| 2041. |
- Werner, Sven, 1952-, et al.
(författare)
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Sparse district-heating in Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Applied Energy. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0306-2619 .- 1872-9118. ; 85:7, s. 555-564
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a review of the sparse district-heating research programme undertaken in Sweden between 2002 and 2006. The goal of the programme was to increase the future competitiveness for district heat in low heat density areas, e.g., suburban single-family houses and small villages. Such areas are unfavourable, since revenues from heat sold are low compared with the investment cost for the local distribution network. In Sweden, district heat has a dominant position in the heat market for residential and service-sector buildings. In order for the business to grow, it is necessary to increase the rate of expansion in the detached-house segment. This is why the programme was initiated. The extent of the programme was set at € 3.6 million with equal financing from the Swedish District-Heating Association and the Swedish Energy-Agency. The research was carried out in three phases: a state of the art survey; a development phase focused on productivity gains where new research on both technology and customer interaction was performed; and finally a demonstration phase where new methods were tested in full-scale field operation. The programme has shown that the Swedish district-heating industry needs to adjust in order to reach a higher profitability for sparse district-heating investments. Tradition from large-scale high-density district heating is hard to scale to fit sparse district-heating systems. For example, the construction becomes very labour intensive and the industry is weak when it comes to market-oriented business logic, sales and private customer interaction. Innovation seems to be a way forward and active management of innovations is a way to create increased value of the investments. Other keys to improving the profitability of sparse district-heating investments are more efficient working routines (resulting in higher productivity) and revised ways of customer communications. These seem more important than increasing efficiency in district-heating technology. © 2007.
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| 2042. |
- Wickström, Nicholas, et al.
(författare)
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Robust tuning of Individual Cylinders AFR in SI Engines with the Ion Current
- 2005
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Ingår i: SAE Transactions. - New York : Society of Automotive Engineers. - 0096-736X. ; 114:03, s. 48-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A method for robust tuning of individual cylinders air-fuel ratio is proposed. The fuel injection is adjusted so that each cylinder has the same air-fuel ratio in inner control loops, and the resulting air-fuel ratio in the exhaust pipe is controlled with an exhaust gas oxygen sensor (EGO) in an outer control loop to achieve stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. Correction factors to provide cylinder individual fuel injection timing are calculated based on measurements of the ion currents for the individual cylinders. An implementation in a production vehicle is shown with results from driving on the highway. © 2005 SAE International.
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| 2043. |
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| 2044. |
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| 2045. |
- Widén, Kristian, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Diffusion characteristics of private sector financed innovation in Sweden
- 2007
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Ingår i: Construction Management and Economics. - Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge. - 0144-6193 .- 1466-433X. ; 25:5, s. 467-475
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although construction is considered to be slow in adopting new technology and new processes, innovation, research and development are performed routinely. Nonetheless, knowledge about what affects the diffusion of research results - in the context of innovations - is incomplete, limiting the effectiveness of procedures designed to evaluate project proposals. The aim is to examine the factors that can influence the diffusion of results, in this case from externally funded construction innovation projects. A Fisher's exact test is performed on six concepts derived from general innovation theory which are tested on 20 development projects. The test is used to establish the significance of the six concepts and their applicability to construction-related innovation. The results reveal support for all six concepts, although only four of them attract a high level of significance. External lateral and vertical communication and external integration during the development phase are shown to increase the chances of successful diffusion and should therefore be assessed in project proposals.
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| 2046. |
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| 2047. |
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| 2048. |
- Widén, Kristian, 1972-
(författare)
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Innovation Diffusion in the Construction Sector
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Innovation and development are the backbone of a thriving market economy. It is through innovations of various kinds that nations, industries and companies compete. Many actions in areas internationally and nationally will affect the construction sector. Research into construction innovation has attracted increasing interest. There have been studies ranging from how national research policies support construction innovations to how projects should be organised. One general conclusion is that the level of innovation needs to be improved. There is a need to assess the potential barriers and enablers to achieving a better diffusion of innovations in construction. The overall aim of the research is to increase knowledge of the factors creating successful development, implementation and diffusion of innovations in the construction sector. More specifically, the research aims to understand where the usefulness and weaknesses exist in applying established innovation theory, particularly in regard to diffusion, within the Swedish construction context with the further aim of identifying a suitable basis for creating a shared understanding among stakeholders of the innovation process at work.A conceptual model for improving the existing situation was developed using contextualised innovation and diffusion theories. The model was tested using the findings in several supporting papers. It was found that actions in line with the conceptual model would enhance the probability of successful diffusion. The research has also investigated national policies, innovation brokerage and (research and) development projects in Sweden and found systemic weakness in the innovation process. The research has also found that tools of analysis not normally associated with the research problem in the construction domain can be used to provide improved insights to policy makers, innovation brokers and development managers. Significant in this regard is the criticality of communication vertically within the supply chain and laterally amongst suppliers with respect to specific innovations, such that diffusion becomes a normal and, therefore, integral feature of construction activity. The tools of analysis identified and adopted in the research can be used directly by policy makers, innovation brokers and development managers to lead to a shared understanding of barriers and enablers to innovation and a basis for continual improvement. In this connection, causal loop diagrams can aid in assessing the type of organisations needed in communication. Shortcomings in communication can, to a certain extent, also be mitigated by innovation brokers.
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| 2049. |
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| 2050. |
- Widén, Kristian, et al.
(författare)
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Public Procurement of Industrially Produced Housing
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings of 5th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organisation. ; 1, s. 13-20, s. 13-20
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The aim of the research was to investigate how a model for public procurement could be designed with the aim of including industrially produced housing in the procurement process in Sweden. Methodological approach The study was performed in two steps, an initial literature review and then a case study. The literature review aimed at creating an understanding of how this is done in other contexts and what the public procurement legislation allows. The case study investigated the current procurement process using an existing project between two companies, one public client and a contractor. Results Conclusions from case study are that co-operation in an early stage is desirable as well as involving the contractor in an early stage. In the process every involved should get the opportunity to use their knowledge in the process and form the project. The criteria for evaluation is important as well as the objectives for the project. To use an industrial produced housing also demands special attention to the regulation of secrecy. An important conclusion is that it should be possible, within the existing regulatory context, to procure industrial produced housing. The adoption of competitive dialogue, though, would probably increase the possibility of it to happen regularly. Status The paper is based on research that is finished. Contribution The work helps to identify the problems and possibilities of public clients procuring industrially produced housing. It reveals that the main obstacles as such is not the legislation, but at the same time it could probably made easier by the adoption of competitive dialogue into the Swedish procurement legislation.
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