Probabilistic Life Cycle Assessment of the Nano Membrane Toilet

Year: 2018 Volume: 12 Issue: 3 279 - 283 Pages

• Authors:
• A. Anastasopoulou
• A. Kolios
• T. Somorin
• A. Sowale
• Y. Jiang
• B. Fidalgo
• A. Parker
• L. Williams
• M. Collins
• E. J. McAdam
• S. Tyrrel

Abstract: Developing countries are nowadays confronted with great challenges related to domestic sanitation services in view of the imminent water scarcity. Contemporary sanitation technologies established in these countries are likely to pose health risks unless waste management standards are followed properly. This paper provides a solution to sustainable sanitation with the development of an innovative toilet system, called Nano Membrane Toilet (NMT), which has been developed by Cranfield University and sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The particular technology converts human faeces into energy through gasification and provides treated wastewater from urine through membrane filtration. In order to evaluate the environmental profile of the NMT system, a deterministic life cycle assessment (LCA) has been conducted in SimaPro software employing the Ecoinvent v3.3 database. The particular study has determined the most contributory factors to the environmental footprint of the NMT system. However, as sensitivity analysis has identified certain critical operating parameters for the robustness of the LCA results, adopting a stochastic approach to the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) will comprehensively capture the input data uncertainty and enhance the credibility of the LCA outcome. For that purpose, Monte Carlo simulations, in combination with an artificial neural network (ANN) model, have been conducted for the input parameters of raw material, produced electricity, NOX emissions, amount of ash and transportation of fertilizer. The given analysis has provided the distribution and the confidence intervals of the selected impact categories and, in turn, more credible conclusions are drawn on the respective LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment) profile of NMT system. Last but not least, the specific study will also yield essential insights into the methodological framework that can be adopted in the environmental impact assessment of other complex engineering systems subject to a high level of input data uncertainty.

• Keywords:
• Sanitation systems
• nano membrane toilet
• LCA
• stochastic uncertainty analysis
• Monte Carlo Simulations
• artificial neural network.

Analysis of the Strip Shape and Microstructure with Consideration of Roll Crossing and Shifting

Year: 2016 Volume: 10 Issue: 2 312 - 319 Pages

• Authors:
• Z. Y. Jiang
• H. B. Tibar
• A. Aljabri

Abstract: Optimisation of the physical and mechanical properties of cold rolled thin strips is achieved by controlling the rolling parameters. In this paper, the factors affecting the asymmetrical cold rolling of thin low carbon steel strip have been studied at a speed ratio of 1.1 without lubricant applied. The effect of rolling parameters on the resulting microstructure was also investigated. It was found that under dry condition, work roll shifting and work roll cross angle can improve the strip profile, and the result is more significant with an increase of work roll cross angle rather than that of work roll shifting. However, there was no obvious change in microstructure. In addition, effects of rolling parameters on strip profile and microstructure have also been discussed.

• Keywords:
• Reduction ratio
• rolling speed ratio
• strip shape
• work rolls cross angle
• work roll shifting.

Effect of Rolling Parameters on Thin Strip Profile in Cold Rolling

Year: 2016 Volume: 10 Issue: 2 306 - 311 Pages

• Authors:
• H. B. Tibar
• Z. Y. Jiang

Abstract: In this study, the influence of rolling process parameters such as the work roll cross angle and work roll shifting value on the strip shape and profile of aluminum have been investigated under dry conditions at a speed ratio of 1.3 using Hille 100 experimental mill. The strip profile was found to improve significantly with increase in work roll cross angle from 0o to 1o, with an associated decrease in rolling force. The effect of roll shifting (from 0 to 8mm) was not as significant as the roll cross angle. However, an increase in work roll shifting value achieved a similar decrease in rolling force as that of work roll cross angle. The effect of work roll shifting was also found to be maximum at an optimum roll speed of 0.0986 m/s for the desired thickness. Of all these parameters, the most significant effect of the strip shape profile was observed with variation of work roll cross angle. However, the rolling force can be a significantly reduced by either increasing the the work roll cross angle or work roll shifting.

• Keywords:
• Rolling speed ratio
• strip shape
• work roll cross angle
• work roll shifting.