Improving Energy Efficiency and Motion Control in Load-Carrying Applications using Self-Contained Cylinders
The work presented in this dissertation and the appended papers are devoted to replacing inefficient hydraulic linear actuation systems traditionally used in offshore load-carrying applications with more environmentally friendly solutions.
Daniel Hagen
PhD Candidate
The disputation will be held digitally, because of the Corona covid-19-situation.
Daniel Hagen of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Agder has submitted his thesis entitled «Improving Energy Efficiency and Motion Control in Load-Carrying Applications using Self-Contained Cylinders”, and will defend the thesis for the PhD-degree Wednesay 2 September 2020.
He has followed the PhD Programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science with Specialization in Mechatronics at the University of Agder.
Summary of the thesis by Daniel Hagen:
Improving Energy Efficiency and Motion Control in Load-Carrying Applications using Self-Contained Cylinders
Because of an increasing focus on environmental impact, including CO2 emissions and fluid spill pollution, inefficient hydraulic systems are being replaced by more environmentally friendly alternatives in several industries.
For instance, in some offshore applications that have multiple diesel generators continuously running to produce electricity, all hydraulic rotating actuators supplied from a central hydraulic power unit have been replaced with AC induction motors containing a variable frequency drive and gearbox.
However, hydraulic linear actuators are still needed in most load-carrying applications mainly because of their high reliability associated with external impact shocks.
Moreover, their force capacity is higher than that of their linear electromechanical counterparts.
Important drawbacks
Valve-controlled linear actuators (cylinders) supplied from a centralized hydraulic power unit are standard in offshore load-carrying applications. In addition to the advantages mentioned above of hydraulic linear actuators, they have, nevertheless, a number of important drawbacks, which include:
1) a high level of energy consumption due to significant power losses caused by flow throttling in both the pipelines and valves,
2) reduced motion performance due to the influence of load-holding valves,
3) high CO2 emissions and fuel costs related to the diesel generator that supplies electricity to the hydraulic power unit,
4) significant potential for hydraulic fluid leakage because of many leakage points,
5) demanding efforts with respect to installation and maintenance, as well as
6) costly piping due to the centralized hydraulic power supply.
Alternative technologies
The work presented in this dissertation and the appended papers are devoted to replacing inefficient hydraulic linear actuation systems traditionally used in offshore load-carrying applications with more environmentally friendly solutions.
Two alternative technologies are identified, namely electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic self-contained cylinders.
The feasibility of replacing conventional valve-controlled cylinders with self-contained cylinder concepts is investigated in two relevant case studies.
Lastly, an additional survey is carried out to identify and review the commercially available and published literature on design methods that could have the potential to automate the design of actuation systems.
This dissertation presents the challenges and requirements identified concerning a proposed framework that must be solved in order to realize a viable computerized tool for automating the design of actuation systems.
Disputation facts
The Candidate: Daniel Hagen (1988, Lyngdal). Craft certificate as an automatic mechanic (2009), Bachelors degree (UiA, 2012) and Masters degree in Mechatronics (double degree programme (diploma) between UiA and Fachhochschule Vorarlberg in Austria, 2014). Employed as a technical support and service engineer in Cameron Sense AS (2014-2016).
The trial lecture and the public defence will take place online, via the Zoom conferencing app (link below)
Professor Henrik Kofoed Nielsen, Department of Engineering Sciences, UiA, will chair the disputation.
The trial lecture at 10:15 hours
Public defence at 12:15 hours
Given topic for trial lecture:“Energy saving techniques in heavy mobile machinery applications”
Thesis Title: «Improving Energy Efficiency and Motion Control in Load-Carrying Applications using Self-Contained Cylinders”
Search for the thesis in AURA - Agder University Research Archive, a digital archive of scientific papers, theses and dissertations from the academic staff and students at the University of Agder.
Opponents:
First opponent: Professor Rudolf Scheidl, Institute of Machine Design and Hydraulic Drives, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
Second opponent: Assistant Professor (D.Sc) Tatiana Minav, Tampere University, Finland
Associate Professor Souman Rudra, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, is appointed as the administrator for the assessment commitee.
Supervisors were Associate Professor Martin Marie Hubert Choux, Department of Engineering Sciences, UiA (main supervisor) Associate Professor Damiano Padovani, Department of Engineering Sciences, UiA, Associate Professor Morten Kjeld Ebbesen, Department of Engineering Sciences, UiA and Professor Torben Ole Andersen, Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark (co-supervisors)
What to do as an audience member:
The disputation is open to the public, but to follow the trial lecture and the public defence you have to click in as an audience member.
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Opponent ex auditorio:
The chair invites members of the public to pose questions ex auditorio in the introduction to the public defense, with deadlines. Questions can be submitted to the chair, Professor Henrik Kofoed Nielsen, on e-mail henrik.kofoed.nielsen@uia.no
The thesis is available i AURA: https://uia.brage.unit.no/uia-xmlui/handle/11250/2673158