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The largest mechanical pulp production units are high-consistency refiners. In the high-consistency refiners, in-situ measurements of pulp quality are rare. Temperature profile is one of the measurements that is industrially applicable to estimate pulp quality. It measures the steam temperature in the refining area-but how it can detect deteriorated pulp quality will be shown. This paper analyzed the high-consistency refiner plate temperature and its correlation to pulp quality in a 1.34 MW pilot-scale Sunds RGP-44 variable speed refiner in a variety of operating conditions and particularly at production rates close to maximum refiner capacity. The study showed that there was a narrow band of optimal refining conditions at the maximum refiner production level just before pulp quality drastically decreased. When the refiner was pushed above this optimal point of operation, the plate temperature rapidly increased above normal refining temperature, causing reduction of fiber length and consequently lower pulp strength and quality. Thus, refiner plate temperature measurement was found to be a quick way and an effective tool for preventing low-quality pulp production through overloading the refiner.

Energy efficiency projects are often executed by specialized entities, namely energy service companies (ESCOs). A typical ESCO's core business is conducted using performance-based contracts, whereby payment terms depend on the energy savings achieved. Despite their success in public, commercial, and industrial sectors, ESCOs in the residential sector are involved in fewer projects and face several challenges. First, an energy efficiency project often leads to changed consumption behavior; hence it is more difficult to evaluate the energy savings that are due to the project itself. The second challenge is that residential clients are more risk averse and, thus, less willing to contract for projects whose outcomes are uncertain. Third, a lack of monitoring protocols leads to ESCO's moral hazard problems. This paper studies ESCO contract design issues, focusing primarily on the residential market for energy efficiency. As opposed to other sectors, coordinating contracts do not exist. We show, however, that simple piecewise linear contracts work reasonably well. To improve their profitability, ESCOs can reduce uncertainty about the technology employed and/or develop ways of verifying post-project energy efficiency. Since policy makers are understandably keen to promote energy efficiency, we show also how regulations and monetary incentives can reduce inefficiencies in ESCOs' relationships and thereby maximize environmental benefits.

Conference of 61st IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting, IEDM 2015 ; Conference Date: 7 December 2015 Through 9 December 2015; Conference Code:119534; International audience; Since the rapid development of post-CMOS technologies in the last decade, there has been a growing interest in utilizing them for implementing neuromorphic or brain-like computing machines. Besides attempts to build realistic circuits that would mimic the functioning of biological neurons as close as possible [1][2], our team is focused on implementing neuromorphic circuits suitable for embedded applications. This objective puts the emphasis on two majors concerns: integration and energy efficiency. In our quest for ultimate integration, we first report on investigating for the best synapse-like technology among the realm of potential candidates. We then report our investigations on the feasibility of large crossbars of synapse-like devices and show that there is still a long way ahead. Finally in an effort to tackle the energy problem, we introduce spike based coding for deep neuromorphic architectures and discuss our argument that spike coding combined with memristive synaptic devices could pave the way for future embedded neuromorphic circuits.