Cost Breakdown Research Articles

Technology review and data analysis for cost assessment of water treatment systems

A wide variety of water sources, treatment methods, and recycling options have created a myriad of water management options. For modeling of sustainable water treatment options, computationally efficient models may be required. This paper provides a comprehensive and comparative review of the water management systems and the associated economic, environmental, and performance metrics. The water management systems are represented as a network of sources, users, technologies, recycling options, and quality of water. Special attention is given to desalination systems. The two main technology categories currently used for desalination are thermal (e.g., Multistage Flash “MSF”, Multi-Effect Distillation “MED”, and Mechanical Vapor Compression “MVC”) and membrane (e.g., seawater reverse osmosis “SWRO”, brackish water reverse osmosis “BWRO”). The cost assessment includes a capital cost comparison (for which regression analysis has been used to account for the non-linear nature of the capacity-cost curves), an operating cost comparison, which includes energy requirements, labor costs, chemicals used, maintenance and repair costs, membrane replacement costs and a unit product cost ($/m3) breakdown, which combines the capital and operating costs. Numerous data were collected for the cost of desalination systems. Statistical methods were then used to analyze these collected data to establish deeper understanding of the relationship to capital cost, operating cost, capacity, constraints due to treatment method capabilities, requirements of the users. The paper also briefly discusses other cost considerations such as the water intake and distribution costs. The environmental impacts (concentrate disposal and CO2 footprint) have also been compared for the various technologies considered. Some integration strategies such as use of hybrid systems, cogeneration plants and use of renewable energy have shown reductions in cost associated due to energy consumption and thereby, reducing the unit product cost. Finally, the paper provides a selection guide suitable for various situations with consideration of the different factors affecting cost, environmental impact and energy demands.

PMD51 - COMPARISON OF COSTS AND OUTCOMES BETWEEN COBLATION TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTROCAUTERY FOLLOWING TONSILLECTOMY AND ADENOIDECTOMY PROCEDURES

With over 530,000 procedures performed yearly in the US, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy procedures are the second most common ambulatory surgical procedures performed in children. These procedures have been associated with serious complications such as acute post-operative pain and hemorrhage, requiring readmission in the patient population <12 years. This study compared readmission rates and total procedure costs in patients following tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy procedures between Coblation technology and electrocautery. Patients <12 years who underwent a primary tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy procedure were identified from the 2014-2016 Premier Hospital Healthcare database, using ICD 9/10 procedure codes: 28.2, 28.3, 28.6, 0CTQXZZ, 0CTQ0ZZ, 0CTP0ZZ, 0CTPXZZ, 0CTQ0ZZ and 0CTQXZZ. Patients who had a readmission due to hemorrhage or acute post-operative pain within 1 month post-operatively were identified based on ICD 9/10 codes: 998.11, J95.830, 338.18, or G89.18. Coblation technology and electrocautery treatment groups were created from this cohort. Multivariate regression analyses compared revision rates, departmental and total procedure costs between the 2 treatment groups, adjusting for covariates. A total of 7,562 patients met inclusion criteria, mean age (SD)= 5.5(2.6) years, male: 3,948(52.2%), white: 5,310(70.2%), number of comorbidities: ≤1= 7,547(99.8%), primary payers: Medicaid (48.98%) and Commercial (45.89%).By treatment group, 4,024(53.2%) and 3,538(46.8%) were treated with Coblation technology and electrocautery respectively. Logistic regression showed that readmission rates were comparable between the Coblation technology and electrocautery treatment groups; 2.0% and 2.1%; p=0.5953. A breakdown of procedure costs showed statistically significant lower costs for Coblation technology vs. electrocautery by: surgery ($1,009 vs. $1,162; p<0.0001) and pharmacy ($102.40 vs. $117.20; p<0.0001), respectively. However, Coblation technology compared to electrocautery had higher costs by central supply ($394.70 vs. 205.30; p<0.0001). A comparison of total costs showed that Coblation technology was slightly higher compared electrocautery ($2,646 vs. $2,591; difference=$55.94; p=0.0011). Coblation technology delivers comparable outcomes at near equal cost to electrocautery.

SHAFT ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

In the industry, the shaft misalignment is considered a common fault in rotating machines. Inadequate alignment of rotating shafts through couplings often lead to severe vibration complications with premature failure of machines parts. It is, without uncertainty, the greatest loss of profits allocated to misalignment, resulting limited production, increasing energy cost, increasing downtime and premature breakdown of the equipment. It´s of a big paramount to optimize the rotating machines efficiency by an appropriate alignment technique. Therefore, from aforementioned, the main objective of this research work is to develop a low-cost, with high precision shaft alignment measurement system for industrial applications. The developed prototype was based on an inductive sensor system, which is a non-contacting and electronic dial indicator equipment. It was used an Arduino Uno for the data acquisition procedure and Matlab® for the data analysis processes. The performance and the effectiveness of the proposed measurement system were verified by an experimental validation procedure. Finally, the research approach was successfully accomplished, by developing a shaft alignment system with ultra-low cost with high degree of accuracy. The overall average standard deviation of the experimental data set was about 0.02 mm, which is under the standard recommended values for alignment.

Urban Economy Development Based on Utilizing the Potential of Industrial Parks

An analysis has been presented in the Russian and foreign experience in the redevelopment of urban industrial areas. An overview has been given of potential funding sources and a cost breakdown for projects to utilize idle industrial sites. Various approaches have been considered to assess the effects of infrastructural modernization of industrial zones on the economic development of a megapolis. The case of the Novosib industrial park has been discussed.

Thermogravimetric, thermochemical, and infrared spectral characterization of feedstocks and biochar derived at different pyrolysis temperatures

Biochar is a promising biomass product for soil amendment, remediation, and carbon sequestration. In this study, the effect of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on biochar physiochemical properties including stability, recalcitrance, and surface functionality were investigated through thermogravimetric, thermochemical, and infrared spectral analyses. It is concluded in this research that pyrolysis temperature was the dominating factor determining the inherent characteristics of the derived biochar. High-temperature pyrolysis (≥600 °C) derived the biochar with a high pH, stability, recalcitrance, and higher heating value (HHV). On the other hand, the biochar produced from low-temperature pyrolysis (≤400 °C) had a larger mass yield, energy recovery, more volatile content, and diverse surface functional groups. The different biochar characteristics will lead to different agricultural and environmental applications. Also in this research, a carbon-based recalcitrance index (R50,C) based on a novel multi-element scanning thermal analysis (MESTA) was proposed to improve the current recalcitrance index (R50) based on the conventional thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for the evaluation of biochar’s carbon sequestration potential. The direct comparison of the two indexes, as well as the results from the infrared spectral analysis and ultimate analysis, indicated that R50,C was better at characterizing biochar’s recalcitrance, especially when the mineral content of the feedstock was high. In addition, the cost breakdown indicated that the pretreatment of feedstock was the costliest process during biochar production.

A Process for Capturing CO2 from the Atmosphere

Summary We describe a process for capturing CO2 from the atmosphere in an industrial plant. The design captures ∼1 Mt-CO2/year in a continuous process using an aqueous KOH sorbent coupled to a calcium caustic recovery loop. We describe the design rationale, summarize performance of the major unit operations, and provide a capital cost breakdown developed with an independent consulting engineering firm. We report results from a pilot plant that provides data on performance of the major unit operations. We summarize the energy and material balance computed using an Aspen process simulation. When CO2 is delivered at 15 MPa, the design requires either 8.81 GJ of natural gas, or 5.25 GJ of gas and 366 kWhr of electricity, per ton of CO2 captured. Depending on financial assumptions, energy costs, and the specific choice of inputs and outputs, the levelized cost per ton CO2 captured from the atmosphere ranges from 94 to 232 $/t-CO2.

Life-cycle cost as basis to optimize waste collection in space and time: A methodology for obtaining a detailed cost breakdown structure.

Extensive research has been carried out on waste collection costs mainly to differentiate costs of distinct waste streams and spatial optimization of waste collection services (e.g. routes, number, and location of waste facilities). However, waste collection managers also face the challenge of optimizing assets in time, for instance deciding when to replace and how to maintain, or which technological solution to adopt. These issues require a more detailed knowledge about the waste collection services' cost breakdown structure. The present research adjusts the methodology for buildings' life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis, detailed in the ISO 15686-5:2008, to the waste collection assets. The proposed methodology is then applied to the waste collection assets owned and operated by a real municipality in Portugal (Cascais Ambiente - EMAC). The goal is to highlight the potential of the LCC tool in providing a baseline for time optimization of the waste collection service and assets, namely assisting on decisions regarding equipment operation and replacement.

Phosphorus Diffusion Gettering Efficacy in Upgraded Metallurgical-Grade Solar Silicon

In the context of the continuous price reduction in photovoltaics (PV) in recent years, Si feedstock continues to be a relevant component in the cost breakdown of a PV module, highlighting the need for low-cost, low-capital expenditure (CAPEX) silicon technologies to further reduce this cost component. Upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon (UMG Si) has recently received much attention, improving its quality and even attaining, in some cases, solar cell efficiencies similar to those of conventional material. However, some technical challenges still have to be addressed when processing this material to compensate efficiently for the high content of impurities and contaminants. Adaptation of a conventional solar cell process to monocrystalline UMG Si wafers has been studied in this work. In particular, a tailored phosphorus diffusion gettering step followed by a low-temperature anneal at 700°C was implemented, resulting in enhanced bulk lifetime and emitter recombination properties. In spite of the need for further research and material optimization, UMG Si wafers were successfully processed, achieving efficiencies in the range of 15% for a standard laboratory solar cell process with aluminum back surface field.

The economics of different generation technologies for frequency response provision

The provision of reserve generation is an essential part of maintaining a reliable electricity system and has become an increasingly difficult task with the growing contribution from variable energy sources. Ensuring the cost of balancing supply and demand is minimised is an important aspect, requiring an understanding of how generator costs vary depending on their operation. This paper considers the cost of part loading different generator types, providing a cost breakdown and description of the Levelised Cost of Electricity method of analysing generator costs. This delivers cost-loading level curves for the generator types with the largest contribution to the UK generation portfolio which can be used to perform economic optimisations for generator scheduling. The holding payment for provision of frequency response, an aspect of maintaining balance between generation and demand, is separated by generator type and compared with the calculated part loading costs. To demonstrate the effect on system costs the Winter peak and Summer trough in 2016 and the Future Energy Scenarios in 2020 are considered with maximum and minimum generator numbers connected. Provision of sufficient generation to meet demand and reserves are optimised to reduce costs in each scenario.

Is transcatheter aortic valve replacement a profitable procedure in a high-volume French hospital?

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the prognosis of inoperable patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. Yet, the implantation of expensive prostheses in patients with comorbidities may be questionable in an era when healthcare costs are becoming a major concern. The objective of this study was to assess whether the TAVR procedure is profitable in a high-volume French hospital. Consecutive patients eligible for transfemoral TAVR using the SAPIEN bioprostheses (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) were included retrospectively in this single-centre study between September 2014 and December 2015. Three medicoeconomic severity-level subgroups were considered. The primary clinical endpoint was the difference between hospital costs and revenues, calculated for each patient. Secondary composite endpoints included major adverse events within 30 days and breakdown of costs. Overall, 189 patients were included in the analysis. Three patients died (two from non-cardiac causes) within 30 days of the procedure. The mean hospital cost was €27,530±3814 per patient, and the mean hospital income was €30,313±2681 per patient (P<0.001), resulting in a significant profit of €2783±1743 per patient. The total estimated profit was €525,000 for the whole study period. The largest benefits were observed for patients assigned to the lowest severity level. The price of the bioprosthesis represented 71% of the total costs. The TAVR procedure performed in carefully selected patients was profitable for the academic centre, regardless of the level of severity assigned to the patients.

Design of a safety cost estimation parametric model in oil and gas engineering, procurement and construction contracts

The purpose of this research is to identify parameters that govern safety costs in oil and gas projects. An initial conceptual model was proposed to identify the contractual position of safety management system in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, followed by identification of safety work packages and estimated costs per package. Next, a work breakdown structure (WBS) and cost breakdown structure (CBS), with the suggested safety parameters included for the case study project in focus. Then, a mathematical model was designed based on the parametric modeling approach and the related weighting factors were determined. The proposed model can be considered as an innovative approach to designing safety indicators in oil and gas projects. Field studies and interviews were conducted to investigate the validity of the variables based on the Delphi method. Finally, safety management costs for different phases of the project and related weighting factors were determined separately. The results indicate that the safety management's weighting factors are 1.1% of the total project's weighting factor.

Cost Structure Analysis in Inter Island Perishable Goods Transport (Case Study: South Konawe Citrus, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia)

The objectives of this paper are to measure prices and costs on the supply chains of fresh oranges products. It also qualitatively investigates supply chain bottlenecks and their impact in terms of access toward markets for small producers in rural areas. The analysis of supply-chain bottlenecks is focusing on the breakdown of costs (production, post-harvest, and logistics (transport)) within the supply chain. The location study is in South Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia which is known as one of the largest citrus producer in Indonesia. The results show that the formation of the price of oranges is formed with the following characteristics: 1) cost at the farm level is made up of costs for production activities and processing activities are not done because orange is sold in the form of raw materials, 2) factors that affect the cost at the trade level is the infrastructure condition, mileage and processes during delivery, and 3) the selling price is determined by the trader in accordance with market demand. Merchants were indicated to have the power to determine the prices are a big trader in Java, with implications for the pricing down to the farm level. The condition of infrastructure is an important aspect in the formation of prices. Badly damaged roads often cause farmers cannot sell their production to other regions because of the high risk of damage to goods due mired vehicles on the road, as well as a long time transporting. Another issue that arises is related to inadequate governance in the Port of Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi which caused the cost of transportation by the port to be expensive. The existence of interests of the parties that play a role in making the port of unloading handling process becomes inefficient. High price made by the association of workers unloading for example, makes the high cost of handling goods. Not to mention the imbalance in the flow of goods in and out of the Port of Kendari, mainly from Java, which caused the vessel operator must take into account the condition of empty when the ship returned in Java. Another condition is a problem with the transport of goods is the last priority given to freight transport compared to passenger transport. This often makes long waiting times at the port, which will affect the transported goods, especially perishables goods such as fruits. Generally this indicates inefficient trading patterns oranges in South Konawe requiring further intervention of the various parties concerned. Keywords: Sulawesi Citrus; South Konawe; Cost; Price

Cost viability of 3D printed house in UK

UK has been facing housing crisis due to the rising price of the property on sale. This paper will look into the viability of 3D printing technology as an alternative way for house construction on UK. The analysis will be carried out based on the data until the year of 2014 due to limited resources availability. Details cost breakdown on average size house construction cost in UK were analysed and relate to the cost viability of 3D printing technology in reducing the house price in UK. It is found that the 3D printing generates saving of up to around 35% out of total house price in UK. This cost saving comes from the 3D printed construction of walls and foundations for material and labour cost.

Process and cost modeling of lactic acid recovery from fermentation broths by membrane-based process

Abstract Process and cost models for lactic acid recovery from fermentation broths at an annual capacity of 100,000 kg were developed as a research tool to evaluate an alternate process technology. The models were developed using SuperPro® Designer software by gathering the optimized data from the laboratory scale experiments. Sizing of unit operations, chemicals and utility consumptions, and estimation of capital and operating costs with the cost breakdown analysis were acquired from the simulation. A membrane-based process design was proposed in this study. The processes mainly consisted of microfiltration for cell removal, a series of ultrafiltration for eliminating proteins, and the integrated reverse osmosis systems to recover, pre-concentrate, and pre-purify lactic acid. Among the 3 proposed process designs, the in-parallel membrane-based process exhibited the highest lactic acid recovery yield, while the purity remained sufficiently high compared to commercial-grade products. The number of unit operations was found to be responsible for high production cost, in terms of both investment and operating costs. Omitting centrifugation and ultrafiltration at a 30-kDa molecular weight cut-off and use of the in-parallel integrated brackish water reverse-osmosis membrane units could lower operating costs by 23–31% for various fermentation broths that entered the downstream processing units.

Total Health-Related Costs Due to Absenteeism, Presenteeism, and Medical and Pharmaceutical Expenses in Japanese Employers.

Objective:This study aimed to examine a detailed breakdown of costs (absenteeism, presenteeism, and medical/pharmaceutical expenses), of the employees in four pharmaceutical companies in Japan.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study. Absenteeism and presenteeism were measured by a self-administered questionnaire for workers, and their costs were estimated using the human capital approach. Presenteeism was evaluated by the degree affected quality and quantity of work. Medical and pharmaceutical expenses were obtained by insurance claims.Results:The monetary value due to absenteeism was $520 per person per year (11%), that of presenteeism was $3055 (64%), and medical/pharmaceutical expenses were $1165 (25%). Two of the highest total cost burdens from chronic illness were related to mental (behavioral) health conditions and musculoskeletal disorders.Conclusion:A total cost approach can help employers set priorities for occupational health, safety, and population health management initiatives.

Влияние цифровой революции на трансформацию мирового автомобилестроения

The modern stage of development of the global car market is characterized by toughening and change of conditions of the competition. For this market became characteristic a diversification of the product streams connected with transformation of structure of the industry. Considerable difficulties which were experienced by global automotive industry were caused by global financial and economic crisis which significantly changed product and geographical structure both the industry, and the market. Also the industry undergoes serious changes on the basis of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence that have influenced serious high-quality structural shifts. Major automobile corporations passed into one competitive field with the technological companies. Change of model of consumption in the market, its greater mobility, introduction of new concepts of production - here are the main responses to calls of transformation of the global automotive industry. In costs breakdown of the automobile companies the increasing share is occupied by the expenses connected with processing of big arrays of information and the Internet of things. In these conditions perspectives of development of the market and change of its structure become difficult predicted. Article objective is assessment of influence of digital transformations of the modern world economy on development of the automotive industry in foreign countries. Let’s the result of the carried-out analysis: first, globalization in the global automotive industry does not lead to destruction of uniqueness of the separate country markets; secondly, essential technological transformations in the industry which will affect global consumer demand should be expected not earlier than 2025; thirdly, the strategy of the international companies in automotive industry everything will change more under the influence of artificial intelligence, and it will become a fundamental factor of further transformations of the industry.

OP150 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Benefit Package: A Financial Review

Introduction:The Philippines has an increasing number of newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Most Filipinos rely on out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure to finance their healthcare needs. In 2010, the Philippine National Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) introduced an Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) package to cover the necessary basic healthcare expenses of patients. The objective of this study was to review the OHAT package in terms of patients’ financial risk protection, specifically the amount of OOP expenses incurred and the package's support value.Methods:The study was divided into two phases: (i) patient surveys (PS); and (ii) facility costing surveys (FCS). PS focused on information from enrolled and non-enrolled patients, specifically their current financial needs and expenses. The FCS reviewed actual cost breakdown for each treatment hub of package inclusions.Results:The calculated maximum support value of the package in 2015 was 267 percent. The median annual patient OOP expenditure was PHP 4,700 (USD 91). Maximum expenditure reached as high as PHP 392,000 (USD 7,551) per year mostly due to treatment for opportunistic infections (OIs), which are currently not included in the package. High OOP expenditure was also due to non-uniform coverage of services across different hubs; there was no consensus among providers on what specifically should be included in the package. This reflected a variety of package support values, with some hubs falling below patient expenditure.Conclusions:The current OHAT package, if properly implemented, is sufficient to cover the basic yearly healthcare needs of patients. However, non-uniform implementation and variation in prices of services per treatment hub means that coverage is not always sufficient in all areas, which can cause continued high OOP expenses for patients even with insurance coverage. Furthermore, coverage of OI's as the main driver of increased OOP expenses should be explored.

Health economic implications of complications associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy at a University Hospital: a retrospective cohort cost study

BackgroundA cost analyses of complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) was performed in a high volume hepato-biliary-pancreatic service. We hypothesised that costs are increased with both severity and number of complications; we investigated the relationship between complications and specific cost centres. Methods100 patients from 2011 to 2016 were included. Data relating to their perioperative course were collected. Complications were documented by the Clavien–Dindo classification and costs were inflated and converted to 2017 USD. ResultsMean hospital costs in complicated patients more than doubled those of uncomplicated patients ($28 330 vs. $57 150, p < 0.0001). Total hospital costs significantly increased with both severity and number of complications. This cost increase was influenced by medical consult, pathology, pharmacy, radiology, ward, intensive care, and allied health costs, but not operating theatre or anaesthesia costs. Postoperative pancreatic fistula, postoperative haemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying and infection were associated with cost differentials of $65 438, $74 079, $35 620 and $46 316 respectively over uncomplicated patients. ConclusionThe development of complications following PD is common, costly and associated with increased length of stay. Costs increased with greater complication severity, and specific complications. The in-depth breakdown of hospital costs suggests specific targets for cost containment.

An economic analysis of part loading generators with a focus on the provision of frequency response

The provision of reserve generation is an essential part of maintaining a reliable electricity system and has become an increasingly difficult task with the growing contribution from variable energy sources. Ensuring the cost of balancing supply and demand is minimized is an important aspect which requires an understanding of how generator costs vary depending on their operation. This paper considers the cost of part loading different generator types, providing a cost breakdown and description of the LCOE method of analyzing generator costs. This delivers cost-loading level curves for the generator types with the largest contribution to the UK generation portfolio. The holding payment for provision of frequency response is separated by generator type and compared with the calculated part loading costs.

Small vulnerable sets determine large network cascades in power grids.

The understanding of cascading failures in complex systems has been hindered by the lack of realistic large-scale modeling and analysis that can account for variable system conditions. Using the North American power grid, we identified, quantified, and analyzed the set of network components that are vulnerable to cascading failures under any out of multiple conditions. We show that the vulnerable set consists of a small but topologically central portion of the network and that large cascades are disproportionately more likely to be triggered by initial failures close to this set. These results elucidate aspects of the origins and causes of cascading failures relevant for grid design and operation and demonstrate vulnerability analysis methods that are applicable to a wider class of cascade-prone networks.