Academic literature on the topic 'Building-free measures'

Barrier-free environment should be an obvious part of our life. The reality is but different. In non-residential buildings specified for use by the public one can uselessly look for information useful for persons with limited ability of movement and orientation. The question of information boards is very disregarded and often non-dealt with at all. Upon entry into most of the buildings you will not find any optical system for deaf people, acoustic system (voice light) for blind people or information related to barrier-free access for people with movement handicap. Project engineer, upon performing his work has to take into consideration the fact that building being designed shall be used by all groups of citizens. Try to look around with eyes of a person who moves on wheelchair or through a walking stick. You will find missing information and orientation system on possibilities of barrier-free movement inside the building on each and every building.

The object of research: magnetite obtained by using the ferritic method for the purification of iron-containing solutions. Problem to be solved: a comprehensive solution to the problem of using magnetite, obtained as a result of using the ferrite method for purifying iron-containing solutions, as a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide and its further utilization in the production of building materials. The main scientific results: it has been shown that the magnetite precipitate formed during the processing of pickling solutions by the ferrite method can be used as a cheap, affordable and effective catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide from flue gases of industrial enterprises, the disposal of which after long-term use does not create problems due to its stability and inertness. Field of practical use of research results: the use of the ferrite method in the purification of pickling solutions of metallurgical enterprises provides not only an increase in the efficiency of water purification, but also leads to the introduction of waste-free technology. The decisive factor will be the use of magnetite as sludge of the use of ferrite technology to solve the problem of reducing flue gas emissions from the production of electrodes for the metallurgical industry, which include toxic carbon monoxide. Innovative technology product: waste-free technology for the processing of pickling solutions by the ferrite method with the formation of a product with magnetic and catalytic properties, further processing of which consists in using red lead iron as a pigment in the production of building materials. Scope of the innovative technology product: oxidation of carbon monoxide from industrial flue gases, followed by the use of red lead as a pigment.

Purpose of research is to carry out an applied research of the thermal behaviour of the production premise of an industrial building and to develop air conditioning processes, including the search for an expedient circuit design for conditioning and increasing the effectiveness of the system by using the cold outdoor air.Methods. In the work, based on the results of the energy audit, a technique for calculating the flows of harmful emissions in the production premise in the Production mode was developed and the thermal loads of the objects of the study were determined to achieve the set objectives. Possible options for air processing by technological conditioning systems including the minimization of energy costs are analyzed. For the assimilation of excess heat in the warm season and a rational choice of the air treatment process in order to save thermal energy consumption, techniques of air treatment with and without heating are proposed. In the cold season, it is proposed to carry out air conditioning using cold outdoor air. The versatility of the technique makes it possible to determine a process feasible in real conditions, including adjusting the processing scheme, in which air preheating is required.Results. The result of the research work is the development of a number of engineering and technical solutions to ensure the energy efficiency of the engineering system and improve the consumer quality of the research objects.Conclusion. Implementation of the developed measures for thermal protection of the research object and the use of energy-efficient engineering solutions will allow achieving the following results: to improve the consumer quality of buildings, to bring the parameters of the internal microclimate to the standard value; to extend significantly the service life of enclosing structures, to ensure the quality of the air intended for the technological process with a high degree of accuracy, to ensure energy savings for air conditioning through the use of the cold outdoor air; to maintain a minimum cooling temperature by mixing outdoor and recirculated air without the risk of frost formation on the surface of the heat exchanger and the formation of ice.

The article describes the problems that arise during the operation of unheated, smoke-free stairwells in multi-storey residential buildings. Measures are proposed for thermal protection of premises adjacent to stairwells of the H1 type. To solve the problems of improving the energy efficiency of the building, it is proposed to use modern thermal insulation material. In addition, a constructive solution is proposed for the insulation of the internal walls of an unheated, smoke-free stairwell using foam glass, which will ensure the strength, durability and reliability of thermal protection and finishing. Using modern composite materials, it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

Subcontracting systems are entrenched in the building construction process in Nigeria. However, the implications for informal building construction industry workers' access to social protection measures are a cause for concern. This study examined the influence of subcontracting systems on access to social protection measures by workers in the informal building construction industry in Lagos, Nigeria, based on a cross-sectional research design, agency theory and the general theory of employment. The secondary and primary data used for the study were derived from a systematic review of relevant literature, a questionnaire administered to 908 respondents and 50 key informant interviews among informal building construction workers and subcontractors. The structured questionnaire was subjected to internal and external validity; the Cronbach's Alpha reliability test of the survey stood at 0.722. Data extracted from the structured questionnaire and interviews were analysed through the use of descriptive statistics, correlational analysis and narrative analysis. Findings revealed that workers got financial and health assistance from employers and government respectively. Results also show that informal building construction workers perceived provision of social protection as inadequate. The results of Pearson Correlation indicate that subcontracting systems have an inverse and statistically significant relationship with access to free or subsidised medical care, the remedy to accident on site and pattern of savings. Therefore, subcontracting systems influenced the availability of social protection measures significantly. Based on the findings and the important roles of subcontractors in the building construction industry, it is recommended that appropriate legislative instrument should be developed to address the challenges posed by subcontracting concerning access to social protection measures in the informal building construction industry. It is also suggested that steps should be taken by the government to promote formalisation of employment in the informal sector and support community-based social insurance schemes in Nigeria. Keywords: Building construction, Informal economy, Lagos, Social protection, Subcontracting systems.

Heating is responsible for a substantial share of global energy consumption and still relies strongly on fossil fuels. In order to reduce energy consumption for heating, subsidies for building renovations are a common policy measure in Europe. Policy makers often combine them with information and advice measures. Policy mixes of this kind have been acknowledged widely in the literature, but their effectiveness needs further empirical examination. Based on a survey of the recipients of renovation subsidies and on four focus groups, we examine the (cost) effectiveness of subsidies, as follows: The effectiveness of renovation subsidies was measured by the extent to which receiving subsidies contributed either to the decision to renovate at all, or to the decision to enhance the quality or scope of the renovation. Fifty percent of the recipients surveyed reported that the subsidies contributed to a more energy-efficient renovation than was initially intended. The other fifty percent must be considered as free riders. Multivariate analyses further show that homeowners who used advice services and attributed outstandingly positive characteristics to the policy implementer were more likely to spend subsidies to improve energy efficiency. The findings demonstrate the importance of applying a combination of financial and persuasive policy measures. Additionally, they illustrate the importance of non-financial and non-technical factors, such as the communication competencies of the implementer, when designing policy measures.

In Sweden, 90% of multifamily buildings utilize district heat and a large portion is in need of renovation. The aim is to analyze the impact of renovating a multifamily building stock in a district heating and cooling system, in terms of primary energy savings, peak power demands, electricity demand and production, and greenhouse gas emissions on local and global levels. The study analyzes scenarios regarding measures on the building envelope, ventilation, and substitution from district heat to ground source heat pump. The results indicate improved energy performance for all scenarios, ranging from 11% to 56%. Moreover, the scenarios present a reduction of fossil fuel use and reduced peak power demand in the district heating and cooling system ranging from 1 MW to 13 MW, corresponding to 4–48 W/m2 heated building area. However, the study concludes that scenarios including a ground source heat pump generate significantly higher global greenhouse gas emissions relative to scenarios including district heating. Furthermore, in a future fossil-free district heating and cooling system, a reduction in primary energy use will lead to a local reduction of emissions along with a positive effect on global greenhouse gas emissions, outperforming measures with a ground source heat pump.

This paper addresses the effects of long-term climate change on retrofit actions on a school building located in a Mediterranean climate. Dynamic energy simulations were performed using Termolog EpiX 11, first with conventional climate data and then with future year climate data exported from the CCWorldWeatherGen computational software. To date, many incentive actions are promoted for school renovations, but are these measures effective in preventing the discomfort that will be found due to overheating generated by climate change? Today, one of the main objectives in retrofit measures is the achievement of ZEB (Zero Energy Building) performance. Achieving this target requires first and foremost a high-performance envelope. This study evaluates the impact of retrofit strategies mostly applied to the school building envelope, over the years, considering three different time horizons, until 2080. Thermal performance indices and indoor operative temperature under free-floating were evaluated. The results highlight that, with a changing climate, it is no longer possible to assume a constant static condition to evaluate retrofit actions, but it is necessary to develop a predictive mathematical model that considers the design variability for future years. There is an urgent necessity to ensure both the safety and comfort of buildings while also anticipating future variations in climate.

Building rapport during police interviews is argued as important for improving on the completeness and accuracy of information provided by witnesses and victims. However, little experimental research has clearly operationalised rapport and investigated the impact of rapport behaviours on episodic memory. Eighty adults watched a video of a mock crime event and 24-hours later were randomly allocated to an interview condition where verbal and/or behavioural (non-verbal) rapport techniques were manipulated. Memorial performance measures revealed significantly more correct information, without a concomitant increase in errors, was elicited when behavioural rapport was present, a superiority effect found in both the free and probed recall phase of interviews. The presence of verbal rapport was found to reduce recall accuracy in the free recall phase of interviews. Post-interview feedback revealed significant multivariate effects for the presence of behavioural (only) rapport and combined (behavioural + verbal) rapport. Participants rated their interview experience far more positively when these types of rapport were present compared to when verbal (only) rapport or no rapport was present. These findings add weight to the importance of rapport in supporting eyewitness cognition, highlighting the potential consequences of impoverished social behaviours for building rapport during dyadic interactions, suggesting ‘doing’ rather than simply ‘saying’ may be more beneficial.

To protect museum cultural relics, seismic damage causes as well as aseismic strengthening methods of free-standing museum cultural relics were studied in this paper. Museums, cultural relics and their bases were all considered to study causes of damage of free-standing relics. Shortages of typical domestic aseismic methods were discussed, overseas isolation techniques were introduced. Based on 2 typical examples, reasonable strengthening methods for museum cultural relics were further demonstrated. Results show that main damage causes of museum cultural relics under earthquakes relate closely to over strong earthquake intensity, shortage of strengthening measures of relic, destruction of showcase or museum building and so on; museum, showcase and relic are all important factors for aseismic strengthening of the relics. Besides, to effectively protect the relics, traditional strengthening methods have to be improved; development as well as application of new isolation devices is encouraged.

Den 2 juli 2014 genomfördes en lagändring angående bygglovsfria åtgärder. Ändringen innebar att bygglovsfritt byggande på 15 kvadratmeter skulle utökas till 25 kvadratmeter, s.k attefallshus enligt PBL 9:4 a. Tanken var att det skulle bli en smidigare process och att mindre bostäder skulle komma till snabbare när de inte kräver bygglov. Dessa bostäder skulle kunna ge boende åt framförallt unga, studenter och nyanlända.  I denna studie utreds det hur utvecklingen har gått för attefallshus, hur många start- och slutbesked som beviljats genom åren samt de huvudsakliga användningsområdena. Tillsynen gällande attefallshus är också något som uppmärksammats i denna rapport. Rättsfallet MÖD P 7514-15 är ett fall som kan komma bli betydelsefullt för rutiner hos kommuner framöver. Domen stred mot det som sägs i PBL 13:15, att endast sökande kan överklaga ett startbesked. Detta kan i sin tur skapa oreda bland kommunernas rutiner kring detta moment, eftersom lagen säger en sak och domstolen en annan. Därför utreds frågan om kommunerna ändrat något kring detta sedan rättsfallet blev känt. Studien utfördes i alla kommuner inom Västra Götaland län. I studien användes både juridisk, kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod, i form av enkätundersökning och tolkning av rättskällor.  Sedan lagen trädde i kraft har det beviljats 1 258 startbesked och 308 slutbesked i Västra Götalands län. Dessa är relativt jämnt fördelade mellan 2014 och 2017, ingen tydlig trend kunde noteras utan verkar vara densamma under alla åren. När det gäller användningsområden så uppförs attefallshus huvudsakligen som komplementbyggnader och används som bland annat förråd, gäststuga eller garage. Slutsatsen här blev att utvecklingen av attefallshus i Västra Götalands län verkar vara densamma som när lagändringen trädde i kraft. När det gäller rutiner kring tillsynen, ställdes frågan hur kommunerna hanterar situationen då en granne inkommer med ett klagande angående ett attefallshus. 70 % av de kommuner som besvarat frågan, hanterade situationen på rätt sätt genom att de påbörjar ett tillsynsärende vid misstankar. Resterande kommuner hade olika svar, i form av att de förde vidare klagandet till högre instans eller helt enkelt inte tillät grannen att klaga. När kommunerna fick frågan om de förändrat något efter rättsfallet MÖD P 7514-15 blev svaren nej eller att de inte hade något att säga om det. Detta kan därför bli en lämplig fråga i en framtida studie, eftersom rättsfallet om några år kan komma ge en mer märkbar effekt hos kommuner.
On July 2nd 2014 a law Change was performed, concerning building-free measures. This suggestion would make it possible to build a 25 square meters building, without building permit. This building is also known as an Attefall house and can be found in PBL 9:4 a. The thought behind this change is to get a more flexible process and that smaller buildings can be built faster, when the building permit isn’t requested. These small buildings could be future homes especially for young people or newly arrived people. In this study it’s investigated how the development has taken place for Attefall house -  how many starting clearance and final clearance and what the main uses are. This report will also look at the supervision when it comes to an Attefall houses. The court case MÖD P 7514-15 is a case that perhaps will be important for routines at the building committees. The Court contradicted what is said in PBL 13:15, that only the applicant can appeal a refused start clearance. In the future can this case create controversy among the building committees and their routines around this moment because the court rules against what the law states. That´s why this question is investigated - to see if the building committees have to change anything since the court case became known. The study was conducted in all Building Committees in Västra Götaland. The study is using both legal, quantitative and qualitative methods, for example questionnaire and practice study. The result of the study shows that the development of an Attefall house appears to be the same now as it was in the beginning. Since the law change took effect has 1262 starting clearances and 311 finish clearances been granted in Västra Götaland. These are relatively evenly distributed between 2014 and 2017, no clear trend could be noted. And it seems to be the same throughout all years. When it comes to applications, Attefall house is mainly built as an accessory building and is used as storage, guesthouse or garage. The conclusion was that the development of Attefall house in Västra Götaland also seems to be the same as when the law change came into effect.  Regarding the question about routines of supervision, how the building committees handles the situation when a neighbor arrive with a complaint about an Attefall house, the answers were a little bit different. 70 % of the Building Committees who answered the question properly handled the situation by starting a supervisory case if suspected there are reasons for it. Remaining Building Committees had different answers, for example that they passed the appeal to a supreme court or simply didn’t allow the neighbor to complain.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird der These nachgegangen, dass sich Baugemeinschaften als Wohnform, die von der Gemeinschaft und dem Zusammenleben geprägt ist, im Hinblick auf den demographischen Wandel und dessen Auswirkungen sich zum lebenslangen Bewohnen eignet. Untersucht wurden die baulichen und architektonischen, aber auch sozialen und organisatorischen Gegebenheiten am Beispiel 13 Dresdner Baugemeinschaften. Am Ende liegen Maßnahmen und Empfehlunen für künftige Bauherren und Planer vor
The present study traces the hypothesis that joint building ventures as a form of living, that is affected by the community and the cohabit, in view of the demographic change and its effects, are suit to lifelong occupancy. To be proved are the structural and architectural, but also the social and organizational conditions using the example of 13 joint building ventures in Dresden. Finally there are measures and recommendations for future building owners and architects on hand

M. Tech. Quantity Surveying (Structured)
The aim of this research is to identify the major cost overrun factors in the construction sector of the Free State Province of South Africa and the effective remedial cost control measures, generate and recommend possible solutions. The primary objective of the research is to identify the major causes of cost overrun in the construction sector of the Free State Province of South Africa and the related effective remedial cost control measures.

Globally, a wide variety of indices and indicators evaluate and provide information on different aspects of democracy and electoral procedures. On the one hand, there are indices that measure the quality of democracy and its resilience over time, focusing on building blocks such as the existence of representative governments, civil and political rights and necessary power limits. Other indices evaluate the quality of elections and specific aspects, such as voter registration, campaign financing and the performance of electoral authorities. Finally, others evaluate rule of law and access to justice. However, none of these indices focuses on the dimension of electoral justice, understood as the means and procedural mechanisms that guarantee free and fair elections, carried out in accordance with the law, and that guarantee the exercise and fulfilment of political rights. This is about to change. International IDEA, with the support of the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary of Mexico, makes an unprecedented proposal for the construction of a Global Index dedicated exclusively to electoral justice. This document includes a measurement proposal with normative design, process and result indicators, which will offer useful and comparative information on the electoral conflict resolution system of a given country or countries. It will provide comparative knowledge on electoral processes and institutions from around the world and assess the quality of their electoral justice.

Western leaders and institutions did not fully realize that they were under attack from Russia between 2007 and 2012. Yet when they slowly realized that Russia had launched an all-out hybrid war against Western institutions, a determined response emerged. The United States and EU imposed several rounds of economic sanctions on Russia, punishing key individuals and sectors of the economy. The EU also sought to prevent Russia from using energy blackmail against its member states. It took measures to reduce Gazprom’s influence by ending discriminatory contract provisions and building interconnectors between countries. NATO shored up its defenses in Eastern Europe to prevent another Russian invasion. All the while, the EU and NATO continued the project of creating a “Europe whole and free,” including the lands in between, setting the stage for a deepening geopolitical confrontation with Russia.

<i>Abstract.</i>—Practicing good education means knowing your goal, how to achieve the goal, and how to measure effectiveness. This paper describes the state-of-the-art for conservation best education practices. Findings are based on extensive work by educators working with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the Institute for Learning Innovation, and the University of Wisconsin as part of a national facilitation project for water outreach. Concepts include environmentally responsible behavior, essential best education practices, choice of outreach focus, understanding target audiences, implementing best education practices and free-choice learning principles, and the role for agencies in promoting conservation education. Recommendations suggest themes that have potential in building stewardship when applied to programs or experiences. These are organized according to community norms, instruction content, learner needs, learner self-confidence, program context, and program quality.

At present, Chernobyl NPP is under decommissioning after the final shutdown of Unit 3 at the end of 2000. The decommissioning activity is being carried out on the basis of the “Decommissioning Conception for ChNPP” approved in 1992. In accordance with the acting legislation, this concept should be reconsidered in 2002 at the latest. Presently, a new version of the concept is being developed. This document is based on the decommissioning strategy, which foresees the long-term safe storage of reactors’ cores (up to 100 years) and coolant circuit facilities (up to 50 years) within the existing building constructions together with dismantling of auxiliary equipment. Key decisions are the following: 1) the final goal of decommissioning is the condition described as a “brown field site”; 2) decommissioning involves measures for decontamination and dismantling of the contaminated structures; 3) structures having contamination levels at or below free release are considered as “conditionally clear” and for them the decommissioning goals have been achieved; 4) it is anticipated that the dismantling of building constructions and refinement of site will be considered in the framework of Chernobyl Exclusion Zone rehabilitation. This paper describes the decommissioning process for materials and reactor facilities and presents an overview of the decommissioning program activities.

This paper describes a TRNSYS simulation of a space of an office building in dessert climate. The space simulated by TRNSYS represents a meeting room which is placed in one of the high mass buildings of the Plataforma Solar of Almeria located in the desert of Tabernas, Spain. The meeting room was selected because hygrothermal variables are being measured. The simulation results are compared with experimental data of the meeting room. The main goal is to describe the thermal behavior of the meeting room of this high mass building in free evolution and verify its thermal performance with the measured data. Climate input variables to the simulation were solar radiation, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity recorded by a meteorological station installed on top of the building. As a first approach coolest winter day and hottest summer day were analyzed. The comparison results between the TRNSYS simulation results and measured ones show a maximum percentage difference of 4.51% (0.60 °C).

Abstract PPV Fans (Positive Pressure Ventilation Fans) are used in firefighting to remove smoke from a burning building, so that fire fighters can have a clear view inside the house and injured people do not have to breathe toxic smoke. This can be done by placing a PPV fan in a distance of about two meters in front of a door of the burning building. On another, carefully chosen position in the building, e. g. a window, a door or at the roof an opening has to be created, where the smoke can leave the building. The same volumetric flow rate of gas that is blown into the building by the PPV fan has to leave the building at a chosen opening. Because the gas entering the building is air and the gas leaving the building is a mixture of smoke and air, the smoke concentration in the building can be reduced. To test the performance of such PPV fans, a test building with a door in the first floor and a window in the 3rd floor has been built. To measure the volumetric flow rate of the smoke and air mixture through the window in the 3rd floor that is leaving the building, a flow meter nozzle was designed. The design process was done using the commercial Navier Stokes solver Star CCM+, where three nozzle designs, such as a nozzle with constant velocity increase, a quarter circle nozzle and a non-curved nozzle were investigated for different volumetric flow rates. Also, a rounding at the window, where the nozzle is placed, was investigated to prevent flow detachment and shock losses at the inlet of the nozzle. The volumetric flow rate through the nozzle can be calculated, by measuring the pressure at the nozzle wall (before the contraction) and applying Bernoulli’s law, the continuity equation and assuming atmospheric pressure at the free jet flow at the end of the nozzle. The so calculated volumetric flow rate was compared with the actual flow rate, given by the numerical CFD simulations. With these values, the nozzle specific coefficient of discharge for several volumetric flow rates has been calculated and a function fitting was done to get obtain analytical relation between pressure and volumetric flow rate. The detailed design process of the three nozzles, the numerical results of the CFD studies and the determination of the nozzle specific coefficients of discharge are shown and discussed in detail in this work.

Plug loads in consumer electronic products consume large quantities of energy, often without the knowledge of the user. To facilitate the development of smart plug strips and new building control systems, an open-source power waveform capture platform has been designed and tested. The system was developed to accurately and safely record the voltage and current waveforms for any plug load such as consumer electronic and electrical systems. The device incorporates a commercially available hardware platform that has been reprogrammed to record the voltage and current waveforms and transfer them in real-time to a computer for storage and further processing. The system samples the voltage and current waveforms with a sampling rate of 2048 Hz, and this detailed data can be used to identify the types of waveforms that are associated with various devices, as well as measure any power parameter of interest such as real power, energy, RMS volts, RMS current, power factor, frequency, etc. The system has been tested with several known electrical loads and has been found to perform well. The paper describes the hardware and software, the test setup, and the test results. Since the hardware is inexpensive (about $250) and the software is available for free from the authors, this system can be used by almost anyone to perform detailed studies of the power characteristics of electrical and electronic devices.

Fibre optic strain sensors are being increasingly deployed subsea due to significant improvements in reliability and ease of deployment brought about by embedding the optical fibre within a composite carrier that simply clamps to the structure to be monitored. There is significant experience in deploying these sensors on a variety of risers by a number of different installation methods as part of project integrity management strategies. Building on experience from monitoring risers, the technology is now being applied to other subsea infrastructure including manifolds and flowlines for monitoring parameters including pressure, axial load, shape and temperature. The same technology has even been deployed downhole for measuring loads in production tubing. Two different types of instruments have been designed to meet the needs of the industry, namely single point sensors and sensors that measure the profile of parameters over an extended distance. Point sensors have been developed to measure axial load, internal pressure, curvature and temperature. Each sensor mechanically attaches to the pipeline to transfer strains and temperatures in the pipeline. The instrument has been demonstrated to detect pressure changes from quasi-static to hundreds of hertz as required for conditions such as flow induced vibration and detecting slug flow. By locating a number of pressure sensors along a flowline the onset of waxing or hydrate build-up can be detected. The flexibility of the technology enables deployment in the yard, on deck and even retrofit installation by ROV. Profile sensors have been developed to measure bending profiles of flowline buckle regions, flowline free spans and riser touchdown zones. The profile sensors are elongated instruments that cover the entire length of the flowline to be monitored. Fibre optic sensors are embedded within a composite carrier during a continuous manufacturing process such as filament winding or pultrusion. Instruments with as many as 280 embedded sensors have been manufactured and deployed to date. Instruments have been developed to measure upheaval and lateral buckling strain profiles in HPHT flowlines. Deployment methods have been developed for retrofit installation and for installation on deck. The paper will present the current status of subsea pipeline monitoring using fibre optic strain sensors including results of both point and profile sensors. In addition further applications for the technology will be discussed.

The present work extends previous efforts using “micro-mixing” fuel injectors operating on hydrogen fuel to elevated pressure and temperature and includes initial evaluation of a second injector concept. A micro-mixing fuel injector consists of multiple, small and closely spaced mixing cups, within which fuel and air mix rapidly at a small scale. The micro-mixing injection strategy offers inherent flexibility for the accommodation of staging, dilution, and fuel flexibility, and the manufacturing technology employed for building the cups affords great flexibility to address the conflicting demands of superior fuel-air mixing and flash-back avoidance. In the present work, both radial and axial flow micromixing concepts are investigated using experiments and computational fluid dynamics. The hydrogen/air reaction structure is captured using OH* chemiluminescence at 308 nm, recorded using a 16-bit thermoelectrically cooled ICCD with a UV sensitive phosphor. Instantaneous images are used to assess flashback tendencies at pressures up to 8 atm for reaction temperatures approaching 2000 K. Emissions are measured at the exit of the combustor liner using EPA certified methodologies. The results demonstrate that both concepts can produce low NOx emissions while remaining robust relative to flashback and lean blowout. The radial concepts offer superior emissions performance, while the axial concepts offer superior flashback tendencies. Based on the results obtained to date, the micro-mixing approach appears promising relative to achieving flashback free operation with low emissions at pressures up to 8 atm while maximizing scalability and fuel flexibility.

The world is facing energy difficulties for the future, in terms of security of supply and climate change issues. Nuclear power is virtually carbon free and it contributes to energy security, being a quasi-domestic source. Whilst it cannot provide a complete answer to these challenges, it is certainly capable of providing a significant component of the answer. However, nuclear power remains controversial. In order to gain public acceptance, it is widely recognised that a number of key issues need to be addressed, amongst which is resolution of the high-level radioactive waste (HLW) (including spent fuel) disposal issue. This is an important issue for all countries with an existing nuclear programme, whether or not it is intended that nuclear power should be phased out or expanded — the waste already exists and must be managed in any event. It is equally important for countries planning a new nuclear power programme where none has previously existed. Since nuclear power was first developed over fifty years ago, HLW arisings have been stored as an interim measure. It is widely believed by experts (though not by many opponents of the nuclear industry, nor by the public) that deep geological disposal, after a reasonable cooling time in interim storage, is technically feasible and constitutes a safe option [1] at an acceptable cost. The total volume of HLW from nuclear reactors is relatively small. A key issue, however, is the time-scale for developing such a final disposal solution. Considerations of security and inter-generational equity suggest that geological disposal should be implemented as soon as possible irrespective of whether or not new arisings are created. The question of managing HLW is not necessarily related to the issue of building new nuclear power stations. However, many opponents argue that there has been insufficient demonstration of the long-term safety of deep geological disposal. The same opponents also argue that there should be a moratorium on building new nuclear power plants (NPPs) until the issue of long-term management of HLW is resolved. These arguments have a powerful influence on public opinion towards both the construction of a waste repository and the building of new NPPs. The intent of this paper (developed from the current OECD NEA study on “Timing of High Level Waste Disposal”) is to identify and discuss some of the factors influencing the timing of the implementation of a HLW disposal strategy and to demonstrate to decision makers how these factors are affecting country strategies, based on current experience. Determining an optimum timescale of HLW disposal may be affected by a wide range of factors. The study examines how social acceptability, technical soundness, environmental responsibility and economic feasibility impact on the timing of HLW disposal and can be balanced in a national radioactive waste management strategy taking the social, political and economic environment into account. There is clear evidence that significant fractions of the public still have serious misconceptions with respect to the issues surrounding nuclear waste. The nuclear industry, together with governments in those countries who would like a component of nuclear power in their energy mix, has a responsibility for and a significant challenge in presenting its case to the public.

The increase in power per unit volume in modern pumps has been driven by manufacturing cost reduction. The first prototype of a new generation of centrifugal pumps has been experimentally and numerically investigated. It presents a particular and novel design characterized by the absence of any stator blade, which has been substituted with a counter-rotating radial impeller. According to an exhaustive literature survey, the usage of a mixed-flow impeller as a front rotor, followed by a radial-flow impeller seems to be a novel approach in pump design. The combination of a high specific speed impeller with a low specific speed counter-rotating diffuser produces flexible adaptability against varying working conditions. It also gives a rise to an increase of pressure coefficient values beyond limits of similar volute envelope. Applying the counter-rotating design principle to a radial pump increases power density, however cavitation-related issues remains a limiting factor. Counter-rotating design also features an additional degree of freedom to the system due to the independency of motor speeds of one another. This aspect improved cavitation inception characteristics especially at overload capacities. Moreover, such an arrangement required building a special test rig in order to accommodate for the double motor configuration. In this study, the NPSH3% -curve and the NPSHic cavitation inception characteristics have been measured. The system dependency on speed ratio variation has been also investigated along with the influence of the speed ration on the cavitation. Results of the cavitation inception visualizations were obtained using an endoscope at front rotor in order to analyze the behaviour of the pump under cavitation conditions. Test results showed two distinct speed ratios where maximum head and best cavitiaiton behavior were achieved. Additionally, results also confirmed that the cavitaion-free range can be optimized by using different speed ratios. A head drop-efficiency curve with variable speed ratios, which have been progressively adjusted for several flow capacities, is developed. This curve highlights the advantage of this new design compared to a conventional pump particularly under off-design conditions. It is clearly evident that delaying head deterioration, due to low inlet available suction energy, is solely attributed to the variable speed ratio of the runners.

High strain rate mechanical properties of this material are required for the structural design of ship components for advanced naval applications. Taylor cylinder specimens were machined from pure titanium plate stock proposed for use in ship building. Since the specimens were machined from plate stock, it was assumed that the processing of the plate induced anisotropic behavior. To assure that all the effects would be captured by the tests, specimens were machined in the rolling direction, transverse direction, and 45° to the rolling direction in the plane of the plate. Indeed, distinct differences were observed in the rolling and transverse directions. Specimens in the 45° direction also showed the unsymmetrical deformation field that is associated with anisotropy. There was modest anisotropy in the thickness direction. However, the analysis of the data from the tests required corrections to accommodate this effect. Data from these tests can be reduced using two distinct methods; a one-dimensional theory and a finite element analysis with a conventional constitutive model adjusting the free parameters until the specimen geometry is matched. While the second method usually produces excellent results, we will employ a one-dimensional analysis that was proposed several years ago by one of the authors in this paper. In order to effectively apply such a theory, very low scale specimens, in this case 0.164-inch diameter, are required. The use of such low diameter specimens demands accurate measurement of the specimen profile. The recovered specimens were measured with a laser micrometer and the results were used to find estimates of quasi-static compressive stress and compressive stress at strain rates exceeding 104/sec. Some scatter in the data from these tests was observed. This was mostly due to some variations in the initial specimen diameter. Pure titanium presents a machining challenge for conventional equipment, when a tolerance of a thousandth of an inch is required. The scatter in Taylor cylinder data can be mitigated by conducting a large number of tests. However, in this case, many of the specimens that did not meet the criteria for success were discarded. Nevertheless, the results are very convincing.

To protect the sodium cooled FBR plant against the hazardous effects of sodium leak into the ambient, one of the passive protection devices used is the Leak Collection Trays (LCT) below the secondary sodium carrying pipelines in the Steam Generator Building (SGB). The design of LCT is based on immediate channeling of burning liquid sodium on the funnel shaped ‘sloping cover tray’ to the bottom ‘sodium hold-up vessel’ in which self-extinction of the fire occurs due to oxygen starvation. In the secondary heat transfer circuits of FBRs, leakage of liquid sodium from the pipelines is postulated as one of the design basis accidents with probability of occurrence at 10−2 per reactor year. LCT collect the leaked sodium in a hold up vessel, suppress the sodium fire due to oxygen starvation and guide the sodium to an inerted ‘sodium transfer tank’ located at the bottom most elevation of the SGB. The procedure of draining the leaked sodium into the transfer tank has been envisaged as a defense in depth measure against the handling of un-burnt sodium and to guard against larger leak rates than that can be handled by the LCT effectively. Towards this, a network of carbon steel pipelines are laid out connecting all the LCT and the transfer tank through headers in strategic locations, each having a fusible plug. The fusible plug separates the air environment in LCT and argon environment in sodium transfer tank. Woods metal is the preliminary choice for the fusible plug. It is an alloy of 50% Bi, 25% Pb, 12.5% Sn and 12.5% Cd with a melting point of 72°C. The transfer tank is filled with argon at ∼ 0.03 bars-g pressure. Both the header and the tank are at room temperature during normal conditions. Leaked sodium by virtue of its high temperature has to heat up the fusible plug to melt the same and drain into the transfer tank. Transient thermal hydraulic investigations have been carried out to predict the fusing characteristics of woods metal plug. The numerical results have been validated against analytical solutions for idealized conditions. Detailed parametric studies have been carried out with plug thickness as a parameter. It is established that effective melting of the plug and trouble free draining of the leaked sodium is possible for a 3 mm thick fusible plug.

This report maps the African landscape of Open Science – with a focus on Open Data as a sub-set of Open Science. Data to inform the landscape study were collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, desk research, engagement with a community of practice, networking with stakeholders, participation in conferences, case study presentations, and workshops hosted. Although the majority of African countries (35 of 54) demonstrates commitment to science through its investment in research and development (R&D), academies of science, ministries of science and technology, policies, recognition of research, and participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the following countries demonstrate the highest commitment and political willingness to invest in science: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to existing policies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the following countries have made progress towards Open Data policies: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Only two African countries (Kenya and South Africa) at this stage contribute 0.8% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to R&D (Research and Development), which is the closest to the AU’s (African Union’s) suggested 1%. Countries such as Lesotho and Madagascar ranked as 0%, while the R&D expenditure for 24 African countries is unknown. In addition to this, science globally has become fully dependent on stable ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, which includes connectivity/bandwidth, high performance computing facilities and data services. This is especially applicable since countries globally are finding themselves in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is not only “about” data, but which “is” data. According to an article1 by Alan Marcus (2015) (Senior Director, Head of Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries, World Economic Forum), “At its core, data represents a post-industrial opportunity. Its uses have unprecedented complexity, velocity and global reach. As digital communications become ubiquitous, data will rule in a world where nearly everyone and everything is connected in real time. That will require a highly reliable, secure and available infrastructure at its core, and innovation at the edge.” Every industry is affected as part of this revolution – also science. An important component of the digital transformation is “trust” – people must be able to trust that governments and all other industries (including the science sector), adequately handle and protect their data. This requires accountability on a global level, and digital industries must embrace the change and go for a higher standard of protection. “This will reassure consumers and citizens, benefitting the whole digital economy”, says Marcus. A stable and secure information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure – currently provided by the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) – is key to advance collaboration in science. The AfricaConnect2 project (AfricaConnect (2012–2014) and AfricaConnect2 (2016–2018)) through establishing connectivity between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), is planning to roll out AfricaConnect3 by the end of 2019. The concern however is that selected African governments (with the exception of a few countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and others) have low awareness of the impact the Internet has today on all societal levels, how much ICT (and the 4th Industrial Revolution) have affected research, and the added value an NREN can bring to higher education and research in addressing the respective needs, which is far more complex than simply providing connectivity. Apart from more commitment and investment in R&D, African governments – to become and remain part of the 4th Industrial Revolution – have no option other than to acknowledge and commit to the role NRENs play in advancing science towards addressing the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). For successful collaboration and direction, it is fundamental that policies within one country are aligned with one another. Alignment on continental level is crucial for the future Pan-African African Open Science Platform to be successful. Both the HIPSSA ((Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa)3 project and WATRA (the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly)4, have made progress towards the regulation of the telecom sector, and in particular of bottlenecks which curb the development of competition among ISPs. A study under HIPSSA identified potential bottlenecks in access at an affordable price to the international capacity of submarine cables and suggested means and tools used by regulators to remedy them. Work on the recommended measures and making them operational continues in collaboration with WATRA. In addition to sufficient bandwidth and connectivity, high-performance computing facilities and services in support of data sharing are also required. The South African National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System5 (NICIS) has made great progress in planning and setting up a cyberinfrastructure ecosystem in support of collaborative science and data sharing. The regional Southern African Development Community6 (SADC) Cyber-infrastructure Framework provides a valuable roadmap towards high-speed Internet, developing human capacity and skills in ICT technologies, high- performance computing and more. The following countries have been identified as having high-performance computing facilities, some as a result of the Square Kilometre Array7 (SKA) partnership: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. More and more NRENs – especially the Level 6 NRENs 8 (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and recently Zambia) – are exploring offering additional services; also in support of data sharing and transfer. The following NRENs already allow for running data-intensive applications and sharing of high-end computing assets, bio-modelling and computation on high-performance/ supercomputers: KENET (Kenya), TENET (South Africa), RENU (Uganda), ZAMREN (Zambia), EUN (Egypt) and ARN (Algeria). Fifteen higher education training institutions from eight African countries (Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania) have been identified as offering formal courses on data science. In addition to formal degrees, a number of international short courses have been developed and free international online courses are also available as an option to build capacity and integrate as part of curricula. The small number of higher education or research intensive institutions offering data science is however insufficient, and there is a desperate need for more training in data science. The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science aim at addressing the continental need for foundational data skills across all disciplines, along with training conducted by The Carpentries 9 programme (specifically Data Carpentry 10 ). Thus far, CODATA-RDA schools in collaboration with AOSP, integrating content from Data Carpentry, were presented in Rwanda (in 2018), and during17-29 June 2019, in Ethiopia. Awareness regarding Open Science (including Open Data) is evident through the 12 Open Science-related Open Access/Open Data/Open Science declarations and agreements endorsed or signed by African governments; 200 Open Access journals from Africa registered on the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); 174 Open Access institutional research repositories registered on openDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories); 33 Open Access/Open Science policies registered on ROARMAP (Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies); 24 data repositories registered with the Registry of Data Repositories (re3data.org) (although the pilot project identified 66 research data repositories); and one data repository assigned the CoreTrustSeal. Although this is a start, far more needs to be done to align African data curation and research practices with global standards. Funding to conduct research remains a challenge. African researchers mostly fund their own research, and there are little incentives for them to make their research and accompanying data sets openly accessible. Funding and peer recognition, along with an enabling research environment conducive for research, are regarded as major incentives. The landscape report concludes with a number of concerns towards sharing research data openly, as well as challenges in terms of Open Data policy, ICT infrastructure supportive of data sharing, capacity building, lack of skills, and the need for incentives. Although great progress has been made in terms of Open Science and Open Data practices, more awareness needs to be created and further advocacy efforts are required for buy-in from African governments. A federated African Open Science Platform (AOSP) will not only encourage more collaboration among researchers in addressing the SDGs, but it will also benefit the many stakeholders identified as part of the pilot phase. The time is now, for governments in Africa, to acknowledge the important role of science in general, but specifically Open Science and Open Data, through developing and aligning the relevant policies, investing in an ICT infrastructure conducive for data sharing through committing funding to making NRENs financially sustainable, incentivising open research practices by scientists, and creating opportunities for more scientists and stakeholders across all disciplines to be trained in data management.