RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden
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Identified needs to enhance life for people with spinal cord injury : a part of the Swedish Needs Assessment Project
No full textPurpose: To identify factors that contribute to the enhanced life of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Sweden. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study combined workshops (n = 38) and survey data (n = 243) from people living with SCI and their relatives, health professionals, and personal care assistants working with people living with SCI. The data were first categorized using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, followed by a conventional content analysis. Results: The factors that contribute to an enhanced life for people living with SCI are similar to those of the general population, including relationships, leisure activities, and occupation within the mesosystem. However, the unique components of the exosystem and macrosystem are specifically associated with people living with SCI. The exosystem, particularly in healthcare, plays a major role for medical reasons but also tends to obtrude and minimize the mesosystem. The macrosystem is essential, as it sets the rules that govern the actors in the other layers, creating prerequisites for meeting the needs of the mesosystem and exosystem. Conclusions: The needs that contribute to an enhanced life are multifaceted and individualized. Therefore, these systems must be flexible throughout the lifespan of individuals with SCI. The project was funded by the Gothenburg Competence Centre for Spinal Cord Injury and the Swedish Association for Survivors of Accident and Injury (RTP).</p
Future hydrogen supply in Stenungsund : Pre-study of a SOEC pilot plant and analysis of large-scale integration of SOEC and ammonia cracking plants
No full textTo enable the chemical industries in Stenungsund achieve climate neutrality, large amounts of fossil-free hydrogen will be required. Producing all hydrogen through electrolysis will demand large amounts of electric power, but the current grid capacity in Stenungsund is limited, making less electricity-intensive hydrogen production solutions essential. This study investigates the technical and commercial prerequisites for a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) pilot plant in Stenungsund. It also analyzes various scenarios to understand how SOEC and ammonia cracking can complement each other from a techno-economic perspective and enhance security of supply. The interviews that were conducted to gather insights from relevant stakeholders showed that they anticipate a significant increase in future hydrogen demand, highlighting the need for scalable and cost-effective production methods. There is strong interest within the industry cluster to learn more about SOEC technology and gain practical experience through the establishment of a pilot plant. A concept for a SOEC pilot plant has been outlined in the current study including a description of the possible integration with existing infrastructure in Stenungsund. The intention with such a pilot plant is to test and gain experience from commercially available equipment of a size that is relevant for large scale hydrogen production projects. Two different plant sizes were considered, corresponding to approximately 5 MW (case 1) and 10 MW (case 2) electric power demand. There is a clear scale benefit for the larger plant which makes it the preferred choice, but the investigation showed that the CAPEX for the SOEC pilot plant is higher than initially expected. To proceed with a project, a viable business case needs to be presented. This study also examines the technical and economic synergies between SOEC and ammonia cracking, focusing on cost optimization and operational flexibility to meet the hydrogen demand of existing Borealis steam cracker plant at the site. The analysis points to that the integration of both technologies enhances security of supply and reduces costs assuming favorable long-term low-carbon ammonia supply contracts and favourable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Comparing the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), the study finds that SOEC offers a lower LCOH than ammonia cracking under the assumed input costs (400 €/tNH3), provided competitive PPAs are secured (45 €/MWh). The integrated system’s LCOH ranges from 3.7 to 6.5 €/kg, depending on ammonia and electricity prices, with flexible operation potentially reducing costs to 3.7–4.5 €/kg by leveraging spot market prices. Current EU regulations mandate temporal and geographical correlation for PPAs used in renewable fuel production, which complicates flexible operation aligned with the electricity market. Full-load, year-round operation achieves the lowest LCOH, though it limits peak demand response. The sensitivity analysis suggests that exporting excess hydrogen to the industrial cluster could offset costs in low full-load scenarios. In the near term, ammonia cracking can mitigate grid constraints, while future expansion of SOEC capacity, as grid capacity grows, promises further cost reductions and enhanced operational flexibility.The project was financed by Vinnväxtinitativet Klimatledande Processindustri that is financed by Vinnova, Västra Götalandsregionen and members in Västsvenska Kemi- och Materialklustret.</p
Automatisk vederlagsmätning av timmer med AI/visionteknik. Förstudie : Slutrapport
No full textKvalitetsklassning av sågtimmer vid stockmätning görs idag manuellt eller semi-automatiskt med hjälp av mätramar och röntgensystem. Automatisering av detta steg kan leda till en effektivare process och en jämnare kvalitet. En del nedklassningsorsaker som idag bedöms manuellt bör kunna detekteras med hjälp av bildigenkänning, vilket kan fungera som ett komplement till de system som används idag för att ta ett steg närmare till en helautomatisk kvalitetsbedömning av sågtimmer. Vi har monterat kameror vid mätstationen på Holmens sågverk i Bygdsiljum och samlat in högupplöst video på stockar. Stillbilder från det insamlade videomaterialet har plockats ut och stockar, trädslag och defekter har markerats i bilderna. De annoterade bilderna har använts för att träna objektdetektionsmodeller som har bistått i arbetet att annotera fler bilder i flera iterationer
Analys och utveckling av skyddet för inkapslat KL-trä i markkontakt : Slutrapport
No full textProjektet gör uppföljning för att se hur det ser ut idag och bekräfta funktionen av träbaserade balkongplattor efter cirka 8–12 år. Informationen ger underlag för en bättre material- och produktkännedom som kan vara underlag för till exempel Garantiåtaganden samt underhållsplanering. Projektet bekräftar och verifierar att produkterna uppför sig som förväntat utan större avvikelse. Test med ett antal plattor som skadats genom åverkan har utförts i RISE Skellefteås labb. Gamla plattor på RISE med mätvärden 8 år bakåt i tiden visar fortfarande stabila värden och mätmässigt är de också identiska med nytillverkade plattor. Genom att använda denna kännedom blir förvaltarens tillståndsbedömning med en fuktindikator enkel. Ett par nya idéer till nya projekt för en fortsatt utveckling av balkongplattan har framkommit. I projektet har RISE bistått med olika frågor kring nytt typgodkännande. Även idéer för att använda plattan direkt på mark som grund har lyfts inom projektet och kommer att undersökas i annat projekt inom och sannolikt även utanför TCN. En platta som monterats med en del direkt på mark och en del hängande i luften har upptäckts med en kraftig skada. Omfattningen på skadan har undersökts och rapporteras i denna rapport. Ingen orsak till skadan kunde med säkerhet fastställas. Nya kontakter med nordiska teknikföretag har etablerats för att lättare hitta prisvärd och funktionell mätteknik i träsammanhang
Fire safety challenges with photovoltaics and Li-ion battery system installations in buildings
No full textThe growing trend of using lithium-ion batteries as intermediate energy storage for renewable sources like solar panels is expected to increase in this decade, especially in buildings. Photovoltaic and Li-ion battery systems introduce certain fire risks which need to be considered before their implementation in new or existing buildings. Knowledge about the fire behaviour of both these systems, and how this may affect the building is crucial to reduce the consequences from a fire. The purpose of the work is to categorize the main fire safety challenges of PV and Li-ion battery installations for preventing fire and explosion hazardous scenarios in buildings. These are related to the increased risk of ignition, changed fire dynamics and increased fire spread risk, and to installations representing obstructions and hazards for firefighters. The research methodology consists of a combination of mixed methods: previous lessons learned in literature and experimental work and analysis of case studies. PV installations can cause ignition, promote fire spread and obstruct firefighting. A Li-ion battery installation can potentially increase the ignition risk, contribute to a rapid growth and spread of fire, and interfere firefighting and increase explosion hazards. The development of knowledge is important for the inclusion of new regulations and the modification of existing regulations in building codes nationally and internationally
Air-Charge : Feasibility study on system demonstrator for high-power charging of battery-electric aircraft
No full textWhat was studied? This report studies the possibilities and challenges of establishing a high-power charging system for battery-electric aircraft (EA) within an operational airport environment, with a particular focus on enabling short turnaround times (TAT). The study integrates perspectives from a diverse group of stakeholders, including an airport owner, a charging equipment solution provider, an aircraft developer, a research institute, an innovation arena, and a testbed operator. The aim is to significantly enhance the common understanding and identify viable pathways for the efficient and safe implementation of EA charging systems. The report addresses the three key subsystems (airport, charging equipment, and aircraft) detailing their specific requirements, including e.g. technical, operational, regulatory, and safety considerations, followed by identification and evaluation of possible power system topologies and conceptual charging solutions. Smart control of EA charging systems is explored and modeled to support adequate system design and optimal utilization of available power capacity. Additionally, the report presents measurement results from an operational airport to better understand the current electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) environment. It also includes a review of aviation cybersecurity and offers initial recommendations for future risk assessments to ensure an efficient and safe deployment of EA charging systems. Air-Charge was funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) under TRV 2023/34442. </p
From operational design domain to test cases: A methodology to include harsh weather : [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]
No full text[Background] To gain widespread use, assisted and automated driving (AAD) systems will have to cope with harsh weather conditions, such as rain, fog, and snow. This affects the development and testing of perception and decision-making systems. Since the weather cannot be controlled in field tests, the availability and use of virtual simulation and test facilities that can accurately reproduce harsh weather becomes vital. Test cases subjecting the system under test to harsh conditions, covering all expected weather phenomena in both typical and challenging scenarios, must be defined to evaluate all aspects of the system. [Methods] State-of-the-art in scenario-based and hash weather testing for AAD systems was analysed; based on the analysis, a team with diverse expertise in AAD development and testing defined a methodology for defining a set of harsh weather test cases. [Results] This paper proposes, and exemplifies the use of, a methodology to develop a representative set of test cases based on the defined operational design domain and use cases for an AAD system under development, considering the possibility of reproducing tests in different test environments with a focus on harsh weather. [Conclusions] We believe that our proposed methodology can accelerate the overall testing process and contribute to the difficult safety assurance challenges for automated vehicles.Funding: EU HorizonROADVIEW - Robust Automated Driving in Extreme Weathe
Reduction of malic acid in bilberry juice by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum-mediated malolactic fermentation
No full textBilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are the most common wild berries in Northern Europe. A substantial amount of the berries are picked with the objective to extract highly valued products such as anthocyanins. A smaller amount of the bilberries is used to make jams and drinks, and these are generally restricted to the domestic market. One reason is the sour taste, partly as a result of the high content of malic acid. By using certain strains of lactic acid bacteria with the ability to convert malic acid to lactic acid, the taste is predicted to be more pleasant. This process is called malolactic fermentation, and historically it has mostly been used in winemaking. After testing five different starter cultures, we identified that the strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP58, can rapidly convert malic acid to lactic acid without any loss of sugar or citric acid, which strongly indicates a successful malolactic acid fermentation. As it has been reported that other strains of L. plantarum can be used as biopreservative agents, the resulting product was also tested in terms of microbial safety after prolonged storage, and by means of metagenome sequencing. The obtained product was quite tolerant to microbial growth, but this observation was rather due to an initial heat treatment than the addition of lactobacilli. Potentially, starter cultures with documented biopreservative activity can be combined with L. plantarum LP58 to obtain a more stable product. Until then, the fermented bilberry juice must be processed and preserved like non-fermented bilberry products. © 2023, The Author(s).All bacterial starter cultures tested and used in this study were kindly supplied by SACCO. Xinmei Feng and Roger Uddstål are greatly acknowledged for their valuable ideas during the early stages of the project. We also acknowledge Unn Tjörnstrand, Ingela Persson, Alexander Plovie and Karin Bjerre for assistance with shelf-life test and preparation and analyses of metagenomic samples. This study was performed within FINEST, a research programme financed by the Swedish research council FORMAS, and by Region Västerbotten.</p
Optimizing Signal Management in a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System : A Proof-of-Concept with COVID-19 Vaccines Using Signs, Symptoms, and Natural Language Processing
No full textIntroduction: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has already been challenged by an extreme increase in the number of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) after the market introduction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Evidence from scientific literature suggests that when there is an extreme increase in the number of ICSRs recorded in spontaneous reporting databases (such as the VAERS), an accompanying increase in the number of disproportionality signals (sometimes referred to as ‘statistical alerts’) generated is expected. Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a natural language processing (NLP)-based approach to optimize signal management by excluding disproportionality signals related to listed adverse events following immunization (AEFIs). COVID-19 vaccines were used as a proof-of-concept. Methods: The VAERS was used as a data source, and the Finding Associated Concepts with Text Analysis (FACTA+) was used to extract signs and symptoms of listed AEFIs from MEDLINE for COVID-19 vaccines. Disproportionality analyses were conducted according to guidelines and recommendations provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By using signs and symptoms of listed AEFIs, we computed the proportion of disproportionality signals dismissed for COVID-19 vaccines using this approach. Nine NLP techniques, including Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 3.5 (GPT-3.5), were used to automatically retrieve Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Preferred Terms (MedDRA PTs) from signs and symptoms extracted from FACTA+. Results: Overall, 17% of disproportionality signals for COVID-19 vaccines were dismissed as they reported signs and symptoms of listed AEFIs. Eight of nine NLP techniques used to automatically retrieve MedDRA PTs from signs and symptoms extracted from FACTA+ showed suboptimal performance. GPT-3.5 achieved an accuracy of 78% in correctly assigning MedDRA PTs. Conclusion: Our approach reduced the need for manual exclusion of disproportionality signals related to listed AEFIs and may lead to better optimization of time and resources in signal management. © 2023, The Author(s)
Uncertainties in the use of oxygen consumption calorimetry for heat release measurements in lithium-ion battery fires
No full textAccurate measurement of the heat release from a battery fire is vital for risk management, product development and construction of accurate models. Oxygen consumption calorimetry is the most common method for heat release measurements in experimental fire tests. The strength of the method is that it can be applied to unknown compositions of fuel with sufficient accuracy. Despite that this method is used to estimate heat release from battery fires, the method is subject to discussion. In this work, the method is studied in-depth, and potential errors are structured and quantified. Uncertainties associated with self-generated oxygen and internal heat generation, total gas release from the battery and impact on the heat release calculations, as well as the assumed E-factor (i.e., heat release per unit mass of oxygen consumed), are thoroughly discussed. For a Li-ion battery fire, it is concluded that oxygen consumption calorimetry will exclude internal heat generation and underestimate the total heat released from the external flaming fire by up to 10 %. In addition, high rate of combustion reactions can result in that the measured peak heat release rate is underestimated much more, up to 100 %. This work is part of a project funded by the Swedish Energy Agency (project no. 51787-1). Partners within the project comprise of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Northvolt, Scania, and Uppsala University. We also acknowledge support from Batteries Sweden (grant no. Vinnova-2019-00064), and STandUP for Energy.</p