Sharif Digital Repository

Cultural and social problems in the modern age have motivated many thinkers to analyze modernity. Some of them have tried to solve these problems and, if possible, prevent their occurrence in the future. Proposed solutions are mostly dystopian, i.e. by being disappointed, they think the only possible way to overcome these problems is to annihilate modern civilization, or they pursue a passive approach; i.e. they have accepted the problems of modernity but only seek a way to mitigate its challenges. Among these, solutions which try to make use of the capacities of the modern civilization, especially emerging technologies, are really scarce. These approaches seek to realize (and make... 

In this thesis, we will take a more profound study about what technology is and the relationship between technology development and society. We will discuss various theories such as the social construction of technology, the heterogeneous engineerings approach, the system approach, and the co-construction of society and technology. In this way, the relationship between economic and social systems and technological products is explained and based on this, an approach is proposed in relation to the ethical challenges in technology with a focus on social networks. The discussion is about the fact that due to the continuous use of technologies, a challenge may be raised in the technology... 

Does the direct involvement of social values in science, damage the reliability of scientific claims? Using recent debates in the relation between science and value, I will try to answer this question. Over the past few years, it has been shown that values can play a role in justifying scientific knowledge. People like Jeffrey and Betz try to take values out of science using methodological advice; while others, like Douglas, argue that values cannot and should not be excluded from science. If we accept the presence of values, there must be limits to their involvement, or we will fall to chaotic state. One of the concepts that can help us to regulate the behavior of values, is the reliability... 

In this thesis, we will take a more profound study about what technology is and the relationship between technology development and society. We will discuss various theories such as the social construction of technology, the heterogeneous engineerings approach, the system approach, and the co-construction of society and technology. In this way, the relationship between economic and social systems and technological products is explained and based on this, an approach is proposed in relation to the ethical challenges in technology with a focus on social networks. The discussion is about the fact that due to the continuous use of technologies, a challenge may be raised in the technology... 

Variable speed wind turbines (VSWTs) provide the capability of wide speed operation and independent control of active and reactive power. In contrast to the fixed speed WTs, they have higher efficiency, power quality and controllability. VSWTs are mainly divided in two categories: WTs based on doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) and WTs based on full converter with permanent magnet synchronous generator.
At now, among the different alternatives to obtain VSWTs, DFIGs are the most commonly used. This is because the voltage source converter (VSC) in DFIG has to handle a fraction of the total power under steady state conditions, and thus the size and cost of the converter is reduced.... 

Tipping points occur in diverse systems in various disciplines such as ecology, climate science, economy, sociology, and engineering. Critical thresholds in system parameters or state variables at which a tiny perturbation can lead to a qualitative change in the system exist in many subsystems in complex systems. These thresholds are called tipping points, and these subsystems are called tipping elements. Additionally, many systems with tipping points can be modeled as networks of coupled multistable subsystems. Domino-like tippings are called tipping cascades. Considering that these tipping cascades are primarily unprecedented, it is essential to study the dynamics and control of these... 

Recent studies in various fields such as the environment, climate, economics, and neuroscience have shown that many systems exhibit dynamic responses based on catastrophic shifts—sudden and unexpected changes in the system's state and behavior in response to environmental changes. One of the simplest cases of these shifts occurs when the dynamical bifurcation diagram of a system has a tipping point, which serves as a critical threshold for system parameters, allowing small disturbances to lead to significant changes in the system's state. Research on many natural systems has revealed that tipping elements as the subsystems of a complex system are not independent, and the tipping of one... 

Implementation of various incentive-based demand response strategies has great potential to decrease peak load growth and customer electricity bill cost. Using advanced metering and automatic demand management makes it possible to optimize energy consumption, to reduce grid loss, and to release generation capacities for the sake of providing sustainable electricity supply, and reducing electricity bills for the customers. With these objectives, this thesis examines the previously suggested load scheduling programs in both residential and industrial sectors, and proposes new practical strategies for load management. This thesis has mainly focuses on three subdivisions of load management... 

The main purpose of this thesis is to analyze the total productive maintenance based on computerized maintenance management system. At first, a detailed study on total productive maintenance is performed and then the requirements of this maintenance strategy are specified. Also, a computerized maintenance management system is defined which can help total productive maintenance to reach to its requirements. Finally, a conceptual model and entity-relationship model for computerized maintenance management system data base has been created  

In this thesis, DC transmission of offshore wind farms is studied thoroughly. Various system configurations that are introduced in the literatures are discussed and their control scheme for normal conditions and grid faults are studied. Then, the HVDC transmission based on voltage source converter, located between a local offshore ac grid and the onshore ac system is investigated as the most practical choice. The HVDC linke circuit elements are calculated and the control strategies of the offshore and onshore converters are introduced. DFIGs are considered to be the best choice for the offshore wind turbine generators. Then, the system is simulated and the frequency of the offshore grid is... 

The main aim of this thesis is to develop the technical knowledge of designing and making active ingredients of domestically produced drugs, decreasing the costs, independency in producing these products, and checking outflow of currency. It also aims to reduce the financial challenges of patients who have to pay huge amounts for such drugs. Conducting research in the field of reverse engineering and using its definition, and attempt in made to get knowledge into the stages of product development process, to determine the technical standards associated with each stage, to recognize how knowledge is shared during this process, and to present some methods of establishing the infrastructure... 

Increase in growing concerns over environmental pollution and depletion of fossil fuel resources motivate the need for cleaner energy technologies and stimulate research in facilitating renewable energy systems. In recent years, photovoltaic systems have attracted great attention since they remove the need for energy storage systems and intermediate processess for energy conversion. However, high capital cost, low efficiency and low energy density per area of these systems, as compared with other technologies hinder its industrial use. To surmount these bottlenecks and improve technical performance of PV systems, it is crucial to optimize configuration of convertor connection and to improve... 

One of the main objectives in operating a power system is to maintain the system voltage properly to avoid equipment damage and transfer power efficiently. Automatic control of transmission network voltage provides significant improvements in security, quality and efficiency of power system operation. This thesis investigates coordinated voltage control of power systems in normal, alert and emergency states. The aim is to propose a comprehensive framework for real-time operation of practical power systems, ensuring secure operation of the system in the normal state and after occurrence of sever contingencies.
At the first, a new coordinated voltage control scheme is proposed to ensure... 

Today, organizations are surrounded by basic and continuous changes such as declining organizational resources, reduction of the production cycles, and the need for rapid adaption. Those organizations remain competitive while maintaining their productivity, that have following characteristics: accurately plan and assess their knowledge resources, create and absorb beneficial knowledge, store and organize their knowledge, disseminate knowledge to needed areas, and use knowledge in practice and decision making, to improve their products/services as well as their performance. Therefore, the human capital has been considered as knowledge owners and the most important organizational resource, on... 

Feyarabend’s philosophy of science is against method and rule such that he believes that “anything goes”. However, he sometimes applies the term “progress”. Reviewing his publications shows that from his point of view, progress is qualitative and relative. So, unlike other philosophers of science Feyarabend ignores the clarification of the concept; subsequently, his applications of the term “progress” are somewhat ambiguous. However, by studying his philosophy, one may realize what should be done to achieve progress in any sense. The affirmative aspect of Feyerabend’s philosophy, while highlights the social and ethical elements, considering his humanitarian outlook as well as his special... 

Increasing population and competition for producing various productions and also more consumption in recent decades, result in producing more wastes. Therefore effective and continuous waste management is essential for monitoring the process (from the wastes generation source to the waste disposal) and establishing the efficient strategies to reduce wastes. One of the major sources of waste generation is hospitals that cause lots of environmental problem unless they are managed properly.Recycling is an important element of waste management that can reduce costs by innovative and proper management. The purpose of this research is identification of recyclable plastic items and estimates the... 

Lack of financial sources for production and performing projects has been an effective issue in all governmental and non-governmental organizations. So, using a structure with capability of detecting and forecasting all expenses and costs, and being able to convert the mass of data into useful and instrumental reports for managerial decision such as estimating total cost, selecting the syntax of production and etc is obvious for recourse management of every organization. Among the various components of the cost engineering system, cost management system by recording and allocating cost is an important issue in efficiency of every cost engineering system.In this thesis, Automotive Industrial...