Economically Research Articles

Optimized Heat Exchanger Network Design for a Phthalic Anhydride Plant Using Pinch Technology: A Maximum Energy Recovery Approach with Economic Analysis

Optimized Heat Exchanger Network Design for a Phthalic Anhydride Plant Using Pinch Technology: A Maximum Energy Recovery Approach with Economic Analysis

Cost-effectiveness of a short-course antibiotic treatment strategy for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia: an economic analysis of the REGARD-VAP trial

The REGARD-VAP trial showed that individualised shortened antibiotic therapy was non-inferior to usual care for mortality and pneumonia recurrence in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of an individualised shortened antibiotic therapy approach in this planned economic analysis. REGARD-VAP was a phase 4, multicentre, open-label, randomised trial to assess a short-course antibiotic treatment strategy for treatment of VAP. In this planned economic analysis, we fitted a decision tree with data from the REGARD-VAP trial to estimate the cost-effectiveness of individualised short-course therapy for VAP, compared to usual care from the health system perspective, in Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and incremental net monetary benefits with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were reported against relevant willingness-to-pay thresholds. Parameter uncertainties were evaluated using scenario analyses. A value of information analysis was conducted. Adopting individualised short-course therapy was cost-effective for Nepal (ICER=US$1086; percentage cost-effectiveness=50·3%), Singapore (ICER=-$6069; percentage cost-effectiveness=55·2%), and Thailand (ICER=$263; percentage cost-effectiveness=60·5%). The associated incremental net monetary benefits were $41 (95% UI -2308 to 2390) in Nepal, $5156 (-45 805 to 56 117) in Singapore, and $804 (-6245 to 7852) in Thailand. Value of information analysis showed that reducing uncertainties for mortality probabilities, bed-day costs, and variable costs were valuable for decision making. We found that an individualised short-course antibiotics strategy in patients with VAP is likely to be cost-effective in high-income, middle-income, and low-income settings, although with evident uncertainty. Considered alongside the positive externalities of reduced antimicrobial use, our findings foster confidence in policy makers contemplating adoption of short-course antibiotics. UK Medical Research Council, Singapore National Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust.

Study of the economic consequences and phthalate emission caused by centralized and decentralized patterns of infectious waste management

The development of health services of hospitals in developing countries has led to a significant increase in the production of infectious waste, which has important economic and environmental consequences. Therefore, reducing pollutant leakage caused by disinfection and reducing infectious waste management costs are important in achieving sustainable development goals in hospital management. In this study, the centralized and decentralized patterns of infectious waste management were studied in three hospitals in Behbahan, Iran. Economic analysis was done based on the financial model. Phthalate emission from disinfection equipment was measured for investigating the level of exposure to the pollutant in the studied patterns. The results showed that the cost of waste transportation for studied hospitals in the centralized patterns increased by 12.1%. However, reductions in disinfection and transfer costs up to 32.4% were available by increasing the segregation ratio of infectious waste. The average emission of phthalates from disinfection equipment in the studied hospitals was 0.260 ng/kg. But emission of phthalate types was not the same, so that the emission of BEHP, IBP, and DBP was 35.97, 4.90, and 1.55 μg/m3, respectively. Considering the hospital waste reduction plan and increasing the segregation ratio to reduce the costs of the hospital led to economic justification of the centralized pattern of infectious waste management as a safe option.

Investigating the economic, energetic and exergetic aspects of semi-cylindrical solar still integrated with stepped-basins and phase change material

This study aims at improving the thermal analysis of a semi-cylindrical, stepped-basins solar still (SCSBSS) that incorporated with (PCM-Paraffin-wax) phase change material. The SCSBSS was evaluated and compared with the semi-cylindrical solar still (SCSS) as a conventional one under various water depths for Egyptian climate conditions for different salt water quantities. Furthermore, the economic analysis, energy and exergy efficiencies for various modifications were discussed. The results show that the best performance belongs to the SCSBSS with PCM which produced 3889mL/m2.day with an increase of the daily productivity of 44.52% compared with SCSS without using PCM at salt water quantity of 20L. The CPL of potable water and payback period for a SCSBSS with PCM were approximately 0.0157US$/L and 123 days with a considered lifespan of 10 years at salt water quantity of 20L. In addition, the results indicated that the thermal and exergy efficiencies of SCSBSS with PCM were 36.86% and 3.27% respectively.

Investigation of thermodynamics performance of solar dryer equipped with double pass flat, v-corrugated, and low-e coated collectors

In this study, a solar dryer incorporating a flat plate heat exchanger to recover heat from exhaust air was investigated to explore the usability of different types of collectors in the system. Their usability was further evaluated through economic and environmental analyses. Moreover, the thermodynamic performance of the solar dryers was evaluated under two weather conditions in Nepal. Apple drying experiments were conducted for 8 hours from 09:00 to 17:00 from February to April 2023 on solar dryers and with open sun drying (OSD) in Dhulikhel, Nepal. The results showed that the low emissivity (low-e) coated aluminum collector was more efficient in terms of collector efficiency and drying rate than collectors with flat or v-corrugated GI absorbers. The average collector efficiency and drying rate were found to be 89% and 107 g/(h×m2) using the low-e coated aluminum collectors, while the values were 50% and 84 g/(h×m2) for the GI sheet collector. The results indicated a slight improvement in the performance of v-corrugated collectors, with values of 53% and 89 g/(h×m2). The drying rate for OSD was found to be 78 g/(h×m2), which was lower than for the dryers with all collectors used in this study. In terms of economic analysis, the dryer equipped with the low-e coated collector was found to be superior, with a payback time of 1.61 years compared to the dryers with flat or v-corrugated GI collectors. Reducing the thermal losses due to radiation by using the low-e coated absorber was shown to be more important than increasing the absorber area using v-corrugated GI sheets.

Land use dynamics in Maharashtra: An economic analysis

Land use dynamics in Maharashtra: An economic analysis

Thermal performance analysis of a domestic-size absorption cooling system incorporating nanofluid with thermal insulation in hot climate of Algeria

The increased demand for energy consumption for air conditioning, due to rising temperatures, has created challenges related to thermal comfort in residential environments .In the present study, a simulation of an air conditioning system for a small building was conducted, considering various absorption cooling scenarios to assess system performance through dynamic and economic analysis. The proposed system employs a parabolic trough collector in conjunction with a storage tank, designed to cool a 12 m² room in Adrar, Algeria. The study aims to identify the optimal scenario based on temperature, heat, and system coefficient of performance indicators. A computer program was developed using characteristic equations and finite difference methods to analyze the system's behavior with different nanofluid concentrations and thermal insulation. Simulation results show that scenario with nanofluid and insulation the best performance is achieved with a 4% nanofluid concentration, a 9 m² solar collector, a 0.3 m³ storage tank, and 0.05 m thick polystyrene insulation. The system can operate for 9 h, maintaining an indoor temperature of 27°C with a peak cooling load of 3 kW. The economic analysis estimates an investment cost of 4535.4$ and Net Present Value 3,370.40$ with a payback period of 12 years and 3 months.

Profitability of Swedish Red and White × Holstein crossbred cows compared with purebred Holstein cows

An economic analysis was performed using a bioeconomic simulation model based on production, reproduction and longevity indicators to compare the profitability (net income per cow) of Swedish Red and White × Holstein (S × H) cows and pure Holstein (H) cows in commercial dairy farms of the center-south of Córdoba province, Argentina. The reproductive events analyzed in the model were pregnancy, calving and abortion. The longevity events were culling, sale and death. The lactation curve for each cow was modeled with a lactation function. Estimations were made for the first, second, and third and later lactations. Incomes were from milk, culled cows and calves. Costs were from feeding, reproductive program and replacement heifers. The reproductive cost of a H cow per year was greater than that of a S × H crossbred cow (USD 6.3). The replacement costs were also higher in pure H cows than in S × H cows (USD 67.8). The revenues from the sale of calves (USD 12.1) and milk production minus the feed cost (USD 8.2) were greater for S × H cows than H cows. Hence, the S × H cows generated a greater total profit (USD 94.4) per cow per year than H cows. The present results show that, in the studied production systems, S × H crossbred cows are more profitable than H cows.

Decomposition of sources of growth in horticulture crops in Karnataka: An economic analysis

Decomposition of sources of growth in horticulture crops in Karnataka: An economic analysis

Strengthening Resilience and Sustainability for Post-Disaster Recovery: A Comparative Law and Economics Analysis on Smart Mixes Between Mechanisms

This article advocates smart mixes of mechanisms of post-disaster recovery in terms of boosting resilience and sustainability through liability rules, government intervention, insurance, and their combinations. Liability rules can provide compensation to victims and, in theory, also reduce disaster risks, while they have their limits in practice. The government widely intervenes in disaster compensation in many countries, but it faces challenges in how it can intervene fairly and efficiently, whether through informal channels, such as ad hoc charity, or structured approaches, such as compensation funds. As governments may struggle to provide efficient and effective compensation ex post, insurance may offer proactive solutions with models of first-party catastrophe insurance and third-party liability insurance ex ante. Where market failure, liability failure, and government failure may all arise, a smart mix of mechanisms is often preferable from a law and economic perspective, rather than relying solely on one framework. However, upon examining empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of these instruments in China, the UK, France, Germany, and Turkey, it becomes apparent that a mix of mechanisms is not always applied in an effective manner. Models of mandatory comprehensive disaster insurance, and Public–Private Partnership (PPP), which both receive government intervention as a last resort to the market and liability failures, can reach the goal of more effective compensation for disaster victims, risk prevention and resilience when faced with disaster recovery, and should therefore be substantially implemented beyond the current levels. To be clear, the proposed mix of solutions mainly focuses on legal and economic dimensions which are rather limited, ignoring, for example, building codes for structures and physical interventions.

Economic Viability of Coffee Plants Cultivated in Agroforestry Systems in Southwest Goiás

Brazil is the world's leading coffee producer. Increased productivity has been observed in recent harvests due to new management and automation technologies. Even with the expectation of a reduction in national production, the state of Goiás has shown an increasing share in coffee production. The municipality of Rio Verde, in Goiás, is among the eight largest coffee producers in the state and is where the Fazenda da Mata enterprise, the main object of this research, is located. The objective of the research is to evaluate the performance of the production of Arabica coffee grown in an agroforestry system through studies on economic feasibility comparing the implementation costs plus the estimated costs and revenues of AFS with the conventional cultivation system. Coffee growing in AFS is a production system that requires research that presents results on economic analysis, thus the aim was to research the economic feasibility of growing coffee in AFS as a sustainable alternative for agribusiness, whose information can contribute to the decision-making of rural managers when comparing a conventional cultivation enterprise to AFS cultivation. Furthermore, AFS can contribute to increased agricultural productivity with less impact on the environment, revealing several possibilities of subsystems that can be applied to large, medium and small rural properties, considering the financial advantages and also the motivating values ​​that direct the farmer towards this agricultural activity. The economic analysis showed that the conventional cultivation system is more advantageous financially, however AFS also presented excellent results. Therefore, it is important to highlight other relevant factors that can be considered when deciding which cultivation system to use in coffee production. Although AFS presented lower financial results than the conventional system, it is a cultivation system that can provide a second source of income for the producer, such as the use of tree species.

Conceptual Waste-to-Energy Design Incorporating Plastic Pyrolysis and Anaerobic Digestion: Thermodynamics, Economics, and Uncertainty Analyses

Conceptual Waste-to-Energy Design Incorporating Plastic Pyrolysis and Anaerobic Digestion: Thermodynamics, Economics, and Uncertainty Analyses

Economic and Performance Analysis of Achilles Tendon Rupture in the National Basketball Association.

Achilles tendon ruptures are common and potentially career-ending injuries for National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Many studies have reviewed the impact of Achilles tendon ruptures on return to play (RTP) and performance, but there are no studies on their economic significance. This study aimed to analyze the economic and performance consequences of Achilles tendon ruptures usingthe cost of recovery (COR) for NBA franchises as well as preinjury salary/career success. It was hypothesized that players with higher preinjury salaries or performance would have an increased COR, higher rates of RTP, and more career success after their injury. Descriptive epidemiology study. Publicly available data of NBA players who sustained an Achilles tendon rupture between 1990 and 2023 were analyzed. Data were retrospectively gathered by R software code to include players' ages, positions, salaries, pre- and postinjury player efficiency rating, time missed after injury, and RTP. Performance impact was measured by advanced statistics: player efficiency rating, Win Shares per 48 Minutes, and Value Over Replacement Player. Two groups of 3 cohorts were created: All-Star, Starter, and Reserve versus group A (<$3,999,999), group B (≥$3,999,999 to ≤$8,999,999), and group C (>$8,999,999). Analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey tests for continuous data and Fisher exact tests for categorical data was used. Significance levels were set at P < .05. A total of 37 players met the inclusion criteria and played between the years of 1992 through 2019. The mean COR that NBA teams faced was $4 million per player. The cumulative economic loss from Achilles tendon ruptures in the NBA between 1992 and 2019 was $117,578,851. Overall RTP was 78.38%, and 31.03% of players who returned to play were out of the NBA within 3 years. RTP to the highest playing level was highest in group B (45.5%), followed by group A (40%) then group C (12.5%). The COR of All-Star players, Starter players, and Reserve players averaged $5.7 million, $3.4 million, and $3 million, respectively. This study investigated the financial and performance implications of Achilles tendon ruptures among NBA athletes. Most players struggled to restore their preinjury performance, except for Reserve players. The findings provide valuable insights into the complexities of COR and postinjury performance.

A multi-dimensional comparative study on the performance of algae removal using various flotation

Flotation is considered the most cost-effective and efficient algae-water separation technology. However, there are various flotation techniques for algae removal, such as coagulation-flotation (CF), foam flotation (FF), and positively charged bubble flotation (PF). It remains unclear which method is most suitable for removing algae from water bodies and under what specific conditions each technique is most effective. This study systematically compares CF, FF, and PF in terms of algal cell removal efficiency, concentration ratio, flotation kinetics, impact on algal cells, removal efficiency of algal organic matter (AOM) and microcystins (MC-LR), as well as economic cost analysis. CF is better suited for algae removal in water bodies, including drinking water sources, using fixed installations on shore due to its high removal efficiency, high concentration ratio, low chemical dosage, and minimal residuals. FF is more appropriate for non-drinking water sources as it can remove algae and further control algal growth; however, its residual CTAB may pose a threat to drinking water safety. PF is most suitable for in situ algae removal within water bodies, primarily because it does not require stirring or coagulation. Instead, modified bubbles can be directly introduced into the algal distribution layer, where they adhere to algal cells, facilitating algae-water separation. All three flotation methods are economically feasible for algae removal. For FF, the costs of chemicals and electricity are nearly equal, while for CF and PF, the primary cost is electricity. This study provides data to support the selection of appropriate flotation technologies for emergency removal of algal blooms in water bodies.

Thermodynamic, Economic and Regulation Strategies Analysis of a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Combined Heating and Cooling

Thermodynamic, Economic and Regulation Strategies Analysis of a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Combined Heating and Cooling

Comprehensive Thermodynamic, Economic, and Environmental Analysis of a Novel Cooling and Water Cogeneration System Based on Seawater Evaporation

In this study, an innovative system is presented to co-generate water and cooling energy on the base of seawater evaporation. Salt-free vapor can be separated from the seawater through the evaporation process, meanwhile, seawater evaporated under low pressure can provide cooling energy. The compressor is employed to create a low-pressure environment for seawater, and the compression heat is recovered by a multi-effect desalination subsystem to produce freshwater. A comprehensive comparison is conducted between this system and conventional systems, considering thermodynamic, economic, and environmental aspects. Meanwhile, the exergoeconomic analysis was conducted for the proposed system. The calculation results indicate that the specific energy consumption of the proposed system is 19.77 kWh/t, which is 4.53 kWh/t lower than that of the conventional system (23.76 kWh/t). Additionally, higher gain output ratio and performance ratio can be achieved. The proposed system has a payback period of 4.24 years, which is shorter than the 6.21 years required by the conventional system, thereby demonstrating a greater economic advantage. For the environmental performance, the proposed system demonstrates a reduced CO2 emission of only 12.55 kg/$, indicating a significant decrease of 40.29% compared to the conventional system's 21.02 kg/$. Therefore, the proposed system demonstrates improved economic and environmental performance.

Breakdown cost and recycling processes of Bentonite/TiO2 quantum dots of photo and solar degradation of Congo Red dye and industrial dyes wastes

This research presents the preparation, characterization, and application of a novel bentonite- TiO2 quantum dot (Bent/TQ) nanocomposite for the efficient photodegradation of Congo Red dye, a common pollutant in industrial wastewater. The composite was prepared via a co-precipitation method followed by calcination, which facilitated the uniform dispersion of TiO2 quantum dots within the bentonite matrix. The resulting material exhibited a high specific surface area of 205.45 m2/g and an optimized band gap of 3.15 eV, making it suitable for visible light photocatalysis. The photocatalytic efficiency of Bent/TQ was evaluated under both xenon lamp irradiation and natural sunlight. The composite demonstrated a significant degradation rate constant of 23.35 × 10⁻³ s⁻1, which is comparable to that of pure TiO2 quantum dots (28.86 × 10⁻³ s⁻1). Mechanistic studies revealed that the primary active species responsible for the degradation were hydroxyl radicals (•OH), generated through the interaction of photogenerated electron-hole pairs with H2O molecules and molecular oxygen. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) analyses were employed to assess the mineralization efficiency of the composite. The Bent/TQ catalyst achieved a COD removal efficiency of 84.5% and a TOC reduction of 76.2% after 240 minutes of irradiation under natural sunlight. Reusability tests indicated that the photocatalyst retained approximately 80% of its original efficiency after seven consecutive cycles, though a slight decline was observed due to particle agglomeration under prolonged light exposure. The economic analysis suggested that the use of Bent/TQ nanocomposites could reduce operational costs by 29.12% compared to conventional TiO2-based systems, making it a cost-effective solution for large-scale wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of Bent/TQ nanocomposites as sustainable and efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation, with future efforts aimed at enhancing their long-term stability and expanding their applicability to a broader range of pollutants.

Thermodynamic and economic analysis of a novel solar-assisted vapor injection ejector-enhanced cycle for building heating

This research proposes a novel solar-assisted vapor injection ejector-enhanced cycle (SVI-EEC). The energy, exergy, and exergo-economic modelings of SVI-EEC are conducted in this study and compared with the modified solar-assisted vapor injection ejector-enhanced cycle (SE-MVIC) and the flash tank vapor injection cycle (FVIC). In addition, the performance of several low-GWP refrigerant mixtures (R13I1/R152a,R13I1/R161 and R13I1/R32), is investigated to advance the replacement of HFC refrigerants.The simulation results show that for the same compressor inlet mass flow, the COPh of SVI-EEC is improved by 6.9% and 29.7% compared to SE-MVIC and FVIC, respectively. The COPh and Qcon of R13I1/R152a at optimum injection pressure increased by 1.94% and 5.49%, respectively, compared to R134a. In summary, the proposed SVI-EEC system has excellence in performance and application potential, while R13I1/R152a has the potential to replace R134a.

Environmental and Economic Analysis of High-Current Stacked HTS Cables by Gap Optimization

Environmental and Economic Analysis of High-Current Stacked HTS Cables by Gap Optimization

Thermo-economic performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of viscosity ratio and thermal conductivity ratio of copper oxide–palm oil nanolubricants

Through experimental research, this work explores the thermophysical properties, cooling efficiency, and economic viability of copper oxide–palm oil nanolubricants in tribology applications. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of the nanolubricants were tested at three different volume concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 vol. %) throughout a temperature range of 30 °C to 80 °C at intervals of 10 °C. Researchers looked attentively at how the viscosity and thermal conductivity ratios of the nanolubricants were affected by temperature and volume concentration. A significant increase in thermal conductivity was noted with increasing concentration and temperature. On the other hand, as temperature increased, viscosity reduced and was dependent on volume concentration. The property enhancement ratio was used to evaluate the nanolubricants' cooling capacity before an economic analysis of their cooling efficacy was conducted. Based on experimental data, the study led to the creation of novel correlations between the viscosity ratio and thermal conductivity ratio. These models showed a high degree of agreement (R2 values of 99.47% for the thermal conductivity ratio and 97.78% for the viscosity ratio) between the expected and actual outcomes. The ideal values of the viscosity and thermal conductivity ratios were 1.10 and 1.62, respectively. These values corresponded to a critical temperature of 37.32 °C and a volume concentration of 0.16 vol. % for nanoadditives. The findings offer valuable insights into optimizing nanolubricants for enhanced cooling performance in tribological systems, with potential applications in improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs in industrial processes.