging big data analytics and visualization techniques that are specifically adapted to the unique features of the Hebei iron and steel industry chain, a visualization system based on a B/S architecture has been successfully designed and implemented. The system's front-end development uses the Vue framework, and the back-end development uses the Spring Boot framework, and MySQL as the database management system. It integrates functionalities such as data management, distribution map display, cluster analysis, and user management.
After development and testing, the system has proven effective in consolidating data from all segments of the industrial chain, enabling dynamic data display and real-time updates. It provides precise data support for managers and decision-makers, enhancing the informatization level and management efficiency of the Hebei iron and steel industry. The successful deployment of the system offers robust technical support for the intelligent transformation of the iron and steel sector. Additionally, this research serves as a valuable reference for other steel-producing provinces in China, contributing significantly to the digital upgrade of the entire steel industry
Circular Economy Simulation: Local Waste for Passenger Car Fuel
This study investigates the dynamic interactions between population, waste generation, and biogas demand in a circular economy, focusing on the Mikkeli region of Finland. This study fills a gap in the literature by examining the dynamic interactions between population behavior, waste generation, and biogas demand using an agent-based simulation model. Unlike previous studies, this research validates the simulation results using stakeholder data and an online biogas calculator, providing practical insights to enhance circularity in waste management and biogas production. The model aims to describe biogas production, provide insights into circularity, and identify potential solutions to improve it. Based on simulations, the biogas plant currently produces 488 tons of biomethane per year, which is enough to power all gas-powered passenger cars in the region, and this result was validated by stakeholder data and an online biogas calculator. The simulation shows that using wastewater sludge and municipal waste as feedstock can result in biomethane production ranging from 291 to 1504 tons annually, depending on the scenario. To increase production and circularity, waste management improvements and increased demand must be combined with biogas plant infrastructure upgrades. The simulation model is a valuable tool for estimating various scenarios and aiding decision-making in complex circular economy solutions. This study highlights biogas potential as a local energy source for transportation, as well as the importance of stakeholder participation in model development to address data and expertise challenges.Publishers versio
Theoretical framework of CO₂-to-methanol conversion fundamentals
This thesis aims to study the energy required to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol in an integrated Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) plant. CO₂ utilization is one promising way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate targets toward sustainable fuel and chemical production. Methanol conversion was chosen due to methanol’s versatility, the availability of existing infrastructure, and strong market demand.
The thesis starts with a background of the main mechanisms behind CO₂-to-methanol conversion including formate, reverse water-gas shift (RWGS), and trans-COOH pathways. The study continues to explore catalyst and reactor design, focusing on copper-based catalysts and fixed-bed reactors.
The main goal of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of the methanol conversion process in an integrated CCU methanol synthesis system. The study aims to analyze and validate published results on energy consumption. The goal is to offer clarity on the energy consumption. Energy analysis is used as a tool to calculate energy consumption for several key components, including heat exchangers, reactors, and distillation columns. The electricity consumption was also calculated by totaling the compressor energy. The calculation was done using values from the literature review and data sourced from the NIST database. The input data is based on earlier research that used CHEMCAD simulations (a commercial Chemical Engineering Simulation Software). The methodology is validated through benchmark calculations, and the energy demands of phase changes and process inefficiencies are critically assessed.
The findings show that while theoretical energy values are achievable, practical factors such as heat loss, incomplete data, and equipment limitations introduce significant deviations. The study proceed using reverse-engineering reported process data to improve transparency and enhance understanding of the underlying energy balance
Battery system and grid integration for urban transport platform
UDT is a new technology that can help us travel more conveniently. The project aims to facilitate People's Daily mobility. My research topic is related to its battery and charging system. Smart charging systems can help us save a lot of energy. Based on the existing data and UDT test operation, the energy saving of intelligent charging system is calculated and compared in this paper. Through the data obtained, the UDT project can be further analyzed after the actual completion of the project, and the energy consumption estimate of the actual completion of the project can be obtained to provide help for the further planning of the project in the future
Design and prefabrication of the battery module liquid cooling solution
Sähköisissä ratamoottoripyörissä suurjännitteisten akkumoduulien lämmönhallinta ja erityisesti jäähdytys ovat kriittisiä niiden turvallisen toiminnan varmistamiseksi ja tehojen täysimääräisen hyödyntämisen kannalta. Tässä opinnäytetyössä suunnitellaan pienen 36 sylinterimäistä 18650-akkukennoa sisältävän akkumoduulin nestejäähdytysratkaisu käyttäen systemaattisen suunnittelun standardia VDI 2221. Suunnittelun lisäksi akkumoduuli jäähdytysratkaisuineen valmistetaan kehitetyn suunnitelman mukaan.
Työn keskeisimpiä tuloksia ovat suunnittelun tuloksena syntynyt jäähdytysratkaisu, jossa
jäähdytys toteutetaan akkumoduulin pohjasta jäähdytyslevyn avulla. Lisäksi esivalmistusvaiheessa tehdyt havainnot valmistettavuudesta ovat tärkeitä tuloksia niin onnistumisineen kuin kohdattuineen haasteineen. Erityisenä onnistumisena voi pitää jäähdytyslevyn prässäyksen ja siihen tehtyjen muottien onnistumista. Suurimmaksi haasteeksi puolestaan osoittautuu laserhitsaus etenkin virtakiskojen hitsauksessa akkukennoihin.
Esivalmistusvaiheessa tehdyt havainnot osoittavat, että jäähdytysratkaisun valmistamiseksi tehty suunnitelma on teoriassa hyvä, mutta käytännön valmistus vaatii vielä jatkokehittelyä. Akkumoduulin jäähdytysratkaisun parantamiseksi annetaan useita jatkokehitysehdotuksia. Niistä ensimmäiset koskevat virtakiskojen laserhitsauksen onnistumisen varmistamista. Esimerkiksi akkukennojen vaihtaminen rakenteeltaan hieman erilaisiin olisi kokeilemisen arvoista.In electric track motorcycles thermal management and cooling are critical factors in ensuring the safe operation as well as enabling the full utilization of the power of the high voltage battery pack. In this thesis a liquid cooling solution of a small battery pack containing 36 18650-cells is designed using the systematic product design standard VDI 2221. In addition, the cooling solution is manufactured according to the proposed design.
The most essential results of this thesis are the designed cooling solution in which the cooling is implemented from the underside of the module. Furthermore, the observations done during the prefabrication phase are important results highlighting the successes and faced challenges. Particular success is the pressing of the cooling plate and the successful press moulds. On the other hand, the greatest challenge turned out to be the laser welding of the busbars.
Observations done during the prefabrication phase show that the manufacturing plan of the cooling plate is good in theory but in practise the manufacturing processes still needs some refining. Further development proposals are made to improve the cooling solution. The first proposals aim to ensure the successful welding of the busbars. For example, changing the battery cells to ones with a slightly different structure would be worth trying
Integration of P2X production plant into CHP plant process and optimization of production
Tässä diplomityössä tarkastellaan hiilidioksidin talteenottolaitoksen ja P2X-laitoksen teknis-taloudellista integroimista osaksi Pori Energian Aittaluodon CHP-voimalaitoksen tuotantokokonaisuutta. Työssä selvitetään, kuinka laitoksista saatavaa hukkalämpöä voidaan hyödyntää tehokkaasti kaukolämmön tuotannossa ja kuinka laitosten integraatio vaikuttaa koko tuotantokokonaisuuden optimointiin.
Tutkimuksessa simuloidaan eri hukkalämpöjen kytkentämenetelmiä IPSEpro-ohjelmistolla. Simulointien perusteella arvioidaan kunkin ratkaisun vaikutuksia kokonaishyötysuhteeseen, kaukolämmön tuotannon hyötysuhteeseen ja polttoaineen kulutukseen. Lisäksi tarkastellaan hiilidioksidin talteenoton vaikutuksia CHP-laitoksen toimintaan ja ajomalleihin.
Tulosten perusteella kokonaistaloudellisesti kannattavin ratkaisu saavutetaan, kun hukkalämpö priimataan lämpöpumpuilla ja johdetaan kaukolämmön paluuveden lämmitykseen savukaasulauhduttimen jälkeen. Tällöin maksimoidaan savukaasulauhduttimelta saatava ilmainen energia ja vähennetään polttoon perustuvan energiantuotannon tarvetta.
Talvella kannattava hukkalämmön hyödyntäminen edellyttää vähintään 10 MW:n hukkalämpötehoa, kun lämmön talteenotto tapahtuu savukaasulauhduttimen jälkeen. Jos hukkalämpö kytketään prosessiin ennen savukaasulauhdutinta, kannattavuuden raja on 24 MW. Syksyllä ja keväällä kannattavuuden raja on alhaisempi: 5 MW:n hukkalämpöteholla savukaasulauhduttimen jälkeen ja 7 MW:n teholla ennen savukaasulauhdutinta.
Hiilidioksidin talteenotto- ja P2X-laitosten yhdistäminen muuttaa tuotannon optimointia. Hiilidioksidin talteenoton vuoksi syntyy tilanteita, joissa Aittaluodon A-kattilaa on ajettava pakotetusti P2X-laitoksen hiilidioksiditarpeen varmistamiseksi.This thesis examines how a carbon dioxide capture plant and the P2X plant can be tech-no-economically integrated into the production of Pori Energia's CHP power plant in Aittaluoto. The thesis also examines how the excess heat obtained from these plants can be efficiently utilized in district heat production and how the integration of the plants affects the optimization of the entire production entity.
The study simulates different excess heat connection methods with IPSEpro software. Based on the simulations, the effects of each solution on overall efficiency, district heating production efficiency, and fuel consumption are assessed. In addition, the effects of carbon capture on the operation of the CHP plant and driving models will be examined.
Results indicate that the most economically viable solution is achieved when the excess heat is primed with heat pumps, which leads to the heating of the return water of district heating after the flue gas condenser. This maximizes the free energy from the flue gas condenser and reduces the need for combustion-based energy production.
In winter, profitable waste heat utilization requires a minimum of 10 MW of waste heat power when the heat recovery takes place after the flue gas condenser. If the waste heat is connected to the process before the flue gas condenser, the profitability threshold is 24 MW. In autumn and spring, the profitability threshold is lower: 5 MW of waste heat power after the flue gas condenser and 7 MW of power before the flue gas condenser.
The integration of the carbon dioxide capture plant and the P2X plant will change the optimization of production such that there will be moments when the Aittaluoto A-boiler will have to be run forcibly due to carbon capture, thereby securing the production of the carbon dioxide needed by the P2X plant