Innovations
Vol. 12 (2024), Issue 3

Table of Contents

  • THEORETICAL PROBLEMS IN INNOVATIONS

  • INNOVATION POLICY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

    • Waste-to-energy solutions for bulgaria’s industrial and municipal waste management

      pg(s) 89-94

      This paper evaluates the potential of waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions in managing industrial and municipal waste in Bulgaria. It provides an overview of current WtE technologies, including thermal, biochemical, and innovative processes, and assesses their applicability within the Bulgarian context. The study highlights environmental and economic benefits such as reduced landfill use, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and energy recovery. By examining successful implementations in Bulgaria and other EU countries, the paper identifies key challenges and opportunities for scaling WtE solutions. The findings suggest that with the right policy support and investment, WtE can significantly contribute to sustainable waste management in Bulgaria

    • Industry 4.0 and human resources management

      pg(s) 95-98

      A theoretical analysis of Industry 4.0’s effects on human resources management (HRM) is provided in this article. It looks at the potential and difficulties presented by the digital revolution, emphasizing the necessity of Smart HR 4.0. Workforce planning, job design, hiring, and staff development in response to emerging technologies like AI and big data are some of the major issues that have been studied. The significance of Education 4.0 in educating the labor force for jobs of the future is also emphasized in the essay. It emphasizes the necessity of HRM methods that change to meet Industry 4.0’s changing demands.

    • Evaluation of the performance of garment production company using energy key performance indicators

      pg(s) 99-101

      Monitoring and acting on basic energy consumption data in garment production does not provide information about performance improvement. The use of an energy Key Performance Indicator or metric is an effective method for overseeing, analysing, and optimizing any process related to energy. Typically, these performance indicators are employed by manufacturers who rely on energy as a crucial input in their production. Nowadays, for all garment production companies in Albania, energy is a key input in production and all are interested in having low energy Key Performance Indicators.
      The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of a garment production company time to time, through energy Key Performance Indicators and discuss the results.
      The study has shown that the energy Key Performance Indicators help optimize any kind of energy relevant process and by comparing energy Key Performance Indicators the company performance can be evaluated time to time.
      From the results for two different periods, the second year showed better energy efficiency or performance. Comparing the Key Performance Indicators of the same months over two years resulted in a significant decrease in the second year, but however different factors can influence (the complication of models, operators leave, etc). Average Key Performance Indicator decreased by 68.38 percent in the second year. The company has been able to produce more and use less energy. The fastest and most cost-effective ways to save money can be achieved by utilizing energy more efficiently.
      Taking different measures led to a decrease in Key Performance Indicators (new efficient technologies, Photovoltaic system implementation, awareness raising, which will be discussed in future studies), which means better energy efficiency or performance.

  • THEORETICAL PROBLEMS IN INNOVATIONS

    • Prediction of consumed electricity in residential spaces

      pg(s) 102-104

      This report presents an approach for predicting energy consumption in a specific living space based on experimental data on the indoor microclimate. The data for the analysis of the temperature in the room and the external temperature of the environment is used for the period from 01.01.2016. until 31.12.2023, and a period of 18:00 – 24:00. Regression analysis is used to create a model for increasing energy consumption.

    • Smart Microfactory Concept Development at TTK UAS

      pg(s) 105-107

      The aim of this research is to develop and implement a smart microfactory concept for use in engineering studies as well as for the overall promotion of technical studies at TTK Tallinn University of Applied Sciences. The microfactory allows students to directly engage with a small-scale manufacturing cycle which includes many of the processes found in an actual industrial factory, such as production planning, material handling, quality control and production feedback and optimisation. Pencil sharpening was chosen as the production task. For this purpose, several devices were designed and manufactured which utilise a variety of different sensors and a collaborative robot UR3. The production unit also incorporates a manufacturing execution system (MES) that students can develop and refine themselves. Thanks to a hands-on approach which combines both theoretical studies and practical experience, students are able to observe the effect of their decisions to a production process in a miniature yet realistic environment.

    • Development of an eco-friendly commercial deep fryer with filter system

      pg(s) 108-111

      In commercial kitchens, deep fryers are essential for frying various foods, particularly frozen products. These appliances, available in multiple models and capacities, typically use gas or electricity and utilize significant amounts of cooking oil. For instance, a standard commercial deep fryer may have a cooking chamber with a capacity of 22 liters of oil. However, over time and with repeated use, the quality of the cooking oil deteriorates, leading to the formation of waste oil. This waste oil affects the quality of fried foods and presents significant environmental challenges. The improper disposal of waste oil contributes to environmental pollution, necessitating businesses’ careful management and disposal. In response to these concerns, our research and development (R&D) efforts have focused on designing and developing a novel eco-friendly commercial deep fryer with an integrated filter system. Unlike existing models in our product range, this innovative deep fryer is designed to achieve energy savings and reduce the amount of waste oil produced. Specifically, the new deep fryer has demonstrated energy savings of at least 25% compared to our current models. Additionally, this fryer can operate using alternative solid oil, offering further flexibility and sustainability in commercial kitchen operations.

    • Application of satellite technology in air pollution monitoring analysis of carbon monoxide measurements, pm10, pm2.5 levels and weather index

      pg(s) 112-115

      The use of satellite technology in monitoring air pollution has become increasingly important for understanding and managing environmental health. This article explores the advancements in satellite-based monitoring of air pollutants, specifically focusing on the measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and weather indices. Satellite remote sensing provides extensive spatial and temporal data, addressing the limitations of ground-based monitoring networks [1]. Recent studies show that geostationary satellites have great potential for continuous and wide-ranging monitoring of air quality. These satellites enable accurate estimation of surface concentrations of pollutants, allowing for real-time assessment and trend analysis [2]. The integration of satellite data with ground measurements improves the reliability of air quality monitoring systems [3]. The analysis also highlights the usefulness of satellite data in understanding the dynamics of air pollution, including the dispersion patterns and the impact of weather conditions on pollutant levels. The use of advanced satellite instruments, such as those on the Sentinel-5P satellite, has shown significant improvements in detecting and quantifying CO and particulate matter concentrations [4]. Overall, the application of satellite technology in air pollution monitoring not only provides valuable insights into pollutant levels but also supports the development of effective mitigation strategies and policies to protect public health [5].

    • RUF Guitars – innovative, carbon composite electric guitar design and production for enhanced ergonomics

      pg(s) 116-117

      The aim of the project is to develop an innovative line of electric guitars “RUF Guitars” made of composites. The guitars will be characterized by unprecedented ergonomy, weight and will contain a number of improvements not offered by the competition. Key innovations included: ultra-thin griffin (less than 15mm), significantly reduced weight (less than 1,5kg), protection of the griffin with nanosilver particles reducing sweating of the hand, increased stiffness of the griffin and resistance to temperature and humidity changes and innovative design solutions.