Search

This paper presents a comparison of predicted and measured performance and loading for the Alstom Ocean Energy’s 1 MW tidal turbine, DEEP-Gen IV, which was deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as part of the ReDAPT (Reliable Data Acquisition Platform for Tidal) project. The ReDAPT project was commissioned and co-funded by the Energy Technologies Institute. Unsteady time domain simulations are conducted using DNV GL’s Tidal Bladed software. The hydrodynamic loads are computed using a blade-element formulation that accounts for flow blockage. The onset flow turbulence is described using a von Karman velocity spectra and coherence functions. Length scales are determined from a site characterisation study using field measurements. Machine data is processed and quality control filters applied to obtain measurement ensembles suitable for comparison with simulation outputs. Comparisons are made for electrical power, pitch angle and blade near-root bending moment. Good agreement is found between the simulated and measured flapwise near root-bending damage equivalent loads and load spectra. The stochastic blade load data is further analysed where it is found that the methodologies applied provide accurate predictions of machine fatigue loads due to turbulence.

Mini-abstract: Although previous analysis of health benefits and cost-effectiveness of radon remediation in a series of houses in Northamptonshire suggested that testing and remediation was justified, recent results indicate fewer predicted affected houses than previously assumed. Despite numerous awareness campaigns, limited numbers of householders have tested their homes, only a minority of affected householders have remediated, and those most at risk generally fail to remediate. Moreover, a recent survey shows a wide range of public perception of radon risk, not significantly influenced by public health campaigns. These observations impact our previous analysis, which has been reviewed in the light of these observations. Following the declaration of Northamptonshire, UK, as a radon Affected Area in 1992, a series of public awareness campaigns encouraged householders to assess domestic radon levels and, if appropriate, to take action to reduce them. Despite these awareness campaigns, however, only moderate numbers of householders have taken remediatory action. The costs of such remedial work in a series of domestic properties in Northamptonshire, the radon level reduction achieved, and the resultant heath benefit to the residents, have been the subject of study by our group for some years. Previous analysis, based on estimates of the total number of affected houses derived from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) test data for the area, suggested that a programme of testing and remediation in Northamptonshire could be justified. The NRPB has continued to initiate and to collate radon testing, and published further results in 2003. These results include revised predictions of the numbers of affected houses, now considered to be less than the numbers previously assumed. More recently, the availability of the European Community Radon Software (ECRS) has permitted calculation of individual, rather than population-average, risk, demonstrating that those most at risk are generally those who do not take action. In addition, a recent survey of risk perception shows an extremely wide range of public perception of radon risk, a perception that has not been significantly altered by public health campaigns. These predictions have profound effects, both on our previous analysis, particularly since only limited numbers of householders test their homes and even fewer remediate if they discover raised levels, and also on the public health strategies for this risk.

Although the service sector has gained increasing importance in our economy, very little attention has been paid to how firms actually develop new services. Reports on an investigation into how new retail services are developed in the financial service sector. The authors, by comparing successful and unsuccessful new services, have been able to develop a model that effectively identifies a number of characteristics that distinguish between success and failure.

This paper addresses the difficult problem of how to improve the process of evaluating organisational change. Given that the data emergent from an evaluative exercise will strongly influence the subsequent strategic and operational decisions taken by organisational managers, it is critical that the evaluation approach itself is capable of delivering high quality, accurate and timely data. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of the IT-based Optionfinder Technology used in conjunction with focus groups, in generating management decision-making data, and reflecting the changes in key performance indicators in a utility organisation. The case study research evaluates the innovative integrative approach adopted by the utility organisation and concludes that the proposed approach contributes to improvements in the decision-making capability of managers.