A Techno-Economic Analysis of Sustainable Material Recovery Facilities: The Case of Al-Karak Solid Waste Sorting Plant, Jordan

Solid waste sorting facilities are constructed and operated to properly manage solid waste for both material and energy recovery. This paper investigates the possible technical and economic performance of the Al-Karak solid waste sorting plant in order to achieve financial sustainability and increase the profits that return on the plant to cover its operating costs. A standard procedure was followed to quantify and characterize the input materials of commercial solid waste by determining the recyclable materials in the sorting products. Thus, possible different equipment and material flows through the plant were proposed. An economic model was used in order to know the feasibility of the proposed options of the plant according to three economic factors, which are net present worth (NPW), return on investment (ROI), and payback period values. The results inferred that the characterization of the input materials contains a high portion of recyclable materials of paper, cardboard, plastic, and metals, which accounted for 63%. In this case, the mass of rejected waste to be landfilled was 9%. Results for the proposed options showed that the economic analysis is feasible when working loads on three and two shifts with ROI values of 4.4 and 3.5 with a payback period of the initial cost in 2 and 3 years, respectively. Working load on one shift was not feasible, which resulted in an ROI value of less than 2 and a payback period larger than 5 years. This paper recommended operating the sorting plant at a higher input feed with a working load on three shifts daily to ensure a maximum profit and to reduce the amount of commercial solid waste prior to landfilling through the concept of sorting and recycling.

Comparison between Variable and Constant Refrigerant Flow Air Conditioning Systems in Arid Climate: Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Energy Savings

All over the world, there is a call to encourage sustainable energy thinking and implementation. There is an urgent need to consider sustainable solutions in any design projects that are able to reduce energy consumption. In the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning field, the rise of the variable refrigerant flow systems has made big progress. This study presents a life cycle cost analysis to evaluate the economic feasibility of constant refrigerant flow (CRF), and in particular, the conventional ducted unit air conditioning system and the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system by using detailed cooling load profiles, as well as initial, operating, and maintenance costs. Two operating hours scenarios are utilized and the present worth value technique for life cycle cost analysis is applied to an existing office building located in Qatar, which can be conditioned by CRF and VRF systems. The results indicate that, although the initial cost of the VRF system is higher than that of the CRF system by 23%, the present worth cost of the VRF system is much lower than that of the CRF system at the end of the lifetime due to lower operating costs. There is also a significant energy saving of 27% by using VRF compared to the CRF. The implementation of these results on a national scale will promote the use of sustainable energy technologies such as the VRF system.

Economic Analysis for Replacement of 11kV overhead Koteshwor Feeder by Underground Distribution System

Cost effective, Aesthetic and Reliable energy supply is the need of any mankind. In this study, economic analysis for replacement of 11 kV overhead distribution feeder by 11kV underground cable is done with reference to Koteshwor Feeder under Baneshwor Distribution and Consumers Service. The reliability indices like SAIDI, SAIFI, ENS etc. is performed by using DigSilentPowerFactory software. The reliability of overhead distribution system is evaluated by using real system data system and similarly, historical IEEE standard data is used for underground distribution system. The reliability indices are compared for both distribution systems. Result shows that interruption in the overhead system is more than underground distribution system, the energy not supplied to the customer by overhead distribution system is also more than underground distribution system. The replacement cost estimation is performed by using Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) unit rate and KEI industries quoted price for NEA underground project. The B/C ratio and Present Worth value for the 25-year period of useful life shows that the replacement of the existing overhead distribution system by underground distribution system is financial suitable and can be payback by revenue save from the Energy Not Supply (ENS) lower value of underground distribution system than overhead distribution system. In order to get the continuous of supply, esthetic and public safety in electricity distribution field one may have to bear initially extra cost to use underground distribution systems which finally get payback. Thus, in case of densely populated city like Kathmandu, underground distribution system is reasonable requirement for continuous supply, esthetic and public safety in electricity distribution filed.

Financial Feasibility of Poultry Layer Farms in Chittoor District, India

The present study attempts to assess the financial feasibility of layer farms of poultry birds in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. In total, 60 farms were considered for the study, with 20 each for small, medium and large size. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from poultry farmers. The Net Present Worth is highest for large farms followed by medium and small farms at both 12 and 16% discount rates, proving the economic viability of farms. The Benefit-Cost Ratio and farm size were positively related and the large farms were economically more viable. The internal rate of return is higher than that of the discount rate for all sizes of farms which implies that investment is feasible. Even though the returns are decreased by 10% (Case I) or costs increased by 10% (Case II), the small, medium and large poultry layer farms are economically feasible at both 12% and 16% discount rates as NPV is positive and BCR is greater than 1. But if the returns are decreased by 10% and Costs increased by 10% (Case III), the small farms become financially infeasible at both discount rates, whereas medium farms become financially infeasible at a 16% discount rate only. The large layer farms are economically feasible at both discount rates if the returns are decreased by 10% and Costs increased by 10% (Case III). Based on NPV, BCR and IRR, large layer farms were most profitable followed by medium and small layer farms. The benefits per bird were highest and cost of production was lowest in case of large farms. The study revealed that poultry layer farming is a profitable business in Chittoor district.

Energy, economic and environmental analysis of fuzzy logic controllers used in smart buildings

This article is divided into three parts: the first presents a simulation study of the effect of occupancy level on energy usage pattern of Engineering building of Applied Science Private university, Amman, Jordan. The simulation was created on simulation mechanism by means of EnergyPlus software and improved by using the building’s data such as building’s as built plan, occupant’s density level based on data about who utilize the building throughout operational hours, energy usage level, Heating Ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, lighting and its control systems and etc. Data regarding occupancy density level estimation is used to provide the proposed controller with random number of users grounded on report were arranged by the university’s facilities operational team. The other division of this paper shows the estimated saved energy by the means of suggested advanced add-on, FUZZY-PID controlling system. The energy savings were divided into summer savings and winter savings. The third division presents economic and environmental analysis of the proposed advanced fuzzy logic controllers of smart buildings in Subtropical Jordan. The economic parameters that were used to evaluate the system economy performance are life-cycle analysis, present worth factor and system payback period. The system economic analysis was done using MATLAB software

A production-recycling-reuse model for plastic beverages bottles

In this thesis a recycling-reuse model is developed and analyzed. Discarded 2L plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are collected from the market. The non-contaminated PET bottles are either remanufactured or used as regrind mixed with virgin PET to produce new bottles to satisfy varying demand. Contaminated bottles are sold to industries using low grade plastic and only badly contaminated bottles go to landfill. Cost of land use and associated environmental damage is calculated as a present worth and charged to the manufacture. Analyses conducted on this model found that the amount of bottles collected had the largest influence on the outcome of the total system unit time cost. Alternative materials to PET that degrade faster are surveyed and used to demonstrate significant reduction in the cost of landfill disposal. Analysis using a minimal market price for remanufactured and newly produced bottles resulted in profit.

A production-recycling-reuse model for plastic beverages bottles

In this thesis a recycling-reuse model is developed and analyzed. Discarded 2L plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are collected from the market. The non-contaminated PET bottles are either remanufactured or used as regrind mixed with virgin PET to produce new bottles to satisfy varying demand. Contaminated bottles are sold to industries using low grade plastic and only badly contaminated bottles go to landfill. Cost of land use and associated environmental damage is calculated as a present worth and charged to the manufacture. Analyses conducted on this model found that the amount of bottles collected had the largest influence on the outcome of the total system unit time cost. Alternative materials to PET that degrade faster are surveyed and used to demonstrate significant reduction in the cost of landfill disposal. Analysis using a minimal market price for remanufactured and newly produced bottles resulted in profit.

Optimal Combination of External Wall Insulation Thickness and Surface Solar Reflectivity of Non-Residential Buildings in the Korean Peninsula

To delay fossil energy depletion and implement the Paris Climate Change Accord, the South Korean government is attempting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the establishment of the 2030 Roadmap. The insulation performance of external walls is being continuously enhanced in the architectural domain. However, Korea’s policy and construction market focuses only on the heat resistance of buildings’ external walls to enhance the insulation performance, leading to an increased thickness of the insulation materials. In this study, the relationship between the surface reflectivity and insulation thickness of external walls was examined to formulate an effective insulation strategy for buildings in Korea. Office buildings of 12 regions in the Korean Peninsula were considered. The dynamic energy simulation program EnergyPlus was used to perform the heating and cooling load analyses. The present worth method was adopted to perform the economic analysis. The analysis of the cooling and heating loads indicated that a change occurred not only in terms of the latitude but also between the Eastern and Western regions. The energy consumption could be reduced by increasing the reflectivity in the Southern region and lowering the reflectivity in the Northern region, based on the total load. In addition, a higher latitude corresponded to a higher energy saving effect owing to the increased insulation thickness. In the case of Jeju Island and Busan, regions with a relatively large cooling load and small heating load, the total load is little affected by insulation thickness at high reflectivity. If the external skin was considered to have the optimal reflectivity, the regions for optimal insulation thickness could be divided into three categories: north, central and south.