Use of Life Cycle Assesment to determine the environmental impact of thermochemical conversion routes of lignocellulosic biomass: state of the art.

Poster (2012, November 07)

Abstract: The biomass is a promising way to substitute fossil fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass valorisation is part of second generation technologies. They are interesting in that they imply less ... [more ▼]

Abstract: The biomass is a promising way to substitute fossil fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass valorisation is part of second generation technologies. They are interesting in that they imply less competition with food crops for land and water, and they allow for the whole plant to be processed. Moreover, lignocellulose is abundant in cheap and non-food materials extracted from plants such as wood and energy crops. The thermo-chemical route is being considered more extensively, especially the gasification process. This process converts carbonaceous biomass into combustible gases (CO, H2, CO2, CH4, and impurities) called syngas in the presence of a suitable oxidant. The syngas can be converted into a large range of products, such as diesel, via a Fischer-Tropsch process, or methanol, used for producing DME (dimethyl ether), both of which can serve as fuels in traditional motors. Syngas can also be used to produce ethylene and propylene, two building blocks for the chemical industry. Production of these four compounds is specifically investigated. In order to insure that, under the principle of sustainability, the use of lignocellulosic biomass is a viable alternative, its environmental impact must be accurately quantified. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology will be used in this regard for the gasification process. The gasification technology will be described, and a state of the art in LCA of the gasification process will be presented. Finally, the need for new research will be established. [less ▲]

Optimum design of low-cost housing in developing countries using nonsmooth simulation-based optimization

in Proceedings of the 28th International PLEA Conference (2012, November 07)

An optimum design of Low-cost housing (LCH) offers low-income urban inhabitants great opportunities to obtain a shelter at affordable price and acceptable indoor thermal conditions. In the present study ... [more ▼]

An optimum design of Low-cost housing (LCH) offers low-income urban inhabitants great opportunities to obtain a shelter at affordable price and acceptable indoor thermal conditions. In the present study, the design and operation of a low cost dwelling were numerically optimized using simulation-based approach in which a dynamic building simulation program (EnergyPlus) was coupled with the optimization engine (GenOpt). Three multi-objective cost functions which include construction cost, indoor thermal comfort and 50-year operating cost were applied for naturally ventilated (NV) and air-conditioned (AC) buildings. Optimization problem which consists of 18 building parameters combined with 6 ventilation strategies was examined by two population-based optimization algorithms (Particle Swarm optimization and Hybrid algorithm) to find optimum combinations among these variables. The results show that the design requirements of NV and AC dwellings are not quite similar, and in a few categories, even contradictory. Optimum design corresponding to each cost function was outlined. Results of this paper also show great potential of optimization in comfort improvement, energy saving, life cycle cost, up to 40%. [less ▲]

Domaine boisé du Sart Tilman (ULg) : Valorisation énergétique de la biomasse ligneuse en adéquation avec une gestion multifonctionnelle

Scientific conference (2012, November 06)

During winter 2010-2011, a forest inventory was performed within a part of the forest belonging to the University of Liège (ULg, Belgium) located near Sart Tilman. The aim of this inventory was to ... [more ▼]

During winter 2010-2011, a forest inventory was performed within a part of the forest belonging to the University of Liège (ULg, Belgium) located near Sart Tilman. The aim of this inventory was to quantify the fire-wood which is available for producing wood-chips. The results of the inventory and the production process of wood-chips are detailed. [less ▲]

L'évêché d'Eupen-Malmedy (1921-1925). Quelques considérations sur l'attitude de l'Eglise face aux "frères retrouvés" durant l'entre-deux-guerres

Conference given outside the academic context (2012)

Optimisation de l'utilisation des ressources en eau du bassin du Kou pour des usages agricoles

Doctoral thesis (2012)

Water is a priceless natural resource very sensitive to external factors and environmental degradation. It becomes more valuable as competing uses multiply. Therefore, integrated and cooperative water ... [more ▼]

Water is a priceless natural resource very sensitive to external factors and environmental degradation. It becomes more valuable as competing uses multiply. Therefore, integrated and cooperative water resources management is essential within a watershed. The Kou watershed (Burkina Faso) has significant water resources which are divided between domestic (water supply, etc.), agricultural (irrigation) and industrial uses. The hydro-agricultural context of the Kou watershed is marked by a perennial river, along which are located several agricultural areas. Over time, once satisfying water needs degraded to irrigation water deficits, mainly due to a reduction in water supply and an increase in irrigated farmland. Irrigation water deficits are mostly encountered in the more downstream agricultural areas. The socio-economic context is characterized by a growing trend for highly profitable and water consuming crops (e.g. banana). This further increases the irrigation water deficits, as well as the upstream-downstream water-sharing inequalities. In the context of the study area, the main factor that may influence the agricultural water withdrawals is the farmers' production system. The main hypothesis of the study was to verify whether these agricultural production systems could be the lever to optimize irrigation water use. The methodology of the study was to provide a sufficiently accurate knowledge of the water management system, so that improvements could be proposed. A decision support tool based on the ‘multi-agent systems’ approach (MAS) was developed in order to provide an answer to the problems of the study area’s water management by simulating management scenarios. The findings of the study showed (using the MAS tool) that through actions on agricultural production systems it is possible to optimize irrigation water withdrawals. Within the production systems, it is mainly changes in irrigation practices that have led to an optimization of the water management. Finally, the study showed that the use of MAS in resolving agricultural water management issues in the Kou watershed could be the starting point for a new approach in water management. This approach allows the effective integration of the consequences of farmers' decisions regarding water management. More generally MAS-based natural resources management tools provide a common representation of the environment within a model that can help raise awareness concerning a better management of these natural resources. [less ▲]

Plantes Médicinales Antipaludiques de l'île de la Réunion

Conference (2012, November 06)

L'accompagnement des séniors

Speech (2012)

La Palme d’or de Michael Haneke s’est imposée avec une flamboyante évidence à Cannes cette année. Beaucoup plus qu’une oeuvre cinématographique : un art, une invitation vibrante à se sublimer… La ... [more ▼]

La Palme d’or de Michael Haneke s’est imposée avec une flamboyante évidence à Cannes cette année. Beaucoup plus qu’une oeuvre cinématographique : un art, une invitation vibrante à se sublimer… La projection sera suivie d'une rencontre : « L'accompagnement des seniors » Avec le Professeur Jean Petermans, chef de service en gériatrie au CHU et Dorothée Feyers et Pierre Missotten, psychologues. "Amour" - un film de M. Haneke Musiciens à la retraite, Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) et Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) coulent des jours paisibles dans leur appartement parisien. On se fond avec plaisir dans leur intimité. À plus de 80 ans, ils ont du tact, une élégance naturelle, de la vivacité d’esprit et de la complicité chaleureuse. Le flux heureux de leur quotidien est brutalement interrompu par un accident vasculaire qui laisse Anne paralysée du côté droit. Georges va affronter la lente mais inéluctable dégradation de sa femme En sortant de la projection, au festival de Cannes, on avait la certitude que le film allait remporter la Palme. Mais cela nous semblait anodin à côté de la puissance dévastatrice de l’œuvre. On trouvait difficilement nos mots car le film nous avait transportés dans un territoire où il n’était plus question de goûts et couleurs ou de partis pris artistiques. Amour nous installe face à notre destinée, aborde notre décrépitude, notre cheminement vers l’agonie, la douleur, la déchéance. Mais en même temps, il évoque en permanence notre capacité à transcender les affres de l’existence grâce à l’amour et au don de soi. Ce film n’est évidemment pas une partie de franche rigolade. Mais il vous fera chavirer par sa force d’émotion, inscrite dans la chair des acteurs, par sa manière d’aller au cœur de ses personnages, attentif au moindre geste. Le film ne cache jamais les affres de la maladie sans pour autant être voyeur. Ce qui intéresse Haneke, c’est l’interaction entre ses deux protagonistes principaux, c’est leur parole, les détails de cette relation amoureuse qui s’est construite pendant 60 ans. Quand Georges décide de soigner sa femme et de l’accompagner dans son agonie, loin des yeux indiscrets et de l’acharnement des hôpitaux, il est habité par une certaine forme de sainteté ; une sainteté résolument terrestre, habitée par l’amour, le doute, la rage d’être impuissant. À la sempiternelle question de savoir si une œuvre d’art peut changer le monde, on répondra que des films de ce calibre nous invite à mieux vivre, tout simplement. (source : Les Grignoux) Réalisateur : Michael Haneke Acteurs : Emmanuelle Riva, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Isabelle Huppert Origine : France/Allemagne/Autriche Année : 2012 Durée : 2 h 06 Distributeur : Cinéart Version : Film parlant français Palme d’or - Festival de Cannes 2012 Infos pratiques : - 05.11 - 19h45 - Cinéma Sauvenière - Place en prévente au tarif habituel aux Cinémas Les Grignoux (Sauvenière / Parc / Churchill) [less ▲]

Quand la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme préserve le Conseil de sécurité au détriment de la Suisse

in Journal des Tribunaux (2012), 131(6495), 729-731

Observations sous CEDH (Grande Ch.), Nada c. Suisse, requête No. 10593/08, arrêt du 12 septembre 2012.

L’accompagnement professionnel à la lumière des enjeux de diversité

Conference given outside the academic context (2012)

Ordinal Rating of Network Performance and Inference by Matrix Completion

Report (2012)

This paper addresses the large-scale acquisition of end-to-end network performance. We made two distinct contributions: ordinal rating of network performance and inference by matrix completion. The former ... [more ▼]

This paper addresses the large-scale acquisition of end-to-end network performance. We made two distinct contributions: ordinal rating of network performance and inference by matrix completion. The former reduces measurement costs and unifies various metrics which eases their processing in applications. The latter enables scalable and accurate inference with no requirement of structural information of the network nor geometric constraints. By combining both, the acquisition problem bears strong similarities to recommender systems. This paper investigates the applicability of various matrix factorization models used in recommender systems. We found that the simple regularized matrix factorization is not only practical but also produces accurate results that are beneficial for peer selection. [less ▲]