scholarly journals Syngas as Electron Donor for Sulfate and Thiosulfate Reducing Haloalkaliphilic Microorganisms in a Gas-Lift Bioreactor

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1451
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Plugge ◽  
João A. B. Sousa ◽  
Stephan Christel ◽  
Mark Dopson ◽  
Martijn F. M. Bijmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Donor ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Acetate Production ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Gas Streams ◽  
Dominant Process ◽  
Co Addition ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Thiosulfate Reduction ◽  
Gas Lift

Biodesulfurization processes remove toxic and corrosive hydrogen sulfide from gas streams (e.g., natural gas, biogas, or syngas). To improve the efficiency of these processes under haloalkaline conditions, a sulfate and thiosulfate reduction step can be included. The use of H2/CO mixtures (as in syngas) instead of pure H2 was tested to investigate the potential cost reduction of the electron donor required. Syngas is produced in the gas-reforming process and consists mainly of H2, carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Purification of syngas to obtain pure H2 implies higher costs because of additional post-treatment. Therefore, the use of syngas has merit in the biodesulfurization process. Initially, CO inhibited hydrogen-dependent sulfate reduction. However, after 30 days the biomass was adapted and both H2 and CO were used as electron donors. First, formate was produced, followed by sulfate and thiosulfate reduction, and later in the reactor run acetate and methane were detected. Sulfide production rates with sulfate and thiosulfate after adaptation were comparable with previously described rates with only hydrogen. The addition of CO marginally affected the microbial community in which Tindallia sp. was dominant. Over time, acetate production increased and acetogenesis became the dominant process in the bioreactor. Around 50% of H2/CO was converted to acetate. Acetate supported biomass growth and higher biomass concentrations were reached compared to bioreactors without CO feed. Finally, CO addition resulted in the formation of small, compact microbial aggregates. This suggests that CO or syngas can be used to stimulate aggregation in haloalkaline biodesulfurization systems.

Effect of Al2O3 and SiO2 Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Blended with POME on Combustion, Performance and Emissions Characteristics of a Diesel Engine

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 6859-6873 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Adzmi ◽  
A. Abdullah ◽  
Z. Abdullah ◽  
A. G. Mrwan
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engine ◽  
Metal Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Peak Torque ◽  
Combustion Characteristic ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Single Cylinder ◽  
Engine Testing ◽  
Co Addition ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Test Fuel

Evaluation of combustion characteristic, engine performances and exhaust emissions of nanoparticles blended in palm oil methyl ester (POME) was conducted in this experiment using a single-cylinder diesel engine. Nanoparticles used was aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) with a portion of 50 ppm and 100 ppm. SiO2 and Al2O3 were blended in POME and labelled as PS50, PS100 and PA50, PA100, respectively. The data results for PS and PA fuel were compared to POME test fuel. Single cylinder diesel engine YANMAR TF120M attached with DEWESoft data acquisition module (DAQ) model SIRIUSi-HS was used in this experiment. Various engine loads of zero, 7 N.m, 14 Nm, 21 N.m and 28 N.m at a constant engine speed of 1800 rpm were applied during engine testing. Results for each fuel were obtained by calculating the average three times repetition of engine testing. Findings show that the highest maximum pressure of nanoparticles fuel increase by 16.3% compared to POME test fuel. Other than that, the engine peak torque and engine power show a significant increase by 43% and 44%, respectively, recorded during the PS50 fuel test. Meanwhile, emissions of nanoparticles fuel show a large decrease by 10% of oxide of nitrogen (NOx), 6.3% reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and a slight decrease of 0.02% on carbon monoxide (CO). Addition of nanoparticles in biodiesel show positive improvements when used in diesel engines and further details were discussed.  

Utilization of Recycled Fine-Ground Concrete from Railway Sleepers for Production of Cement-Based Binder

2013 ◽  
Vol 486 ◽  
pp. 323-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lidmila ◽  
Pavel Tesárek ◽  
Tomáš Plachy ◽  
Zuzana Rácová ◽  
Pavel Padevět ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Material Properties ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Bending Strength ◽  
Civil Engineering ◽  
Environmental Awareness ◽  
New Materials ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Curing Conditions ◽  
Secondary Use

The environmental awareness and potential cost reduction have promoted the recycling of materials in civil engineering. This paper is dealing with the recycling and secondary use of old concrete railway sleepers for reconstruction of old railway lines. In particular, it is focused on the investigation of material properties of a binder prepared from finely crushed old concrete sleepers. This material could be used for strengthening of subsoil and embankments supporting the railway structures. The study shows that the compressive and bending strength of the investigated material is sufficient for this purpose and that the strength can be further increased by suitable curing conditions. These findings could contribute to the utilization of old concrete sleepers during railway reconstructions and safe money spent for the purchase of new materials and disposal of old sleepers.

scholarly journals Cost evaluation of PAGE-B risk score guided HCC surveillance in patients with treated chronic hepatitis B

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin F. Sprinzl ◽  
Christina Feist ◽  
Sandra Koch ◽  
Wolfgang M. Kremer ◽  
Karl J. Lackner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Cost Evaluation ◽  
Ultrasound Screening ◽  
Potential Cost

Abstract Background The PAGE-B score (Platelet Age GEnder–HBV) selects chronic hepatitis B (cHB) patients showing no relevant 5-year risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We, therefore, explored potential cost reduction following the introduction of a PAGE-B tailored ultrasound screening in a single center cohort of cHB patients receiving stable antiviral therapy. Methods cHB patients attending throughout the year 2018 were documented. Patients eligible for PAGE-B score were classified into high (≥18 points), intermediate (10–17 points) and low (≤9 points) HCC risk groups. Patients of the low HCC risk group could postpone HCC screening to reduce HCC screening expenses. Full costs for hepatic ultrasound were assessed. Results Throughout the year cHB patients (n = 607) attended our clinic, which included PAGE-B eligible patients (n = 227, 37.4%) of whom n = 94 (15.8%) were allocated to the low HCC risk group. Sonographic HCC screening during a median exam time of 12.4 min (IQR 9.2–17.2) resulted in total costs of 22.82 Euro/exam. Additional opportunistic expenses caused by patient’s lost earnings or productivity were 15.6–17.5 €/exam and 26.7 €/exam, respectively. Following a PAGE-B tailored HCC screening at our institution annual full costs for cHB patients could be reduced by 15.51%, which equals a cost reduction by 1.91% for our total sonography unit. In comparison, 1.35% up to 7.65% of HBV-infected patients of Caucasian descent could postpone HCC screening according to population-based estimates from Germany. Conclusions PAGE-B risk score adapted screening for HCC is an efficient and cost neutral tool to reduce costs for sonography in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving antiviral treatment.

Quantifying the Importance of Solar Soft Costs: A New Method to Apply Sensitivity Analysis to a Value Function

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sita M. Syal ◽  
Erin F. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Value Function ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Industry Growth ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Solar Research

Abstract This paper presents a new approach to build a decision model for government funding agencies, such as the US Department of Energy (DOE) solar office, to evaluate solar research funding strategies. High solar project costs—including technology costs, such as modules, and soft costs, such as permitting—currently hinder many installations; project cost reduction could lead to a lower project levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and, in turn, higher installation rates. Government research funding is a crucial driver to solar industry growth and potential cost reduction; however, DOE solar funding has not historically aligned with the industry priorities for LCOE reduction. Solar technology has received significantly higher research funding from the DOE compared to soft costs. Increased research funding to soft cost programs could spur needed innovation and accelerate cost reduction for the industry. To this end, we build a cost model to calculate the LCOE of a utility-scale solar development using technology and soft costs and conduct a sensitivity analysis to quantify how the inputs influence the LCOE. Using these results, we develop a multi-attribute value function and evaluate six funding strategies as possible alternatives. We find the strategy based on current DOE allocations results in the lowest calculated value and the strategy that prioritizes soft cost results in the highest calculated value, suggesting alternative ways for the DOE solar office to prioritize research funding and potentially spur future cost reduction.

Cost Reduction Strategies in Workover operations in the Face of Low Oil Price: The Agbada Workover Project

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Eze ◽  
Oluwarotimi Onakomaiya ◽  
Ademola Ogunrinde ◽  
Olusegun Adegboyega ◽  
James Wopara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Oil Price ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Program Optimization ◽  
Associated Gas ◽  
Early Return ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Gas Lift

ABSTRACT The current low oil price has resulted in several continuous improvement drives particularly focused on capital efficiency. With over 60 producing oil fields and approximately 700 producing wells, some of which date back to the 60s, work over operations in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is imperative. Having completed over twenty (20) Work Over operations in the last six years in SPDC, the importance of Work Over operations as a means to sustain production especially for relatively old, dysfunctional or non-compliant wells and keep the production funnel full at a relatively lower cost compared to new drills is more evident. Work over operations, defined as the repair and/or stimulation of existing wells in order to improve production performance presents the opportunity to maximize short term gains from already existing facilities. The objective of the workover operations on Agbada ABC and XYZ was to restore well integrity with the installation of sub surface safety valves and gas lift mandrels instead of insert orifice while assuring the development of oil and associated gas. The insert orifice had been installed on both wells to enable gas lift operations from the Agbada Associated Gas Gathering (AGG) plant since they were unable to sustain natural flow. However, due to epileptic AGG, both wells quit frequently requiring nitrogen lift with an average Non-Productive Times (NPT) of 6 months per year while Agbada XYZ was put on cyclic production and had been a pressure build-up well with at least two weeks down time per month. The workover operation was therefore proposed to replace the existing (punched) tubing, install proper gas lift mandrels for optimum performance, reduce well operating cost arising from AGG outage and/or compressor failure and restore production in the reservoir. This paper aims to discuss the cost reduction strategies such as collaboration, re-use, program optimization and operational efficiency applied in driving down Non-Productive Times (NPT) in the efficient delivery of these workover operations which resulted in <6% NPT, >30% time savings, ca. 40% cost savings and early return of wells to production.

DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS FIELDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR OPTIMUM LONG-TERM RECOVERY

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 391
Author(s):  
D.J. Wright ◽  
S.R. le Poidevin
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Oil

Technology used in the Australian offshore oil and gas industry in recent years has diversified with the introduction of innovative concepts for field developments. These innovations are aimed at cost reduction and greater access to reserves, especially those in small and remote fields. Further innovations are anticipated as research progresses in several areas of potential cost reduction. Changes in technology can dramatically affect the relative economics of data acquisition, contingency planning and the extent of field development. Drilling and workover economics, well servicing, reservoir surveillance and the opportunities for infrastructure development are strongly dependent on the choice of development technology. These choices, in turn, have implications for long-term recovery, including the discovery and development of new pools and extensions to known pools, overall field recovery factors, the opportunities for development of gas caps and nearby fields, and the future potential for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).Government involvement in development approvals in various countries has diverse objectives. The Australian Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act specifies as one objective the optimum long-term recovery of petroleum. Critical areas of interest are pre-development planning with necessarily incomplete information, the phenomenon of unexpected reserves growth, and provision for contingencies such as well failures. Early drilling and completion decisions and infrastructure planning have major effects on future developments. Subjects of direct relevance for future improvements in development economics include reductions in pipeline construction costs, reductions in the cost of drilling from mobile rigs and flexibility in completion design.

Reducing the Cost of Ship Maintenance and Repair

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Dlugokecki ◽  
Dennis Fanguy ◽  
Lisa Hepinstall ◽  
Matthew Tedesco
Keyword(s):  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Design Rules ◽  
Deck Plate ◽  
General Dynamics ◽  
The Cost

In July 2011, the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP)awarded the project entitled “Reduction of Total Ownership Costs Through Application of Design For Maintenance (DFM) and Repair Methodologies Project” a collaborative shipyard-led research project, supported by Bollinger Shipyards(Prime), BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, Vigor Shipyards, the Trident Refit Facility in Kingsbay, GA, General Dynamics Electric Boat, General Dynamics NASSCO, and the Naval Center for Cost Analysis at NSWC-Carderock. Through this customer-centric project, nearly 40 DFM workshops were held with the deck-plate repairers at public and private shipyards across the US to identify major maintenance cost drivers, maintenance cost reduction opportunities, and deliver design rules to reduce total ownership costs to ship owners based on Design for Maintainability (DFM) principles. This paper will provide an understanding of the process used to develop the DFM information and will discuss the DFM principles applied and highlight the “good practice” design rules that resulted from this effort. The paper will also describe the Cost Benefit Analysis process and templates developed through the project, along with provide an appreciation of the potential cost benefits associated with the implementation of DFM principles. The DFM database, also developed through the project, with over 1000+ repair-based cost reduction strategies will also be highlighted.

Standardization Lead to Potential Cost Saving in the One of the Clusters in Southern of Sultanate of Oman

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichapa Akaramethakorn ◽  
Issa Mahruqi ◽  
Mohammad Aziz ◽  
Mohamed Radwan ◽  
Yahya Amri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Saving ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Technical Specification ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Stock Management ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Well Design ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Petroleum Development

Abstract This paper is for people to realize a strategic way of continuous improvement though optimization and standardization process with a minimum of 10% target cost reduction while developing capability in the organization in the south of Oman. BN area is one of the main production areas in PDO (Petroleum Development of Oman) and is being operated under BR cluster from 1980s. Approximately eleven fields in the BN area are contributing to the success today. Continuous improvement through optimization and cost reduction has always been a top priority, where long term production and safety has been fulfilled. In 2020, this team has been put together to look into the overall cost saving potential with the clear management steering of "Do not Leave any Stone Unturned". A mixture of experience and young team members are retained to ensure capability development in the organization. One of the key items that this team looked at is to standardize of upcoming Oil Producers and Water Injectors well design. The well design in at least 7 fields in the BN area has been reviewed and realized the value and risk through competitive scoping exercise. By avoiding looking at the fields in isolation, the team has considered a similarity of well functionality and had identified where the standard well design can be applied. Minimum functional requirements lead to minimum technical specification and building into a staircase of option with clear associated risk for each option. Through the analysis, a potential optimization of an existing well design has been discovered and is currently undergone further maturation toward design endorsement. With the maturation of the uniformity of well design in the area, it is foreseeing as an opportunity to ensure improvement can be sustained in the long run. Minimum 10% saving of well cost through standardization and efficiency in project management is a target set, aiming to provide stability in planning. In addition, the team are looking into even more than 10% cost saving through innovative contracting strategy. It could potentially help to speed up the delivery of the project, accelerate production with less waiting time i.e. improve material stock management, simplify procurement process, ensure that the experience remains in the organization and will allow for replication in the future. The approach involves a combination of integrating team from subsurface, surface, wells, contract, and procurement to enhance cost saving to the company. This has proven to be effective and aligned with the company's focus to consolidate a commercial mind-set thinking in each development.

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