Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Julia A. Keen / Health care facilities are responsible for treating highly infected and contagious patients at the same time as patients who are most susceptible to disease. Therefore, it is important that every available technology and application to be strategically applied to protect each and every occupant. In particular, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technologies are being used in today's industry as infection control devices, primarily in health care facilities. This paper addresses the effectiveness and economic impact of applying UVGI to remove harmful airborne pathogens and outlines background information on infectious airborne pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Besides UVGI, other engineering control methods covered in this paper include mechanical ventilation and air distribution, filtration, and differential pressure control. Consequently, an economic evaluation of a diagnostic and treatment area was created to compare UVGI technologies and other control methods. The evaluation consists of a baseline system designed to meet code requirements; an upper-room UVGI system; a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with an increased air changes per hour (ACH); and a UVGI system in an AHU. First costs, energy costs, and maintenance costs were the basis of economic comparison. The predicted effectiveness of all the alternatives was held constant and the time required to achieve the desired effectiveness was determined. As a result, the upper-room UVGI system and HVAC system with an increased ACH yielded much higher comparative annual costs as well as significantly better room disinfection effectiveness. The UVGI system in the AHU resulted in a lower comparative annual cost than the baseline system with the same room disinfection effectiveness. By designing infection control systems with UVGI, HVAC engineers will be more capable and successful in providing the optimal control system to these critical facilities.

Biofuels have been identified as one of several GHG emission strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the transport sector. Fast pyrolysis of biomass is one approach to producing second generation biofuels. The bio-oil product of fast pyrolysis can be upgraded into essential gasoline and diesel range products with conventional refinery technologies. Thus, it is important to assess their techno- economic and environmental performance at an early stage prior to commercialisation. This research was conducted with the goal of evaluating and comparing the techno-economic and environmental viability of the production of biofuels from fast pyrolysis of biomass and upgrading of bio-oil via two refinery technologies, viz. hydroprocessing and zeolite cracking. In order to achieve this aim, process models of fast pyrolysis of biomass and bio-oil upgrading via hydroprocessing and zeolite cracking were developed. The fast pyrolysis model was based on multi-step kinetic models. In addition, lumped kinetic models of the hydrodeoxygenation reactions of bio-oil were implemented. The models were verified against experimental measurements with good prediction and formed the foundation for the development of a 72 t/day fast pyrolysis plant model in Aspen Plus®. Several strategies were proposed for the two pathways to enhance energy efficiency and profitability. All in all, the results revealed that the hydroprocessing route is 16% more efficient than the zeolite cracking pathway. Moreover, the hydroprocessing route resulted in a minimum fuel selling price of 15% lower than that from the zeolite cracking pathway. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the techno-economic and environmental performance of the both pathways depends on several process, economic and environmental parameters. In particular, biofuel yield, operating cost and income tax were identified as the most sensitive techno-economic parameters, while changes in nitrogen feed gas to the pyrolysis reactor and fuel yield had the most environmental impact. It was concluded that hydroprocessing is a more suitable upgrading pathway than zeolite cracking in terms of economic viability, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions per energy content of fuel produced.

In this work, the potential of intelligent algorithms for optimizing the real power loss and enhancing the grid connection power factor in a real hydrocarbon facility electrical system is assessed. Namely, genetic algorithm (GA), improve strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm (SPEA2) and differential evolutionary algorithm (DEA) are developed and implemented. The economic impact associated with these objectives optimization is highlighted. The optimization of the subject objectives is addressed as single and multi-objective constrained nonlinear problems. Different generation modes and system injected reactive power cases are evaluated. The studied electrical system constraints and parameters are all real values. The uniqueness of this thesis is that none of the previous literature studies addressed the technical and economic impacts of optimizing the aforementioned objectives for real hydrocarbon facility electrical system. All the economic analyses in this thesis are performed based on real subsidized cost of energy for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The obtained results demonstrate the high potential of optimizing the studied system objectives and enhancing the economics of the utilized generation fuel via the application of intelligent algorithms.

This master thesis is focused on economic analysis of VEBA company in period 2003 -- 2008. The master thesis is divided into two main parts. The first one is describing the process of economic analysis in general, its users and used methods. The second part is practical. In this part there are used methods and models from the first part with concrete numbers in each year. After that there are comments of the results. At the end of the master thesis there are stated the possible causes of declining financial results in the coming period.

Performance evaluation of Luwex company between years 2003 and 2007. To make changes in optimisation recommendation for managing board. Optimisation of financial managing company based on financial analysis.

Aim of this thesis was to give practical example than the perspective of internal and external economic analyst for analysis. The work deals not only with different angles analyst arising from different levels of available information, but also highlights some weaknesses in the assessment of economic analysis as such. The practical part is then evaluated on real data selected indicators of economic analysis. The final part deals with factors that affect the quality of treatment and evaluation of economic analysis as such.

The thesis is valuating the previous current and future economic status of the analysed company. One part consists in the global and branch analysis that make the overwiew of the sorrounding factors that influences the company. The financial analysis and the analysis of the internal potencial are studying the strengthes and weaknesses of the company. another part consists in the construction and analysis of the financial plan that should help to the owners and management of the company to decide whether the company will bring them in the future positive economic value and it will be advantageous to invest their financial resources in it.

Thesis and feasibility study that addresses the viability of a construction project to build housing for the care of the elderly and senior citizens of Usti nad Orlici. The study examines all the necessary aspects surrounding feasibility of the project and in particular, the results of market and economic analysis including personnel and staffing. The thesis concludes with a summary indicating feasibility or non feasibility of the project.

This graduation thesis contains an economic analysis of the BM MOTO, s.r.o. corporate entity. The aim is to perform a detailed analysis of its financial health in relation to an undergone investment as well as recommend a set of changes that would lead to an improvement of its financial performance. The thesis is divided into two main parts, the first of which being the methodological part, where all the applied models and processes are mentioned and explained. The second part applies these models on the chosen company. The second part is founded predominantly on accounting statements and also makes use of a bulk of internal data. The thesis also contains a detailed analysis of both absolute and relative indicators. Amongst the applied models belong the Du Pont analysis, the analysis of the Economic Value Added (EVA), bankruptcy and creditworthy models and an inter industry comparative analysis. The conclusion summarizes and evaluates all the results and presents an appropriate recommendation.

The diploma thesis handles economic analysis of the company MD logistika, a.s. The work is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part describes the indicators of profitability, liquidity, activity, debt, costs and market indicators. DuPont analysis breaking down ROE was used and was followed by a more detailed decomposition of ROA. Within the value indicatiors was used economic value added, which was calculated by two methods. The credibility, bankruptcy and credibility - bankruptcy models were applied to evaluate the company. The operational leverage, financial leverage and more detailed analysis of stocks analysis were performed. In the practical part each procedure, which was elaborated in the theoretical part of company, was applied to the MD logistika, a.s. In the conclusion the company was compared with the closest competitors and the industry averages.