scholarly journals Optimizing the Cost-Effectiveness of an Industrial Natural Gas Cogeneration Facility in a Regulated Electric Utility Environment

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Bedley
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Electric Utility ◽  
Public Utility ◽  
Electric Industry ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
The Cost

Since Congress enacted the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) in 1978, the electric utility industry has experienced many significant changes — legal, structural and technical. For purposes of this discussion, one of the more important changes that resulted was the installation of substantial electric generating capacity via “cogeneration” at industrial facilities nationwide. PURPA defined, and created by law, entities known as “qualifying facilities” or “QFs”, and established a framework in which they were allowed to compete with utilities in both the wholesale electric market (by sales for resale) and retail electric markets (by self-generation). The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct92) took PURPA one step further, allow additional entities — such as Exempt Wholesale Generators (EWG), marketers and brokers — to participate in the wholesale electric markets, forever changing the once monopolistic structure of the electric industry. Importantly, from a legal, structural and technical standpoint, QFs continue to enjoy advantages over other generators - both utility and non-utility. The legal and structural framework continue to favor QFs and technically, the equipment available for cogeneration facilities is significantly more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly than in the past. Cogeneration can be a very cost-effective option for large energy users, providing in many instances the only alternative to purchasing electricity from the monopoly utility. Paper published with permission.

scholarly journals ANN-Based Decision Making in Station Keeping for Geotechnical Drilling Vessel

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 596
Author(s):  
Murugan Ramasamy ◽  
Mohammed Abdul Hannan ◽  
Yaseen Adnan Ahmed ◽  
Arun Kr Dev
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Station Keeping ◽  
Operational Information ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Factors

Offshore vessels (OVs) often require precise station-keeping and some vessels, for example, vessels involved in geotechnical drilling, generally use Spread Mooring (SM) or Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems. Most of these vessels are equipped with both systems to cover all ranges of water depths. However, determining which system to use for a particular operational scenario depends on many factors and requires significant balancing in terms of cost-benefit. Therefore, this research aims to develop a platform that will determine the cost factors for both the SM and DP station-keeping systems. Operational information and cost data are collected for several field operations, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are trained using those data samples. After that, the trained ANN is used to predict the components of cost for any given environmental situation, fieldwork duration and water depth. Later, the total cost is investigated against water depth for both DP and SM systems to determine the most cost-effective option. The results are validated using two operational scenarios for a specific geotechnical vessel. This decision-making algorithm can be further developed by adding up more operational data for various vessels and can be applied in the development of sustainable decision-making business models for OVs operators.

scholarly journals Economic Evaluation of Home Care for Stroke Patients Compared to Hospital Care: A Systematic Review

Health Scope ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Khoramrooz ◽  
Asra Asgharzadeh ◽  
Saeide Alidoost ◽  
Zeynab Foroughi ◽  
Saber Azami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Hospital Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
The Cost

Context: Stroke is one of the main causes of premature death and disability, imposing significant costs on the healthcare system, especially due to expensive hospital care. Home care service is one of the interventions used in the last two decades to reduce the cost of services provided for stroke patients in different countries. Objectives: The present study aimed to systematically review studies related to the economic evaluation of home care compared to hospital care for stroke patients. Data Sources: A search was conducted between January 1990 and January 2021. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched systematically. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to select the studies. Data Extraction: To evaluate the quality of studies included in this systematic review, Drummond’s ten-item checklist was used. Results: Five economic evaluation studies were included in this review. The included studies reported different results regarding the effect of home care on improving different indicators and the cost-effectiveness ratio of home care to hospital care. Most previous studies reported that home care is a more cost-effective option for improving many indicators, such as physical function and quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and for reducing mortality and institutionalization, compared to hospital care. Conclusions: Home care is a more cost-effective option than hospital care for stroke patients with regard to some indicators, such as the Barthel index for Activities of Daily Living, Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), quality of life, mortality, and institutionalization. However, there are some exemptions to this conclusion. Due to limitations, such as heterogeneity of interventions in the existing studies, different levels of patients’ disabilities, different perspectives toward economic evaluation, and differences in the healthcare systems of countries, further research is needed according to the context of each country based on clinical trials.

Economic Evaluation of Kidney Transplantation versus Hemodialysis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease in Hungary

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Kaló ◽  
Jeno Járay ◽  
Júlia Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage Renal Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Hungarian Population ◽  
Cadaveric Kidney ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
The Cost

Background— Kidney transplantation is generally acknowledged as the more clinically effective and more cost-effective option in managing patients with end-stage renal disease, compared with dialysis. This study looked for confirmatory evidence in a Hungarian population. Methods— Patients (n = 242) with end-stage renal disease who received cadaveric kidney transplantation during 1994 were followed up for 3 years. They were compared with patients (n = 840) receiving hemodialysis who were on a waiting list for transplantation. Data were collected retrospectively. Treatments were compared for clinical efficacy and for cost-effectiveness. Results— At month 36, the standard mortality hazard function was 3.5 times higher in the group receiving hemodialysis ( P<.0001) than in the transplant recipients. Average treatment costs per patient over the 3 years were also significantly higher ( P<.0001) in the hemodialysis group than in the group that received transplants. The cost of 1 year gained by transplantation was significantly less ( P<.0001) than the cost associated with hemodialysis. Conclusions— Compared with hemodialysis, kidney transplantation provides greater survival benefits to patients with end-stage renal disease, at less cost.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis of Sequestering Carbon in Green Ash Forests in the Lower Mississippi River Valley

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 731-740
Author(s):  
Ching-Hsun Huang ◽  
Gary D. Kronrad ◽  
Shiaolin D. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Mississippi River ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Electric Utility ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Green Ash ◽  
Carbon Credits ◽  
Lower Mississippi River ◽  
The Cost

Since the U.S. is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), it has become crucial to develop options that are both cost effective and supportive of sustainable development to reduce atmospheric CO2. Electric utility companies have the options of reducing their use of fossil fuels, switching to alternative energy sources, increasing efficiency, or offsetting carbon emissions. This study determined the cost and profitability of sequestering carbon in green ash plantations, and the number of tons of carbon that can be sequestered. The profitability of green ash is $2,342 and $3,645 per acre on site indices (measurement of soil quality) 65 and 105 land, respectively, calculated with a 2.5% alternative rate of return (ARR). These figures shift to –$248 and –$240 calculated with a 15.0% ARR. If landowners who have an ARR of 2.5% can sell carbon credits for $10 per ton of carbon, profits will increase by $107 per acre on poor sites and $242 on good sites. Over one rotation (cutting cycle), 38.56 net tons of carbon can be sequestered on an acre of poor quality land and 51.35 tons on good quality land. The cost of sequestering carbon, without including revenues from timber production and carbon credits, ranges from a high of $15.20 per ton on poor sites to $14.41 on good sites, calculated with a 2.5% ARR; to a high of $8.51 per ton on poor sites to $7.63 on good sites, calculated with a 15.0% ARR. The cost of storing carbon can be reduced significantly if the trees can be sold for wood products.

scholarly journals ANN-Based Decision Making in Station Keeping for Geotechnical Drilling Vessel

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murugan Ramasamy ◽  
Mohammed Abdul Hannan ◽  
Yaseen Adnan Ahmed ◽  
Arun Kr Dev
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Station Keeping ◽  
Operational Information ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Factors

Offshore vessels (OVs) often requires precise station-keeping and some vessels, for example, vessel involves in geotechnical drilling generally use Spread Mooring (SM) or Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems. Most of these vessels are equipped with both systems to cover all ranges of water depths. However, determining which systems to use for a particular operational scenario depends on many factors and requires significant balancing in terms of cost-benefit. Therefore, this research aims to develop a platform that will determine the cost factors for both the SM and DP station keeping systems. Operational information and cost data are collected for several field operations, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is trained using those data samples. After that, the trained ANN is used to predict the components of cost for any given environmental situation, fieldwork duration and water depth. Later, the total cost is investigated against water depth for both DP and SM systems to determine the most cost-effective option. The results are validated using two operational scenarios for a specific geotechnical vessel. This decision-making algorithm can be further developed by adding up more operational data for various vessels and can be applied in the development of sustainable decision-making business models for OVs operators.

scholarly journals 65 Health, management, and future directions for indoor cattle feeding facilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
Adam L Shreck
Keyword(s):  
Health Management ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cattle Feeding ◽  
New Development ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Side Walls ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Cost

Abstract The use of soil-surfaced pens with limited over-head or enclosed structures have declined in popularity in the Midwest over the last few decades. Various facility types that utilize complete or partial concrete flooring and side walls have increased in popularity. These changes are driven by 1) readily observable impacts that precipitation and pen conditions have on cattle performance and cost of gain and 2) continual pressure to be compliant with environmental regulations. Cost of indoor cattle feeding facilities can easily approach 2-4x the cost of soil-surfaced pens but for many, such pens are not an option. Management of production and animal health varies within these facilities and likely interacts with cattle types and their associated mortality risk. Direct animal health and performance comparisons among facility types are incredibly difficult to perform due to the multiple confounders (diet, risk, cattle type) that usually exist. Morbidity that frequently occurs in enclosed systems typically revolves around management of papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD), foot and leg issues, and stiffness in cattle. Rolled compacted concrete (RCC) has been a new development that may provide a cost-effective option to curb mud in traditionally soil-surfaced facilities. RCC may also substantially reduce the cost of enclosed facilities that rely on traditional concrete.

On the issue of rational use of production areas in the enterprise

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
A. N. Ovchinnikov ◽  
G. E. Ganina
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Linear Programming ◽  
Linear Programming Problem ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Tape Transport ◽  
Flexible Approach ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Assembly Site

This paper considers the problem of uneven loading of the enterprise's production areas, when in the first half of the year they were significantly underutilized, and in the second — considerably overloaded. The result of solving this problem is to create a flexible approach to the planning of production areas, for which a mathematical model of the assembly site has been developed. This model is a linear programming problem. Four options were considered. The cost-effective option is to fulfill all orders in one shift and gradually rent the premises throughout the year. It can be noted that in general, it is more profitable to make absolutely all orders than not to make them — this is due to the high cost of equipment, so it is not possible to sacrifice it. The only exception when it is more profitable not to make part of the orders is if the rental of production areas occurs only at the beginning of the year. In the conditions that are now in the enterprise (one cannot rent areas per year, work in one shift), it is most profitable not to make part of the orders, and this option will be the second in total costs. As a result, a mathematical model of the enterprise was obtained, which can be used on tape transport system to assess the capabilities of the enterprise. This model can be used to obtain forecast values for costs. Further, this model can be extended to all other types of products.

Economics of fertility in dairy cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Esslemont ◽  
M.A. Kossaibati ◽  
J. Allcock
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Potential Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Production Diseases ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Breakeven Point ◽  
Reduced Risk

AbstractThe financial implications of delays in conception at different stages of lactation in the average and the high yielding dairy cows were investigated. Variables included in the calculations were net loss in annual yield, lost income from a calf, cost of extended dry period, cost of slipping in calving pattern, cost of extra veterinary treatments and AI services, benefit of a delay in calving for reduced risk of production diseases, potential benefit of delay in conception on milk yield from the current lactation, and the value of quota leasing. For the average yielding cow, the net cost of one day of delay in conception was calculated at £2.41 when conception is delayed from 85 to 100 days post-calving, increasing to £5.02 per day if conception occurred at 146 to 175 days post-calving. After taking value of quota leasing into account, the net cost of a lost day was calculated at £1.73 and £3.55 per day for the two delay intervals respectively. For the high yielding cow, the net cost of one day of delay in conception was calculated at £2.48 when conception is delayed from 85 to 115 days post-calving, increasing to £6.52 per day if conception occurred between 206 and 235 days post-calving. The net costs after quota leasing being considered were calculated at £1.68 and £4.08 per day for the two delay intervals respectively. On the basis of the above estimations, and after considering the cost of culling for poor fertility, it was concluded that it is a cost-effective option to keep trying to get the typical average cow in calf until 266 days post-calving, whereas the breakeven point for the high yielding cow is at 290 days post-calving.

Cost Effective Minimum Platform Designs Considering Damage Tolerance and Potential Consequences of Failure

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverley F. Ronalds ◽  
Rodney Pinna ◽  
Geoffrey K. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Damage Tolerance ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Probability Of Failure ◽  
Optimal Solutions ◽  
Damage Scenarios ◽  
Reliability Characteristics ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
The Cost

With their simplicity and light structural weight, minimum platforms are a popular solution — even though they may not have the same robustness levels as conventional jackets to withstand extreme or accidental events. These competing attributes are investigated by comparing the cost and structural reliability characteristics of five structures designed using API RP2A. The braced monopod and tripod structures have considerably lower ultimate strengths and residual strengths, and damage scenarios play a much greater role in the overall probability of failure, than for the four-legged jacket. In determining the relative economic merits of the different configurations, the magnitude of the potential consequences of failure becomes an important parameter. Bands of conditional costs of failure for which each structure is the most cost-effective option are derived, with the sturdy monopods and tripod shown to be the optimal solutions for moderate consequence levels.

scholarly journals Assessment of Electricity-Free Hydroponics in India: A Proof of Concept Field Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Indira Roy ◽  
Yelena Naumova ◽  
A. J. Both
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Chili Pepper ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Deccan Plateau ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Cost

Subsistence and smallholder farmers in the Deccan plateau region of India struggle with a predominantly hot and dry climate and often accumulated debt due to the cost of fertilizer that they need to increase yields for profitability. While a low-cost deep-flow technique hydroponic growing system (DFT) as a supplement to soil-based agriculture could help reduce debt, the cost of electricity needed to operate the DFT makes it inaccessible to these farmers. The objective of this project was to test the viability of electricity-free DFT which would substantially reduce production costs. Two DFT systems were set up in a shade net house and prepared with identical nutrients to grow chili pepper seedlings. Each DFT system was oxygenated for 30 minutes per day, one system using an electrical air pump, and the other system was oxygenated manually. After four weeks of growth, the dry mass of the shoots of the chili pepper seedlings in each system was measured. While the pump-oxygenated DFT system produced more dry matter, the manually-oxygenated system produced a larger number of visually healthier plants. Therefore, we conclude that electricity-free DFT hydroponics may be a viable alternative to pump-oxygenated DFT hydroponics, making hydroponic farming a cost-effective option for poor farmers.

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