Search results for "Risk analysis"
showing 10 items of 375 documents
Future house automation
2015
In this paper, we propose the future house automation, a PLC-based embedded system that aims reducing the house energy consumption by optimizing the entire hardware assembly and software algorithms. The project started from the idea of designing a self-controlled house, to increase user's comfort in his daily environment, reducing the cost and optimizing the energy consumption. Our embedded application represents a green solution into a growing number of environmentally aware consumers, very suitable for the market of energy-efficient control systems. We provide a cheap solution for developing by everyone its own automation system control house. Therefore, our project contributes for helpin…
Developments Around the Activity-Based Costing Method: A State-of-the Art Literature Review
2007
This paper analyzes the management accounting applications which try to improve the Activity-based Costing method. In the first part, we describe them using the Strategic Management Accounting stream. Then, we present the main features of these applications. In the second part, we examine in detail two of these features: The widening of the analysis perimeter and the relevant level of details to analyze the costs. Finally, we analyze several proposals: Customer-driven ABC, Inter-organizational Cost Management, Resource Consumption Accounting and Time-driven ABC.
Sustainability issues in sheet metal forming processes: an overview
2011
Abstract Environmental sustainability in manufacturing is nowadays an urgent and remarkable issue and the main concerns are related to more efficient use of materials and energy. In sheet metal forming processes there is still a lack of knowledge in this field mainly due to the need of a proper modelling of sustainability issues and factors to be taken into account. The aim of this paper is mainly to underline the state of the art from a forming point of view about the sustainability contributions offered in any phase of a product life cycle. Actually, a lack in terms of comprehensive contributions is present in the technical literature, thus, the authors try to give a sort of holistic visi…
Cost modelling for wastewater treatment processes
2011
Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a methodology for a better understanding of the cost structure of wastewater treatment processes. This methodology may be useful in the planning of new facilities. The existing models in the literature are focused on the influence of the capacity of plant, expressed as inhabitants or flow rate, on the cost of treatment. We propose a new approach for the operating cost function that includes the most representative variables in the process. The idea is that the modelling of treatment costs enables us to understand the key role of the economies of scale in this context; and also the influence of other variables such as contaminants removed, or the …
Using semantics to facilitate data integration of offshore wind farms
2012
Operation and maintenance play an important role in extracting power from the wind, especially, in offshore wind energy where wind farms are located far off the shore and under harsh weather conditions. Improved operation and maintenance is likely to reduce costs as well as hazard exposure of the employees. Implementation of advanced information technology is thus crucial for operating offshore wind farms effectively and efficiently and hence improves operation and maintenance. However, information availability and reliability are key issues for their use in the offshore wind domain. In addition, the semantic of information has not been exploited thoroughly. This paper describes the develop…
Design of a grid connected inverter for sustainable small wind farms
2016
The actual definition of sustainability is nowadays widely accepted. It provides a very general indication on what it is, but it reveals unable to assert how it should be reached. However, if one considers the multiplicity of human activities that have led to talk of real process of human settlement on the environment, it is then understood how it is close to the particular mankind activities. Then the task of providing a guidance on what to do within the sustainability concept is delegated case by case. In this paper, with reference to wind renewable source, The Authors give some indications in the design of a voltage source inverters aimed to optimal use of the wind source. In particular …
Reliability assessment of granular filters in embankment dams
2006
SUMMARY Empirical criteria have been used successfully to design filters of most embankment large dam projects throughout the world. However, these empirical rules are only applicable to a particular range of soils tested in laboratory and do not take into account the variability of the base material and filter particle sizes. In addition, it is widely accepted that the safety of fill dams is mainly dependent on the reliability of their filter performance. The work herein presented consists in a new general method for assessing the probability of fulfilling any empirical filter design criteria accounting for base and filter heterogeneity by means of first-order reliability methods (FORM), s…
The Global Grounding System: Definitions and guidelines
2015
The present paper presents the preliminary results of the ongoing Italian METERGLOB project on the contribution given by the exposed conductive parts to a Global Grounding System. One of the expected results of METERGLOB is to carry out guidelines for the identification of a Global Grounding System. These guidelines must be defined on the basis of the definitions and methods present in the current international standards on grounding and safety. In the paper some definitions and elements to be taken into account for the identification of a Global Grounding System are given.
A Perspective on the Future of Distribution: Smart Grids, State of the Art, Benefits and Research Plans
2013
Currently, the design and operation criteria for electrical distribution networks are fastly changing due to some factors; among these, the progressive penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) is destined to cause deep changes in the existing networks, no longer considered as passive terminations of the whole electrical system. Moreover, the increasing application of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) will allow the implementation of the so called “smart grids”, determining new interesting scenarios. In the paper the problems and the potential benefits of DG, the possible new electrical distribution system models and the major research projects on smart grids are faced and repor…
Strengthening Safety Compliance in Nuclear Power Operations: A Role-Based Approach
2014
Safety compliance is of paramount importance in guaranteeing the safe running of nuclear power plants. However, it depends mostly on procedures that do not always involve the safest outcomes. This article introduces an empirical model based on the organizational role theory to analyze the influence of legitimate sources of expectations (procedures formalization and leadership) on workers' compliance behaviors. The sample was composed of 495 employees from two Spanish nuclear power plants. Structural equation analysis showed that, in spite of some problematic effects of proceduralization (such as role conflict and role ambiguity), procedure formalization along with an empowering leadership s…