Engineering Commons^™

Environmental Management Of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Weee) In Ireland, Simon Wilkinson

Theses

This thesis follows two previous studies by the Author on the calculation of theoretical WEEE arisings, and an assessment of ecodesign practices in Ireland. It has established collection trials in five different locations throughout Ireland in order to characterise and quantify WEEE arisings, and to examine outlets for collected WEEE. Overall, during the twelve months of collection at the project locations, more than 450 tonnes of WEEE was collected from the public and recycled. Within the catchments of each facility, collection rates of between 2.1 and 3.5 kg/person/year were achieved during the twelve-month trial period. With further public awareness raising …

Analytical And Fea Analysis Of Silicon Micro-Machined Capacitive Pressure Sensor, Eoghan O'Donoghue

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the electro-mechanical characterisation of MEMS capacitive pressure sensors and the determination of models to describe their behaviour.

The finite element software package ANSYS is validated as a tool for the examination of the electro-mechanical behaviour of capacitive pressure sensors. It is then used to incorporate the effects of applied load, voltage and residual stress into a model of the sensor structure. The capacitive pressure sensor is modelled both in 3D and also in 2D axis-symmetric modes. The error between the 2D and 3D models is quantified.

The behaviour of structures under electrostatic actuation is investigated. …

Finite Element Analysis And Testing Of An Inkjet Cartridge Die, Dylan Ryan

Theses

This project investigates the application of finite element and experimental analysis in the design and testing of silicon based semiconductor components. In a thermal inkjet printer the ink cartridge contains a print head (or die), the head fires numerous droplets simultaneously to form pixels and letters. The inkjet cartridge die consists of a thin film layer, containing the integrated circuits that make up the thennal inkjets, mounted on a polysilicon substrate structure.

A number of incremental changes to the design and manufacturing processes related to the manufacture of these inkjet cartridge dies is made. In past instances when changes were …

The Behaviour Of Long-Span Reinforced Concrete Beams Under Various Loading Conditions., Ciaran O'Leary

Theses

The relative ease of design and construction of simple reinforced concrete beams provides an attractive option for structural engineering designers. However, where longer spans are involved it is more likely that prestressed concrete or possibly some form of steel beams will be preferred.

The primary cause of failure of longer span reinforced concrete beams is likely to be bending. However, the excessive deflection that might be associated with such beams must also be considered. When designing these beams, structural engineers make considerable use of span/effective depth ratios to select trial sections and check deflection limits. Such ratios are provided in …

Thermal Assessment Of Silicon-Based Composite Materials Used In Photovoltaics, Pavlos K. Bataglannis

Theses

Photovoltaics are devices that convert sunlight directly to electricity. It is well established that the conversion efficiency of mono and poly-crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic modules is inversely related to their temperature. Substantial improvements in operational performance can thus be achieved if the thermal energy accumulating in the material can be effectively dissipated.

Accurate modelling of modules would allow possible methods of thermal dissipation to be evaluated, and as a crucial component of the model, the thermal properties of the constituent materials of PV modules needed to be known. Special consideration needed to be given to the interfaces between dissimilar materials and …

Design For Signal Integrity In High Frequency, High Density Circuit Boards, Juan Manuel Talavera Martinez

Theses

The electronics market is continually seeking fast and small high performance products. The clock frequency in computer systems is often above 2GHz and new generations of laptops have considerably reduced in size. These features make printed circuit board (PCB) design more difficult than in the past.

This thesis is an investigation of the current design of high speed PCB. The complexity of this type of circuit makes the designer needs an extensive knowledge of the techniques used to generate a reliable signalling, in other words, signal integrity. To achieve this objective, the design community has to overcome several problem related …

Robust Generalised Predictive Control - An Optimal Design For Uncertain Systems, Thomas O'Mahony

Theses

One of the more popular model predictive control approaches, of late, is the generalised predictive controller (GPC). It has received widespread dissemination in academia and numerous successful applications in industry testify to its usefulness. Its popularity partly stems from its superiority over its predecessors, its simplicity and its control acumen. However, since GPC is based on a mathematical model of the process, significant deterioration in performance or even closed-loop instability may arise due to the inevitable discrepancies that arise between the model and the true system. To ensure that the loop stability is not compromised and an adequate level of …

Adaptive Radio Resource Management For 2.5g Cellular Networks, Ken Murray

Theses

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in demand for mobile communication services and with the introduction of 2.5G services such as general packet radio service, this trend is expected to increase further. These new services will introduce highly dynamic tele-traffic variations due to the inherent variability in resource usage of the new data services. The net effect will be considerable increase in load on the available radio resources. The currently employed fixed channel allocation scheme lacks the flexibility to support such traffic variations. A plethora of dynamic channel allocation schemes have been proposed in the past in an effort …

Design And Analysis Of Radio Frequency Deployment Algorithms For Gsm, Mónica Pérez-Carbonell

Theses

Due to the growth of the subscriber base and the introduction of new services, mobile communications networks’ demand for wireless resources is increasing. This has resulted in an increasing need to change the frequency allocation of a network in order to adapt the cellular network to new frequency demands.

Currently, a planning tool generates a new frequency plan, which is. then deployed to cell sites. The deployment should ideally be carried out with minimum disruption to network operation, which makes this deployment process a critical undertaking as any errors during or after the deployment can leave the network with poor …

Active Noise Control Using Adaptive And Advanced Control Techniques, Michael O'Brien

Theses

The theory and application of Active Noise Control to remove irritating acoustic pollution from a variety of sources has and continues to receive significant attention from both theoreticians and practitioners.

While a classical acoustic noise problem is the rejection of acoustic tonal disturbances with the most common solution employed being the celebrated filtered-X LMS algorithm, this thesis shows that the presence of non-linearly induced harmonics at multiple frequencies of the original tone often results in poor performance of this algorithm. It is further found that the noise reduction at these problematic harmonics can be improved in a number of ways, …

Servo Response And Modelling Issues In Generalised Predictive Control, Ben Griffin

Theses

One of the more popular control strategies, of late, is the Generalised Predictive Controller (GPC). It has received widespread dissemination in academia and numerous successful applications in industry testify to its usefulness. Its popularity partly stems from its superiority to its predecessors, e.g. the generalised minimum variance and pole-placement controllers, but also from the GPC ‘tuning knobs’, which have simple time-domain interpretations and extremely robust default settings. However, despite the widespread interest, there would appear to be some issues relating to the specification of the closed-loop serv^o response that have not been covered in any great detail in the GPC …

Extensible Data Storage And Presentation Technology For An Ophthalmology Electronic Patient Record, Markus H. Heinrichs

Theses

The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) is a central element of practice systems used in ophthalmology. It acts as a repository for multi-media patient care data as well as billing information, serving healthcare providers and ultimately their patients. The aim of this thesis is to create both a data structure and a flexible on-screen representation of an EPR for an ophthalmology practice, and to provide an XML-based experimental prototype as a “proof of concept” which could ultimately be used as an replacement for an existing DOS- based solution. The medical background and requirements for this system will be described. The state-of-the-art …

Design Of Low Phase Drift Cmos Frequency Synthesisers, Cyril Patrick Hervé Florent Lahuec

Theses

This thesis presents a methodology for the development of high performance video clock synthesisers that have high (2000) input to output clock multiplication ratios. The synthesisers are required to be compatible with standard CMOS technologies and they must exhibit very low drift between their input and output clocks.

The methodology used borrows techniques established for RF synthesisers in the GHz range. In the RF domain there are significant constraints on spectral spread and because of this there has been significant interest in phase noise generated by intrinsic device noise. Simple and accurate models were developed that help understand the up …

Design And Implementation Of An Intranet-Solution Especially With Workflow Aspects, Robert Loew

Theses

An Intranet support a new or simply an easier information system for all the workers within a company using internet technology. On the one hand, employees can use Web technology and very simple tools to provide and navigate information. On the other hand, the costly and time-consuming business of installing and maintaining software on local PCs can be avoided by using Browser-based Intranet applications. Ideally, it would be possible to access all forms of information processing using one and the same Web browser. This is the aim of the Intranet Project upon which this thesis is based.

Various technologies for …

Uniform Random Number Generation Using Pseudorandom Binary Sequences, Susan Rea

Theses

Random numbers have conventionally been used in a range of applications such as numerical analysis, lotteries and computer simulation and as cryptographic keys. The algorithms used for the production of random numbers are termed pseudorandom, as the numbers produced are not truly random as they emanate from a deterministic periodic source that is they are predictable if a subset of the sequence is known. However, for most applications these pseudorandom number sources are entirely suitable.

For cryptographic key sources, however, the random number sequences must be statistically good and difficult to predict. Linear feedback shift registers are presented in this …

To Research, Analyse And Install An Optimised Maintenance Management System For A Medium Sized Manufacturing Company: A Textile Company Case Study, Christopher O'Donoghue

Theses

Modern manufacturing is continually striving to ensure that products are made to higher levels of quality with faster lead times and at the lowest possible costs. Manufacturing production has never been more reliant on machines and automated processes than it is today. This thesis investigates the management philosophies that are in existence, which cater specifically for maintenance and maintenance related issues. Management philosophies such as Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Profit Centred Maintenance (PCM), asset management (AM), Predictive Maintenance (PdM), Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and World Class Maintenance (WCM) have increased company profits by drastically reducing maintenance …

Dynamic Performance Of Isolated Power Converters, David Badia

Theses

Isolated power converters are primarily used in applications where electrical galvanic isolation is required for safety purposes. They are also used in applications, which require various output voltages level. They have been studied from many different aspects, but in this thesis the fundamental circuits of the flyback, the forward and the half-bridge converters are studied and compared extensively, with regard to their dynamic performance.

This analysis will lead us to a better understanding of their behaviour, that is a crucial point in the selection of each topology for a particular application. Moreover, the dynamic response of each converter is different; …

Analysis And Synthesis Of Primary Side Cycle By Cycle Control Of Isolated Flyback Converters, Radoslaw Nalepa

Theses

This work presents the analysis and design of an isolated flyback converter, without feedback from the load side. The converter is controlled from the primary side using the switch voltage and innovative control circuit topologies.

A detail study of the flyback circuit is undertaken including all known parasitics. Besides the standard parasitics, for example the capacitor resistive effect, other more subtle effects are included in the model development such as inter coil couplingj source capacitance etc. Development of these models has provided information about circuit simplifications without losing accuracy of the model. As a consequence of this model development, it …

The Development Of Design And Test Methodologies For Hovercraft, John Cronin

Theses

This project is concerned with the development of design and test methodologies for hovercraft.

Full-scale hovercraft field-testing is to be achieved through the dedicated re-design and re-construction of the ABl11Crossbow hovercraft. The Crossbow hovercraft is an experimental craft, which was built in England in the early seventies. The Crossbows re-design focuses on the production of a versatile craft, which is capable of modification to produce a variety of different operating conditions. The re-design and re-construction comprises several distinct areas. An improved and adjustable lift and thrust system is designed. The design and manufacture of a new more stable and versatile …

Security In Distributed Systems - A Framework For Different Application Types, Ingo Stengel

Theses

Security is a factor which decides upon the applicability of distributed applications. Therefore this thesis deals with security in distributed systems. The complexity of the existing distributed technologies makes it necessary to reduce the number of distributed technologies considered in this thesis, i.e. concentrating on: Java, Mobile Agents and CORBA, where only Java-based mobile agents will be considered.

After a short review of basic security principles including firewalls, existing security problems in the above mentioned distributed technologies are analysed. Additional generic problems in distributed systems are outlined.

Solutions are referring to two different areas: those regarding security problems with firewalls …

Enterprise Business Objects : Design And Implementation Of A Business Object Framework, Kai-Uwe Schafer

Theses

Software components representing business entities like customer or purchase order introduce a new way of Online Transaction Processing to business applications. Collaborating business objects allow to complete whole business processes as a single distributed transaction, instead of dividing it into queued steps, which sometimes even require user intervention. This IS due to the fact that business objects contain both business data and logic and that they incorporate multiple databases from different vendors and different geographic locations in a single transaction.

Business objects cannot be used as stand-alone components, but require a framework of services that manage persistence, concurrent transactions, and …

Loss Detection In The Dairy Industry., Michael Quealy

Theses

In any waste management program, the primary objective must be minimizing product loss without having an affect on product quality. Good waste management is recognized as good manufacturing practice and optimizes the processes to gain the highest possible yield from the available raw materials. A good waste management program must involve the daily monitoring of effluent from the plant for volume and strength. This data needs to be analyzed sufficiently to obtain clear pictures of what problems are present and where they are originating. If this is achieved then the task of reducing the product loss is made much easier. …

Virtual Reality Modelling Of A Cnc Machine, Damian O'Sullivan

Theses

The increasing importance of training and upgrading skills has led to the use of new interactive technologies in the development of more effective training tools. Previous techniques for training Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine operators, while excellent for their time, varied from brief inexpensive tutorials to expensive on the job training. A CNC machine uses a computer to perform the functions of the machine using a part program stored in the memory of the computer. This thesis describes a Virtual Reality (VR) model of a CNC milling machine, implemented within a VR environment representing a CNC workshop. Its development and …

An Investigation Using The Finite Element Method Into Bowing & Lean Of The 3rd Stage Turbine Blade Of The Pratt & Whitney Jt8d Gas Turbine Engine, Kevin O'Donoghue

Theses

Following a recent series of failures of overhauled third stage turbine blades in the JT8D- 15A gas turbine engine, new inspection criteria have been introduced by the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. One such inspection checks for airfoil bowing and lean. A blade will bow or lean towards the suction face of the airfoil as a result of creep during engine operation. Third stage turbine blades from the JT8D low pressure turbine have been observed with as much as two millimetres of deflection measured at mid-span. In a geometrically correct T3 blade, the tensile centrifugal load due to engine rotation …

Development Of A Geothermal Heat Pump Test Facility, Chris Collins

Theses

Current environmental concerns have led to large scale research and development in the area of alternative energy supplies. The alternative energy system of interest in this study is the heat pump. Heat pumps extract heat from a variety of sources such as air, water and the earth, upgrade and transmit it to the required location. The aim of this thesis is to develop mathematical and experimental models to evaluate the performance of a heat pump which uses the earth as its thermal source. These models will then form the basis of design aids for installers sizing closed loop collection systems …

The Electrodynamic Levitation Of A Collar : Analysis, Experimentation And Simulation, Philip Nixon

Theses

This dissertation describes various methods of maintaining a collar levitated in a vertical axis, using the well-known principle of electromagnetic induction between two circuits. The advantages of closing the magnetic loop around the collar, to obtain large radial flux cutting the collar and, therefore, large lifting forces for a given induced current, are considered in depth.

The ideal magnetic circuit and the equivalent electrical circuit are used in developing a model for two topologies of core (both an open and closed-circuit core) levitating a nonmagnetic conducting collar above a coil. Various affects that degrade the performance of the levitation rig …

An Analysis Of Printed Circuit Boards During Reflow Soldering., Paul Barry

Theses

Electronic manufacturing is currently one of the fastest growing industrial areas. This is due to the rapid advances in the computer and telecommunications sectors. Due to these advances, new surface mount devices have been developed to achieve greater miniaturisation at lower costs. As a result, a new surface mount technology has been developed to mount these devices onto printed circuit boards. However, problems exist with aspects of this process, principally open solder joints which result from circuit board warpage. The aim of this thesis is to undertake a) both an experimental and theoretical investigation of the reflow solder process and …

The Treatment Of Vegetable Processing Waste Water Using A Pilot Scale Sequencing Batch Reactor Activated Sludge Process, Peter Hassett

Theses

The SBR process is a discontinuous, unsteady state process and has developed popularity in many countries assisted by reliable control technology for example programmable logic control. A typical SBR installation achieves equalisation, aeration and clarification of batches of wastewater on a timed sequence in one basin. This is in contrast to a volume sequenced process such as the conventional continuous stirred tank reactor where individual treatment objectives are met in separate basins. Advantages include, flexability, minimum energy input, consistent effluent quality and inhibition of filament organism growth by properly controlling substrate concentration and aeration sequences. Nitrification, denitrification and Bio-P removal …

Electrical Power Dispatch To Motors Using Digital Modulating Techniques, David Michael Canny

Theses

The trend towards digital and microprocessor based control of power electronic converters has increased the level of research into digital modulating techniques. This thesis examines the inherent digital nature of Binary Rate Modulation with particular attention concentrated on its suitability for dispatching power to three-phase loads. The circuit topology of a three-level inverter is also examined and its performance aspects are compared with those of the more conventional two-level inverter.

Integral cycle Binary Rate Modulation is applied to an ac voltage controller and this method of power dispatch, which displays an optimal ac cycle positioning property, is compared with Pulse …