Preliminary Economic Feasibility Research Articles

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study for Graphene Synthesis from King Grass at Laboratory Scale

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study for Graphene Synthesis from King Grass at Laboratory Scale

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study of Ferromanganese Nodule Mining by Mechanical Lifting and Small-Scale Collectors

Ferromanganese nodules have been recognized as a potential future metal source for over 50 years. Many research and development efforts have been conducted by many organizations. Most of the efforts have been concentrated into the mining technologies especially for hydraulic lifting through riser pipes with bulk-scale nodule collector. However, no commercial mining venture exists. Uncertainty in the economy of nodule mining is considered to be the reason for this. In order to improve the economy, a mining subsystem based on mechanical lifting and small-scale collectors is proposed and the preliminary economic feasibility is examined in this study. The benefit was at a favorable level compared with that using hydraulic lifting with bulk-scale collector. From the viewpoint of environmental impact assessment, environmental considerations of deep-sea sediment plume are explained.

Techno-economic assessment of a biorefinery plant for extracted olive pomace valorization

This study reports on a new integrated valorization alternative for extracted olive pomace (EOP) by recovering polyphenols as high-value compounds and the subsequent anaerobic digestion of the remaining dephenolized fraction for energy production. The average polyphenol extraction rate was 22.10 kg GAE t−1 EOP and the subsequent optimum methane production from the remaining dephenolized fraction (278 L CH4 kg VS−1 d−1) occurred at organic loading rate (OLR) 2.48 g VS L−1 d−1 and 24 d hydraulic retention time (HRT). The study also reports on the preliminary economic feasibility study and the sensitivity analysis to valorize 1,500 t EOP y−1 under biorefinery concept. The calculated net present value (NPV) and internal return rate (IRR) were €1,996,856 and 58 %, respectively. The sensitivity analysis concluded that the minimum sales volume of hydroxytyrosol (HT) extract and the sale price per mass are by far the most significant factors that might influence the overall economic feasibility of the proposed EOP valorization plant.

Effects of mixed alkali-thermal pretreatment on anaerobic digestion performance of waste activated sludge

In the present study, the effect of low-temperature thermal and alkali pretreatments on biodegradability of waste activated sludge was evaluated. Combined with low-temperature thermal pretreatment (80 °C), varied proportions of a mixed alkali (i.e., a mixture of NaOH and Ca [OH]2) were added. The pretreatment procedures were conducted in different orders; thermal-alkali pretreatment (TAP), simultaneous thermal and alkali pretreatment (STAP), and alkali-thermal pretreatment (ATP). Following pretreatment, the sludge with the alkali-thermal pretreatment was most considerably dissolved. The SCOD concentration was up to 18,000 mg/L in the WAS, and the dissolution rate reached 112.8%. Therefore, the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of waste activated sludge (WAS) by mixed alkali-thermal pretreatment was investigated. With an increase in sodium hydroxide content in the mixed alkali, the cumulative methane production (CMP) of the sludge increased accordingly. The maximum CMP (i.e., 430 mL/g VS [volatile solids]), increased by 308.7% compared with untreated sludge and was obtained by the pretreatment of the mixed alkali (NaOH/Ca(OH)2 = 4:1) at 80 °C. The results show that low-temperature thermal treatment combined with the mixed alkali treatment can reduce the inhibitory effect of mixed alkali on AD, thereby shortening the inhibition period (6d) and increasing methane production (308.7%). The preliminary economic feasibility analysis also showed that the ATP was a cost-effective pretreatment method.

An Economic Study of a Wind Energy Project Using Different Sources of Wind Data

In this study, a preliminary economic feasibility study of the project of wind power at the site of Al-Shehabi (Wasit-Iraq) was conducted using measured wind data at altitudes of 10, 30, 50 and 52 m per 10 minutes. For the purpose of comparison, data from NASA were used at the same location at 50 m height. The lowest unit cost of electricity from wind energy was found to be 0.028 $/Kwh and 0.0399 $/Kwh by using the standard methodologies of Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) equation and Net Present Value (NPV) procedure, respectively. Furthermore, RETScreen software was used to perform the economic prefeasibility study of a proposed wind farm. The study concludes that this site is economically feasible if a wind farm with 5.0 MW of ten wind turbines (EWT DW54) was established, with an NPV of $11,309,956, after-tax IRR of 24.7%, a simple payback period of 6.1 years, and a capacity factor of 38.34%. Finally, this wind farm development will result in a reduction in greenhouse gases of 31876 tCO2 per year. The sensitivity and risk analysis were performed and guarantee the safety of specified financial input parameters values.

A thermo-economic analysis and comparison of pumped-thermal and liquid-air electricity storage systems

Efficient and affordable electricity storage systems have a significant potential to support the growth and increasing penetration of intermittent renewable-energy generation into the grid from an energy system planning and management perspective, while differences in the demand and price of peak and off-peak electricity can make its storage of economic interest. Technical (e.g., roundtrip efficiency, energy and power capacity) as well as economic (e.g., capital, operating and maintenance costs) indicators are anticipated to have a significant combined impact on the competitiveness of any electricity storage technology or system under consideration and, ultimately, will crucially determine their uptake and implementation. In this paper, we present thermo-economic models of two recently proposed medium- to large-scale electricity storage systems, namely ‘Pumped-Thermal Electricity Storage’ (PTES) and ‘Liquid-Air Energy Storage’ (LAES), focusing on system efficiency and costs. The LAES thermodynamic model is validated against data from an operational pilot plant in the UK; no such equivalent PTES plant exists, although one is currently under construction. As common with most newly proposed technologies, the absence of cost data results to the economic analysis and comparison being a significant challenge. Therefore, a costing effort for the two electricity storage systems that includes multiple costing approaches based on the module costing technique is presented, with the overriding aim of conducting a preliminary economic feasibility assessment and comparison of the two systems. Based on the results, it appears that PTES has the potential to achieve higher roundtrip efficiencies, although this remains to be demonstrated. LAES performance is found to be significantly enhanced through the integration and utilisation of waste heat (and cold) streams. In terms of economics on the other hand, and at the system size intended for commercial application, LAES (12 MW, 50MWh) is estimated in this work to have a lower capital cost and a lower levelised cost of storage than PTES (2 MW, 11.5 MWh), although it is noted that the prediction of the economic proposition of PTES technology is particularly uncertain if customised components are employed. However, when considering the required sell-to-buy price ratios, PTES appears (by a small margin) economically more competitive above an electricity buy price of ∼0.15 $/kWh, primarily due to its higher roundtrip efficiency. When considering the two systems at the same capacity, the costs are similar with a slight edge to PTES. Finally, it is of interest that the most expensive components in both systems are the compression and expansion devices, which suggests that there is a need to develop affordable high-performance devices for such systems.

Succinic acid production using a glycerol-based medium by an engineered strain of Yarrowia lipolytica: Statistical optimization and preliminary economic feasibility study

In this study, fermentation conditions were statistically optimized for the first time in succinic acid (SA) production with glycerol as feedstock by Yarrowia lipolytica mutant PGC01003. Firstly, the nutritional and environmental parameters were investigated by the single factor experiment in shake flasks to obtain a SA titer and yield at 11.3 g/L and 0.42 g/g, respectively. Parameters that affected the SA production were then successively optimized by Plackett-Burman design and Response Surface Methodology. Significant increase in SA yield (84%) was achieved under the optimized condition. Finally, preliminary economic feasibility study indicated that the cost of cultivation media reduced by 56% in shake flask scale after optimization. Whereas the cost of cultivation media using the optimal medium was 27.8% lower than that with YPG medium in bench-top scale fermentation. The results reported in this study show that statistical optimization could be an efficient and cost-effective approach for SA production by Y. lipolytica.

THE PROBLEMS OF PERFORMANCE MONITORING TO TAKLE THE TASKS OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS

Improving of the aircraft continued airworthiness system is currently becoming of particular importance applied both to aircraft of domestic and foreign production, used in civil aviation of Russia. This article discusses the background and content of the tasks for long-haul aircraft continued airworthiness, which presents a challenge directly related to the provision of intensive, regular, economically viable, and safe operation of assigned airline fleet. A special place among the problems of continued airworthiness is held by the creation and organization of mechanisms and methods of resource status and age of the assigned airline fleet monitoring to manage its forecasting and timely updates. Not least important among the issues of resource and age structure monitoring to be considered is the need to improve the design of aircraft, taking into account preliminary technical and economic feasibility assessment of its modifications in the interests of the operator. A deep study of the contents of the monitoring allows to develop up-to-date methodological and scientific basis for building an integrated system of aircraft resource management and timing services. This system is developed based on the integrated approach that allows to provide a solution to the entire set of problems presented in this article and faced by professionals and scientists involved in the aircraft maintenance programs development on the stages of their design and manufacturing and long operation of aircraft continued airworthiness.

The Fukushima accident and its implications for Korea

ABSTRACTThe recent tragedy of Fukushima has raised concerns and doubts over nuclear energy. In addition, maturing of democracy and the possibility of a nuclear accident triggered by uncontrollable natural disasters compel governments to win public acceptance. This research analyzes the possible options for Korea using the public acceptance framework. The framework shows that it is important to respond quickly, gather relevant information, and to concisely deliver the information to the public. It also shows that governments should apply strict regulations. The framework implied that information disclosure and transparency were the most important lessons. Since enhanced safety can lead to reduced perceived risk, the development of Generation IV and System-integrated modular advanced reactor technologies has been suggested to gain public acceptance. The results of preliminary economic feasibility study, using real options method, have been reported and are positive.

Bathing adaptations in the homes of older adults (BATH-OUT): protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT).

IntroductionThe Care Act 2014 has placed a responsibility on local authorities in England to provide services that prevent deterioration and minimise the use of other health and social care services. Housing adaptations have been identified as 1 of the 10 most promising prevention services for older adults, with bathing adaptations being the most requested. However, many local authorities have lengthy waiting times which may increase costs, reduce effectiveness and reduce the preventive effect. There is no robust evidence of the effect of these adaptations on: health, well-being and functional ability.Methods and analysisThis is a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) with nested qualitative interview study. The RCT will recruit between 40 and 60 people who have been referred for an accessible showering facility, and their carers, from 1 local authority in England. They will be randomised to either usual adaptations (∼3-month wait) or immediate adaptations (no wait). The primary outcome is the feasibility of conducting a powered study. The outcomes assessed will be: health and social care-related quality of life, independence in activities of daily living and bathing, falls and use of health and social care services. Outcomes will be assessed at 3 and 6 months. Preliminary health economic feasibility will be established.Ethics and disseminationFavourable ethical opinion was provided by the Social Care Research Ethics Committee (reference number 16/IEC08/0017). The results of this study will lay the foundations for a further powered study. This would investigate the effect of bathing adaptations on quality of life and whether increased waiting times are associated with poorer outcomes and increased costs. The results have further potential to inform trials of other housing or social care interventions using the novel waiting list control method. Dissemination will include peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN14876332; Pre-results.

Simulation and preliminary economic assessment of a biodiesel plant and comparison with reactive distillation

In recent years biodiesel has become an alternative to the growing demand for biofuels. The main challenge is to produce high quality biodiesel which is economically competitive with fossil-based diesel fuels. Most biodiesel studies are based on bench scale alkali-catalyzed technology and no detailed technological information is available to compare industrial data with process simulation. This work presents simulation of a batch industrial plant for biodiesel production and makes a comparative study of preliminary economic feasibility with a reactive continuous distillation process. Simulated results were compared with those obtained in an industrial plant. Economic assessment of the process was carried out using total annualized unit cost. Simulated results presented agreement with experimental industrial data. Economic assessment showed that the reactive distillation process was more cost-effective than the batch process for the production of biodiesel.

The feasible study on the reclamation of the glyphosate neutralization liquor by bipolar membrane electrodialysis

Alkaline glyphosate neutralization liquor with high salinity is generated during the glyphosate production by glycine-dimethylphosphit process. It is not only a pollution problem but also a resource waste if the neutralization liquor is discharged directly. In this work, a zero discharge strategy that the bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is employed for the reclamation of the neutralization liquor, including desalinating glyphosate liquor for the subsequent concentration and recycling HCl and NaOH for the glyphosate production, is put forward. The lab-scale study based on the simulated feed solution and the domestic ion‐exchange membranes indicates an acceptable current efficiency and energy consumption. For example, the current efficiency and energy consumption can reach 63% and 10.5kWh/kg acid, respectively, at the 70mA/cm2. Also, almost no glyphosate leakage from the feed solution to acid and base compartments can be found. Furthermore, a preliminary economic feasibility is evaluated through the investigation on the process economics on the basis of the experimental results. There are good reasons to believe that, after the relevant process optimizations (including pretreatment), cyclic utilization of glyphosate neutralization liquor by bipolar membrane electrodialysis will bring significant social and economic benefits.

The technical and economic feasibility of energy recovery in water supply networks

Water supply is a core service on which civilised society depends. It involves considerable energy consumption and, as a result, CO2 emissions (in water treatment, pumping and monitoring) and economic costs. Treated water is most commonly supplied from a central storage reservoir by gravity throughout a catchment and this water must be supplied within satisfactory pressure bands. Where the pressure in water flow becomes too high, a Break Pressure Tank (BPT) is commonly installed in the network, whereby the pressure, kinetic and potential energy within the flow is dissipated to the atmosphere. These BPTs present an opportunity to recover energy from water supply networks by means of a hydropower turbine system, thereby improving the sustainability of the network without interfering with the water supply service. This paper presents the results of a preliminary technical and economic feasibility assessment of the energy recoverable from BPTs.

Estimating Provider and Service Costs at a Community-Based Medical Home Project in Central Ohio

This article describes a preliminary economic feasibility study estimating the costs involved in ensuring basic services and adequate provider capacity as a first step in creating a patient-centered medical home model in Franklin County, Ohio. The initial feasibility study estimated the costs involved in: 1) increasing the number of primary care providers in the county, 2) increasing care capacity at existing federally qualified health centers, and 3) increasing capacity to provide a set of comprehensive care services involving care coordination and availability of specialists and prescription drugs. Cost estimates based on providing services to children and adults below 400% of the federal poverty level in the county ranged from $2.4 million to $212.9 million, depending on the features included in each approach for ensuring adequate provider and service capacity. Major factors affecting the cost estimates included population characteristics, the supply of primary care providers (MD or non-MD), availability of prescription drug coverage, capacity at existing federally qualified health centers, and whether the medical home model involved expanding Medicaid eligibility and enrollment.

Durable phosphate-bonded natural fiber composite products

The University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) and the Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation (WBIC) conducted a preliminary study to determine the feasibility of producing composite building products utilizing waste pulp and paper mill residues and Ceramicrete ®, an innovative chemically-bonded phosphate ceramic binder developed by the United States Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Specifically, the project was able to demonstrate that waste pulp and paper mill residues can be added to Ceramicrete ® to create durable building materials, determine that the products have potential to meet industry performance standards and consumer acceptance tastes, and determine the preliminary manufacturing costs and economic feasibility of producing the new value-added products. We are beginning an extensive 3-year study to conduct the necessary technical and business/market developments tasks to bring the product concepts to commercialization.

A preliminary economic feasibility assessment of nuclear desalination in Madura Island

A joint study between KAERI and BATAN, which is entitled "A preliminary economic feasibility assessment of nuclear desalination in Madura Island", is being conducted under the framework of the Interregional Technical Cooperation Project of IAEA, signed on Oct. 10, 2001 at IAEA. The duration of the project is January 2002 to December 2004. An economic feasibility of nuclear desalination using system-integrated modular advanced reactor (SMART), which will provide Madura Island with electricity and potable water and also support industrialisation and tourism, will be assessed during the project. The scope of this joint study includes the analyses for the short- and long-term energy and water demand as well as the supply plan for Madura Island, evaluation of the site characteristics, environmental impacts and health aspects, technical and economic evaluation of SMART and its desalination system, including the feasibility of its being identified on the Madura Island. KAERI and BATAN are cooperating in conducting a joint study, and IAEA provides technical support and a review of the study products. This paper presents the interim results of the joint study by focussing on the technical and economic aspects of nuclear desalination using SMART in Madura Island.

Recycling waste oyster shells for eutrophication control

Oyster shells are a waste product from mariculture that presents a major disposal problem in coastal regions such as southeast Korea. It was found in the present study that pyrolysis of waste oyster shells under defined conditions (750 °C for 1 h under a nitrogen atmosphere) transforms this material into a sustainable reagent for efficient (up to 98%) removal of phosphates from wastewater. In comparison, raw oyster shells removed almost no phosphate from water, whereas oyster shells heated to 750 °C under an air atmosphere removed a moderate proportion (up to 68%) of phosphates from water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of pyrolyzed oyster shells showed peaks that were characteristic of calcium oxide, whereas analysis of raw oyster shells showed peaks that were characteristic of calcium carbonate. Surface morphology of pyrolyzed oyster shells also differed from that of raw oyster shells. Preliminary economic feasibility analysis indicates that cost of activated oyster shell is competitive with other wastewater treatment chemicals.

Treatment of agricultural drainage water via lagoon/reverse osmosis system

Treatment and reuse of agricultural drainage water (ADW) is complicated by the presence of soluble organic and inorganic pollutants in addition to hazardous chemicals. Large-scale desalination systems for agricultural drainage water require the development of affordable pretreatment for removal of soluble organic matters, which include residuals of agrochemicals and industrial pollutants. Current reports pertinent to the assessment of the typical characteristics of agricultural drainage water indicate that chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration ranges from 50–250 mg/l. This paper presents process design features of an integrated scheme for the treatment of agricultural drainage water for reuse in non-agricultural purposes. The system essentially comprises aerated lagoon and two-stage reverse osmosis (RO) or electrodialysis for a plant capacity of 30,000 m 3/d. Results reveal the preliminary technical and economic feasibility of the proposed treatment/desalination system. The capital, operating and unit costs have been estimated. Recommendations for management of brine have been developed.

The present state of sulphuric acid thermal decomposition

Interconnected alternative variants for thermal decomposition of sulphuric acid with the formation of sulphur dioxide by a combined sulphuric acid thermoelectrochemical process are proposed. These alternative variants make it possible to obtain hydrogen and sulphuric acid or liquid sulphur dioxide using the same equipment both with the heat from a high temperature source (HTGR) and without an external heat source. The process equipment to be used, the results of experimental tests and a preliminary economic feasibility study are given.

Effect of population strategies on production of polyculture system

Rearing trials were conducted in four 0·17 ha earthen ponds, with an average depth of 1 m, at Fish Culture Research Institute, Szarvas, Hungary, to examine the effect of various stocking strategies on production and economic potential. The strategies tested consisted of stocking: Common carp (95%), Grass carp (4%), Catfish (1%) only; Common carp (70%), Grass carp (4%), Catfish (1%) plus Bighead carp (25%); Common carp (70%), Grass carp (4%), Catfish (1%), and Silver carp (25%); Common carp (70%), Silver carp (17·5%), Bighead carp (7·5%), Grass carp (4%) and Catfish (1%). The comparisons were tested at the same densities (20 000 fish/ha pond). Fish were fed a prepared ration twice daily and seine-sampled at 4-week intervals throughout the 102 days rearing period. Ponds were harvested by complete drainage at the end of the growing period. Growth and survival rates were different. The stocking of Common carp at high level (95%) with Grass carp (4%) and Catfish (1%) without Silver carp and Bighead carp resulted in low production level — nearly half — as compared to stocking Common carp (70%), Silver carp (17·5%), Bighead carp (7·5%), Grass carp (4%) and Catfish (1%). Also, survival was more variable; it was 63% in the first stocking structure (pond No. 1), while it was 73% in the second structure (pond No. 4). Mean size of fish species was higher in the second stocking structure than all the three structures. Preliminary economic feasibility analyses of the various strategies were performed for situations where ponds and associated facilities were already available. Our data suggest that stocking strategy which consists of stocking Common carp, Silver carp, Bighead carp, Grass carp, and Catfish result in a greater net revenue.