Stéphane Negny

Design of bioethanol green supply chain: Comparison between first and second generation biomass concerning economic, environmental and social criteria

Abstract This contribution addresses the optimal design of the biomass supply chain as it is crucial to ensure long term viability of such a project. This work is focused on the multi objective optimization by considering all the dimension of the sustainable development, namely economic, environmental, and social. The environmental dimension is quantified through life cycle assessment, and more particularly the Ecocosts method. The social aspect is measured through two indicators: the competition between energy and food, and the total number of local accrued jobs. For the latter a new method based on financial accounting analysis is proposed to estimate the direct, indirect and induced jobs created. Once the superstructure described, the optimization problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear program (MILP) that accounts for biomass seasonality, geographical availability, biomass degradation, process conversion technologies and final product demand. The output results of the model propose the optimal network design, facilities location, process selection and inventory policy. Since multiple conflicting objectives are involved when optimizing the sustainability of the biomass supply chain and the binary variables have an important influence on the resolution, the MILP problem is solved with the goal programming method to reach the trade-off. The approach is illustrated through a bioethanol supply chain case study in France, for the comparison between agricultural and forest residues biomass.

Collaborative simulation and scientific big data analysis: Illustration for sustainability in natural hazards management and chemical process engineering

Classical approaches for remote visualization and collaboration used in Computer-Aided Design and Engineering (CAD/E) applications are no longer appropriate due to the increasing amount of data generated, especially using standard networks. We introduce a lightweight and computing platform for scientific simulation, collaboration in engineering, 3D visualization and big data management. This ICT based platform provides scientists an easy-to-integrate generic tool, thus enabling worldwide collaboration and remote processing for any kind of data. The service-oriented architecture is based on the cloud computing paradigm and relies on standard internet technologies to be efficient on a large panel of networks and clients. In this paper, we discuss the need of innovations in (i) pre and post processing visualization services, (ii) 3D large scientific data set scalable compression and transmission methods, (iii) collaborative virtual environments, and (iv) collaboration in multi-domains of CAD/E. We propose our open platform for collaborative simulation and scientific big data analysis. This platform is now available as an open project with all core components licensed under LGPL V2.1. We provide two examples of usage of the platform in CAD/E for sustainability engineering from one academic application and one industrial case study. Firstly, we consider chemical process engineering showing the development of a domain specific service. With the rise of global warming issues and with growing importance granted to sustainable development, chemical process engineering has turned to think more and more environmentally. Indeed, the chemical engineer has now taken into account not only the engineering and economic criteria of the process, but also its environmental and social performances. Secondly, an example of natural hazards management illustrates the efficiency of our approach for remote collaboration that involves big data exchange and analysis between distant locations. Finally we underline the platform benefits and we open our platform through next activities in innovation techniques and inventive design.

Study of a laminar falling film flowing over a wavy wall column: Part I. Numerical investigation of the flow pattern and the coupled heat and mass transfer

Abstract Flow pattern and heat and mass transfer characteristics for a film flowing over a vertical wavy column are numerically investigated in a laminar flow regime. In our approach, the heat and mass transfer coefficients are avoided in order to include hydrodynamics directly in the heat and mass transfer rates. As a consequence the numerical model is decomposed into two steps. Firstly, the flow pattern for a film with a free interface is developed. Secondly, heat and mass transfer are investigated with the incorporation of velocity fields. The heat and mass transfer coefficients increase in laminar flow.

Eco-innovative design method for process engineering

Due to the environmental issues, innovation is one way to challenge eco-friendly technologies, create new process options which are needed to meet the increasing demands for sustainable production. To accelerate and improve eco-innovative design, there is a need for the computer aided eco-innovation tools to support engineers in the preliminary design phase. Currently, several computer aided innovation tools with a clear focus on specific innovation tasks exist but very few of them deal with the eco-innovation issues. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to present the development of a computer aided model based preliminary design methodology focused on technological eco-innovation for chemical engineering. This methodology is based on modified tools of the structured TRIZ theory. The general systematic framework gives the same level of importance, to the technological and environmental requirements during the conceptual design phase. Integrating environment oriented design approach at the earliest, in the design phase, is essential for product effectiveness and future development. The methodology employs a decomposition based solution approach in hierarchical steps by analysing the problem faced, formulation of the problem and the generation of possible and feasible ideas. At each step, various methods and tools will be needed. In this paper some existing tools are adapted to chemical engineering and some tools of the structured TRIZ theory are modified and improved to build a specific methodology oriented towards the increasing technological complexity and environmental issues of current designs. Undoubtedly, the selection of materials and substances for a particular generated concept, mainly affects the structure, mechanical factors (processability and dimensions) and the environmental impact. In order to deal with these environmental criteria, the resources and their impacts are considered in the upstream phase of the design process and are introduced as constraints in our model. To highlight its capabilities, the methodology is illustrated through a case study dedicated to tars and ashes issues in biomass gasification.

Study of a laminar falling film flowing over a wavy wall column: Part II. Experimental validation of hydrodynamic model

Abstract The interface position of a film flowing over a wavy wall column is experimentally studied by an optical method composed of a charge coupled device (CCD) video camera. The results are compared with theoretical calculations and show a good agreement between results for both the film thickness and the vortex position. However, there exist some discrepancies because the interface is travelled by waves not accounted for in the mathematical model as it is supposed to be flat. Some characteristics of the waves are experimentally noted. Furthermore, the influence of the viscosity on the film thickness is established as well.

Improvement of online adaptation knowledge acquisition and reuse in case-based reasoning

Despite various publications in the area during the last few years, the adaptation step is still a crucial phase for a relevant and reasonable Case Based Reasoning system. Furthermore, the online acquisition of the new adaptation knowledge is of particular interest as it enables the progressive improvement of the system while reducing the knowledge engineering effort without constraints for the expert. Therefore this paper presents a new interactive method for adaptation knowledge elicitation, acquisition and reuse, thanks to a modification of the traditional CBR cycle. Moreover to improve adaptation knowledge reuse, a test procedure is also implemented to help the user in the adaptation step and its diagnosis during adaptation failure. A study on the quality and usefulness of the new knowledge acquired is also driven.As our Knowledge Based Systems (KBS) is more focused on preliminary design, and more particularly in the field of process engineering, we need to unify in the same method two types of knowledge: contextual and general. To realize this, this article proposes the integration of the Constraint Satisfaction Problem (based on general knowledge) approach into the Case Based Reasoning (based on contextual knowledge) process to improve the case representation and the adaptation of past experiences. To highlight its capability, the proposed approach is illustrated through a case study dedicated to the design of an industrial mixing device.

Using the Collective Intelligence for inventive problem solving

We propose a conceptual framework for Open Computer Aided Innovation.Inbound open innovation is enhanced with a systematic approach for creativity.Incorporation of the logical TRIZ approach to crowdsourcing services.Gathering Collective Intelligence from participants in inventive problem resolution. In the industrial context, an interest exists in the collective resolution of creative problems during the conceptual design phase. In this work we introduce an information-based software framework useful to collaborate for inventive problems solving. This framework proposes the implementation of techniques from the Collective Intelligence (CI) research field in combination with the systematic methods provided by the TRIZ theory. Both approaches are centered in the human aspect of the innovation process, and are complementary. While CI focuses on the intelligent behavior that emerges in collaborative work, the TRIZ theory is centered in the individual capacity to solve problems systematically. The frameworks objective is to improve the individual creativity provided by the TRIZ method and tools, with the value created by the collective contributions. This work aims to contribute formulating the basis to extend the research field of Computer Aided Innovation, to the next evolutionary step called Open CAI 2.0.

Simulation of velocity fields in a falling film with a free interface flowing over a wavy surface

A numerical model has been developed in order to simulate the flow behavior of a falling film over a wavy surface. The particularity of this model resides in the flow field which contains a mobile gas-liquid interface. This free interface induces a variable thickness in the film due to the vortex. After having written the equations, made a change of variables in space and discretised, we solve the non linear system of equations by a Newton type method. Our work is limited to steady flow. We study hydrodynamics, wall shear stress and thickness for various Reynolds numbers and various geometry. In this report we present the results for water.

Case-Based Reasoning system for mathematical modelling options and resolution methods for production scheduling problems

CBR case base filling and the retrieval of relevant past cases to solve new problem.Methods of bibliographic analysis to dynamically examine the scheduling topics.CBR similarity issues.Adaptability criteria to extract relevant past cases during the retrieval step.Industrial case study on beer production. Thanks to a wide and dynamic research community on short term production scheduling, a large number of modelling options and solving methods have been developed in the recent years both in chemical production and manufacturing domains. This trend is expected to grow in the future as the number of publications is constantly increasing because of industrial interest in the current economic context. The frame of this work is the development of a decision-support system to work out an assignment strategy between scheduling problems, mathematical modelling options and appropriate solving methods. The system must answer the question about which model and which solution method should be applied to solve a new scheduling problem in the most convenient way. The decision-support system is to be built on the foundations of Case Based Reasoning (CBR). CBR is based on a data base which encompasses previously successful experiences. The three major contributions of this paper are: (i) the proposition of an extended and a more exhaustive classification and notation scheme in order to obtain an efficient scheduling case representation (based on previous ones), (ii) a method for bibliographic analysis used to perform a deep study to fill the case base on the one hand, and to examine the topics the more or the less examined in the scheduling domain and their evolution over time on the other hand, and (iii) the proposition of criteria to extract relevant past experiences during the retrieval step of the CBR. The capabilities of our decision support system are illustrated through a case study with typical constraints related to process engineering production in beer industry.

Management of innovation and process systems engineering

In this paper, Innovation on technological point of view will be explored. Some tracks for helping for innovative aspects as well as the role of PSE and CAPE methodologies will be analyzed. Some new directions will be proposed as well as some examples of success will be enlighted.