Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T17:41:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo7337_1.pdf: 772062 bytes, checksum: 69207d13175f25d9fc5c642ee5b6a457 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Diante das dificuldades encontradas pelas empresas privadas na escolha de projetos cujo intuito é maximizar os lucros, através do estudo de viabilidade com base nas técnicas de engenharia econômica, o presente trabalho tem o objetivo de contribuir com o processo decisório mediante a utilização de um modelo alternativo definido como Ponto de Equilíbrio do Investimento (PEI). Este modelo difere do payback period e do payback descontado por encontrar o tempo mínimo de recuperação do capital investido considerando o valor do dinheiro no tempo e, também, os fluxos de caixa que ocorrem após o ponto mínimo, numa perspectiva futura. Neste enfoque, o PEI se torna o período de tempo efetivamente apropriado que não necessita do estabelecimento de uma data subjetiva como tempo máximo aceitável e, por este motivo, está afirmado que ele aponta reparos aos métodos payback period e payback descontado. O modelo foi definido para projetos de investimento simples e convencionais mostrando as diferenças existentes quando se analisa pelo modelo tradicional (clássico) em comparação ao modelo alternativo, ressalvando ainda que este último confirma os resultados do Valor Presente Líquido e da Taxa Interna de Retorno mantendo uma estrutura lógica onde as interpretações e os argumentos trazidos por aquele são condizentes à realidade factual contribuindo para uma decisão empresarial com a devida acuidade

Tillage erosion is the dominant soil erosion process in hummocky landscapes. The topsoil lost from the convex upper slope positions (i.e., hilltops knolls, ridges) gradually makes its way to the concave lower slope positions (i.e., foot slopes, toe slopes/depressions), while reducing yield capability in the knolls. The accumulation of topsoil in the concave lower slope positions does not increase yield potential. Landscape restoration is a process by which organic-rich topsoil is removed from lower slope positions and is moved to the knoll positions where it is applied and incorporated as additional topsoil. Field studies on this matter have shown increases in crop yield productivity due to land restoration on the convex upper slope positions. Using a model developed in STELLA ®, this research examines the net monetary benefit of landscape restoration in specific landscape scenarios modeled after areas in Manitoba which are prone to tillage erosion. This study demonstrates that farming operations in hummocky landscapes, experiencing topsoil loss at knolls benefit from landscape restoration as it can lead to positive net returns. In this study, the research shows that landscape restoration, in the Rural Municipality of Lorne (South Western Manitoba), led to revenues greater than restoration costs for arable land used for agricultural purposes. Depending on soil conditions and tillage choices the payback period for landscape restoration ranged from 8 to 18 years.

Tillage erosion is the dominant soil erosion process in hummocky landscapes. The topsoil lost from the convex upper slope positions (i.e., hilltops knolls, ridges) gradually makes its way to the concave lower slope positions (i.e., foot slopes, toe slopes/depressions), while reducing yield capability in the knolls. The accumulation of topsoil in the concave lower slope positions does not increase yield potential. Landscape restoration is a process by which organic-rich topsoil is removed from lower slope positions and is moved to the knoll positions where it is applied and incorporated as additional topsoil. Field studies on this matter have shown increases in crop yield productivity due to land restoration on the convex upper slope positions. Using a model developed in STELLA ®, this research examines the net monetary benefit of landscape restoration in specific landscape scenarios modeled after areas in Manitoba which are prone to tillage erosion. This study demonstrates that farming operations in hummocky landscapes, experiencing topsoil loss at knolls benefit from landscape restoration as it can lead to positive net returns. In this study, the research shows that landscape restoration, in the Rural Municipality of Lorne (South Western Manitoba), led to revenues greater than restoration costs for arable land used for agricultural purposes. Depending on soil conditions and tillage choices the payback period for landscape restoration ranged from 8 to 18 years.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are of interest because the technology offers a significant opportunity to reduce the overall costs of solar energy. OSCs can be very inexpensive to produce given that they rely on non-commodity materials and can use existing manufacturing techniques that are not labour- and capital-intensive. In this research, a financial model, named TEEOS (Technological and Economic Evaluator for Organic Solar), is developed and is used to determine financial indicators, such as simple payback period. These indicators are used to determine technical objectives for the OSCs. Two sample cells are evaluated in Toronto, Canada using historical data. The results show that the cell with a higher efficiency and wider absorptive wavelength range produces a payback period of approximately nine years, while the other cell has a payback period well over 45 years. Stochastic modeling techniques are also used to better replicate electricity price and weather fluctuations.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are of interest because the technology offers a significant opportunity to reduce the overall costs of solar energy. OSCs can be very inexpensive to produce given that they rely on non-commodity materials and can use existing manufacturing techniques that are not labour- and capital-intensive. In this research, a financial model, named TEEOS (Technological and Economic Evaluator for Organic Solar), is developed and is used to determine financial indicators, such as simple payback period. These indicators are used to determine technical objectives for the OSCs. Two sample cells are evaluated in Toronto, Canada using historical data. The results show that the cell with a higher efficiency and wider absorptive wavelength range produces a payback period of approximately nine years, while the other cell has a payback period well over 45 years. Stochastic modeling techniques are also used to better replicate electricity price and weather fluctuations.

abstract: Renewable portfolio standards prescribe for penetration of high amounts of re-newable energy sources (RES) that may change the structure of existing power systems. The load growth and changes in power flow caused by RES integration may result in re-quirements of new available transmission capabilities and upgrades of existing transmis-sion paths. Construction difficulties of new transmission lines can become a problem in certain locations. The increase of transmission line thermal ratings by reconductoring using High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors is a comparatively new technology introduced to transmission expansion. A special design permits HTLS conductors to operate at high temperatures (e.g., 200oC), thereby allowing passage of higher current. The higher temperature capability increases the steady state and emergency thermal ratings of the transmission line. The main disadvantage of HTLS technology is high cost. The high cost may place special emphasis on a thorough analysis of cost to benefit of HTLS technology im-plementation. Increased transmission losses in HTLS conductors due to higher current may be a disadvantage that can reduce the attractiveness of this method. Studies described in this thesis evaluate the expenditures for transmission line re-conductoring using HTLS and the consequent benefits obtained from the potential decrease in operating cost for thermally limited transmission systems. Studies performed consider the load growth and penetration of distributed renewable energy sources according to the renewable portfolio standards for power systems. An evaluation of payback period is suggested to assess the cost to benefit ratio of HTLS upgrades. The thesis also considers the probabilistic nature of transmission upgrades. The well-known Chebyshev inequality is discussed with an application to transmission up-grades. The Chebyshev inequality is proposed to calculate minimum payback period ob-tained from the upgrades of certain transmission lines. The cost to benefit evaluation of HTLS upgrades is performed using a 225 bus equivalent of the 2012 summer peak Arizona portion of the Western Electricity Coordi-nating Council (WECC). / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2014

The thesis is focused on the evaluation of the consequences of building insulation educational facilities. The aim is to determine whether the construction insulation manifest themselves in the cost management of school facilities as well as in the cost management of the town district, which is their legal founded. Source data of the thesis are energy audits, documents containing data on actual heat consumption, publicly available data on the financial statements of educational facilities and district budgets. The final results confirmed that the insulation brought a positive impact on both the cost management of the surveyed kindergartens and the cost management of the district. So, the investment into insulation was spent effectively. This is also evidenced by the results of the payback period and net present value.

Zoégas är ett svenskt kafferosteri i Helsingborg som ingår i den globala Nestlékoncernen. Stora delar av Zoégas produktion är automatiserad förutom deras råvarulager, vilket har många moment och helt saknar automation. Ett av dessa moment är dessutom inte ergonomiskt för de tre operatörerna som arbetar på råkaffelagret och kan orsaka arbetsskador. Nestlékoncernen ställer höga krav på säkerhet och hållbarhet i alla steg från odlare av kaffebönor, via transporter, produktion och förpackning till att deras produkter når hyllorna i våra matvaruaffärer. Zoégas ledning vill därför effektivisera och öka lagerkapaciteten i råvarulagret samt göra det mer säkert att arbeta i. Examensarbetets uppgift har varit att ta fram förslag på åtgärder för att effektivisera processen i råkaffelagret samt öka lagringskapaciteten i densamma samt att minimera riskerna för arbetsskador, där investeringar i förbättringar återbetalar sig inom två år. För att kartlägga nuläget, identifiera och utvärdera förbättringsförslag användes framför allt flödesscheman, Ishikawadiagram för att identifiera orsakssamband, Lean 7+1 slöserier samt återbetalningstid för att se hur snabbt olika förbättringsinvesteringar betalar sig. Interna transporter på råkaffelagret är tidskrävande för operatörerna, vilket beror på de många olika stegen i processen, är ett slöseri som begränsar effektiviteten i lagerhållnings processen samt utgör också onödiga risker för operatörerna då truck används för flera transporter. Golvbärighet och takhöjd visade sig vara de viktigaste fysiska faktorerna som begränsade införandet av mer automatiserade lösningar och ökad Zoégas är ett svenskt kafferosteri i Helsingborg som ingår i den globala Nestlékoncernen. Stora delar av Zoégas produktion är automatiserad förutom deras råvarulager, vilket harmånga moment och helt saknar automation. Ett av dessa moment är dessutom inte ergonomiskt för de tre operatörerna som arbetar på råkaffelagret och kan orsaka arbetsskador. Nestlékoncernen ställer höga krav på säkerhet och hållbarhet i alla steg från odlare av kaffebönor, via transporter, produktion och förpackning till att deras produkter når hyllorna i våra matvaruaffärer. Zoégas ledning vill därför effektivisera och öka lagerkapaciteten i råvarulagret samt göra det mer säkert att arbeta i. Examensarbetets uppgift har varit att ta fram förslag på åtgärder för att effektivisera processen i råkaffelagret samt öka lagringskapaciteten i densamma samt att minimera riskerna för arbetsskador, där investeringar i förbättringar återbetalar sig inom två år. För att kartlägga nuläget, identifiera och utvärdera förbättringsförslag användes framför allt flödesscheman, Ishikawadiagram för att identifiera orsakssamband, Lean 7+1 slöserier samt återbetalningstid för att se hur snabbt olika förbättringsinvesteringar betalar sig. Interna transporter på råkaffelagret är tidskrävande för operatörerna, vilket beror på de många olika stegen i processen, är ett slöseri som begränsar effektiviteten i lagerhållnings processen samt utgör också onödiga risker för operatörerna då truck används för flera transporter. Golvbärighet och takhöjd visade sig vara de viktigaste fysiska faktorerna som begränsade införandet av mer automatiserade lösningar och ökad effektivitet, lagringskapacitet och förbättrad säkerhet för operatörerna. En förstärkning av lagergolvet med ett ramverk i kombination med silos och ett pneumatiskt transportsystem är det lösningsförslag som har möjlighet att skapa ökad effektivitet i lagerprocessen, ökad lagringskapacitet, hållbarhet och säkerhet samt klara av en återbetalningstid av investeringen på mindre än två år. Lösningen har rekommenderats till Zoégas ledning för fortsatt utvärdering. / Zoégas is a Swedish coffee roastery in Helsingborg, which is part of the global Nestlé Group. Large parts of Zoégas’s production is automated except for their inventory of raw material, which has a process that includes many steps and is completely lacking automation. Furthermore, one of these steps in the process is not sufficiently ergonomically designed for the three operators who work in the raw coffee inventory facilities and may cause injuries.  The use of forklifts is also representing a non-neglectable risk. The Nestlé Group policy is to maintain high standards with regard to safety and sustainability in all steps from the coffee bean growers, via transportation, production and packaging until their products reach the shelves of our grocery stores. The objective for the management of Zoégas is to make the process in the raw material inventory more efficient and increase its storing capacity as well as make it safer to work in. The aim of this final exam project was to propose solutions which will make the raw coffee inventory process more efficient, increase the storing capacity and minimize the risk for work related injuries, where the investments related to improvements must have a payback period shorter than two years. In order to map out the current situation, identify and evaluate alternative solutions, flow charts, Ishikawa diagrams for identifying causal links, the Lean 7+1 wastes as well as payback period to see how quickly savings pay off investments through improvements, have been used. Internal transportations are time consuming for the operators, which depends on that there are many steps in the process and therefor represents a waste which limits the efficiency in the inventory process as well represents unnecessary risks for the operators since forklifts are used in a number of the steps.  The floor load capacity and ceiling height were the most significant physical factors which limited the deployment of more automated solutions with increased stock keeping capacity in the current stock keeping facilities for the raw coffee.  Both an entirely automatic stock keeping system, including a silo system and a pneumatic transport system, as well as a completely new bulk container system were evaluated after that other solutions had been disqualified either due to the physical limitations of the stock keeping facilities or due to the fact that such solutions did not solve the main problems such as the need for more efficiency, capacity and a more safe working environment for the operators. A reinforcement of the floor in the stock keeping facility in combination with silos and a pneumatic transport system is a solution that would be contributing to increased efficiency and storing capacity in the raw coffee inventory, sustainability and safety as well as offering a payback period for the investment shorter than two years.  The solution has been recommended to the management of Zoégas to be further studied.

This work deals with an assessment and economic return on investment project. The theoretical part describes price formats, methods of drawing up an object budget, a payback period, costs and revenues matters and ways of financing construction projects. The practical part of this work focuses on acquiring costs and revenues emerged during the construction implementation and the use of the building. Costs incurred during the implementation will be obtained by means of itemized and general construction budget. Having obtained these values, there will be carried out a profit and loss account, from which a payback period will then be calculated.

As a promising approach for sustainable development, distributed energy systems have receive increasing attention worldwide and have become a key topic explored by researchers in the areas of building energy systems and smart grid. In line with this research trend, this dissertation presents a techno-economic analysis and optimization of distributed energy systems including combined heat and power (CHP), photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage (BES), and thermal energy storage (TES) for commercial buildings. First, the techno-economic performance of the CHP system is analyzed and evaluated for four building types including hospital, large office, large hotel, and secondary school, located in different U.S. regions. The energy consumption of each building is obtained by EnergyPlus simulation software. The simulation models of CHP system are established for each building type. From the simulation results, the payback period (PBP) of the CHP system in different locations is calculated. The parameters that have an influence on the PBP of the CHP system are analyzed. Second, PV system and integrated PV and BES (PV-BES) system are investigated for several commercial building types, respectively. The effects of the variation in key parameters, such as PV system capacity, capital cost of PV, sell back ratio, battery capacity, and capital cost of battery, on the performance of PV and/or PV-BES system are explored. Finally, subsystems in previous chapters (CHP, PV, and BES) along with TES system are integrated together based on a proposed control strategy to meet the electric and thermal energy demand of commercial buildings (i.e., hospital and large hotel). A multi-objective particle swarm optimization (PSO) is conducted to determine the optimal size of each subsystem with the objective to minimize the payback period and maximize the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The results reveal how the key factors affect the performance of distributed energy system and demonstrate the proposed optimization can be effectively utilized to obtain an optimized design of distributed energy systems that can get a tradeoff between the environmental and economic impacts for different buildings.