abstract: The lifetime of a transformer is essentially determined by the life of its insulation system which is a time function of the temperature defined by its thermal class. A large quantity of studies and international standards have been published indicating the possibility of increasing the thermal class of cellulose based materials when immersed in natural esters which are superior to traditional mineral oils. Thus, a transformer having thermally upgraded Kraft paper and natural ester dielectric fluid can be classified as a high temperature insulation system. Such a transformer can also operate at temperatures 20C higher than its mineral oil equivalent, holding additional loading capability without losing life expectancy. This thesis focuses on evaluating the use of this feature as an additional capability for enhancing the loadability and/or extending the life of the distribution transformers for the Phoenix based utility - SRP using FR3 brand natural ester dielectric fluid. Initially, different transformer design options to use this additional loadability are compared allowing utilities to select an optimal FR3 filled transformer design for their application. Yearlong load profiles for SRP distribution transformers, sized conventionally on peak load demands, are analyzed for their oil temperatures, winding temperatures and loss of insulation life. It is observed that these load profiles can be classified into two types: 1) Type-1 profiles with high peak and high average loads, and 2) Type-2 profiles with comparatively low peak and low average load. For the Type 1 load profiles, use of FR3 natural ester fluid with the same nominal rating showed 7.4 times longer life expectation. For the Type 2 load profiles, a new way of sizing ester filled transformers based on both average and peak load, instead of only peak load, called “Sustainable Peak Loading” showed smaller size transformers can handle the same yearly peak loads while maintaining superior insulation lifespan. It is additionally possible to have reduction in the total energy dissipation over the year. A net present value cost savings up to US$1200 per transformer quantifying benefits of the life extension and the total ownership cost savings up to 30% for sustainable peak loading showed SRP distribution transformers can gain substantial economic savings when the distribution transformer fleet is replaced with FR3 ester filled units. / Dissertation/Thesis / Envirotemp FR3 Fluid Brochure / Envirotempe FR3 Fluid Data Sheet / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2018

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a relação custo/benefício do sistema APPCC implantado na linha de produção de iogurte em uma indústria de laticínio em São Carlos, São Paulo de Agosto de 2006 a Agosto de 2007. Foi realizada a mensuração dos custos totais para elaboração e implantação do APPCC bem como a avaliação da qualidade microbiológica do produto acabado e do nível de perdas de embalagens durante o processamento, antes e após a implantação do sistema. Inicialmente foi realizada adequação aos programas pré-requisitos e treinamento dos funcionários para as boas práticas de fabricação e APPCC. A seguir foram aplicados os princípios do plano, sendo identificados 12 pontos críticos de controle (PCCs), desde a recepção do leite cru, até a expedição do produto acabado. O APPCC mostrou-se eficiente no controle da qualidade microbiológica do iogurte, com redução nas contagens de bolores e leveduras após a implantação do sistema, não sendo verificadas alterações para as contagens de coliformes totais e fecais. Quanto às perdas de embalagens na linha de produção, a implementação do APPCC não afetou os percentuais de perdas de tampas e garrafas, sendo que os rótulos apresentaram aumento de perdas após a implantação do sistema. Com relação aos custos para implantação do APPCC, os maiores investimentos foram referentes à consultoria externa (48%) e mudanças estruturais e aquisição de equipamentos (30%). Os custos específicos aos programas pré-requisitos representaram 22% dos investimentos totais. Para a manutenção do APPCC os maiores custos foram relativos à mão de obra para monitoramento dos PCCs e verificação do plano (46%) e material de laboratório (28%). O custo para a manutenção do sistema representou um impacto de R$ 0,01/kg no valor final do iogurte embalado, e os gastos com investimentos na fábrica contribuíram com um adicional de R$ 0,02/Kg. O impacto total da implementação do APPCC foi R$ 0,03/Kg, o que representa 1,5% do valor do produto final. Conclui-se que a aplicação do APPCC em linha de produção de iogurte conforme descrito neste estudo apresenta relação custo-benefício satisfatória. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cost and benefits of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system implemented in the yogurt production line in a dairy processing plant in São Carlos, São Paulo State from August 2006 to August 2007. The total costs for the elaboration and implementation of HACCP, along with the microbiological parameters of the final product and the losses of packaging units during processing were measured before and after the implementation of the system. Initially, procedures were done for the compliance to the pre-requisites programs and the training of the staff on good manufacturing practices (GMP) and HACCP. Next, the principles of the plan were applied and 12 critical control points (CCP) were identified from the raw milk reception until the dispatch of the final product. The HACCP showed to be efficient for the microbiological quality control of the yogurt, by reducing the incidence of molds and yeasts, although no changes on total and fecal coliforms counts were observed before and after the HACCP implementation. As for the packaging losses on the production line, the implementation of the HACCP did not affect the percentage of bottles or bottle covers loss. However, the label losses increased after the HACCP implementation. Regarding the HACCP implementation costs, the major investments were related to external consultants (48%) and structural changes and equipment purchasing (30%). The specific costs related to the pre-requisite programs represented 22% of the total investments. The major costs for the HACCP operating were associated to the labor required for monitoring the CCP, the verification of the plan (46%) and the material required for laboratorial analysis (28%). The HACCP operating costs represented an impact of R$ 0.01/kg of the packed yogurt, and the investments done in the factory contributed for an additional of R$ 0.02/kg. The overall impact of the HACCP implementation was R$ 0.03/kg (1.5% of the value of the final product). In conclusion, the HACCP applied in the yogurt line as described in this study presented a satisfactory cost-benefits relationship.

The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) lists four different methods for determining the change in crash frequency in order of reliability. Currently, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) uses the fourth reliable method. The goal of this research was to develop a tool that the most reliable method mentioned in the HSM could be used to perform life-cycle benefit-cost analyses. A spreadsheet program was built that performs the HSM's Part C Predictive Method for 11 different roadway segment types mentioned in HSM using Excel macros and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming. Intersections were not included in this spreadsheet program as they were not included in the Utah Crash Prediction Model (UCPM) or the Utah Crash Severity Model (UCSM) at the time of this research. The methodology for analysis was set up to become part of the use of the models in selecting countermeasures. The concept and spreadsheet layout are discussed using the rural two-lane two-way (TLTW) highway spreadsheet as an example. Three examples are presented in this thesis, which are a case of rural TLTW highway, a case of five-lane urban arterial with a two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL), and a case of a freeway segment, each with two selected countermeasures to compare their benefit-cost ratios (BCRs). One important aspect associated with life-cycle benefit-cost analysis of safety related improvements is the cost of countermeasures. The spreadsheets developed in this research can predict the benefits associated with a countermeasure following the methods found in the HSM; however, it does not include a module to estimate costs associated with a countermeasure to be selected because costs of countermeasures are dependent on the way such improvements are included in construction contracts. The engineer should seek guidance from the cost estimate expert within the agency or outside consultants when determining the project costs.

No description available.

Rural Iowa towns often lack flood mitigation because of a lack of resources and inability to compete for federal assistance funds. The Federal Emergency Management Agency relies on a benefit-cost analysis which produces benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) for proposed projects to determine which communities receive funding, with an emphasis on the economic BCR, which compares potential future benefits with estimated capital costs. The FEMA requirement for an economic BCR is at least 0.75. The economic BCRs for mitigation projects in rural towns are often lower compared to those in urban centers due lower potential future benefits from lower building count and potential exposure. Here we use a multijurisdictional approach which analyzes flood mitigation at a watershed scale to join upstream agricultural potential future benefits with downstream potential avoided benefits in rural towns. We predicted BCRs of simulated flood retention wetlands using HAZUS-MH to find the potential future benefits a range of estimated capital costs via a percent reduction approach and a targeted peak flow approach to calculating wetland effects on peak flow. The percent reduction approach generated BCRs of over 0.75 in the Mud Creek watershed for estimated capital costs per wetland up to $177,400. However, the simulated flood retention wetlands did not generate BCRs high enough to meet the minimum requirement in the Hinkle Creek watershed by itself. However, a multijurisdictional approach is not limited to each watershed individually. When the simulated flood retention wetland projects in each watershed were combined, the BCRs were high enough to meet the FEMA requirement. The combined BCRs were over 0.75 for estimated capital costs up to $143,300. The targeted peak flow approach included BCRs which account for dry and wet antecedent soil moisture conditions and minimum, maximum and average peak flow change scenarios. The scenarios with dry antecedent soil moisture conditions created BCRs higher than wet antecedent soil moisture conditions. Further, the maximum peak change scenarios generated BCRs higher than average peak change scenarios, which in turn generated higher BCRs than the minimum peak change scenarios. In the Mud Creek watershed, the only scenario to generate BCRs above 0.75 for any part of the range of estimated capital costs was the maximum peak change scenario under dry antecedent soil moisture conditions. However, the maximum and average peak change scenarios under dry antecedent soil moisture conditions and the maximum peak change scenario under wet soil moisture conditions generated BCRs over 0.75 in the Hinkle Creek watershed. When the simulated flood retention wetland projects for both watersheds were combined, only the maximum peak change scenario under dry antecedent soil moisture conditions generated BCRs above 0.75. We found that a multijurisdictional approach is a viable method for rural watersheds to analyze potential flood mitigation projects to help increase their BCRs.

No description available.

In this thesis we analyse the economic effects of a policy proposal in Sweden, which implies a removal of the sentence reduction for 18- to 20-year-old offenders. We use a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to systematically assess its effects. Our results indicate that the policy proposal is most likely beneficial to society, a conclusion which is strengthened by our sensitivity analysis. Our CBA builds upon Becker’s (1968) economic model of crime, and the extensive literature it has inspired which explores the effects of harsher punishment on crime. In order to assess how a harsher sentencing regime affects society, we use crime-punishment elasticities and costs of crime based on previous studies and own estimations. Our main contribution to the existing literature is twofold. First, we provide an economic dimension to a current political issue. Second, we employ a CBA to a research area in Sweden in which the method has been used sparingly. Knowing how an increase in punishment affects crime rates is of great importance for policy making. Hence, we encourage further analysis in this area, especially in Sweden.

空氣污染防制費自民國84年7月1日開徵，希望能藉由空污費的徵收來減少污染的排放量，同時能透過空氣污染防制費的有效運用來改善空氣品質，而本文僅針對空氣污染防制迄今，對家計部門所產生的清潔效益進行估算。 首先，利用家計部門生產函數建立理論模型，接著以錢玉蘭、蕭代基(1996)，「台灣大都會地區改善空氣品質之經濟效益評估與酸雨風險認知調查」的問卷調查資料為樣本，對超對數及近似理想需求函數的實證模型進行配適比較。結果顯示：近似理想需求函數配適之判定係數較高，符合加總性、齊次性及對稱性限制條件，而價格變數與屬性變數之估計結果亦相當合理，因此，推論近似理想需求函數為解釋台灣清潔需求型態的較適模型。 由近似理想需求函數所推估之85及86會計年度空污費執行所帶來台灣地區家戶清潔效益分別為每戶2101元及651元，加總每戶效益後，台灣地區總清潔效益分別為128億元及39億元，與空污費實際執行的歲出相較，推論空污費執行迄今之效益大於成本。並由推算之各都會地區補償變量性質，建議政府以效率的觀點使用空氣污染防制費時，應將防制資源優先使用於改善都市化程度愈高，人口數愈多，污染程度愈嚴重地區的空氣品質。 / The Environmental Protection Agency of Taiwan launched the Air Pollution Emission Fees Program to levy emission fees on petroleum products, July 1, 1995. The purpose of such a program is to provide economic incentives to change peoples' behavior towards the consumption of fuels and to collect fees to be used for the improvement of air quahty. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the emission fees program on household cleanness. In order to achieve this objective, we first employ a household production function in accordance with the theory of consumption behavior. Two models are utilized in this study, i.e., the translog firnction model and the almost ideal demand function model. We utilize cross-section data to fit into these models and find that the almost ideal demand model has more significant explanatory power. Therefore, we infer that this model is a better functional form for expressing the cleanness behavior of Taiwan's households. The estimated results of the total benefits for household cleanness resulting from the implementation of air pollution emission fees are NT$12.8 and NT$3.9 bilhon for the accounting years of 1996 and 1997, respectively. By comparing expenditure from the air pollution fees, which were designated for the purpose of improving air quality, i.e., NT$4.2 and NTS3.3 billion for the respective years 1996 and 1997, we can see that the pollution control program is conformable with the benefit-cost principle. Finally, based on the empirical results, pohcy recommendations are presented in the conclusion.

No description available.

<p>Syftet med detta arbete är att studera de samhällsekonomiska konsekvenser som en uppstart av persontåg på TGOJ-banan, mellan Oxelösund och Eskilstuna, skulle innebära. På vägen fram för att uppfylla syftet med uppsatsen har ett antal frågeställningar pekat ut vägen och hjälpt till att föra in arbetet mot specifika problemområden.</p><p> - Vilka kostnader är förenade med tågtrafiken jämfört med busstrafiken? </p><p>- Vilken nytta uppkommer vid tågtrafik jämfört med busstrafik? </p><p>- Hur stora är kostnaderna för järnvägen i förhållande till de uppkomna nyttorna? </p><p>Ett väsentligt led i studien har varit att studera dagens resande för att kunna dra slutsatser om det framtida resande vid en uppstart av tågtrafik på sträckningen. Dagens kollektivtrafik resande, dagens resande på vägar i korridoren och resvaneundersökningar har varit faktorer som vägts in för att få fram det estimerade resandet. Därefter har själva den samhällsekonomiska kalkylen ställt upp. Bland annat har projektets initiala investering, förändringar i driftskostnader och resenärenas tidsvinster och tidsförluster studerats. Detta leder oss fram till nettonuvärdeskvoter. Slutsatserna som kan dras utifrån studien är att projektet ligger och väger mellan lönsamt och olönsamt. Därmed är det nödvändigt att djupare studier genomförs för att man med större säkerhet ska kunna avgöra hur samhällsekonomin ser ut för uppstart av persontågstafik på TGOJ</p>