High-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are considered as suitable components of future large-scale clean and efficient power generation systems. However, at its current stage of development some technical barriers exists which limit SOFC’s potential for rapid large-scale deployment. The present article aims at providing solutions to key technical barriers in SOFC technology. The focus is on the solutions addressing thermal resistance, fuel reforming, energy conversion efficiency, materials, design, and fuel utilisation issues.
The present paper is dedicated to the analysis of deployable tensegrity columns. The main aim of this work is to present a technique, developed by combining the finite element (FE) analysis and the multibody dynamics (MBD) simulation, which enables precise and reliable simulations of deployable structures. While the finite element model of the column provides information on structural behavior in the deployed state, the dynamical modeling allows to analyze various deployment scenarios, choose active cables for the deployment and for the self-stress application, and to control distributions of internal forces during the assembly process. An example of a deployable column based on a popular tensegrity module – a 3-strut simplex – is presented. By analyzing the proposed column with the use of the developed method it is proven that the technique is suitable for complex simulations of deployable systems.
World Class Manufacturing system consists of ten technical and ten managerial pillars.
These, impacting directly and indirectly on each other, generate the flow of internal processes. Two of the mentioned pillars, Early Product Management (EPM) and Cost Deployment
(CD) play a special role in the system, because they create a future strategic management
of a company influencing design engineering, manufacturing and economy [1, 2]. Referring
to the author’s previous publications on Early Product Management methodology [3, 4], the
role of Cost Deployment pillar in the new product launch remains an important issue. Additionally, there is a noticeable lack of publications in this specific field of the WCM system.
Therefore, a proper understanding of the relationship between these two technical pillars
is the basis for effective project management for the implementation of new products. In
this article, the correlation between EPM and CD will be highlighted whereas some critical
remarks will be indicated. The main part of the article will describe: the current approach to
project management according to the standards set by the WCM system and recommended
improvements originated from EPM and CD pillars. The quality scientific methods used in
this article are based on a case study of internal processes in an international plant specializing in agriculture machinery production and include elements of direct observation and
theoretical analysis and synthesis. This paper refers to the presented issues in practical terms
on the example of the methodology of managing of new launch product projects in terms of
cost management. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the problem of the cost
factor generated during the design phase and early implementation of the new product into
production, which will enable effective cost management of new implementation projects.
This paper presents equilibrium mechanics and a finite element model for analysing a scissor structure that contains pivots with zero bending stiffness representing structural instability. The pivot at the centre of each structural unit, which is a feature of scissor structures, can be used to transfer the displacement between the units. It cannot, however, transfer the rotation between these units, and the angular stiffness must be considered independently for each unit. To construct a general model of the scissor structure, a scissor unit was developed using the left and right boundary connections of adjacent units to simulate a periodically symmetric structure. The proposed method allows us to obtain an accurate distribution of the internal forces and deflections without the use of special elements to account for central pivots.
The Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a peer-to-peer model of sharing data among collaborating parties in a decentralized manner. An example of DLT is a blockchain where data form blocks in an append-only chain. Software architecture description usually comprises multiple views. The paper concentrates on the Deployment view of the DLT solution within the 1+5 architectural views model. The authors have proposed Unified Modeling Language (UML) extensibility mechanisms to describe the needed additional semantic notation to model deployment details. The paper covers both the network and node levels. The proposed stereotypes and tagged values have enriched UML Deployment diagram. We have gathered those modeling elements in dedicated UML Profile for Distributed Ledger Deployment. We have applied the profile to model Deployment view of a renewable energy management system that uses R3 Corda framework. The system records information about inbound and outbound energy to/from renewable energy grid.