This research evaluates granulator performance at GreenCycl B.V., focusing on particle breakage factors like size and material properties. It uses the discrete element method (DEM) and Tavares' breakage model for simulations. The granulator's geometry is modeled in SolidWorks and imported into EDEM.

Key research question: "How to improve granulating performance at GreenCycl B.V.?" Four geometries (Long Axis - 2 Cutting Blades, Long Axis - 3 Cutting Blades, Short Axis - 2 Cutting Blades, Short Axis - 3 Cutting Blades) are tested, with the Short Axis - 3 Cutting Blades being the most productive.

Further analysis of rotation speed and filling technique shows high rotation speed and simultaneous filling yield the best results, despite higher power consumption. The study provides insights for optimizing granulator performance to maximize productivity and efficiency at GreenCycl B.V.

There is a growing demand of various metals originating from the sustainable energy transition. The current supply and investments plans for these critical minerals are insufficient to enable this green energy transition. Other problems are the dependency of third countries and multiple drawbacks of land-mining. Deep-sea mining could be a great outcome, by collection of nodules on the seabed in the CCZ area. Different mining trials have been executed, but large-scale mining has not started yet. So far, there is no design guideline for a polymetallic nodule dry bulk (transshipment) terminal. The design and construction phase for a dry bulk terminal takes several years, therefore, the design of such a terminal should be investigated. This thesis will focus on the design of a transshipment terminal to accommodate these large-scale mining activities in the future. The logistics and location determination of this terminal are also taken into account. The thesis contains a case-study which is formed in collaboration with Allseas. For this case-study, the simulation-based approach is chosen to design the transshipment terminal. This approach integrates many stochastic variations, identifies bottlenecks, and allows for sensitivity analysis or ’what if’ scenarios. This method was compared to traditional design methods that rely on rules of thumb and practical experiences.

This research investigates several concepts for better powder handling at the infant formula factory of Nestlé in Nunspeet. By exploring the current state of the powder handling, the problem has been clearly defined. Several concepts have been developed using the analytic hierarchy process. A literature review has been done in order to determine how the concepts can be modelled in order to compare them. The literature review highlights that one of the concepts can be modelled as a new version of the Bin Packing Problem (BPP). The concepts are then modelled and compared by using KPIs. The research shows that storing one of the powders in silos and the other powders in a rented warehouse is the best solution for Nestlé.

The drilling industry faces the challenge of moving away from conventional maintenance strategies to maximise operational efficiency. This thesis introduces a holistic approach to land drilling rig Predictive Maintenance (PdM), integrating component maintenance into system-level decision-making. By taking the operations of the whole system into account, PdM can be applied more effectively, and the uptime of a drilling rig can be improved. A hierarchical Multi-Agent System (MAS) framework is proposed, employing two layers of agents for the core equipment of a drilling rig and one centralised system agent. Middle-level agents perform component diagnostics, prognostics, and operational state classification. The system agent uses expert reasoning for integrated maintenance scheduling. As a proof of concept, the proposed model is partially developed and validated, using readily available data and additional condition monitoring.
In the field research phase of this thesis, valve vibration signals were gathered from a mud pump during a geothermal drilling project in Delft. From these signals, dimensionless features were extracted and used in a Fuzzy Logic (FL) classifier combined with Weibull Accelerated Failure Time (WAFT) modelling for dynamic Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction. In the case study, where synthetic valve failure is induced in historical operational data, the model demonstrated its ability to predict these failures on time. Maintenance actions were suggested by the model when components reached 93% of their theoretical lifetime, preventing excessive maintenance and minimising disruption to drilling operations through integrated scheduling.

The escalating global demand for poultry products, coupled with the challenges of securing personnel for the often arduous tasks in poultry processing plants, has underscored the urgent need for automation in this sector. The inherent variability and delicate nature of poultry products, like chicken fillets, pose significant hurdles for traditional automation solutions. This research seeks to address this challenge by employing simulation-aided design to develop an automated solution for singulating and orienting chicken fillets. The study investigates existing technologies in poultry and other food industries and develops a practice-oriented Discrete Element Method (DEM) model to simulate chicken fillet behaviour. The model's efficacy is validated through a series of tests, including damping, bending, sliding, sensitivity analyses and real-life experiments. The insights gained from these simulations inform the design of an automated solution, which is then iteratively refined and visualised in the DEM software. The proposed solution successfully demonstrates the potential of simulation-assisted design to automate complex tasks within the poultry processing industry, paving the way for increased efficiency, productivity, and reduced reliance on manual labour. The research also underscores the importance of considering the unique characteristics of poultry products in developing effective automation solutions, highlighting the need for further exploration into advanced modelling techniques and material and interfacing equipment behaviour analysis.

Utilizing waste and wood pellets in gasification reactors is a promising solution to the waste and energy problem. However, plant shutdowns often occur due to failures in the feedstock handling systems. Unfortunately, research focusing on the flow properties and the impact of mechanical degradation on the flow properties of pellets is lacking. In this study, the flow properties of RDF, fresh wood pellets, and waste wood pellets with fines contents ranging from 0% to 30% were analyzed by Schulze Ring Shear Testing, angle of repose, angle of tilt, and Hausner ratio. The collected data was used to design a mass flow hopper and establish relationships between flowability and the angle of repose, angle of tilt, and Hausner ratio.

Our findings revealed that the fines fraction significantly influenced wall friction at a fines content of just 10%. The fines could increase or decrease the wall friction angle depending on the material. Additionally, the fines content adversely affected the flowability, with flowability reaching the flowability of the fines fraction at 30% fines content. Mixtures of RDF with waste or fresh wood pellets showed consistent wall friction and flowability similar to the base materials. We observed that a higher angle of repose, angle of tilt, and Hausner ratio indicated lower flowability. However, their predictive accuracy was limited, and we do not recommend relying on them for hopper design.

Throughout this literature research report, the influence of operational conditions during bulk storage on the mechanical characteristics of various inorganic, crystalline, day-to-day salts has been investigated, in order to make a prediction on the effect of operational conditions on the mechanical characteristics of sodium borohydride. Firstly, an analysis and selection of the various mechanical characteristics has been conducted. Secondly, an analysis of the chemical properties helped to select a list of materials that are chemically similar to sodium borohydride. Thirdly, an effort was made to compare these materials to sodium borohydride using the selected mechanical characteristics. Using the particle sizes, bulk densities and angles of repose, sodium borohydride could to a certain extent be linked to calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium carbonate and silicon dioxide. Lastly, an analysis on the effect of operational conditions on the mechanical characteristics of the materials has been conducted. No definitive conclusions could be drawn about the effect of the operational conditions on the mechanical characteristics of sodium borohydride.

Over the years the introduction of new Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) software into the design process allowed engineers to significantly shorten the time necessary to produce finished designs. There seems to be an agreement that using CAE tools shortens the time of the design process and improves the quality of finished products. Although, oftentimes in research it is the improvement in quality, which is focused on when presenting new tools. However, in an industrial setting, what also matters and is frequently the main concern are the improvements in time efficiency. It would be undesirable for the newly incorporated software to elongate the process.

In this study, the effects of incorporation of a new CAE tool on the design process is researched in an industrial setting. The opportunity, which allowed for this research is the incorporation of a new post-processing software for the finite element analysis Jan De Nul Marine Engineering and Design Department. In order for the new tool to be implemented, its effects on the design process should be tested. In order to do that, the methods of design were researched in order to find what is the current design methodology and its structure. This is done based on a case study, a draghead gantry for a trailing suction hopper dredger vessel. In this case study the equipment is designed according to the methodology used in the department. Based on the first design, the methodology of design used in the department was codified. Then, problems which were found in that process are addressed and a new design methodology is proposed based on the solutions, literature and adaptation to the new software. Next, the new design process is presented. Lastly, the results of both approaches are shown and compared.

This thesis contributes to the research of a complementary Truck Arrival Management system in order to increase the efficiency of the Liquid Bulk Terminal as a system in a global intermodal supply chain. Nowadays, terminals often suffer from congestion, despite the use of a Truck Arrival Management system. A Truck Arrival Management system controls truck arrivals at terminals. Currently, the Truck Appointment System is the most used and researched Truck Arrival Management system at terminals. The Truck Appointment System has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, Drop and Swap has been researched as second Truck Arrival Management system. A complementary Truck Arrival Management system
is developed and researched in which Truck Appointment System and Drop and Swap cooperate with the objective to overcome disadvantages and enhance benefits. The system should be capable to serve all kind of trucks within the global intermodal supply chain.

Grabs are essential in the process of unloading a bulk carrier by grabbing bulk material such as iron ore from the cargo hold. Due to varying operational conditions, the consistency and the amount of payload can vary significantly. One of the largest varying operational conditions is the occurrence of irregular bulk surfaces. Therefore, it is highly desired to attain a more predicable unloading capacity. This can be achieved by designing a hybrid grab which combines a regular grab with mechanical (rope) closing with an energy storage system that can deliver extra torque to increase the penetration depth. This hybrid grab will be designed by comparing its components on important assessment criteria and it will be analyzed if its stored energy provides more benefits than the additional weight of the hybrid grab mechanism over multiple grab cycles. Six hybrid grab concepts were formed by combining the sub solutions with several interconnection possibilities which resulted in a final concept score. The supercapacitor concept has been chosen as the main design based on the benefit of supercapacitors having the ability the absorb energy quickly and because the electrical system has the benefit to be connected in a smart system with interactive accelerator sensors input. To investigate the performance of the hybrid grab in terms of unloading capacity, several experiments were replicated with a new simulation setup. The average of unloading capacity of these simulations increased by 20.1%. It was found that for a SWL of 50 ton the hybrid grab could be activated half of the times. This resulted in an unloading capacity increase of 7.7% for the hybrid grab. The peak is reached for allowable load or SWL> 58 [ton] after which the hybrid grab is activated every cycle which results in a payload increase of 16.3%. These results show the excellent performance the hybrid grab can deliver when unloading a bulk carrier.

Due to the constant growth of global maritime shipping, the optimization of grabs used for unloading bulk carriers is more and more relevant. Especially for a coarse material like limestone, the average payload can be improved, by altering the grab design. It is suggested that the penetration and cutting depth of a grab can be improved, which will have a positive effect on the payload. This research is limited to the contact surface of the grab with the bulk material, the knife. Subsequently, the following research question is answered in this research:

How to enhance the penetration and cutting depth considering coarse cohesionless material?

This is done, by implementing a DEM model using the bulk calibration approach [1], several in situ
and laboratory experiments are performed to measure certain macro properties. The experiment is numerically replicated, and micro parameters are changed iteratively until the predicted macro response matches the desired results. A comprehensive study of similar papers considering the penetration resistance using a DEM model is executed, which resulted in selecting the penetration resistance and porosity as target variables. The particle shape of a DEM model has a significant influence on the bulk material behavior. The novelty of this research consists of doing a preliminary analysis before the final calibration process, in which several polyhedral and (multi)-spherical particle shapes are compared. For investigating the penetration resistance, a new test setup for in situ use is developed and constructed. The implementation of this setup proved to be successful, eleven data samples were collected. For the bulk density, an in situ and laboratory setup are compared, of which the laboratory setup proved to be more reliable. Several additional laboratory experiments are executed for the particle density, Particle Size Distribution (PSD) and wall friction. Using the results of the experiments, a DEM model is created, with which a preliminary analysis is done using extreme values of the calibration variables. Four spherical and four polyhedral shapes are compared, which resulted in the two-spherical shape begin the most optimal option. All the polyhedral shapes proved to be not fitting, especially due to their underestimation of the penetration resistance. Due to the high variance of the experimental penetration tests, two parameter sets with identical porosity are calibrated: one with a low resistance target, and one with a high resistance target. Using Design of Experiments (DoE) in combination with surrogate modelling with a linear regression, several optimal parameters sets are created, in which the uncertainty is considered as well. After selecting two optimal parameter sets, the simulations are verified by comparing the experiments and simulations qualitatively. Additionally, a quantitative verification using the stiffness of the force data of each time-step is performed as well. Using the calibrated models, an additional DEM model is created with a bigger particle bed, to investigate the penetration and cutting resistance. By altering the geometry of the knife, a decrease in resistance was achieved, mainly in the cutting phase. It is recommended to consider the flowing behavior of limestone as well, with which a complete material model can be calibrated and validated, and full-scale simulations can be performed.

Despite the technological improvements in the dredging industry in the last decades, there are components that have not been investigated accordingly. One of them is the bow coupling bend pipe which can be found on trailing suction hopper dredgers. In contrast to most pipelines, the specific bend pipe is not only a means of transport for the dredged material but has a structural role, as well. Currently, it provides support to the subsequent pipes, which have no other connection to the vessel than the bow coupling bend pipe. Moreover, the abrasive nature of the slurry causes severe wear in the dredging pipes, with even more damage in bend pipes. These two factors lead to the relatively frequent replacement of a large amount of material, which also translates to an uneconomical procedure.

The objective of this thesis is to explore the potential of designing a new bow coupling bend pipe, which focuses on the reduction of the replaced material and the extension of its lifetime. This can be achieved by analysing the two aforementioned factors, in order to improve the management of the original material, resulting in an economical solution.

This study does not only analyse the design of bow coupling but also contributes to the understanding of slurry wear in bend pipes. Precisely, the report starts with a thorough explanation of slurry transport, describing also the three mechanisms of slurry wear and the parameters that influence the wear rates in a bend pipe. Furthermore, a literature review on the wear profile of bend pipes takes place in order to determine the expected wear pattern in the bow-coupling bend pipe. A total of five different wear zones are proposed to
describe the wear rates in specific areas in the bend. The lack of research on slurry wear in large-scale bend pipes necessitated the use of assumptions to adapt the literature outcome on the bow coupling bend pipe. The information obtained from that research is used for the development of various concepts, considering also other aspects that contribute to the main goal of the thesis. Several concepts are investigated and compared based on the priorities of the project. The final design is further discussed, proceeding to modifications that improve its performance. The final geometry and materials of the system are defined in the finite element analysis. To do that, company guidelines and related standards were used to define the loads on the system as well as required realistic scenarios in which the design had to prove its structural feasibility. Finally, before providing recommendations for future work, the proposed design is compared with the current one, highlighting improvements in the three aspects of the thesis objective.

In particular, using almost 60% of the material required for the current design, the new solution extends the bend pipe’s lifetime at least three times. That proves the remarkable effectiveness of the new design in the management of the pipe material, which is also directly linked with economic benefit. It is estimated that the capital expenditure of the new system will be twice as high as the current case, while the replacement cost is reduced by about half.

The European Union has set itself the target of becoming climate neutral by 2050 through a series of policies affecting industries such as the energy sector. This sector will be subject to considerable change with renewable energies set to replace fossil fuels. However, the EU will not be able to solely rely on its domestic production of renewable energies. An option would be to import from Africa as it is close to Europe, while it has considerable potential in terms of renewable energies. Therefore, this research addresses the following question: How can Africa-EU hydrogen and biomass supply chains contribute to the greening of the EU’s energy mix by 2050 while contributing to Africa’s renewable energy development? This question is answered by assessing two renewable energy supply chains: biomass and hydrogen. This study uses the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis framework to investigate these intercontinental supply chains. The research identifies the top-three African countries based on parameters relevant to both supply chains, such as their existing energy infrastructure, transport infrastructure and natural resources. The three best performing countries for each supply chain are assessed based on their potential biomass and hydrogen production and exports to the EU by 2050 considering distinct scenarios (realistic and ambitious) for each energy product. The scenarios account for the size of the EU’s demand for biomass and hydrogen respectively in 2050, with hydrogen also containing an average scenario taking into account the average of the forecasted EU energy demanded in existing research. The results show that the best suited African countries for the export of biomass to the EU are Morocco, Egypt and South Africa, while for hydrogen these include Morocco, Egypt and Algeria. It is also found that in a realistic scenario, 5,7% of the EU’s import demand for biomass and 100% of its import demand for green hydrogen could be fulfilled by the top three supplier countries in each case. In the average hydrogen scenario, 33,7% of the EU’s import demand would be fulfilled. For the ambitious scenario, 4% of the biomass import demand and 4,2% of the EU’s hydrogen import demand would be met. The lower percentages of coverage in the ambitious scenario are due to the significantly larger demand of biomass and hydrogen with respect to the realistic scenario. The research finds that across all scenarios, African countries will be able to meet their own demand for biomass and hydrogen through domestic production, except for South Africa which will not be able to fulfil its demand entirely by itself. Additionally, the research highlights important policy areas which need to be considered, which include setting clearer goals for biomass and hydrogen, and encouraging the development of renewable energy demand in Africa and the EU.

Over 5000 offshore wind turbine generators have been installed in the past decades. 80% of these wind turbines have a monopile foundation. Monopiles are hollow steel tubular piles with a diameter of up to 10m. The first phase of the monopile installation consists of the self-weight penetration into the seabed due to the mass of the monopile. Followed by the placement of the hammer, which installs the piles to the designated depth. A scour protection is deposited near the piles to avoid erosion (scour holes) around the monopiles. The scour protection consists of rock material with different size gradations and densities. Generally, the scour protection is installed in two campaigns. The first campaign consists of the installation of smaller rocks (filter layer), followed by the installation of bigger rocks (armour layer). Between these two campaigns, the monopile is installed through the filter layer. To achieve a more time-efficient installation sequence, in some projects a full scour protection (single layer) is deposited prior to the installation of the monopile. However, the technical feasibility of monopile installation through a scour protection has not been researched. Within practice, difficulties arise during the installation of monopiles through a single layer of scour protection. This leads to timely and costly delays.
This thesis contributes by use of simulations, to study the technical feasibility of monopile installation through scour protection. With a focus on the scour protection behavior in the first phase of the installation, where the monopile penetrates the seabed due to its mass, so-called self-weight penetration.
During monopile self-weight penetration, physical processes within the subsoil, scour protection, and monopile wall create penetration resistance. The most important physical processes during monopile self-weight penetration are identified using literature:
• The development of tip resistance due to the scour protection layer.
• The development of shaft resistance due to the scour protection layer.
• The self-weight penetration due to the weight and dimensions of the monopile.
• The interaction between the monopile wall and the scour protection rock and inter-rock interaction (interlocking, rotation, breaking, and protrusion of the subsoil).
The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is considered most suitable for the representation of the scour protection behavior and is an effective method for addressing engineering problems in granular materials. The most important reason for using DEM is due to the discontinuous behavior of the scour protection material.
The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is considered most suitable for the representation of the scour protection behavior. DEM is an effective method for addressing engineering problems in granular materials. The most important reason for using DEM is due to the discontinuous behavior the scour protection materials.
To set up the simulation, calibrated DEM input parameter sets are required to recreate reliable bulk behavior. These parameter input sets are found with the use of two Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the bulk material: the porosity and the angle of repose. These KPIs are included because they represent the inter particle frictional resistance to movement. With the calibrated input sets combined with data from a case study, the Full-Scale Monopile Simulation is set up. Consistent with the case study, the simulation is designed using a monopile with a tip diameter of 8m and a wall thickness of 0.08m. The seabed consists of a sandy subsoil and a scour protection on top.
To achieve a realistic stable simulation with a reasonable computational time, experiments are executed. Within an experimental design, a reference simulation is developed, followed by a parameter sensitivity analysis. The most important conclusions of the parameter sensitivity analysis are:
• When using an 8m diameter monopile, a minimum simulation domain of 12*12m2 is recommended. Resulting in a minimum of 2m space around the monopile.
• A subsoil is required for successful penetration through the scour protection layer.
• The subsoil input parameters are of significant influence on the penetration behavior of the monopile, due to the rock penetration into the subsoil.
• The scour protection thickness can be included as a variable parameter.
To verify whether the reference simulation properly represents practice, a qualitative validation is executed using the case study. Successful penetration is achieved within both the reference simulation and the case study. However, the current simulation does not present a comparable depth over time correlation. An underestimation of the penetration resistance is observed. Increasing the rolling resistance and therefore limiting the angular velocity of the particles results in higher penetration resistance. Restricting the angular velocity of the scour protection completely, results in an unsuccessful penetration.
Further research should focus on representative penetration resistance of the scour protection, combined with an alternative and more representative inclusion of the subsoil. Furthermore, the validation should be elaborated using adequate data from practice.

Tummers Food Processing Solutions is an internationally operating company based in the Netherlands, that sells factory lines for processing tuberous products like potatoes. Before being processed into various products, the incoming tuber batches are always washed and cleaned from waste particles like clods, stones and haulm. For this purpose washing lines consisting out of different machines are used. Every processing application, customer and kind of input product results in different requirements regarding the machines, options and their configuration. Currently for every customer a tailor made machine line is designed, consisting out of customised machines based on the expertise of the corresponding sales agent and the engineer that designs the machines. This results in individually designed machines, friction between different departments and mistakes in drawings, parts lists, manufacturing, documentation and others. Once installed on site, the machine line is controlled by machine operators that keep the factory operational but are not optimising the performance and efficiency of the machine line nor conduct preventive maintenance. To tackle both the issues on the company and the customer side, the strategy for designing these tuber washing lines has to be turned into adaptive machine line design. Adaptive machine line design is a combination of modular design and smart factory engineering. Machine lines are customer specifically configured out of standardised modules and controlled by smart systems to optimize performance and efficiency and predict maintenance.

Because potatoes are by far the most commonly processed product, followed up by carrots, this research focusses on potato washing lines with some specific side notes for processing carrots. Based on sales records and customer preferences, a set of standardised machine models and options is defined as the machine portfolio. This portfolio consists out of ten different machines, each available in different sizes, with waste and product streams to different directions and other standardised options. A jigsaw puzzle model can be made where this machine portfolio is build up as a set of puzzle pieces. For every different application a set of these puzzle pieces can be chosen from the portfolio and connected in different configurations. To determine which machines with which options to choose from the portfolio in which order, a model can be used. This model is based on a set of input- output relations and first set up as a decision scheme after which it is modeled in LabView as a basic machine line configurator. The model is then used to configure machine lines for five different examples. Each example is an existing order with differences in customer specific wishes, input and output characteristics and boundary conditions regarding factory layout and peripheral equipment. With help of these five examples the model is iteratively checked and improved after which the amount of customer specific engineering is determined that still needs to be performed after standardising of the machines.

A first layer of a Digital Twin for smart control of the washing line is designed. This control strategy is based on the Key Performance Indicators of the washing line and their relations between them. Based on open or closed loop control, a set of control schemes is created for each machine that requires smart control.

A thorough analysis of the costs and benefits of implementing a modular design strategy for the tuber washing lines shows that huge amounts of man hours can be saved after implementation. Next to these savings in labour, less mistakes will be made in the design and manufacturing of the machines which improves the professional image of the company and lowers friction between different departments and stress on the workfloor. Due to significant savings in replacing wear sensitive parts, reduced factory downtime, loss of product in waste streams and reduced operator wadges, installing a system for smart control can easily be earned back in the first year of operations. All and all changing the design strategy for tuber washing lines to adaptive machine line design is very promising for both the machine line manufacturer as for the customer.

Ground Support Equipment (GSE) fleets must be made more sustainable to contribute to the achievement of emission stabilisation and reduction goals for a growing aviation sector. Electrification of GSE offers great opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, thereby increasing sustainability. This research focuses on how to design an airport service infrastructure for sustainable refueling of aircraft using electric refuelers. Although important for the design of such infrastructure, current literature fails to investigate potential emission reduction as a result of implementing electric GSE in mixed fleets with conventionally fueled GSE. Therefore, this work presents the development of a capacity model that quantifies the performance of sustainable refueling service infrastructures, consisting of partially (or fully) electrified fleets and charging points, in terms of annual CO2e emissions. Using future flight schedules as input, this algorithm models the activity of electrified refueler fleets taking charging downtime and forecasted airport growth into account. Model outputs provide insights in future fleet size, fleet mix and charging infrastructure requirements on a tactical level to achieve carbon emission goals for refueler fleets on a strategic level. As capital investments have to be made to electrify refueler fleets, the effect on the Total Cost of Ownership for ground handlers is investigated as well. The entire model functions as an essential input for future airport design related to aircraft services.

The potential for the production of green energy in the Netherlands is insufficiently utilized. The cause for this problem is the insufficient bearing capacity of industrial roofs for the installation of solar panels using ballast. This required ballast exceeds the bearing capacity of the roof structure, or exceeds the bearing capacity of the weak sections. To solve this problem, a new self-supporting and foldable solar panel system has been designed.
Research into roofs with insufficient bearing capacity, gained an insight in the different spans required for the system. Several existing foldable solar panel systems were found, together with lightweight solutions for roofs with low bearing capacity. Finally, a patent research revealed no patents causing infringements with the current support system design.
The solar panel support system has been designed with two functionalities. The first functionality of the system, is that it has been designed as a lattice structure. In this way, the system becomes a self-supporting structure, capable of spanning the weak sections of the roof. Another advantage of the lattice structure is, the required ballast is eliminated. The second functionality of the system is that it is foldable. In this way the installation time, and the required space for transportation, is reduced.
To determine the behaviour of the support system, a prototype test is executed. This prototype test will subsequently be used for the validation of the Finite Element Model. For the test, four A-frames have been assembled, after which several loads were applied. After applying each load, the deflection, reaction forces and tension forces in the steel cables were measured.
Validation of the simplified Finite Element Model is required, to determine if the model accurately shows the behaviour of the system. Validation is executed by comparing the measured quantities during the prototype test, with the model in the same conditions. After adjustments to the model, the model accurately represents the behaviour of the support system, and is therefore validated.
The validated model is used to analyse the support system according to snow and wind loads. For these analyses, a case study is executed based on an example from industry of a roof with insufficient bearing capacity. Several problem areas became apparent during the analysis of this case study. To solve these problems, design adjustments to the current design are proposed.
In this research, a method for the validation of a Finite Element Model using an experimental test for a self-supporting and foldable solar panel system is executed. It became also apparent that a test was required to adjust the model and accurately represent the behaviour of the system. This approach can also be used for different type of loadings, or can be beneficial or applicable to other systems.
With this model, future analyses for different cases can be executed and a contribution towards the production of renewable energy has been made. Re-analyses of the support system with the proposed design adjustments is required to determine if these adjustments are sufficient. Further optimization of the design can be executed using the suggested optimization techniques. For the application of the support system outside the Netherlands, recalculation of the system according to the applicable standards for snow and wind loads is required.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is considered an essential solution to reaching climate goals. The two main identified transport modes in CCS, pipelines and ships, are widely compared to each other in the literature. This research contributes to the literature about the evaluation of transportation modes in CCS chains, by determining to what extent electrified ships can play a role in CCS. This is not studied before. This research is executed by following the Systems Engineering approach, in particular the SIMIE process. In a proposed point-to-point network for onshore transportation, mainly general diesel-propelled barges would perform with the lowest costs per ton, whereby the distance ranges from 25 km up to 250 km. As longer the distances, more Tank-to-Wheel (TTW) emissions savings could be obtained if barge transport is electrified. Identifying the most accurate emissions reporting method and performing operational validation for modelling the transport modes and trajectories could provide the obtained results with more scientific and practical robustness.

As part of the fatigue assessment of a stinger, member loads on tubular joints are determined with a beam model. A beam model is a simplified method of modelling complex structures out of circular hollow sections. In a standard beam model, no attention is paid to modelling the tubular joint itself. In the model, beam elements of the braces are extended from the surface of the chord to the centerline of the chord. This connection is considered as rigid. In reality, tubular joints possess considerable elastic flexibility through local deformation of the chord wall. It is suggested that modelling local joint flexibly leads to a reduction of member-loads and thereby an increase of predicted fatigue life. A method to determine and model local joint flexibility in a beam model is developed. A numerical test-case is performed to investigate the influence of modelling LJF on the predicted fatigue life of the braces in the stinger. As effect of modelling LJF, the accumulated fatigue damage in the critical hot spots of the braces has changed with factor 0.29 up to factor 2.88. This would result in a change in predicted fatigue of factor 0.35 up to 3.45 as effect of modelling LJF.