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• Role of Lean and Agile Supply Chain Models for Pellet Fuel Technologies

  119-130

  János Szendrei

  Balázs Kocsi

  István Budai

  Gábor Grasselli

  Edit Szűcs

  Views:

  348

  Business organisations constantly strive to improve their processes, both internal and external. Within the supply chain of a product, different strategies can be applied. This paper aims to answer the basic questions like what is the core of lean and agile SCM strategies, what are the differences of the two models, and how can they be combined. This paper examines further, which of these SCM models and what elements of them can be applied for wood pellet supply chains, also examining the possibility of their combination. The result of these examinations is, that even though fuel pellets can be considered as simple commodity and not a very innovative product, diversity in input characteristics, optimization of fuel pellet technology process variables and changes in output market qualities and quantities need sometimes agile, flexible answer from pellet fuel SCM. The basically lean character of pellet fuel technologies and SCM can further enhanced by implementing agile SCM model elements, as is the increased integration of suppliers into the supply chain.

• Sealing Performance of Beam Tube Flange Connections Under Internal Pressure and External Bending Loads

  1-19

  Usman Aslam

  Kamran Ahmed Khan

  Waqqas Ahmad

  Views:

  122

  Pipe flange connections are critical components in nuclear and petrochemical facilities, where reliable sealing and structural integrity are essential for safe operation. In research on open-pool reactors, ion beam tubes represent a specialized application of flange-connected pressure boundaries. This study investigated the structural response and sealing performance of a beam tube–flange assembly using three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis. The beam tube was evaluated under two operating conditions: an empty configuration and a configuration subjected to externally applied mechanical loads. Stress analysis indicated that the maximum Von Mises stress in the beam tube remained well below the material yield strength and satisfied the design deformation limit of 3 mm for both loading scenarios. Sealing performance assessment of the flange joint showed a bolt stress variation of 23 MPa, which remained within acceptable design limits. The corresponding gasket stress variation was 0.49 MPa, with maximum and minimum gasket stresses were within the recommended operating range of 1.4–8 MPa. Time-dependent analysis revealed gasket stress relaxation of 3.5% for the empty beam tube and 3.78% for the externally loaded case. The finite element results were validated using analytical models, demonstrating good agreement with discrepancies ranging from 0.01% to 5.8%. The findings confirmed the structural adequacy and sealing reliability of the beam tube–flange assembly under the investigated operating conditions, providing a robust basis for safe design and operation in research reactor applications.