Benoit Stutz

Numerical and experimental analysis of falling-film exchangers used in a LiBr–H2O interseasonal heat storage system

ABSTRACT This paper investigates heat and mass transfer occurring in an interseasonal absorption heat storage system using LiBr/H2O as the sorption couple. It focuses on the poor performances of the falling film exchangers with vertical tubes, which are characterized by low flow rate compared to conventional absorption machines. A numerical model was developed for the study and validated with specific experimental results. Comparison of the numerical model to experimental results from the heat storage prototype shows the presence of abnormally high thermal resistance between the falling films and the exchanger surfaces. The deterioration in performance appears to originate in the low wetting rate of the surfaces. A new design of the exchangers is proposed to solve this problem and thus attain the desired performance.

From SCM to Eco-Industrial Park Management: Modelling Eco-Industrial Park’s Symbiosis with the SCOR Model

From a business perspective, initiatives are undertaken at both inter-company level and intra-company level to implement the concept of sustainable development. At inter-company level, Industrial Ecology uses natural ecosystems as analogies to design sustainable industrial systems such as Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs). Similarly to a Supply Chain (SC), an EIP is a community of independent businesses that cooperate with each other to efficiently share resources (materials, resources and information). However, if the SC cooperation is focused on product manufacturing, the EIP cooperation intends to reap economic gains, improvements in environmental quality and equitable enhancement of human resources that would not have been achievable individually. In the extensive and multidisciplinary body of literature studying EIP, the lack of a framework to evaluate the performance and benefits of an EIP is repeatedly discussed. Having observed similarities between SCs and EIPs, the use of Supply Chain Management tools for the description of synergies among an EIP is motivated. A model inherited from SCOR model is proposed to map this symbiosis and is demonstrated in a case study. Even if EIPs and SCs do not share the same goals, we will conclude with the relevance of using the SCOR model for EIP management.