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Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the technologies of Industry 4.0 that has been contributing to the development of different manufacturing industries. The integration of sustainability concepts into additive manufacturing has been gaining attention among researchers. This integration is essential in the development of AM technologies and can be a significant asset in terms of decision making for organizations. This work aims to present a concise literature review on the integration of decision making, especially multi-criteria decision making, and sustainability into the AM environment. The literature on this topic currently possesses a total of fifteen documents, which were analyzed in this work. Some developments on this topic have been achieved in domains such as material selection, process selection and challenges, and drivers' analysis of sustainable AM. This review shows that even though there has been an effort in recent years to integrate sustainability into additive manufacturing, there is still a long road to the development of this topic for the future, and so some recommendations for future research paths are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal Electronics titled "Recent Advanced Applications of Virtual Industrial Informatics and Robotics." The special issue focuses on the integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, the Internet of Things, automation, 5G, and robotics, in industrial production. The articles in the special issue cover topics such as industrial informatics, unmanned aerial vehicles for inventory management, stable grasping of objects using robotic hands, test-case generation technologies for electromechanical systems, trajectory planning algorithms for robotic manipulators, winding processes of carbon fiber, spectrum sensing techniques for wireless applications, defense methods against adversarial attacks on deep neural network models, and the use of virtual reality technology in combination with intelligent chatbots for customer service. The articles provide insights into the current research and applications in these areas and highlight the challenges and future trends in industrial informatics and robotics. [Extracted from the article]

Industrial Symbiosis (IS) involves a network of organizations that exchange energy, materials, and by-products to lower production costs, reduce environmental impact, and conserve natural resources. Despite over two decades of extensive research into IS, its benefits are well known, but implementation remains challenging. This paper proposes utilizing blockchain technology (BCT) to digitize IS, making it more secure and transparent. First, drivers and barriers of BCT implementation in IS are identified. A smart contract architecture framework using Hyperledger Fabric is then proposed using the constructed theoretical background and abductive method. Finally, the paper discusses how this framework supports the implementation of BCT in IS by addressing its drivers and attempting to overcome its barriers. It is a resource for those seeking a comprehensive grasp of the foundational elements necessary for constructing a successful IS blockchain design, which is adaptable to all types of IS network configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the domain of Marine Education and Training (MET), simulators have been utilized for the purpose of training seafarers in the norms for avoiding collisions or for developing the skill of ship manoeuvrability, and even the operation of machinery in the engine room, as well as for conducting research on the subject matter of ship structure, specialized vessel operation, working principle of equipment, and shipboard safety training. These tools are even more important when facing disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In MET institutions, full-mission bridge and engine room simulators have been utilized for teaching seafarers for more than a decade. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted to identify immersive and non-immersive simulator applications produced over the previous ten years to improve seafarers' experiential teaching and learning, in the maritime domain. We retrieved 27 articles using the four stages of PRISMA paradigm: Identification, Screening, Eligibility, and Inclusion. The selected papers were read and analyzed according to the training type, the area of training, and the technologies used. The utilization of immersive and non-immersive simulators in the context of the MET domain has been identified and mapped. A few research studies (9 out of 27) compared immersive and non-immersive simulator-based training with conventional training. The quality and efficacy of immersive and non-immersive simulator training at MET institutions have been studied. A model from the learner's perspective is essential and recommended for future research to assess efficiency and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing competitiveness in the automotive industry and the strict standards to which it is subject, require high quality standards. For this, quality tools such as the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) are applied to quantify the risk of potential failure modes. However, for qualitative defects with subjectivity and associated uncertainty, and the lack of specialized technicians, it revealed the inefficiency of the visual inspection process, as well as the limitations of the FMEA that is applied to it. The fuzzy set theory allows dealing with the uncertainty and subjectivity of linguistic terms and, together with the expert systems, allows modeling of the knowledge involved in tasks that require human expertise. In response to the limitations of FMEA, a fuzzy FMEA system was proposed. Integrated in the design, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) cycle, the proposed system allows the representation of expert knowledge and improves the analysis of subjective failures, hardly detected by visual inspection, compared to FMEA. The fuzzy FMEA system was tested in a real case study at an industrial manufacturing unit. The identified potential failure modes were analyzed and a fuzzy risk priority number (RPN) resulted, which was compared with the classic RPN. The main results revealed several differences between both. The main differences between fuzzy FMEA and classical FMEA come from the non-linear relationship between the variables and in the attribution of an RPN classification that assigns linguistic terms to the results, thus allowing a strengthening of the decision-making regarding the mitigation actions of the most "important" failure modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial assistive systems result from a multidisciplinary effort that integrates IoT (and Industrial IoT), Cognetics, and Artificial Intelligence. This paper evaluates the Prediction by Partial Matching algorithm as a component of an assembly assistance system that supports factory workers, by providing choices for the next manufacturing step. The evaluation of the proposed method was performed on datasets collected within an experiment involving trainees and experienced workers. The goal is to find out which method best suits the datasets in order to be integrated afterwards into our context-aware assistance system. The obtained results show that the Prediction by Partial Matching method presents a significant improvement with respect to the existing Markov predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological advances brought forth by the Industry 4.0 paradigm have renewed the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing sector, building the data-driven era on top of concepts such as Cyber–Physical Systems and the Internet of Things. However, data availability remains a major challenge for the success of these solutions, particularly concerning those based on deep learning approaches. Specifically in the quality inspection of structural adhesive applications, found commonly in the automotive domain, defect data with sufficient variety, volume and quality is generally costly, time-consuming and inefficient to obtain, jeopardizing the viability of such approaches due to data scarcity. To mitigate this, we propose a novel approach to generate synthetic training data for this application, leveraging recent breakthroughs in training generative adversarial networks with limited data to improve the performance of automated inspection methods based on deep learning, especially for imbalanced datasets. Preliminary results in a real automotive pilot cell show promise in this direction, with the approach being able to generate realistic adhesive bead images and consequently object detection models showing improved mean average precision at different thresholds when trained on the augmented dataset. For reproducibility purposes, the model weights, configurations and data encompassed in this study are made publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new network topology design method that considers all the road nodes, energy stations and load centers to ensure the distribution of pipes along the road. The traditional graph theory and Prim Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) are used to simplify the map and minimize the length of the pipeline. After analyzing the limitations of the traditional network topology model, Point-to-Point (PTP), we present a new model, Energy Station-to-Load Point (ESLP). The model is optimized by minimum cost, not the shortest path. Finally, Pipe Diameter Grading (PDG) is proposed based on ESLP by solving for the pipe diameter that gives the minimum cost under different load demands in the process of optimization. The network design method is effectively applied in a case, and the results show that the path of the optimized plan is 1.88% longer than that of the pre-optimized plan, but the cost is 2.38% lower. The sensitivity analysis shows that the cost of pipeline construction, project life and electricity price all have an impact on the optimization results, and the cost of pipeline construction is the most significant. The difference between the different classifications of pipelines affects whether PDG is effective or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new way to mitigate the current interactions is proposed. The problem of current interactions arises when a modular three-phase (3-phase) rectifier (three single-phase modules) with boost converter for power factor correction (PFC) is used. A new differential-mode choke filter is implemented in the developed boost converter. The choke here is a specially made differential inductor in the input of the boost converter that eliminates the known current interactions. To prove the new concept, a study of the level of mitigation of the current interactions is presented. The control is operated in continuous driving mode (CCM), and the popular UC3854B circuit was used for this. The rectifier proposal is validated through a set of simulations performed on the PSIM 12.0 platform, as well as the construction of a prototype. With the results obtained, it is confirmed that the differential-mode choke filter eliminates the current interactions. It is observed that at the input of the rectifier, a sinusoidal alternating current with a low level of harmonic distortion is consumed from the grid. The sinusoidal shape of the phase current proves that a better power factor capable of meeting the international standards is obtained, and that the circuit in its initial version is operational. This proven result promises a good PFC operation, to guarantee the better quality of the electrical energy, being able to be applied in systems that require a high PFC, e.g., in battery charging, wind systems, or in aeronautics and spacecrafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-synchronous renewable energy sources (RESs) have strong volatility and low inertia, which brings about great challenges on the accommodation of RESs and the security and stability of power systems. This paper proposes a bi-level power system dispatch and control architecture based on the grid-friendly virtual power plant (GVPP), so as to accommodate RESs flexibly and securely. The typical dispatch and control system of the power system in China is presented, and the particular challenges stemming from non-synchronous RESs are analyzed. The functional requirements, concept, and fundamental design of the GVPP are provided, which is distinguished from traditional virtual power plants (VPPs) for its active participation in power system stability control. Based on the cloud platform, a bi-level dispatch and control architecture considering two objectives is established. First, in the inner level, the GVPP operates to promote the accommodation of RESs under normal condition. Then, from the perspective of out-level power systems, GVPPs serve as spinning reserves for power support under contingencies. Besides, the key problems to be solved in the development of the GVPP-based architecture are summarized. Although the architecture is proposed for the power system in China, it can be applied to any power systems with similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids constitute complex systems that integrate distributed generation (DG) and feature different operational modes. The optimal coordination of directional over-current relays (DOCRs) in microgrids is a challenging task, especially if topology changes are taken into account. This paper proposes an adaptive protection approach that takes advantage of multiple setting groups that are available in commercial DOCRs to account for network topology changes in microgrids. Because the number of possible topologies is greater than the available setting groups, unsupervised learning techniques are explored to classify network topologies into a number of clusters that is equal to the number of setting groups. Subsequently, optimal settings are calculated for every topology cluster. Every setting is saved in the DOCRs as a different setting group that would be activated when a corresponding topology takes place. Several tests are performed on a benchmark IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) microgrid, evidencing the applicability of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a model is proposed for the optimal operation of multi-energy microgrids (MEMGs) in the presence of solar photovoltaics (PV), heterogeneous energy storage (HES) and integrated demand response (IDR), considering technical and economic ties among the resources. Uncertainty of solar power as well as the flexibility of electrical, cooling and heat load demand are taken into account. A p-efficient point method is applied to compute PV power at different confidence levels based on historical data. This method converts the uncertain PV energy from stochastic to deterministic to be included in the optimization model. The concept of demand response is extended and mathematically modeled using a linear function based on the quantized flexibility interval of multi-energy load demand. As a result, the overall model is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program, which can be effectively solved by the commercial solvers. The proposed model is implemented on two typical summer and winter days for various cases. Results of case studies show the important benefits for maximum PV utilization, energy efficiency and economic system operation. Moreover, the influence of the different confidence levels of PV power and effectiveness of IDR in the stochastic circumstances are addressed in the optimization-based operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the advantages associated with the port sector concerning the potential of offshore wind energy, several international ports are aiming to achieve a solid integration in offshore wind energy clusters. This article performs an analysis of several seaports and offshore wind energy clusters in Europe to assess the feasibility of implementing an offshore wind energy cluster in the Port of Aveiro, Portugal. A deep literature review and a case study methodology were performed. Based on the analysis of the offshore energy market, and of the value chain of the company case study (ASM Offshore), it was concluded that the Portuguese market in this sector is not competitive, compared with other international markets. Nevertheless, the development of an offshore wind energy cluster could increase the included companie's prospects, as well as dispute the growth of other companies associated with this sector. This research is relevant, because there is a lack of research that links the importance of seaports in offshore wind energy projects, in particular with a cluster structure, and because it contributes to knowledge for the development of the Aveiro region and Portugal, based on the exploitation of the renewable energy market and to the increase of related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is viewed as a disruptive technology with the potential to replace many manufacturing processes. With its rapid proliferation in recent years, it is crucial to understand how to measure this technology's social impacts. There are many studies available in the existing literature regarding the economic and environmental impacts of AM technology. However, research regarding the social impacts of this technology is still scarce. To this end, this research has developed a framework based on Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) methodology to measure AM products' social impacts throughout their life cycle stages. The proposed framework includes an underlying mathematical model that was developed to allow for the aggregation of indicator scores. Additionally, cut-off scores were determined to differentiate between positive and negative social impacts. This framework can be applied to case studies, which provides a final score that quantifies the social impacts of an AM product throughout all its life cycle stages. It also provides scores for each stakeholder category and life cycle stage, which facilitates the identification of hotspots that require attention from organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world population is growing at a very high rate, which also entails a massive increase in energy consumption, and also, therefore, in its production, which is gradually and steadily increasing. Energy and the environment are essential to achieving sustainable development, and constitute a fundamental part of human activity. If we consider energy efficiency as the use of an appliance, process or installation for which we try to produce more energy, but with less energy consumption than the average for these appliances, processes or installations, then achieving a higher energy efficiency is imperative. Energy efficiency is a cornerstone policy on the road to stopping climate change and to achieving sustainable societies, along with the development of renewable energy and an environmentally friendly transport policy. In this Special Issue, 11 selected and peer-reviewed articles have been contributed, on a wide range of topics under the umbrella of sustainable energy systems. The published articles encompass distinct areas of interest. One area addresses distributed generation, which addresses such topics as the optimal planning of distributed generation, protection of blind areas in distribution networks, multi-objective optimization in distributed generation, energy management of virtual power plants in distributed generation, and the impact of demand-response programs on a home microgrid, as well as concentrating solar power into a highly renewable, penetrated power system. The second section of the Special Issue addresses a wide range of topics, from parametric studies of 2 MW gas engines or data centers, to combustion characteristics of a non-premixed oxy-flame, to new techniques of PV Tracking, to applications of nanofluids in the thermal performance enhancement of parabolic trough solar collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increase in the adoption of quality tools by companies. As such, there has been a commitment to innovation by the organizations to obtain competitive advantages by the development of new products and technologies focused on the creation of economic value but also on delivering sustainability. This study aims to develop an application model of the inventive resolution theory in conjunction with the Eco-Compass ecological innovation tool, in order to allow solutions to be obtained systematically, and to present a performance increase of certain environmental parameters, promoting thus sustainable innovation. The case study research methodology is used to frame the research. The company under study is Nokia enterprise, located in Portugal, which offers a set of services related to telecommunications infrastructures. The unit of analysis is the department of transformation and continuous improvement, and the study illustrated the application of combined use of theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) and Eco-compass to develop innovative solutions systematically. The results show that it is possible to achieve innovation according to a certain level of established sustainable environmental parameters, while at the same time solving the identified inventive problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reach better results for pulse width modulation (PWM)-based methods, the reference waveforms known as control laws have to be achieved with good accuracy. In this paper, three control laws are created by considering the harmonic components of modular multilevel converter (MMC) state variables to suppress the circulating currents under nonlinear load variation. The first control law consists of only the harmonic components of the MMC's output currents and voltages. Then, the second-order harmonic of circulating currents is also involved with both upper and lower arm currents in order to attain the second control law. Since circulating current suppression is the main aim of this work, the third control law is formed by measuring all harmonic components of circulating currents which impact on the arm currents as well. By making a comparison between the switching signals generated by the three proposed control laws, it is verified that the second-order harmonic of circulating currents can increase the switching losses. In addition, the existence of all circulating current harmonics causes distributed switching patterns, which is not suitable for the switches' lifetime. Each upper and lower arm has changeable capacitors, named "equivalent submodule (SM) capacitors" in this paper. To further assess these capacitors, eliminating the harmonic components of circulating currents provides fluctuations with smaller magnitudes, as well as a smaller average value for the equivalent capacitors. Moreover, the second-order harmonic has a dominant role that leads to values higher than 3 F for equivalent capacitors. In comparison with the first and second control laws, the use of the third control-law-based method will result in very small circulating currents, since it is trying to control and eliminate all harmonic components of the circulating currents. This result leads to very small magnitudes for both the upper and lower arm currents, noticeably decreasing the total MMC losses. All simulation results are verified using MATLAB software in the SIMULINK environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection relay issues increase with the penetration of distributed generation (DG) units in distribution networks. Blind protection, sympathetic tripping and failure of reclosing are the frequent problems that are created by adding DG to the distribution networks. This research focuses on the impact of reclosers on overcurrent relay blind protection areas with DGs embedded in the distribution network. The protection blinding in overcurrent relays leads to a delay or non-tripping of the relay. The conventional solution for the blinding issue is to increase the sensitivity in the relay settings. The variation of relay settings may cause problems in the distribution network. This paper investigates the effect of reclosers on eliminating blind areas and improves the reliability in the presence of DG. In this way, possible blind points of the case study are detected, and recloser relays are then installed in appropriate locations. The case study is based on realistic data of a distribution network. The DG consists of two generators with a capacity of 4 MW. The simulation is performed in DIgSILENT software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, reducing energy consumption has been relentlessly pursued by researchers and policy makers with the purpose of achieving a more sustainable future. The demand for data storage in data centers has been steadily increasing, leading to an increase in size and therefore to consume more energy. Consequently, the reduction of the energy consumption of data center rooms is required and it is with this perspective that this paper is proposed. By using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), it is possible to model a three-dimensional model of the heat transfer and air flow in data centers, which allows forecasting the air speed and temperature range under diverse conditions of operation. In this paper, a CFD study of the thermal performance and airflow in a real data center processing room with 208 racks under different thermal loads and airflow velocities is proposed. The physical-mathematical model relies on the equations of mass, momentum and energy conservation. The fluid in this study is air and it is modeled as an ideal gas with constant properties. The model of the effect of turbulence is made by employing a k–ε standard model. The results indicate that it is possible to reduce the thermal load of the server racks by improving the thermal performance and airflow of the data center room, without affecting the correct operation of the server racks located in the sensible regions of the room. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy management of virtual power plants faces some fundamental challenges that make it complicated compared to conventional power plants, such as uncertainty in production, consumption, energy price, and availability of network components. Continuous monitoring and scaling of network gain status, using smart grids provides valuable instantaneous information about network conditions such as production, consumption, power lines, and network availability. Therefore, by creating a bidirectional communication between the energy management system and the grid users such as producers or energy applicants, it will afford a suitable platform to develop more efficient vector of the virtual power plant. The paper is treated with optimal sizing of DG units and the price of their electricity sales to achieve security issues and other technical considerations in the system. The ultimate goal in this study to determine the active demand power required to increase system loading capability and to withstand disturbances. The effect of different types of DG units in simulations is considered and then the efficiency of each equipment such as converters, wind turbines, electrolyzers, etc., is achieved to minimize the total operation cost and losses, improve voltage profiles, and address other security issues and reliability. The simulations are done in three cases and compared with HOMER software to validate the ability of proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses an optimized management of a storage energy battery which is part of a microgrid with a connection to the main grid and is supplied by a photovoltaic (PV) power plant. The main contribution of this paper is to consider uncertainty in electricity price while managing the battery storage. The forecasted value for demand and PV unit are predicted by a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model (SARIMA)—capable of accurately characterizing both seasonality effects and tail fatness. The optimal operation of the battery is determined by resolving a linear optimization program in which the objective function comprises the conditional value at risk (CVaR). Using CVaR ensures that the demand is fully supplied while minimizing the risk and operational cost. The cost function is the difference between power sold and bought subject to the charging and discharging rates for the battery and defining upper and lower bounds for the level of battery charge. The simulation results confirm that the risk consideration has a significant effect on the optimized management of a storage energy battery in a photovoltaic grid-connected microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the analysis of a novel framework of study and the impact of different market design criterion for the generation expansion planning (GEP) in competitive electricity market incentives, under variable uncertainties in a single year horizon. As investment incentives conventionally consist of firm contracts and capacity payments, in this study, the electricity generation investment problem is considered from a strategic generation company (GENCO) ′ s perspective, modelled as a bi-level optimization method. The first-level includes decision steps related to investment incentives to maximize the total profit in the planning horizon. The second-level includes optimization steps focusing on maximizing social welfare when the electricity market is regulated for the current horizon. In addition, variable uncertainties, on offering and investment, are modelled using set of different scenarios. The bi-level optimization problem is then converted to a single-level problem and then represented as a mixed integer linear program (MILP) after linearization. The efficiency of the proposed framework is assessed on the MAZANDARAN regional electric company (MREC) transmission network, integral to IRAN interconnected power system for both elastic and inelastic demands. Simulations show the significance of optimizing the firm contract and the capacity payment that encourages the generation investment for peak technology and improves long-term stability of electricity markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A characterisation of Pinus pinaster Aiton. (Maritime Pine) woody biomass and ashes is presented in this study. Physical, thermal and chemical analysis, including density, moisture content, calorific value, proximate and ultimate analysis, were carried out. The fuel Energy Density (Ed) and the Fuelwood Value Index (FVI) were assessed by ranking the fuelwood quality. Furthermore, the determination of the ash metal elementals was performed. The results from this study indicated, for Pinus pinaster biomass tree components, carbon content ranging from 46.5 to 49.3%, nitrogen content from 0.13 to 1.18%, sulphur content from 0.056 to 0.148% and hydrogen content around 6–7%. The ash content in the tree components ranged from 0.22 to 1.92%. The average higher heating value (HHV) was higher for pine needles (21.61 MJ·kg−1). The Ed of 8.9 GJ·m−3 confirm the good potential of Pinus pinaster biomass tree components as fuel. The FVI ranked the wood stem (4658) and top (2861.8) as a better fuelwood and pine needles (394.2) as inferior quality. The chemical composition of the ashes revealed that the elemental contents are below the national and most European countries legislation guidelines for the employment of ash as a fertiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for electricity is a challenge for the electricity sector as it not only involves the search for new sources of energy, but also the increase of generation capacity of the existing electrical infrastructure and the need to upgrade the existing grid. Therefore, new ways to reduce the consumption of energy are necessary to be implemented. When comparing an average house with an energy efficient house, it is possible to reduce annual energy bills up to 40%. Homeowners and tenants should consider developing an energy conservation plan in their homes. This is both an ecological and economically rational action. With this goal in mind, the need for the energy optimization arises. However, this has to be made by ensuring a fair level of comfort in the household, which in turn spawns a few control challenges. In this paper, the ON/OFF, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and Model Predictive Control (MPC) control methods of an air conditioning (AC) of a room are compared. The model of the house of this study has a PV domestic generation. The recorded climacteric data for this case study are for Évora, a pilot Portuguese city in an ongoing demand response (DR) project. Six Time-of-Use (ToU) electricity rates are studied and compared during a whole week of summer, typically with very high temperatures for this period of the year. The overall weekly expense of each studied tariff option is compared for every control method and in the end the optimal solution is reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the circular economy has increasingly received attention worldwide due to the recognition that the security of the supply of resources and environmental sustainability are crucial for the prosperity of all the countries and businesses. G20 countries are stimulating the development of frameworks that enhance the circular economy and generally more sustainable production and consumption modes. In this context, this paper aims to suggest an index to assess the sustainability and the circularity of manufacturing companies. With this tenet, a Sustainable Circular Index (SCI) is proposed based on a five-phase framework. This index could support managers in assessing their level of sustainability and circularity and in implementing some practices that could improve the performances of their companies regarding these two topics. This index represents an important benchmarking tool for manufacturing companies to assess their sustainable and circular behavior and represents a guideline for managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a home area network (HAN)-based domestic load energy consumption monitoring prototype device as part of an advanced metering system (AMS). This device can be placed on individual loads or configured to measure several loads as a whole. The wireless communication infrastructure is supported on IEEE 805.12.04 radios that run a ZigBee stack. Data acquisition concerning load energy transit is processed in real time and the main electrical parameters are then transmitted through a RF link to a wireless terminal unit, which works as a data logger and as a human-machine interface. Voltage and current sensing are implemented using Hall effect principle-based transducers, while C code is developed on two 16/32-bit microcontroller units (MCUs). The main features and design options are then thoroughly discussed. The main contribution of this paper is that the proposed metering system measures the reactive energy component through the Hilbert transform for low cost measuring device systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformers are one of the more expensive pieces of equipment found in a distribution network. The transformer's role has not changed over the last decades. With simple construction and at the same time mechanically robust, they offer long term service that on average can reach half a century. Today, with the ongoing trend to supply a growing number of non-linear loads along with the notion of distributed generation (DG), a new challenge has arisen in terms of transformer sustainability, with one of the possible consequences being accelerated ageing. In this paper we carefully review the existing studies in the literature of the effect of loads and other key factors on oil-transformer ageing. The state-of-the-art is reviewed, each factor is analysed in detail, and in the end a smart transformer protection method is sought in order to monitor and protect it from upcoming challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses Home Area Networks (HAN) communication technologies for smart home and domestic application integration. The work is initiated by identifying the application areas that can benefit from this integration. A broad and inclusive home communication interface is analysed utilizing as a key piece a Gateway based on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications that interacts with the surrounding environment. Then, the main wireless networks are thoroughly assessed, and later, their suitability to the requirements of HAN considering the application area is analysed. Finally, a qualitative analysis is portrayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, the fast technological development has caused high competitiveness among companies, encouraging a pursuit for strategies that allow them to gain competitive advantage, such as the monitoring of performance by using key performance indicators (KPIs). However, its selection process is complex since there are several KPIs available to evaluate performance and different relationships between them. To overcome this challenge, the use of a multiple criteria decision-making model (MCDM) was proposed, namely the analytic network process (ANP) through which a reduced number of them are prioritized. To identify which KPIs are suitable for the press cast and die manufacturing industry, a literature review was made, and 58 unique KPIs were identified. Thus, to validate the proposed methodology, a case study was carried out in an automotive press molding industry. With the implementation of the proposed ANP model it was possible to identify 9 KPIs that ensure the correct molding process monitoring, while being aligned with the Balanced Scorecard criteria. The results show that the proposed model is suitable for selecting KPIs for the molding industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the influence of orchard cultural practices during the productive process of cherries on the environmental impact in terms of energy, air, soil and water through a "farm to market" Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The results were used to identify the orchard cultural practices that contribute significantly to the environmental impact and to find solutions to reduce those impacts, serving as best practices guide to improving the environmental performance and as benchmarks for other national and international cherry and fruit growers. Primary data for production, harvest and post-harvest periods were gathered experimentally. The openLCA 1.10.2 software and the ecoinvent 3.5 database were used for modelling. Test case scenarios are modelled to identify the influence of cultural practices in low and high cherry production campaigns depending on climatic conditions and consequently diseases and plagues. Moreover, results are compared with other studies, not only covering cherries but also other fruits. The energy consumption per hectare in the production phase is similar in test scenarios. The energy consumption of orchard cultural practices related to tractor use, fertilizers and fungicides application are the main hotspots in terms of global warming, freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication, and terrestrial acidification. The use of electric vehicles, change the warehouse location or redefine transportation routes can reduce this impact, along with the optimization of the cherry's quantity transported in each trip. In addition, the use of plant protection products, fertilizers and herbicides with less environmental impact will contribute to this objective. For that, the use of agriculture and precision systems to predict the need for fertilizers (nutrients), herbicides and fungicides, the use of decision support systems to define the dates of cultural practices, as well as innovative and emerging food and by-products processing methods are suggested. Thus, this study identifies and quantifies the environmental impacts associated with the production system of cherries and their main hotspots. It provides a best-practices guide for sustainable solutions in orchard management that contributes to the competitiveness and sustainability of fruit companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge Management as a strategy to improve the quality of the institutional environment can be related to the coordination of activities that create, store and share knowledge. School Management has to deal with different tasks, such as planning, organization, leadership, guidance, monitoring and evaluation of all the processes necessary to ensure the promotion of students' learning and training. In this context, the Political–Pedagogical Project assists School Management, since it is an important document for the school organization, containing the school's identity as well as the plan to achieve the best teaching and learning process for the school community. In this sense, the objective of this research was to demonstrate how the Political–Pedagogical Project can promote Knowledge Management at the school level. The methodology used was exploratory and bibliographic research. The results obtained in this paper show that the Political–Pedagogical Project strengthens School Management when it is supported by Knowledge Management, considering that there is an improvement in the promotion of the quality of the organizational environment, as well as the elucidation of effective learning for teachers and students through democratic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, industrial companies have been collecting and storing high amounts of data with the aim of better controlling and managing their processes. However, this vast amount of information and hidden knowledge implicit in all of this data could be utilized more efficiently. With the help of data mining techniques unknown relationships can be systematically discovered. The production of semiconductors is a highly complex process, which entails several subprocesses that employ a diverse array of equipment. The size of the semiconductors signifies a high number of units can be produced, which require huge amounts of data in order to be able to control and improve the semiconductor manufacturing process. Therefore, in this paper a structured review is made through a sample of 137 papers of the published articles in the scientific community regarding data mining applications in semiconductor manufacturing. A detailed bibliometric analysis is also made. All data mining applications are classified in function of the application area. The results are then analyzed and conclusions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the current environmental concerns related to manufacturing, the introduction to the industrial symbiosis concept brought purpose to waste, instead of disposing it in landfills or eliminating it through incineration. The waste generated by industrial processes, or end-of-life products, is redirected to be used as a "new" input in another process by one or more organizations, which is a mutual benefit or a "symbiosis". Despite its relevancy, the industrial symbiosis concept is marginally explored in the context of additive manufacturing; this emerging technology has disruptive potential regarding the use of different materials as secondary raw materials. This paper presents a systematic literature review regarding industrial symbiosis and additive manufacturing. The main objective is to identify how wastes can be used as input materials to additive manufacturing processes and what exchanges of resources occur in an industrial symbiosis setting. A final sample of 32 documents was reached and analyzed. Five examples of using waste streams in additive manufacturing processes to produce goods were highlighted and explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass industry is growing due to the current search for greener and more sustainable alternatives to fossil energy sources. However, this industry, due to its singularity, presents several challenges and disadvantages related to the transportation of raw materials, with the large volumes that are usually involved. This project aimed to address this internal logistics situation in torrefied biomass pellets production with two different biomass storage parks, located in Portugal. The main park receives raw material coming directly from the source and stores it in large amounts as a backup and strategic storage park. The second park, with smaller dimensions, precedes the production unit and must be stocked daily. Therefore, a fleet of transport units with self-unloading cranes is required to help to unload the biomass at the main park and transport the raw material from this park to the one preceding the production unit. Thus, the main goal was to determine the dimensions of the fleet used in internal transportation operations to minimize the idle time of the transport units using a methodology already in use in the mining and quarrying industry. This methodology was analyzed and adapted to the situation presented here. The implementation of this study allows the elimination of unnecessary costs in an industry where the profit margins are low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global transformation of the economy, driven by digital transformation and sustainability challenges, is placing its focus on the evaluation of companies' intangible assets. Thus, if the report of those intangible assets, namely intellectual capital (IC) management, is endowed with credible metrics, recognized, and accepted, it can work as a guarantee, ensuring the reliability and sustainability of an organization. The aim of this research is to propose a data-driven Intellectual Capital Management Scoring System to be used in the auditing of the IC management of organisations. This paper presents one of the first attempts to use Path Modelling and the Partial Least Squares (PLS) Methodology, combined with Biplots, to define and validate Intellectual Capital Scoring Systems. This system relies on a model estimated using the PLS Path Modelling methodology and uses data from two independent random samples of Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which, in turn, was used to obtain two independent model estimates. The results obtained with the mentioned methodology show a good consistency both in performance and very similar parameters estimates, suggesting the validity of the associated scoring function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a growing promotion to label products ecologically in European markets. Knowing that daily products have relevant environmental impact associated with their production, it is of utmost importance to analyse all the related production processes for a better understanding of each process impact. The present study analysed the potential environmental impacts of a Portuguese regional product, the Beira Baixa cheese, coming from the largest national sheep milk region. So, a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used from -cradle-to -gate, including the supplying of the animal feedstock. Impact calculations are performed using the ReCiPe midpoint 2008 method, allowing an analysis of the environmental impacts contributing to climate change, terrestrial acidification, freshwater and marine eutrophication of all productive processes. The results have shown that the greatest impacts occur within the milk production process for all four selected impact categories. This happens mainly due to the fodder cultivation process, also necessary to produce animal feed, which contain processes of fertilization and land preparation. The enteric fermentation and manure management processes have also shown relevant contributions. The impact assessment also showed that the cheesemaking industry has practically insignificant impacts. Nonetheless, the cheesemaking industry can promote their business with these results, by advertising and marketing their product as environmentally friendly, with production processes causing reduced impacts, and therefore also their products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing has the potential to make a longstanding impact on the manufacturing world and is a core element of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Additive manufacturing signifies a new disruptive path on how we will produce parts and products. Several studies suggest this technology could foster sustainability into manufacturing systems based on its potential of optimizing material consumption, creating new shapes, customizing designs and shortening production times that, all combined, will greatly transform some of the existing business models. Although it requires reaching a certain level of design maturity to completely insert this technology in an industrial setting, additive manufacturing has the potential to favorably impact the manufacturing sector by reducing costs in production, logistics, inventories, and in the development and industrialization of a new product. The transformation of the industry and the acceleration of the adopting rate of new technologies is driving organizational strategy. Thus, through the lenses of Industry 4.0 and its technological concepts, this paper aims to contribute to the knowledge about the impacts of additive manufacturing technology on sustainable business models. This aim is accomplished through a proposed framework, as well as the models and scales that can be used to determine these impacts. The effects are assessed by taking into account the social, environmental and economic impacts of additive manufacturing on business models and for all these three dimensions a balanced scorecard structure is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic applications use a wide variety of materials, knowledge, and devices, which pave the road to creative design, development, and the creation of countless electronic circuits with the purpose of incorporating them in electronic products. Therefore, power electronics have been fully introduced in industry, in applications such as power supplies, converters, inverters, battery chargers, temperature control, variable speed motors, by studying the effects and the adaptation of electronic power systems to industrial processes. Recently, the role of power electronics has been gaining special significance regarding energy conservation and environmental control. The reality is that the demand for electrical energy grows in a directly proportional manner with the improvement in quality of life. Consequently, the design, development, and optimization of power electronics and controller devices are essential to face forthcoming challenges. In this Special Issue, 19 selected and peer-reviewed papers discussing a wide range of topics contribute to addressing a wide variety of themes, such as motor drives, AC-DC and DC-DC converters, electromagnetic compatibility and multilevel converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitizing public services is, at the moment, an essential necessity for numerous governments around the world. An improved government through digitization will not only have a growing effect on businesses, but it will also be able to intensify citizen engagement and push for economic growth. During the last 10 years more countries have progressively begun to provide digital services to their citizens. Therefore, in order to address this development, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the digital government literature in order to describe the aspects of digital transformation in the public sector and how it is related to knowledge management. In this study the methodology is quantitative and it is based on a review and a survey made with the main goal being the estimation from several collected data on how the digital transformation process in the Public Administration takes place and what its relationship is with knowledge management. The review study is based on articles found on Scopus database and it addresses the role that digital government research plays in the theory and practice of knowledge management. In the survey study, 54 employees working for the services of the two governmental areas of the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment were surveyed. The results show that the research on the theme is still at an exploratory stage due to the lack of studies relating digital government to knowledge management effectiveness in the public sector. The results also show that the success of digital government seems to be related with the quality of the organizations' knowledge management, complementing each other for significant improvements in the public sector. In terms of originality, this study aims to contribute and stimulate data-driven discussions regarding the impacts of the digital transformation in the public sector and their relation with the implementation of knowledge management practices. The results offer insights into future research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a group of technologies that create objects by adding material layer upon layer, in precise geometric shapes. They are amongst the most disruptive technologies nowadays, potentially changing value chains from the design process to the end-of-life, providing significant advantages over traditional manufacturing processes in terms of flexibility in design and production and waste minimization. Nevertheless, sustainability assessment should also be included in the research agenda as these technologies affect the People, the Planet and the Profit: the three-bottom line (3BL) assessment framework. Moreover, AM sustainability depends on each product and context that strengthens the need for its assessment through the 3BL framework. This paper explores the literature on AM sustainability, and the results are mapped in a framework aiming to support comprehensive assessments of the AM impacts in the 3BL dimensions by companies and researchers. To sustain the coherence of boundaries, three life cycle methods are proposed, each one for a specific dimension of the 3BL analysis, and two illustrative case studies are shown to exemplify the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial symbiosis, which is characterised mainly by the reuse of waste from one company as raw material by another, has been applied worldwide with recognised environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, the potential for industrial symbiosis is not exhausted in existing cases, and there is still a wide range of opportunities for its application. Through a comprehensive literature review, this article aims to compile and analyse studies that focus on potential industrial symbiosis in real contexts, to highlight the margin of optimisation that is not being used. The cases reported in the publications identified here were characterised and analysed according to geographic location, type of economic activity, waste/by-products, main benefits, and the methods employed in the studies. From this analysis, we conclude that there is great potential for applications involving industrial symbiosis throughout the world, and especially in Europe, corresponding to 53% of the total cases analysed. Manufacturing stood out as the sector with the highest potential for establishing symbiosis relationships, and the most common types of waste streams in potential networks were organic, plastic and rubber, wood, and metallic materials. This article also discusses the main drivers and barriers to realising the potential of industrial symbiosis. The diversity of industries, geographical proximity, facilitating entities and legislation, plans, and policies are shown to be the main drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial symbiosis has proven to be an important tool for improving business sustainability with numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits. The literature on this subject has been provided with countless case studies of the application of this practice in different geographical locations. However, studies concerning Portugal in this area are still scarce. Thus, this article aims to map and analyze the existing cases of industrial symbiosis in Portugal, as well as the current state and the legislative context regarding this practice. It also aims to analyze the main barriers to the growth of synergy relations and outline new paths for the development of industrial symbiosis in Portugal. From the analysis to the case studies, it was possible to conclude that most industrial symbiosis networks have few actors, and networks with two and three are common. However, owing to strategic plans, the type of existing economic activities, and the waste generated, there is much potential for industrial symbiosis networks to be established and to contribute to emission reductions, more efficient use of resources, and reduced external dependence. However, in order to increase industrial symbiosis, concerted action must be taken at various levels to encourage companies to develop synergy relations. Changing the legislative framework, making funds available, the role of local governments, the existence of a facilitator, and the use of some industries as anchor tenants are some of the aspects that can contribute to the increase of industrial symbiosis in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the myriad of possibilities and applications of additive manufacturing (AM) technology, knowledge about the social impacts of this technology is very scarce and very limited in some areas. This paper explores how factors generated by the development of AM technology may create social impacts, affecting the health and social well-being of people, quality of life, working conditions, and the creation of wealth. This paper presents the results of an exploratory multiple case study conducted among four Portuguese organizations that use AM technology, aiming to determine their perceptions regarding the social impacts of AM, its effects, and causes. The results confirm that AM technology is mainly seen to create positive impacts on health and safety (regarding physical hazards), on expectations for the future, on leisure and recreation, on low disruption with the local economy, on economic prosperity, on the professional status, and on innovative employment types. Nevertheless, a negative impact was also found on health and safety (concerning hazardous substances), as well as several mixed and null impacts. The main limitations of the research arise from the use of a case study methodology, since the results can be influenced by contextual factors, such as the size of the organizations in the sample, and/or social, cultural, technological, political, economic, and ecological factors. This study gives an up-to-date contribution to the topic of AM social impacts and social changes, an area which is still little-explored in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy hub (EH) is a concept that is commonly used to describe multi-carrier energy systems. New advances in the area of energy conversion and storage have resulted in the development of EHs. The efficiency and capability of power systems can be improved by using EHs. This paper proposes an Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT)-based model for EH management, taking into account the demand response (DR). The proposed model is applied to a semi-realistic case study with large consumers within a day ahead of the scheduling time horizon. The EH has some inputs including real-time (RT) and day-ahead (DA) electricity market prices, wind turbine generation, and natural gas network data. It also has electricity and heat demands as part of the output. The management of the EH is investigated considering the uncertainty in RT electricity market prices and wind turbine generation. The decisions are robust against uncertainties using the IGDT method. DR is added to the decision-making process in order to increase the flexibility of the decisions made. The numerical results demonstrate that considering DR in the IGDT-based EH management system changes the decision-making process. The results of the IGDT and stochastic programming model have been shown for more comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High industrial development, new consumption habits, and population growth have led to a discussion, in the various sectors of society, about resource scarcity, pollutant emissions, and waste generation. As a result, and in opposition to the linear economic model in which products are eliminated after production and consumption, a new business model emerged, called the "The Circular Economy". This model is based on reuse, recovery, recycling, and repairing during the design and use cycle of a product. This research intends to make a study of the circular economy in the pulp and paper industries of Portugal and Spain. This sector was chosen because, in addition to representing about 2.5% of Portugal's industrial production, it has made significant efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development. Therefore, this research intends to present the situation of the pulp and paper sector within the circular economy, making an Iberian comparison between the years 2011 and 2015. This comparison is made through the development of a comparative index based on the results of some environmental indicators. According to the research carried out, the pulp and paper sector in Portugal was about 26% higher in the implementation of the circular economy than the same sector in Spain in 2015, with the peculiarity that this difference has been decreasing in the last five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an innovative switched-capacitor based nine-level inverter employing single DC input for renewable and sustainable energy applications. The proposed configuration generates a step-up bipolar output voltage without end-side H-bridge, and the employed capacitors are charged in a self-balancing form. Applying low-voltage rated switches is another merit of the proposed inverter, which leads to extensive reduction in total standing voltage. Thereby, switching losses as well as inverter cost are reduced proportionally. Furthermore, the comparative analysis against other state-of-the-art inverters depicts that the number of required power electronic devices and implementation cost is reduced in the proposed structure. The working principle of the proposed circuit along with its efficiency calculations and thermal modeling are elaborated in detail. In the end, simulations and experimental tests are conducted to validate the flawless performance of the proposed nine-level topology in power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing increase in world energy consumption favors the search for renewable energy sources. One of the existing options for the growth and sustainable development of such types of sources is through the use of biomass as an input. The employment of biomass as solid fuel is widely studied and is no longer a novelty nor presents any difficulty from the technical point of view. It presents, however, logistic obstacles, thus not allowing their direct dissemination in every organization that is willing to replace it as an energy source. Use of biomass can be rewarding due to the fact that it can bring significant economic gains attained due to the steadiness of the biomass price in Portugal. However, the price may rise as predicted in the coming years, although it will be a gradual rising. The main goal of this study was to analyze whether biomass in the case of the Portuguese textile industry can be a viable alternative that separates the possibility of sustainable growth from the lack of competitiveness due to high energy costs. The study showed that biomass can be a reliable, sustainable and permanent energy alternative to more traditional energy sources such as propane gas, naphtha and natural gas for the textile industry. At the same time, it can bring savings of 35% in energy costs related to steam generation. Also, with new technology systems related to the Internet of Things, a better on-time aware of needs, energy production and logistic chain information will be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new structure for single-phase Active Power Harmonics Filter (APHF) with the simple and low-cost controller to eliminate harmonics and its side effects on low voltage grid. The proposed APHF includes an accurate harmonic detector circuit, amplifier circuit to trap tiny harmonics, switching driver circuit for precise synchronization, and inverter to create injection current waveform, which is extracted from reference signal. The control circuits are based on electrostatic devices consist of Op-Amp circuits. Fast dynamic, simplicity, low cost, and small size are the main features of Op-Amp circuits that are used in the proposed topology. The aim is removing the all grid harmonic orders in which the proposed APF injects an appropriate current into the grid in parallel way. The proposed control system is smart enough to compensate all range of current harmonics. A prototype is implemented in the power electronics laboratory and it is installed as parallel on a distorted grid by the non-linear load (15 APeak-Peak) to verify the compensating of harmonics. The harmonics are compensated from THD% = 24.48 to THD% = 2.86 and the non-sinusoidal waveform is renovated to sinusoidal waveform by the proposed APHF. The experimental results show a good accurate and high-quality performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]