Small is Beautiful

该项目的目的是将“小即是美”的概念引入保守的相对低技术的制造业，在过去的十年中，“规模经济”的论点一直被用来建立更多所谓的高效工艺线。这将是一个重大挑战。新的理念，“小即是美”，从鼓励使用高质量的原料开始，只熔化需要的东西，只在需要的时候熔化。内部废料的再循环不一定是可以接受的，但提高产量的目标是可以接受的。鼓励采用反重力铸造方法来提高产量和提高质量，并鼓励从凝固中回收低品位的热量。该项目将通过开发一种软件工具来实现这一目标，该软件工具结合了一种新的理念/方法和度量，用于在铸造厂的整个过程中处理材料和能源，使用计算机数值过程模拟来支持决策。该项目还将研究从充电材料到废热和过程中的能源的整个能源链，并确定清除废热的机会以及与整个过程相关的成本。因此，这将使成本/效益分析得以进行，从而使公司能够在很早的阶段就设计、材料和工艺做出明智的决定。

The aim of the this project is to introduce the concept of "small is beautiful" into a conservative relatively low technology manufacturing sector where the "economies of scale" argument has been used for the last decade to build ever more so-called efficient process lines. This will be a major challenge. The new philosophy, "small is beautiful", starts by encouraging the use of high quality feedstock, only melting what is required and only when it is required. Recycling of internal scrap is not necessarily acceptable but an aim for higher yields is. Applying counter gravity casting methods to improve yield and give enhanced quality is encouraged as is the recovery low grade heat from solidification.The project will achieve this by the development of a software tool incorporating a new philosophy/methodology and metric for the handling of materials and energy throughout the process in foundries using computer numerical process simulation to support the decision making. The project would also look at the full energy chain from charge materials through to waste heat and energy in the process and identify the opportunities for scavenging waste heat and the costs associated with the whole process. This will therefore enable cost/benefit analysis to be undertaken so that companies will be able to make informed decisions about design, material and process at a very early stage.