Multiobjective optimisation method for life-cycle design of mechanical products

Manufacturing that minimises the exhaustion of natural resources, energy used and deleterious environmental impact is increasingly demanded by societies that seek to protect global environments as much as possible. To achieve this, life-cycle design (LCD) is an essential component of product design scenarios; however, LCD approaches have not been well integrated in optimal design methods that support quantitative decision-making. This study presents a method that yields quantitative solutions through optimisation analysis of a basic product design incorporating life-cycle considerations. We consider two types of optimisation approaches that have different aims, namely, (1) to reduce the use of raw materials and energy consumption and (2) to facilitate the reuse of the product or its parts when it reaches the end of its useful life. We also focus on how the optimisation results differ according to the approach used, from the viewpoint of the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycling). Our method obtains optimum solutions by evaluating objectives fitted to each of these two optimisation approaches with respect to the product's life-cycle stages, which are manufacturing, use, maintenance, disposal, reuse and recycling. As an applied example, a simple linear robot model is presented, and Pareto optimum solutions are obtained for the multiobjective optimisation problem whose evaluated objectives are the operating accuracy of the robot and the different life-cycle costs for the two approaches. The characteristics of the evaluated objectives and design variables, as well as the effects of using material characteristics as design parameters, are also examined.     

Review and future of active disassembly

Disassembly has been widely accepted as a disadvantageous end-of-life activity, but with increasing pressures from directives, such as waste on electrical and electronic equipment, and with increasing pressures to become sustainable disassembly is becoming necessary. Current disassembly methods, including both manual and automated disassembly, need improvements to meet this necessity. This paper will introduce the improvements needed and suggest through literature the validity of active disassembly (AD) to provide these improvements. Past and current research will also be considered to provide a future path for AD. This future path for AD will consider a collaborative effort to solve problems with materials, environmental triggers and costs seen with AD.     

Beyond behaviour change: technological artefacts and characterological development

Addressing the root causes of (un)sustainability entails fundamentally changing our ways of living. This requires going beyond technology and behaviour-oriented approaches common under the umbrella of sustainable development (SD). More fundamental change is required to increase the possibility of realizing ecological and psychological well-being. Here, such change is conceptualized as ‘characterological change’. Next to SD another domain is introduced: characterological development (CD). The potential role of design-interventions in CD is explored in this article. Two studies were conducted, a literature study and experts interviews, covering the fields of Design for Sustainable Behaviour, Persuasive Technology, Practice-Oriented Design and Philosophy of Technology. The literature study shows that current research and interventions predominantly fall within the domain of SD, leaving character and related notions largely unaddressed. The expert interviews (n = 10) show a consensus that (design) research concerning the relation between technological artefacts and human character would be valuable. Research challenges and opportunities for design towards ‘living the good life within ecological means’ are discussed.     

浅析国外军用组合机柜环境设计

本文主要介绍了一款海外军用组合机柜,它的结构和电气设计在可靠性方面具有突出的优点,具体在环境设计方面采用的技术值得我们借鉴.     

石化企业平面布局安全设计中事故场景的选择研究

基于安全性能思想的设计方法是石化行业平面布局安全设计的一个重要发展方向,文章对这种设计方法中目前存在的主要不确定因素——事故场景的选择问题进行了研究。对《石油化工企业设计防火规范》等指令性规范中各级别平面布局安全设计的依据进行了统计分析,给出了各级别布局设计中主要的安全考虑和大致的安全间距范围,并对目前安全考虑中存在的模糊性进行了分析,给出了导致其存在的原因主要为＂事故场景考虑不同＂和＂‘相互影响’的含义不同＂;由此,结合事故伤害理论,对石化行业常见的9种19类常见事故场景的后果分析估算,得到了各事故场景对目标设施造成不同程度＂影响＂的范围,并以之为依据,分析给出了各级别布局安全设计中适合考虑的事故场景及适当的安全设计目标。     

基于Web的安全评价辅助系统的研究

随着我国经济的迅速发展,安全生产的问题在国民经济中的地位越来越重要,安全评价工作正在各个行业开展。目前,对系统安全状况的评价主要通过人工方式,其主要缺点有评价数据精度不高、评价速度慢、评价操作复杂等。本文设计了一个适合政府部门和企业的安全评价辅助系统。将计算机技术应用于安全评价过程中,较好的克服了人工方式的缺点,并能将评价信息及时完整的反馈给安全工作者。该系统运用MicrosoftSQLServer2000和．NET技术,构建了基于B／S／D／C结构的安全评价辅助系统平台,实现了安全评价报告的撰写等功能。其具有一定的实用性,能满足一般用户对安全评价报告的撰写、快速浏览添加以及统计管理等功能。     

某雷达操控台环境工程及可靠性设计

本文主要介绍和分析了某雷达操控台环境工程设计及可靠性技术,根据该雷达的特点及各组成设备,对操控台进行了热环境设计、可靠性、维修性设计、人机工程及电磁兼容设计等,设计分析表明,该雷达操控台能够满足雷达使用要求.     

电袋复合除尘器的设计要点及工程应用

电袋复合除尘器是近年来发展起来的一种新的除尘技术,是在结合电除尘器和袋除尘器这两种传统的高效除尘技术的基础之上发展而来的。本文重点讨论了电袋复合除尘器设计过程中应重点关注的设计要点,并通过成功应用的改造工程实例,介绍了其改造过程和改造效果。     

机器人在人机交互过程中的安全性研究进展

为全面准确地掌握人机交互作业过程中人与机器人在安全性方面的研究进展,把提高机器人安全性的策略归纳为3种方法,分别称为事前预防主动控制、关节柔顺设计和用黏弹性材料包裹连杆,阐述了每种方法评价机器人安全性的主要性能指标。通过对比各种实现方法的设计思想和结构组成方案,总结出各种方法的优缺点和存在的主要问题。事前控制的关键在于信息的全面性和控制的实时性;事后控制方法的主要问题则只能在一定程度上减缓撞击的伤害程度,而无法从根本上保证人的安全性。结果表明,到目前为止仅靠单一手段和方法还不能彻底解决机器人安全性问题,要多种手段相结合,高度重视影响安全性的主客观因素,把提高机器人安全性的理念贯穿于机器人设计的各个环节。     

Effects of significant damage of flame gap surfaces in flameproof electrical apparatus on flame gap efficiency

Electrical apparatus for use in the presence of explosive gas atmospheres has to be specially designed to prevent the apparatus from igniting the gas. Flameproof design is one of several options, and one requirement is then that any holes and slits in the enclosure wall be designed to prevent a possible gas explosion inside the enclosure from being transmitted to an explosive gas cloud outside it. Current standards (IEC) require that joint surfaces have a surface roughness of <6.3 μm. Any damaged joint surface has be restored to this quality. The present investigation has demonstrated that flame gap surfaces in flameproof electrical apparatuses can suffer considerable mechanical and corrosive damage before the flame gaps no longer function satisfactorily. In some cases very significant mechanical surface damage in fact improves the gap performance. This indicates that current high costs of repairing and replacing flameproof electrical apparatus in process plants offshore and onshore can be reduced considerably without any increase of the explosion risk.