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Nearly all major glaciers in Greenland have reduced in size over the last two decades. An increase in the amount of ice transported from the Greenland ice sheet to the oceans is predicted following an increase in Arctic air and ocean temperatures. One of the last glaciers with a floating ice shelf and draining a substantial area of the Greenland ice sheet is the Petermann glacier in North West Greenland. With two major calving events in 2010 and 2012 the extent of its floating ice shelf was reduced to only half of that prior to 2010 and since 2016 new fractures indicate a new calving event is predicted to reduce the length of the glacier by ~14 km. Multiple studies have indicated that after the major calving event of 2012 the glacier accelerated and a new increase in the velocity, possibly linked to the next calving event, has already been observed. With every part of the glacier’s ice shelf that is lost the resistive force that holds the glacier back is reduced and the amount of ice drained to the ocean increases. Losing its entire ice shelf could lead to a significant increase in the contribution of the Petermann glacier to global sea level rise as the Petermann fjord extends inlands below sea level for nearly a hundred kilometers. This study uses ice thickness and surface elevation data combined with velocity data from different sources to analyze the current and future stability of the Petermann glacier. Ice thickness and the velocity data is used as input in a fracture model in order to investigate the different contributions of stress, thinning and an increase in the availability of surface water to the depth crevasses can reach. The areas on the glacier that show locations where crevasses penetrate deep into the ice indicate that the glacier is vulnerable to fracturing in those spots. Connected weak spots might indicate further potential for future calving events. The results derived from the thickness data and the subsequent melt rates show that near the grounding line the glacier is experiencing ...

Densification has been carried out for many years, mostly in biomass processing, animal feed production, and pharmaceutical industries. During the years, researchers and engineers attempted to improve the product quality and minimize the production costs. The most important quality parameters of solid bio-materials are the compressive strength, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, moisture adsorption, and density. Various studies used different standard and non-standard methods to characterize these quality parameters. The objective of this paper is twofold: (1) to investigate the state-of-the-art methods and devices used in the quality assessment of densified bio-materials, including a comparison between non-standard and standard methods. (2) to discuss the effect of different factors on the properties of densified bio-materials using an integrated approach. The results show a lack of standard methods for the quality assessment of bio-materials and therefore, there is an emerging need for development of dedicated standards for bio-materials. Moreover, the use of dissimilar methods and devices in the quality assessment of bio-materials gives risk to uncertainties about the effect of different factors on the product quality.

Due to the shift in electrical energy generation from thermal synchronous generators towards various renewable sources, power system stability will become a more pressing issue in the near future. In this thesis, we explore possible improvements to the dynamic grid model currently used by TenneT TSO for large-disturbance stability studies, specifically the addition of motor load, wind, solar PV and HVDC transmission modelling. Thus we pave the way for future, more in-depth research that can contribute to the development of a more sophisticated dynamic grid model for operational and planning use. Our results indicate that motor load modelling has a strong negative influence on grid dynamic performance (compared to a static representation of the same load), and that wind and PV models have a strong positive influence, but that particularly for wind models, the choice of appropriate model parameters remains a challenge. ; Electrical Engineering | Electrical Power Engineering

The presented data set consists of noise measurement and performance characteristics obtained as a part of the experimental campaign in the Open Jet Facility (OJF) at Delft University of Technology. The observations have been recorded for a typical Savonius vertical axis wind turbine. Refer to the file "setup" for further experimental campaign details.

The beginning of the 21st century is defined by geopolitical tensions around resources, an expected shortage of fossil fuel resources and the emerging climate crisis, amplifying the urgency of the transition to renewable energy sources. This energy transition has been at the forefront of public discussion, framed by the 2016 Paris Agreement and the 2019 European Green Deal. In this context, European member states must accelerate the decarbonisation of their industries and the transition to renewable energy sources. As each member state attempts to deal with this challenge, issues associated with social and spatial justice in coal-intensive European regions arise, calling for a coordinated, inclusive and collaborative plan aiming at a just transition. This thesis uses the coal intensive region of Western Macedonia as a case study and proposes the reconfiguration of the energy landscape by formulating a territorial vision, based on an analysis and the evaluation of scenario building. More specifically, it develops a series of spatial and non-spatial strategies aimed at restoring ecological integrity, diversifying the energy production, re-using heritage spaces and promoting governance collaboration and social inclusivity. By examining the vulnerabilities, potential, and opportunities present in the territory of Western Macedonia, this thesis seeks to promote the reconfiguration of Western Macedonia, embracing principles of regenerative development, adaptive re-use, participatory planning and collaborative governance. ; Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Landscape Architecture

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued on the 13th of April 2018 a press release titled: “UN body adopts climate change strategy for shipping”. [1] This document illustrates the commitment of the IMO to significantly reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) from international shipping in coming decades. However, the question arises whether the ambitious goals, set out in this press release, are feasible to be met. This aim of this thesis is to investigate the economic and technological feasibility of powering a vessel while emitting minimal greenhouse gasses in 2050. The focus will be on power plant configuration consisting of an energy storage medium and energy converter. A case study, concerning a representative ROPAX ferry built in 2050, is performed to illustrate the feasibility of using such a power plant configuration. Energy storage media considered are hydrogen, ammonia and batteries. The use of internal combustion engines, fuel cells and an ammonia reformer are also investigated. The performance of power plant configurations with respect to their estimated greenhouse gas emission, overall weight, required volume, initial investment cost and cost of the required energy per day of operation is evaluated and based on the results of this study several conclusions are drawn. • First and foremost is the need to reduce the price difference of hydrogen and ammonia compared to LNG. Without this reduction, no single synthetic fuel can be considered economically feasible. Three options to reduce the price difference are identified: - a high LNG price including high emission tax; - a low commercial electric energy price; or - synthetic fuel production using excess renewable energy. Especially the last of these three is considered to be a feasible measure due to the expected presence of excess energy from solar and wind farms. • The second conclusion is that using fuel cells or batteries are the most environmentally friendly option due to the emission of N2O when using internal combustion ...

Optimization in engineering could and should be used for more than just optimizing performance of mechanisms. In a world with growing environmental pressure and increasing scarcity of materials, thinking about how we could make better use of materials becomes more and more important. This is where optimization could be used to make sure mechanism satisfy their requirements while using more sustainable materials. Mechanisms which have potential for sustainable designs, due to their monolithic nature and simplicity, are compliant mechanisms. These mechanisms however heavily rely on material properties and thus often require high quality materials.This paper defines and tests a method for optimizing compliant mechanisms for sustainable materials by minimizing the demands for the material while making sure the mechanism still fulfills its requirements. This is done using two case studies: a laparoscopic grasper with strict boundary conditions, and a larger compliant grasper with less strict boundary conditions. ; Bio-Inspired Technology ; Precision and Microsystems Engineering ; Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the air increase the global temperature since the industrial revolution. Today, there exists a great need to limit global warming, and an energy transition is vital to do so. With the upcoming changes in our energy system, bioenergy is widely discussed, resulting in a heated debate on including or excluding bioenergy in the energy transition. This study aims to identify the least controversial feedstocks out of 40 different ones and if they will help to resolve the controversies around bioenergy. Before a feedstock is deemed controversial, a background of bioenergy was established to see what role bioenergy has in today's energy system and in the future. A literature analysis identifies the role of bioenergy today. Using the 'IAMC 1.5C Scenario Explorer' hosted by IIASA the role in the future is identified. To determine the least controversial feedstocks, a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is performed. The PROMETHEE II method is used to perform the MCDA and the entropy weight method for weighting the criteria. The ranking and weighting make use of MATLAB. Since the aim is to classify feedstocks as the least controversial, the criteria are deduced from a literature analysis and represent the controversies of bioenergy. The first part of the report indicates a significant role in today's renewable energy system and a shift towards more modern bioenergy implementations like biofuels and bio-electricity. According to the scenario analysis, for the five different shared socio-economic pathways, bioenergy will be used. Besides the identification of a clear use of bioenergy in the future energy system, the scenario analysis of TFE of bioenergy indicated a shift towards modern bioenergy use. It was observed that the solid biomass use reduced and a strong increase in liquid biofuels in the transport sector will happen. These findings are in line with the predictions made by the IPCC. Also, this is in accordance with the observed growth rates and development trends found for ...

St. Elisabeth complex is located at the edge of Nieuwstad. The site includes valuable heritages such as Berkelpoort, city wall and tower from the 14th century. However St. Elisabeth building has separated these monuments from the public since 1993, and these cultural assets are not being properly maintained. Is cultural property justified by means of private use? Heritages are a national asset. Everyone has the right to learn history through heritage. Therefore, when the circumstances allow it, heritage must be shared in public. The historical elements in this complex can provide great future opportunities to Nieuwstad. In this project, I suggest a ‘Heritage garden’ as a cultural hub of the Nieuwstad. ; Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences

If Genetic Modification is to be accepted as a sustainable technological development its social, ecological and economical impacts must be understood. One important tool in determining the environmental and human risks of a technological development such as Genetical Modification (GM), is the Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). QRA can quantify the risks of a new technology, so that the society can make a choice whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Only if the risk of a new technological development is very small and acceptable, can it be sustainable. One of the main risks from GMOs is the spread of their genes through Gene Flow into wild populations causing genetic pollution and potentially ecosystem disruption. The current QRA is based on mass flow models. It does not consider the fact that law of conservation of mass does not hold for genes, which are essentially information. QRA also dos not take the imbedded open feedback loops present in life forms, i.e. the ability to self-amplify and reproduce, into consideration. Because of these shortcomings, the current risk assessment tools are probably inadequate to answer the question whether Genetic Modification is a sustainable technological development. Next to the lack of scientific knowledge about the impacts, there is a lack of societal acceptance of GM. Part of the reason for the lack of acceptance is the unacceptability of the tools for risk prediction. There is a need for a risk analysis tool that is both acceptable and able to describe key aspects of life. Agent Based Models (ABMs) are a candidate modeling framework for such a tool because they are isomorphic to living organisms. Furthemore, they are intuitive and easy to understand, forming a basis for societal acceptance. By defining evolutionary processes and plant entities in Agent terms an Agent Based Model called GeneScape has been developed. The model explicitly describes Plants as entities with states and interactions. Plants populate a geometry, the Field, through which the environment, The ...