Showing papers by "Fraunhofer Society published in 2022"

Mastering the digital transformation through organizational capabilities: A conceptual framework

Abstract: As digital transformation is changing entire industries, organizations are struggling to keep up with these changes. Scholars are viewing organizational capabilities as a central mean for organizations to master digital transformation. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this study identifies a broad set of relevant organizational capabilities and introduces a conceptual framework in which organizational capabilities are clustered into seven relevant themes for managing digital transformation. These capabilities are then embedded in the logic of the dynamic capability theory, highlighting the development of organizational capabilities throughout the digital transformation process. The results reveal that a differentiated perspective on the digital transformation process is beneficial to account for changing needs of organizational capabilities during the transformation process. Just as organizations themselves change during the process, various capabilities at different time points are needed to support and enable organizations during digital transformation. The developed conceptual framework gives organizations guidance for the development of organizational capabilities throughout the digital transformation process.

Interleaved Planar Packaging Method of Multichip SiC Power Module for Thermal and Electrical Performance Improvement

Abstract: Double-sided cooling based on planar packaging method features better thermal performance than traditional single-sided cooling based on wire bonds. However, this method still faces thermal and electrical challenges in multichip SiC power modules. Specifically, one is severe thermal coupling among parallel bare dies, and the other is unbalanced current sharing due to unreasonable layout design. This article aims to explore the potentials of SiC power devices in power module, which are higher current capability and reliability. The proposed packaging method is called interleaved planar packaging and can get rid of the optimizing contradiction between thermal and electrical performance. In this packaging method, there are two functional units: interleaved switch unit and current commutator structure. Benefited from the two units’ electromagnetic and thermal decoupling effects, the interleaved power module features low loop inductance, balanced current, low coupling thermal resistance, and even thermal distributions. A 1200 V 3.25 mΩ half-bridge SiC power module based on interleaved planar packaging is fabricated and tested to verify this method's superiority.

Why electricity market models yield different results: Carbon pricing in a model-comparison experiment

Abstract: The European electricity industry, the dominant sector of the world's largest cap-and-trade scheme, is one of the most-studied examples of carbon pricing. In particular, numerical models are often used to study the uncertain future development of carbon prices and emissions. While parameter uncertainty is often addressed through sensitivity analyses, the potential uncertainty of the models themselves remains unclear from existing single-model studies. This study investigates such model-related uncertainty by running a structured model comparison experiment, which exposes five numerical power sector models to aligned input parameters—finding stark model differences. At a carbon price of 27 EUR/t in 2030, the models estimate that European power sector emissions will decrease by 36–57% when compared to 2016. Most of this variation can be explained by the extent to which models consider the market-driven decommissioning of coal- and lignite-fired power plants. Higher carbon prices of 57 and 87 EUR/t yield a stronger decrease in carbon emissions, by 45–75% and 52–80%, respectively. The lower end of these ranges can be attributed to the short-term fuel switch captured by dispatch-only models. The higher reductions correspond to models that additionally consider market-based investment in renewables. By further studying cross-model variation in the remaining emissions at high carbon prices, the representation of combined heat and power is identified as another crucial driver of differences across model results.

Anodic production of hydrogen peroxide using commercial carbon materials

Abstract: The electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from water is an appealing alternative to substitute the classic anthraquinone process. Herein, we show a process development to maximize the efficiency of the anodic production of H2O2. Carbon materials were used as anodes to optimize process parameters such as current density, electrolyte concentration, and the pH. We found that the electrolyte concentration, pH, and the presence of a chemical stabilizer have a substantial effect on the selectivity of water oxidation to H2O2. The addition of Na2SiO3 as a stabilizer increased the H2O2 production significantly at high pH regimes. A direct relationship between CO32− ion activity and enhanced production of H2O2 was also observed. We report H2O2 concentrations in the anolyte up to 33 mmol L−1 at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 using commercial and low-cost carbon fiber paper.

Guilty pleasures: Moral licensing in climate-related behavior

Abstract: This research provides evidence for moral-licensing effects in climate-related behavior. We recruited individuals who had not travelled by airplane for private reasons during the past two years (Study 1, n = 854) or had invested in an energetic refurbishment of their homes (Study 2, n = 596) and investigated feelings and intentions toward two different problematic behaviors, namely meat consumption (Study 1) and air travel (Study 2). In a paradigm where the order of topics in the survey was varied systematically, being reminded of past climate-friendly behavior decreased the discomfort about ongoing problematic climate-related behavior in another domain (Study 1) and reduced the motivation to change the latter behavior or to mitigate its consequences (Study 2). Strength and direction of the effect were moderated by factors such as concern about climate protection, personal relevance of the problematic behavior, as well as time since and pride about the climate-friendly behavior.

What drives the utility of shared transport services for urban travellers? A stated preference survey in German cities

Abstract: The supply of shared mobility solutions has been increasing during the last years, so has the popularity of Mobility-as-a-Service. Both promise an easy access to and usage of shared vehicles or shared rides. Nevertheless, usage of these services remains low in German cities. Hence, the question arises: what determines the utility of travellers regarding shared modes and how is this different to conventional modes? To answer this, we conduct a stated preference experiment amongst 1,445 respondents (8,670 observations). The sample is drawn from residents of the 83 largest cities in Germany. We consider four shared (e-scooter-, bike-, carsharing, and ridepooling) and three conventional modes (walking, private car, and public transport). We estimate a mixed logit model and calculate the respective value of travel time (VoT) as well as the value of access, egress, and parking search time. The importance of the individual attributes is analysed drawing on a part-worth analysis. Further, we calculate average treatment effects to show simulated mode-choice probability changes. We find that costs are more important than travel time for carsharing and ridepooling whilst they are equally important for the remaining modes. For shared services, access is more important than egress. Moreover, among the shared services, e-scootersharing shows the highest VoT (23.73 EUR/h), followed by bikesharing (18.53 EUR/h). Finally, cost changes to private cars and public transport show the highest simulated shifting potential with carsharing profiting most from cost increases in these two modes.

On the size dependence of the dielectric breakdown strength of solid insulators at room temperature

Abstract: The dielectric breakdown strength of solid insulators is usually dependent on the dimensions of the sample. In particular, for “thick” insulating sheets, the dielectric breakdown strength is often found to be roughly proportional to the inverse of the square root of the sample thickness. In this contribution, the hypothesis is examined that the latter type of size dependence is related to electric field inhomogeneities associated with the geometrical electrode configuration. In order to test the hypothesis, DC dielectric breakdown experiments have been performed for alumina ceramic sheets of different thicknesses ranging from 0.25 mm to 2 mm for both polarities and voltage ramp rates in the range between 0.1 and 5.8 kV/s. An electrode configuration has been used which allows for an analysis of the local electric field enhancement at the electrode edge in terms of fracture mechanics concepts. It is concluded from a comparison of experimental and theoretical results that the mentioned dependence of the dielectric breakdown strength on sample thickness is likely related to electrode edge effects.

Femtosecond laser-induced transformation mechanism from 1D groove structure to 2D microholes structure on the surface of Zr-based metallic glasses

Abstract: Laser induced micro-nano texture formation on the surface of solid materials has become a research hotspot in the field of material surface modification. However, due to its extremely easy crystallization characteristics, the study of laser-induced surface modification of bulk amorphous alloy lags behind. In this study, femtosecond laser was used to induce one-dimensional LIPSS (Laser-induced periodic surface structures), SWPSS (Super-wavelength periodic surface structure), a mixed state structure of LIPSS + SWPSS and two-dimensional self-organized microholes structure on surface of the Zr55Cu16Ni15Ti10Al4 bulk amorphous alloy. The numerical difference between LIPSS, SWPSS and self-organized microholes structure in different dimensions such as period, groove width, profile height, etc. were compared, and the roughness of different micro-nano textures and the size of surface undulations were evaluated. The effects of different process parameters on the formation and transformation of micro-nano texture on the surface of zirconium bulk amorphous alloys were investigated. The mechanism of the transformation from LIPSS to SWPSS and finally to two-dimensional self-organized microholes structure was analyzed in detail. Finally, Escherichia coli was cultured on the amorphous surface of Zr-based metallic glasses with different structure. To examine the effect of micro-nano texture on the antibacterial properties of Zr-based metallic glasses surfaces. It is found that the self-organized microholes structure has the best effect in reducing the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of the material.

Co-crystallized sucrose-soluble fiber matrix: Physicochemical and structural characterization

Abstract: Dietary fibers are often under-consumed worldwide, even though their health benefits are already established in dietary guidelines, which recommend their daily intake of 25–30 g. Increasing the supply of fiber-enriched food products is a way to improve consumers’ daily intake. This study proposes the development of a mixed sucrose/erythritol/fiber matrix, particulate as a crystalline solid aggregate by the co-crystallization process to be used as a fiber-delivery ingredient in formulations with partial sugar reduction. The co-crystal was physicochemical and structurally characterized and compared to their individual components. The results indicated the formation of a sugar-based structure with fiber entrapped (29.8 g/100 g of co-crystals, db), presenting 5.33% of moisture content, 0,564 of water activity, and good flow properties. DSC thermogram displayed an endothermic transition peak at 187.31 °C, similar to the melting temperature of sucrose, suggesting the maintenance of the crystalline structure after co-crystallization and confirmed by X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectral profile. Morphological images showed small cluster agglomerates with a covering layer on structure, indicating the presence of the fiber in the matrix. Thus, co-crystallization constitutes an alternative process for the production of particulate crystalline solid containing fiber, being a great alternative to food ingredients in less sugar-added and fiber-enriched products.