Browsing by Subject "cost surface"

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Open Access
A Geospatial Analysis of Pathways for Carbon Sequestration
(2008-04-25T15:01:19Z) Frankel, Anna
The 2007 IPCC report detailed the warming of the earth is unmistakable and is most likely due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The earth’s natural processes are unable to reabsorb GHGs at the rate at which they are being emitted, subsequently increasing climate temperatures and affecting ecosystems and populations around the world. Carbon capture and sequestration technologies are a possible mitigating solution to preventing emission of GHGs into the atmosphere. This analysis takes a geospatial approach to understanding the interconnecting pathways between carbon sources and sequestration sinks for future CO2 pipeline networks in the United States. Using geographical information systems (GIS), engineering, environmental, and social factors important to the pipeline siting process are evaluated and combined to make a geographical cost surface. A least cost path sensitivity analysis was performed to ensure confidence in the suitability of the cost surface. The final CO2 pipeline cost surface investigates the spatial dynamics of carbon sequestration and the relative cost elements that will influence the pipeline network. Utilities and other organizations can use the cost surface in future projects as an analytical tool showing areas of relative high and low pipeline costs. A scenario analysis was performed using the final CO2 cost surface as a tool to examine future spatial configurations of sequestration sites. The analysis found that a sequestration scenario with multiple points of CO2 injection across the United States would yield the lowest total relative costs for a national pipeline network.
Open Access
EVALUATION OF RECLAIMED WATER FOR COOLING IN COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS OF NORTH CAROLINA
(2012-04-27) Lee, Meng-Ying
Cooling systems for thermoelectric power generation are responsible for 39% of the freshwater withdrawal in the US. As the demand for electricity increases, finding alternative water source is crucial. Studies have shown that reclaimed water can be used in certain applications, including makeup water in power plant cooling systems. Concerns about reclaimed water for cooling purpose include potential environmental health impacts during the cooling process, and reclaimed water availability for the cooling systems. This study reviewed the federal and NC state regulations governing the use of reclaimed water for cooling purposes, and the toxicological and epidemiological studies on potential human health impacts of hazards emitted from the cooling systems. In addition, a scenario analysis was conducted to assess reclaimed water availability for coal-fired power plants in NC regarding water transportation costs. The result showed that using a spatial-economic optimization model considering pipeline construction conditions and the potential of pipeline merging can effectively minimize the pipeline construction cost and obtain the least-cost pipeline network infrastructure. The unit transport cost analysis for each power plant also provided the power plant companies the practical information they need for evaluating the feasibility of reclaimed water application for each power plant. Considering the potential issues from water quality and availability, establishing stable supply-demand relationships between reclaimed water source and power plants can be beneficial for both water quality control and makeup water security for power plants.