Engineering Commons^™

Hybrid-Cooled Data Center Server Layout Optimization For Air-Side Heat Recovery, Assel Sakanova, Sajad Alimohammadi, Jaakko Mcevody, Tim Persoons

Conference Papers

The rapid increase in energy demand for data center requires improved cooling techniques. This study investigates, numerically and experimentally, the energy efficiency optimization based on server level air flows and also identifies the potential for waste heat recovery from the air stream for a hybrid air/liquid cooled server. Multi-objective genetic algorithm and entropy generation minimization are chosen as tools to address the multiple objectives involved in the problem and examine the cooling performance and waste heat recovery potential. Selected experimental measurements have successfully validated the CFD simulation model.

Benchmarking The Application Of Detached Eddy Simulation Techniques In Data Center Server Flow Modelling Using Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry, Sajad Alimohammadi, Jaakko Mcevody, Yan Delauré, Tim Persoons

Conference Papers

The evolution and new trends in low-cost cloud computing services and growing data analysis loads on data centers keep increasing the power density of the servers as well as the global electricity consumption of data centers. The server component arrangement is mainly bounded by compactness of the device and can be somewhat overlooked. Both optical visualization and computational simulation techniques can be utilized to quantify complex turbulent flow fields inside the servers, and thus optimize thermal flows. The primary stage of a comprehensive research to enhance data center server cooling performance and energy efficiency is reported on here. A full-scale …

Eurasian Rail Freight In The One Belt One Road Era, Hans-Joachim Schramm, Xu Zhang

Conference Papers

This paper presents an overview of the recent development of Eurasian rail freight in the One Belt, One Road Era and further evaluates its service quality in terms of transit times and transport costs compared to other transport modes in containerised supply chains between Europe and China. A trade-off model of transit time and transport costs based on quantitative data from primary as well as secondary sources is developed to demonstrate the market niche for Eurasian rail freight vis-a-vis the more established modes of transport of sea, air, and sea/air. In a scenario analysis, further goods attributes influencing modal choice …

An Overview On The Irish Breweries And Distilleries Potential For Generating Bioenergy Through The Anaerobic Digestion Of The Wastewater, Camila D' Bastiani, Anthony Reynolds Dr., David Kennedy Prof.

Conference Papers

This work presents an overview on the potential for generating bioenergy through the anaerobic digestion of the Irish breweries and whiskey distilleries effluents. The results showed that it would be possible to generate 28,210,958 Nm3/year of biogas or 154,846 MWh of thermal heat with 110,715 tonnes of CO2 savings in a year. The electricity generation potential and CO2 savings were also calculated. It was possible to conclude that the anaerobic digestion of the wastewater from the brewery and distillery industries stand out as a feasible option to increase the share of renewable energies in Ireland.

Identification Of Unique Features And Exploration Of Leap Motion Controller For Detecting Hand Hygiene Stages, Rashmi Bakshi, Jane Courtney, Damon Berry, Graham Gavin

Conference Papers

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are contracted by the patients during the hospital stay. Antibiotic resistant microbes are the major cause and spread due to the contaminated medical equipment, crowded hospitals, frequent transfer of patients from one unit to another and poor hand hygiene. [1] In high income countries, approximately 30% of patients in intensive care units are affected by at least one HAI. [2] Hand hygiene is identified as a measure to prevent cross-transmission and to reduce the rate of HAI. [3] Technology is now used as a means of assessing hand hygiene compliance. Current approaches involve the use of …

Vegetation Mapping Of A Coastal Dune Complex Using Multispectral Imagery Acquired From An Unmanned Aerial System, C. Suo, Eugene Mcgovern, Alan Gilmer

Conference Papers

Vegetation mapping, identifying the distribution of plant species, is important for analysing vegetation dynamics, quantifying spatial patterns of vegetation evolution, analysing the effects of environment changes on vegetation, and predicting spatial patterns of species diversity. Such analysis can contribute to the development of targeted land management actions that maintain biodiversity and ecological functions. This paper represents a methodology for 3D vegetation mapping of a coastal dune complex using a multispectral camera mounted on an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) with particular reference to the Buckroney dune complex in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. UAS, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) or drones, …

“Woodlands” - A Virtual Reality Serious Game Supporting Learning Of Practical Road Safety Skills., Krzysztof Szczurowski, Matt Smith

Conference Papers

In developed societies road safety skills are taught early and often practiced under the supervision of a parent, providing children with a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge. At some point children will attempt to cross a road unsupervised, at that point in time their safety depends on the effectiveness of their road safety education. To date, various attempts to supplement road safety education with technology were made. Most common approach focus on addressing declarative knowledge, by delivering road safety theory in an engaging fashion. Apart from expanding on text based resources to include instructional videos and animations, some stakeholders …

A Coated Spherical Micro-Resonator For Measurement Of Water Vapor Concentration At Ppm Levels In Very Low Humidity Environments, Arun Mallik, Gerald Farrell, Dejun Liu, Vishnu Kavungal, Qiang Wu, Yuliya Semenova

Conference Papers

This paper presents a novel approach to measurements of low relative humidity (RH) values based on the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) effect in a small silica microsphere coated with a thin layer of Agarose hydrogel. The light from a narrow-linewidth tunable laser with a few GHz tuning range is launched into an adiabatic tapered fiber, which excites WGMs in the Agarose layer via evanescent coupling. Adsorption and desorption of water vapor by the Agarose layer in response to changes in ambient humidity lead to changes in the layer’s refractive index, which in turn leads to a spectral shift of the …

Cost Benefit Evaluation Of Maintenance Options For Aging Equipment Using Monetised Risk Values: A Practical Application, Maria Chiara Leva, G. Baldissone, R. Caso, M. Demichela, L. Lawlor, B. Mcaleer

Conference Papers

With constant pressure to reduce maintenance costs as well as short-term budget constraints in a changing market environment, asset managers are compelled to continue operating aging assets while deferring maintenance and investment. The scope of the paper is to get an overview of the methods used to evaluate risks and opportunities for deferred maintenance interventions on aging equipment, and underline the importance to include monetised risk considerations and timeline considerations, to evaluate different scenarios connected with the possible options. Monetised risk values offer the opportunity to support risk-based decision-making using the data collected from the field. The paper presents examples …

Perspectives On Designing For A Sustainable Future; Products For The Developed And Developing Worlds, Pearl O'Rourke, Colm O'Kane, Keith Colton

Conference Papers

The aim of a sustainable product solution is to fulfil a user need while creating a net positive sustainable impact - environmentally, socially and economically [1]. The concept of sustainability can be complex for a product design student to come to terms with, since the creation of new physical products consumes the Earth’s scarce natural resources [2]. So, should we ideally have no new products in the future? More likely, we should hope to have more sustainably aware product designers, working for companies that need to - due to regulations or consumer preferences - produce and provide more sustainable product …

Task Complexity, And Operators’ Capabilities As Predictor Of Human Error: Modeling Framework And An Example Of Application, Maria Chiara Leva, Alberto Caimo, R. Duane, Micaela Demichela, Lorenzo Comberti

Conference Papers

This paper presents the initial framework adopted to assess human error in assembly tasks at a large manufacturing company in Ireland. The model to characterize and predict human error presented in this paper is linked conceptually to the model introduced by Rasch (1980), where the probability of a specified outcome is modelled as a logistic function of the difference between the person capacity and item difficulty. The model needs to be modified to take into account an outcome that is not dichotomous and feed into the interaction between two macro factors: (a) Task complexity: that sum-marises all factors contributing to …

From The Workshop To The Classroom - Examining Apprentice Perceptions, Anne Marie Mccarrick, Audrey Mccann, Odran Reid

Conference Papers

From the Workplace to the Classroom – Examining Apprentice Perceptions

The Irish government has reiterated its commitment to apprenticeships and how these form a central plank of the Further Education and Training Strategy. One of the main goals of the Action Plan for Education is to ‘create a greater diversity of learning opportunities beyond school’. Indeed, an increase of 19% in apprenticeship registrations took place between 2015 and 2016, and it is planned that this will grow by more than 30% by the year 2020.

This paper aims to identify both positive and negative perceptions of apprentices’ experiences as they …

A Comparative Study Of Chisel For Fpga Design, Paul Lennon, Richard Gahan

Conference Papers

This paper presents the results of a comparative study conducted into designing with the Chisel hardware construction language against the Verilog hardware description language across a range of standard-library and bespoke FPGA design components including an N-bit FIFO, a round-robin arbiter and a complex, scalable arbiter. Comparison metrics such as maximum operating frequency, silicon area, design flow run-time, source-code density and maintainability, simulation run-time and speed of coding are employed to evaluate the merits of designing with Chisel. Each component is implemented with a deep low-level hardware understanding with an aim to evaluate the merits of designing with Chisel from …

Validation Of Low-Cost Wireless Eeg System For Measuring Event-Related Potentials, Yongxiang Wang, Zhengwei Wang, William Clifford, Charles Markham, Tomas Ward, Catherine Deegan

Conference Papers

This study used the traditional P300 speller paradigm to compare a medical grade Electroencephalography (EEG) system, the G.Tec, with a consumer grade EEG system, the Emotiv, in the detection of P300 components within Event Related Potential (ERP) signals. The experiment focused on four electrodes known to produce optically induced visual evoked potential. A successful comparison of the two approaches was made. It was shown that both systems could measure an ERP. The paper concludes with discussion comparing the low-cost wireless EEG system with the medical grade EEG system.

Miniaturized Switchless Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna Utilizing Spherical Modes Analysis, Adam Narbudowicz, Max Ammann, Nicola Marchetti

Conference Papers

The paper proposes an electrically small pattern reconfigurable antenna, which allows flexible beamforming with the antenna diameter being ?/5. The antenna has 3 ports, each designed to radiate a different spherical mode. By applying appropriate phase shift the antenna allows to flexibly sweep its bi-directional radiation pattern across a 360° azimuth, while offering 5 dBi directivity.

Fundamental Efficiency Limit Of Passive Non-Magnetic Self-Interference Suppression In Full-Duplex Radios, Adam Narbudowicz, Giuseppe Ruvio, Max Ammann, Nicola Marchetti

Conference Papers

Passive non-magnetic self-interference suppression circuits are currently used as first stages of complex full-duplex radio systems that allow simultaneous reception and transmission within the same channel. This paper introduces the upper efficiency limit for such circuitry. It is demonstrated that for these devices it is not feasible to have simultaneously high efficiency, good transmitter-to-receiver isolation and same propagation channel for transmission and reception. More specifically, the maximum efficiency for most typical case cannot exceed 50% if good isolation is obtained.

Computer Aided Drawing Software Delivered Through Emotional Learning. The Use Of Emoticons And Gifs As A Tool For Increasing Student Engagement., Matteo Zallio, Damon Berry

Conference Papers

It is known that one of the key factors for many manufacturing companies, who are involved in the design and development process, is represented by the quality of the skills, capacity and experience of computer-aided design draftsman and designers. This means that effective, up-to-date and engaging training has to be performed by teachers and instructors, since the early stage lectures for novice engineering students. When learners are engaged and actively participate in the training process, then this transfers in to a high, deep level of learning, quality of the learnt topics and perceived passion. The following question arises, “how can …

A Lightweight Classification Algorithm For Human Activity Recognition In Outdoor Spaces, Graham Mccalmont, Huiru Zheng, Haiying Wang, S. I. Mcclean, Matteo Zallio, Damon Berry

Conference Papers

The aim of this paper is to discuss the development of a lightweight classification algorithm for human activity recognition in a defined setting. Current techniques to analyse data such as machine learning are often very resource intensive meaning they can only be implemented on machines or devices that have large amounts of storage or processing power. The lightweight algorithm uses Euclidean distance to measure the difference between two points and predict the class of new records.

The results of the algorithm are largely positive achieving accuracy of 100% when classifying records taken from the same sensor position and accuracy of …

Capacity Analysis - An Explanatory Framework For Social Innovation In Sustainable Development Initiatives, Gerard Doyle

Conference Papers

The member states of the European Union (EU) are encountering a crisis in terms of resource availability, use and disposal of products (Miller, 2014, and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2011). Within the EU, material recycling and waste-based energy recovery secures approximately 5 per cent of the original raw material value (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2015). Arising from current high levels of personal consumption and disposal, resources in Ireland are being depleted at an unsustainable rate (Doyle & Davies, 2013). Within the EU, each person consumes, on average,13.3 tonnes(t) of materials annually (EC, 2015a). Much of this is being discarded, with an average …

Macro, Meso And Micro Perspectives Of Technology Transfer, James A. Cunningham, Paul O'Reilly

Conference Papers

Over the last few decades research into the different aspects of technology transfer has grown significantly that has taken in the main a macro perspective. This research has created a body of knowledge and an evidence base that has contributed original insights in developing the field and also has shaped policymaking and practice. Within the field there is a growing focus on meso and micro aspects of technology transfer and a growing interest in for example role individual actors such as scientists, principal investigators policy makers, TTO actors, supporting institutions and functions such as universities, professional research organizations, technology and …