Cost Analysis Research Articles

A comprehensive study on mechanical properties, durability, and environmental impact of fiber-reinforced concrete incorporating ground granulated blast furnace slag

Concrete pavements are integral to sustainable infrastructure, offering longevity and resilience in construction and transportation. This study focuses on optimizing concrete pavements through the incorporation of steel and carbon fibers with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) to enhance mechanical strength, reduce fracture development, and minimize carbon emissions. Utilizing 25 mixing designs with a consistent water-to-cement ratio of 0.40, varying ratios of GGBS, steel fibers, and carbon fibers (0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 % based on concrete volume) were explored. A comprehensive evaluation, including slump, compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance tests, carbon dioxide emissions, and cost analysis, was conducted at different curing stages. Results revealed a decline in compressive strength for all mix designs at 28 days, attributed to reduced cement strength with GGBS substitution. The 1.5 % steel fiber and 50 % GGBS mix demonstrated minimal compressive strength reduction (30.1 MPa, 5.5 % less than control), outperforming other mixtures. Steel fibers surpassed carbon fibers, likely due to \\erior distribution. Notably, 1.5 % steel fibers showed superior results, particularly with 50 % GGBS. Compressive strength generally increased with GGBS content, except for 1 % fibrous samples where 40 % GGBS produced optimal results. At 90 days, compressive strength increased for most designs, with G50S1.5 exhibiting over 38 % growth compared to the control. Steel fiber-containing samples outperformed carbon fiber-containing ones, showcasing the efficacy of steel fibers in enhancing compressive strength. Split tensile strength generally decreased, but steel fibers improved it, emphasizing their positive influence. Flexural strength increased in 28 and 90 days, with steel fiber-containing designs outperforming. G30S1.5 showed the most significant increase (33.3 %) at 28 days, and G30S1.5 exhibited the highest growth (32.22 %) at 90 days. Abrasion resistance tests indicated steel fibers and GGBS positively impacted abrasion reduction. G50S1.5 demonstrated the highest abrasion resistance (25 % increase over control). The environmental evaluation revealed lower CO2 emissions for GGBS-containing designs. G50S0.5 showed a 40.34 % reduction compared to the control sample. Cost analysis showed GGBS reduced costs, but fiber addition, particularly carbon fibers, increased costs. G30C1.5 had the highest cost increase (208.5 %), while G50S1.5 showed a marginal rise (3.9 %) compared to the control. Therefore, steel fibers in concrete pavements offer improved mechanical properties, durability, and reduced environmental impact, making them a viable choice despite a slight increase in cost. Conversely, carbon fibers are cautioned against due to their higher cost and inferior mechanical properties.

Cost analysis of care and blood transfusions in patients with Major Obstetric Haemorrhage in Ireland.

Obstetric haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to estimate the economic cost of Major Obstetric Haemorrhage (MOH) and the cost of therapeutic blood components used in the management of MOH in Ireland. We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study utilising top-down and bottom-up costing methods on women who experienced MOH during the years 2011-2013. Women with MOH were allocated to Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) based on the approach to MOH management (MOH group). The total number of blood components used for MOH treatment and the corresponding costs were recorded. A control group representative of a MOH-free maternity population was designed with predicted costs. All costs were expressed in Euro (€) using 2022 prices and the incremental cost of MOH to maternity costs was calculated. Cost contributions are expressed as percentages from the estimated total cost. A total of 447 MOH cases were suitable for sorting into DRGs. The estimated total cost of managing women who experienced MOH is approximately €3.2 million. The incremental cost of MOH is estimated as €1.87 million. The estimated total cost of blood components used in MOH management was €1.08 million and was based on an estimated total of 3997 products transfused. Red blood cell transfusions accounted for the highest contribution (20.22%) to MOH total cost estimates compared to other blood components. The total cost of caring for women with MOH in Ireland was approximately €3.2 million with blood component transfusions accounting for between one third and one half of the cost.

Monetizing Animal Welfare Impacts for Benefit–Cost Analysis

Abstract Animal welfare is often ignored in decision-making, despite widespread agreement about its importance. This is partly because of a lack of quantitative methods to assess the impacts of policies on humans and nonhumans alike on a common scale. At the same time, recent work in economics, philosophy, and animal welfare science has made progress on the fundamental theoretical challenge of estimating the well-being potential of different species on a single scale. By combining these estimates of each species’ well-being potential with assessments of how various policies impact the quality of life for these species, along with the number of animals affected, we can arrive at a framework for estimating the impact of policies on animal health and well-being. This framework allows for a quantifiable comparison between policies affecting humans and animals. For instance, it enables us to compare human QALYs to animal QALYs tailored to specific species. Hence, the intrinsic value of animal welfare impacts of policies can be monetized on the same scale as market and non-market impact for humans, facilitating benefit–cost analysis. Many challenges remain though, including issues of population ethics, political feasibility, and new complexities in addressing equity and uncertainty.

Numerical Study on the Swimming and Energy Self-Sufficiency of Multi-Joint Robotic Fish

Energy is one of the primary challenges in the long-term operation of robotic fish. The research on combining wave energy-harvesting technology with robotic fish for energy supplementation is not extensive, and there is insufficient comprehensive analysis on energy harvesting from waves and energy costs during swimming. Therefore, the energy self-sufficiency of multi-joint robotic fish is investigated by employing the coupling method of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and multi-body dynamics in this study. A reversible energy conversion mechanism is applied to the robotic fish, serving as a driving system during swimming and as a power take-off (PTO) system during energy harvesting. The energy costs of the multi-joint robotic fish under various undulation parameters (including amplitude, frequency, and body wavelength) are analyzed, along with an examination of the influence of the PTO system on energy harvesting. The results show that, compared to the undulation amplitude and body wavelength, the undulation frequency has the greatest impact on swimming efficiency and energy costs, with low-frequency swimming being advantageous for efficient energy utilization. Additionally, the damping coefficient of the PTO system directly affects energy-harvesting efficiency, with higher energy-harvesting power achievable with an optimal PTO system parameter. Through a comprehensive analysis of energy costs and energy harvesting, it is concluded that the achievement of energy self-sufficiency for multi-joint robotic fish in marine environments is highly feasible.

A novel uncertainty assessment protocol for integrated ecosystem services-life cycle assessments: A comparative case of nature-based solutions

Integrating ecosystem services and life cycle assessment is gaining increasing attention for the analysis of environmental costs and benefits associated with human activities covering multiple geographical scales and life cycle stages. Such integration is particularly relevant for evaluating the sustainability of nature-based solutions. However, merging these methods introduces additional uncertainties. This paper introduces a novel protocol to assess uncertainties in combined ecosystem services-life cycle assessment, focusing on ecosystem services accounting, life cycle inventory of foreground systems, and life cycle impact assessment characterisation factors. Applied to a nature-based solution case study compared to no-action and energy-intensive scenarios, the uncertainties were analysed using multi-method global sensitivity analysis. The robustness of the analysis results was assessed through convergence plots and statistical tests. Findings reveal significant uncertainties, especially in life cycle impact assessment characterisation factors, with the extent varying by impact category. Uncertainties in foreground life cycle inventory, particularly in land use of nature-based solutions scenario, are also notable. Compared to these, uncertainties associated with indicators of impact on ecosystem services (uncertainty arising from input variability in ecosystem services accounting) are relatively lower. This study underscores the critical role of uncertainty assessment in enhancing the reliability of integrated assessments for nature-based solutions, providing a framework to identify and quantify key uncertainties, thereby supporting more informed decision-making.

Combined biomass network design: A new integrated approach based on ArcGIS

In light of contemporary energy and environmental objectives, a pivotal transformation of the energy system, encompassing biomass energy, is imperative. A notable challenge in biomass energy facility layout planning is the trade-off between high-efficiency production and the associated investment costs. To harmonize energy efficiency with economy viability, a hybrid layout with the simultaneous construction of centralized and decentralized biomass energy facilities has emerged as a crucial strategic solution. However, the delineation methods for these two layouts lack explicit data support. This study established a population density threshold (PDT) suitable for selecting the distributed layout and employed population density as the criterion for delineating the two layouts. Taking Fuxin City as an example, hybrid layout planning schemes were generated under different PDTs, and a cost and energy benefit analysis framework was developed for these schemes. The results indicated that the scheme with a PDT of 145 person/km2 exhibited the highest energy and economic comprehensive benefits. Compared to a single layout, the planning strategy proposed in this study could achieve nearly the same energy surplus level while saving an investment cost ranging from 2403.9 million CNY to 25,000.23 million CNY. The findings are applicable to other regions with similar conditions, and the analysis framework proposed in this study can be utilized in formulating biomass development strategies for other countries and regions.

Improving Energy Efficiency of Carbon Capture Processes with Heat Pumps

Carbon capture based on chemical absorption in amine-based solvents is the most relevant technology option to reduce CO2 emissions from hard-to-abate industrial CO2 sources and power plants. Because of the energy consumption of the carbon capture process, which is mainly attributed to heating the desorber, carbon capture has a negative impact on the efficiency of the process where CO2 is removed. Heat pumps allow for heat recovery and provide high temperature process heat. Due to recent developments, heat pumps are now capable of supplying steam and providing high temperatures enabling new applications. This contribution investigates the integration of heat pumps into the carbon capture process of a furnace for steel processing to determine the most suitable heat sources and sinks and the achievable energy savings. The energy consumption of the carbon capture process can be lowered by 50% due to the integration of steam generating heat pumps. The cost analysis shows that the costs of steam have the highest influence on the costs of captured CO2.

Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Enzymatic Hydrolysis-Based Fish Protein and Oil Extraction

As global fish consumption rises, a large amount of waste is generated that is generally neglected. Considering the value embedded in these resources, sustainable methods become more important in extracting valuable ingredients from fish processing residues. Enzymatic hydrolysis is a fast and easily reproducible method for recovering protein ingredients and obtaining valuable by-products. To confirm its advantages, an environmental and economic impact assessment is essential. This study overviewed the sustainability and economic viability of extracting protein compounds and oil from Atlantic mackerel processing residues using enzymatic hydrolysis. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) methods were employed. It was found that the climate change impact of the whole process was 0.073 kg CO2-eq per 1 g of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH). As the process produces FPH as the main product and fish oil as the by-product, economic allocation was used to distribute the impacts of FPH and fish oil. The findings of the LCCA showed that producing 1 g of FPH costs EUR 3.68. The contribution analysis indicated the crucial role of electricity and fish in environmental impacts. To ensure the accuracy of the calculation, the results of an LCA study published previously were recalculated. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were susceptible to the region and source of electricity production. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainability and economic aspects of using enzymatic hydrolysis for extracting protein ingredients and oils from Atlantic mackerel. This can inform future investigations of environmentally friendly and economically viable solutions for extracting fish ingredients.

Digital credentials management system using rejectable soulbound tokens

AbstractDigital credentials are being issued by authorized entities to facilitate the digital identification of their users. Blockchain offers some inherent features that are highly advantageous for the management of credentials. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, might seem to be a perfect fit for the implementation of digital credentials. However, some crucial requirements for credentials are the non-transferability of the credential and that the authorized entity should receive explicit acceptance from the user who will own the new credential, which are features lacking in the current NFTs. This paper introduces a management system focused on issuing digital access credentials, enhancing traditional features by enabling the association of terms and conditions (T &C) during issuance and providing users with non-repudiation of reception evidence upon acceptance. Leveraging an enhanced version of the soulbound tokens (SBTs), called RejSBTs, introduced in our previous work, the new system guarantees non-repudiation of reception and origin proofs. Furthermore, we provide a detailed implementation of the system, including solidity smart contracts, accompanied by a comprehensive cost and security analysis.

Polyaniline-supported g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 composite for photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation

Organic dyes are a major source of environmental pollution from different industries. To remove these recalcitrant, a novel ternary g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 and its polyaniline-supported (PANI) composites were synthesized using an “in situ” oxidative polymerization approach. XRD, SEM, UV–Vis DRS, and PL techniques were utilized to characterize the as-prepared composites. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated using a model organic pollutant, methylene blue (MB), and samples of the effluent of the textile industry. The as-synthesized ternary g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 (ZT3= 87.87 %) composite showed better photocatalytic performance than the single (5 %) and binaries (15–25 %) counterparts for MB degradation. The influence of various experimental settings on the photodegradation of MB dye was examined and these were an initial dye amount of 10 ppm, photocatalyst load of 0.15 g/L, and pH 10. Under optimized conditions, PANI-supported g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 composite (PAST) demonstrated substantial degradation efficiency (97.5 %). The reusability study of the spent catalyst revealed a reduced efficiency from 97.5 to 78.5 % photodegradation of MB after four successive cycles, demonstrating the photocatalyst's stability and efficiency. According to the study on the effect of scavengers, h+ plays a significant part in the discoloration of MB. The PAST photocatalyst outperformed the MB discoloration (97.5 %) and adequate degradation for real textile effluent samples (77.7 %) collected from Hawassa textile industries. The photodegradation efficiency result of this study demonstrated that PANI-supported g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 might serve as an advantageous photocatalyst for the efficient removal of MB and other dyes under visible light irradiation at the optimum conditions. The total estimated cost analysis of synthesis and photocatalytic degradation using Polyaniline-supported g-C3N4/ZnO/Ag2CrO4 composite found that it was quite affordable, costing around $5 per 1,000 L of wastewater treatment.

Effective removal of nitrate and phosphate using graphene nanosheets synthesized from waste plastics

In this work, waste plastics have been used with bentonite clay to produce silica-containing graphene nanosheets (GNs) for adsorption of nitrate and phosphate from synthetic water. The GNs were obtained by the two steps process, namely (1) pyrolysis at 750 °C and (2) ball milling. Then, GNs were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM and EDX spectroscopy, which provided the details of material's morphology, surface properties, and composition. From Raman spectroscopy, D and G bands were found at 1342 cm−1 and 1594 cm−1, respectively, which confirmed the presence of nanosheets on the graphene surface. Furthermore, the layers of nanosheets were confirmed by the HRTEM analysis and XRD peaks. In analytical study, the batch experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of operational parameters such as pH (03–12), contact time (05–120 min), adsorbent dosage (0.01–0.06 g), and initial concentrations of adsorbates (10–50 mg/L for nitrate and 03–15 mg/L for phosphate) on adsorption process. The removal percentage of nitrate and phosphate at optimum dosage = 0.05 g, pH = 6.5, contact time = 60 min, nitrate concentration = 30 mg/L, and phosphate concentration = 09 mg/L were found to be 85 and 91, respectively. The highest adsorption capacity of nitrate and phosphate was found to be 53 mg/g and 16.4 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviour of both nitrate and phosphate showed chemisorption as the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-2nd-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of the synthesis process was conducted to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis for commercial feasibility. The estimated price for the synthesis of GNs using 1 kg of waste plastics and bentonite clay as precursor was $4.21, suggesting commercialization.

Enhancing Predictive Accuracy in European Agricultural Tractor Residual Value Estimation: A Double Square Root Regression Reappraisal

Determining the residual value of tractors is imperative for comprehensive cost analyses within the agricultural machinery sector. Despite numerous studies offering various models and independent variables, the double square root regression approach, originally developed by Cross and Perry and adapted by ASABE for North American contexts, has been widely utilized. However, factors such as the complexity of OEM portfolios, steep price increases due to compliance with diesel emission regulations, and limited data availability in Europe and its market specificities necessitate improvements in predictive accuracy. This study evaluates different tractor cohort alternatives beyond engine horsepower to enhance predictive robustness. Incorporating brand and powertrain type alongside engine power significantly improved model performance and exhibited the strongest robustness, as evidenced by reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) and increased R-squared values. These findings contribute to the refinement of tractor residual value estimation models, offering valuable insights for stakeholders in the agricultural machinery industry.

Comparative study of Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V (TA15) alloy fabricated by selective laser melting and laser metal deposition

In the present study, Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V (TA15) alloy, one of the widely used near-α titanium alloys in the field of aeronautical and astronautical, was fabricated by two lasers additive manufacturing technologies, namely selective laser melting (SLM) and laser metal deposition (LMD). Microstructure, mechanical property, productivity, and forming cost of fabricated TA15 samples by these two processes were compared systematically. The results showed that the microstructure of the SLM-ed and LMD-ed samples exhibited differences in terms of crystallographic orientations, grain boundaries, and grain sizes, which was mainly attributed to the distinct thermal histories associated with each process. Such differences resulted in the LMD-ed sample presenting anisotropy, lower tensile strength, and higher elongation compared to the SLM-ed sample. Cost analysis indicated that the forming cost per unit volume of the LMD-ed sample was about half that of the SLM-ed sample. This difference was primally due to the higher productivity of the LMD process (226.1 cm3/h) compared to the SLM process (8.8 cm3/h), as well as the lower power cost of the powder materials (60 vs. 100 $/kg). Furthermore, the forming maximum volume of the LMD process (∼30.38 m3) was about 28 times than that of the SLM process (∼1.08 m3). In conclusion, this study provides a detailed comparison between SLM-ed and LMD-ed TA15 samples. The findings can act as a reference for selecting optimized fabrication methods for practical industrial applications, taking into consideration specific mechanical properties, forming size, and cost requirements.

Real-World Patterns and Economic Burden Associated with Treatment Failure with Advanced Therapies in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract Background Some patients lose response during treatment for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to characterize real-world treatment failure patterns and associated economic burden during use of first-line advanced therapies for UC. Methods IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases were used to identify adults initiating ≥1 advanced therapy for UC (1/1/2010–9/30/2019). Treatment failure was defined as augmentation with non-advanced therapy, discontinuation, dose escalation/interval shortening, failure to taper corticosteroids, UC-related surgery, or UC-related urgent care ≤12 months after treatment initiation. The index date was the date of treatment failure (treatment failure cohort) or 12 months after treatment initiation (persistent cohort). Treatment failure rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analyses. All-cause and UC-related healthcare resource use (HCRU) and costs 12 months post-index were also assessed. Results Analysis of treatment failure patterns included data from 6745 patients; HCRU and cost analyses included data from 5302 patients (treatment failure cohort, n=4295; persistent cohort, n=1007). In the overall population, 75% experienced treatment failure within the first 12 months (median: 5.1 months). Augmentation with non-advanced therapy (39%) was the most common first treatment failure event. The treatment failure cohort had significantly (P<0.001) higher mean costs than the persistent cohort (all-cause, $74,995 vs $56,169; UC-related, $57,096 vs $47,347) mainly attributed to inpatient admissions and outpatient visits. Dose escalation/interval shortening accounted for the highest total costs ($101,668) across treatment failure events. Conclusions Advanced therapies for moderate-to-severe UC are associated with high rates of treatment failure and significant economic burden. More efficacious and durable treatments are needed.

Design of an improved layout for a steel processing facility using SLP and lean Manufacturing techniques

AbstractImplementing lean manufacturing practices in the systematic layout planning (SLP) process for improving facility layouts in various industries is essential. This approach enhances material handling processes and effectively manages space utilization. An efficient plant employing systematic layout planning leads to improved resource utilization and facilitates the integration of lean manufacturing techniques such as value stream mapping, 5 S, Ohno’s 7 wastes, and cellular manufacturing. This research article presents a case study on a steel processing plant in Dubai with an area of 160 m × 160 m, where systematic layout planning and lean manufacturing techniques were applied. The factors considered included space and material flow optimization, incorporating layout alternatives based on systematic layout planning principles along with lean manufacturing techniques. The study revealed a 34% reduction in material flow and an efficient overall space utilization improvement of 26%. Additionally, cost analysis validation was conducted.

The impact of outpatient supportive oncology on cancer care cost and utilization.

Supportive oncology (SO) care reduces symptom severity, admissions, and costs in patients with advanced cancer. This study examines the impact of SO care on utilization and costs. Retrospective analysis of utilization and costs comparing patients enrolled in SO versus three comparison cohorts who did not receive SO. Using claims, the authors estimated differences in health care utilization and cost between the treatment group and comparison cohorts. The treatment group consisting of patients treated for cancer at an National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center who received SO between January 2018 and December 2019 were compared to an asynchronous cohort that received cancer care before January 2018 (n=60), a contemporaneous cohort with palliative care receiving SO care from other providers in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region during the program period (n=86), and a contemporaneous cohort without palliative care consisting of patients at other cancer centers who were eligible for but did not receive SO care (n=393). At 30, 60, and 90 days post-enrollment into SO, the treatment group had between 27% and 70% fewer inpatient admissions and between 16% and 54% fewer emergency department visits (p<.05) compared to non-SO cohorts. At 90 days following enrollment in SO care, total medical costs were between 4.4% and 24.5% lower for the treatment group across all comparisons (p<.05). SO is associated with reduced admissions, emergency department visits, and total costs in advanced cancer patients. Developing innovative reimbursement models could be a cost-effective approach to improve care of patients with advanced cancer.

Utilization of Biomethane to Support Energy Security in Indonesia, Riau Province: A Case Study

As the largest global palm oil producer, Indonesia contributes 59% to the world’s palm oil supply, producing 46.9 million tons of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) in 2021. However, this extensive production poses an environmental challenge through Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), estimated at 156 million m3 annually. POME treatment facilities release Biogas, predominantly Methane (CH4) at 50%–75%, a potent Greenhouse Gas (GHG) with 21 times the global warming potential of CO2. Conversely, Methane is a key component of widely used Natural Gas. Properly treated, POME-derived biogas can be upgraded to Biomethane, a clean and carbon-negative alternative for the Natural Gas Grid or fossil fuel substitution, estimated at 1,280 MWe, equivalent to 288 MMSCFD CH4. Despite Biomethane’s potential, its utilization remains limited to self-use in Palm Oil Mills or power plants, even in Riau Province, home to Indonesia’s largest oil palm plantation. PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk survey identified potential customers in Riau willing to adopt natural gas, hindered by infrastructure and economic scale challenges. This research analyzes obstacles to biomethane business development in Indonesia, focusing on Riau Province, aiming to formulate an optimal distribution scheme and sustainable strategies. Methodologically, a mix of quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, including literature studies, interviews, and questionnaires, informed a comprehensive analysis employing geographical, transportation cost, financial modeling, SWOT, and risk analyses. Findings suggest trucking as the optimal distribution mode for biomethane to scattered customers. Economic viability hinges on biomethane volume, necessitating stability and increased sales volume strategies. For Riau, four potential customers with a total daily demand of 11,248.93 m3 can be served affordably by selecting palm oil mills within a 76 km radius. Price and security supply considerations are crucial. This research provides insights into overcoming challenges and optimizing the biomethane business in Riau, offering a sustainable model for broader adoption in Indonesia.

Solar-powered adsorption desalination utilizing composite silica gel with a humidification-dehumidification desalination system

This work comes in light of addressing crises of freshwater scarcity, energy demand, and climate change to investigate innovative configurations of hybrid adsorption desalination integrated with a humidification dehumidification system powered by solar energy or waste heat in four operation modes. The investigation includes economic cost analysis and system performance using raw silica gel and silica gel/CaCl2 adsorbents under the weather data of Assiut-Egypt. System performance has been evaluated regarding daily water production, gain output ratio, and cooling effect using TRNSYS and MATLAB software. The combined configuration with heat recovery (the fourth mode) using silica gel/CaCl2 gives a relatively high freshwater production (69 m3/ton.day in June) compared with the basic adsorption desalination system using raw silica gel (7.1 m3/ton.day in June). Silica gel/CaCl2 in the first mode presented the highest cooling effect (555 W/kg) in June compared with silica gel in the primary system (197 W/kg). The third configuration's solar-powered silica gel/CaCl2 system shows a clear superiority of 1.8 in gain output ratio, compared with the basic system with and without heat recovery (0.54 and 0.4, respectively). The third configuration also provided the cheapest freshwater production among all configurations at 2 $/m3 in June.

A holistic approach to the total energy and cost for carbon capture and sequestration

Carbon capture and sequestration from a stationary source comprises four distinct engineering processes: separation of CO2 from the other flue gases, compression, transportation, and injection into the chosen storage site. An analysis of the thermodynamic and transport properties of CO2 shows that dissolving this gas in seawater at depths more than 600 m is, most likely, an optimal long-term storage method; and that for transportation, the CO2 must be in the denser supercritical state at pressures higher than 7.377 MPa. The separation, compression, transportation, and injection processes require significant energy expenditures, which are determined in this paper using realistic equipment efficiencies, for the cases of two currently in operation coal power plants in Texas. The computations show that the total energy requirements for carbon removal and sequestration are substantial, close to one-third of the energy currently generated by the two power plants. The cost analysis shows that two parameters – the unit cost of the pipeline and the discount factor of the corporation – have a very significant effect on the annualized cost of the CCS process. Doubling the unit cost of the pipeline increases the total annualized cost of the entire CCS project by 36% and increasing the discount rate from 5% to 15% increases this annualized cost by 32%.

Integrated Load–Source Side Management for Techno-Economic-Environmental Performance Improvement of the Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification

Electricity produced by a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) is reliable, economical, and environmentally benign. However, effective management of the load-source side is essential to enhance the reliability, affordability, and eco-friendliness of HRES. Therefore, an integrated load–source side management for techno-economic-environmental (TEE) performance improvement of HRES is developed in this paper. The factors considered are namely technical (renewable energy portion, excess energy factor, and unmet load), environmental (particulate matter and carbon emission), and economical (annualized cost of system, total net present cost, and cost of energy). To solve the HRES size optimization problem, a marine predators algorithm (MPA) is used for the first time. HRES is investigated without Load side management (LSM), with LSM, and with LSM integrated with source-side management (SSM). LSM is carried out using the peak shifting technique, which shifts time-movable loads (TMLs) to off-peak hours depending on excess energy availability, taking into account consumer comfort violations and customer behavior uncertainty. For SSM, a comparatively better energy management strategy (EMS) than the load following, cycle charging, and generator order is proposed, which improves the TEE performance of HRES. The integrated load–source side management saves 5% in NPC and 0.008 $/kWh in COE, respectively. To come up with a configuration that is more feasible, a sensitivity analysis for the HRES's component costs and macroeconomic variables is carried out. Furthermore, the optimal configuration COE is slightly higher than that of the most recent study in the literature. By contrasting the MPA result with the HRES PSO result, the accuracy of the MPA result is also confirmed.