• Title/Summary/Keyword: cost reduction potential

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Evidence-based estimation of health care cost savings from the use of omega-3 supplementation among the elderly in Korea

  • Hwang, Ji-Yun;Kim, Wu Seon;Jeong, Sewon;Kwon, Oran
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.400-403
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    • 2015
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: By the year 2050, thirty-eight percent of the Korean population will be over the age of 65. Health care costs for Koreans over age 65 reached 15.4 trillion Korean won in 2011, accounting for a third of the total health care costs for the population. Chronic degenerative diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), drive long-term health care costs at an alarming annual rate. In the elderly population, loss of independence is one of the main reasons for this increase in health care costs. Korean heath policies place a high priority on the prevention of CHD because it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This evidence-based study aims to the estimate potential health care cost savings resulting from the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Potential cost savings associated with a reduced risk of CHD and the medical costs potentially avoided through risk reduction, including hospitalizations and physician services, were estimated using a Congressional Budget Office cost accounting methodology. RESULTS: The estimate of the seven-year (2005-2011) net savings in medical costs resulting from a reduction in the incidence of CHD among the elderly population through the daily use of omega-3 fatty acids was approximately 210 billion Korean won. Approximately 92,997 hospitalizations due to CHD could be avoided over the seven years. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that omega-3 supplementation in older individuals may yield substantial cost-savings by reducing the risk of CHD. It should be noted that additional health and cost benefits need to be revisited and re-evaluated as more is known about possible data sources or as new data become available.

Effects of District Energy Supply by Combined Heat and Power Plant on Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation (열병합발전을 이용한 집단에너지사업의 온실가스 감축효과)

  • Shin, Kyoung-A;Dong, Jong-In;Kang, Jae-Sung;Im, Yong-Hoon;Kim, Da-Hye
    • Journal of Climate Change Research
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.213-220
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    • 2017
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze effects of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction in district energy business mainly based on Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants. Firstly this paper compares the actual carbon intensity of power production between conventional power plants and district energy plants. To allocate the GHG from CHP plants, two of different methods which were Alternative Generation Method and Power Bonus Method, have been investigated. The carbon intensity of power production in district energy plants ($0.43tonCO_2e/MWh$) was relatively lower than conventional gas-fired power plants ($0.52tonCO_2e/MWh$). Secondly we assessed the cost effectiveness of reduction by district energy sector compared to the other means using TIMES model method. We find that GHG marginal abatement cost of 'expand CHP' scenario (-$134/ton$CO_2$) is even below than renewable energy scenario such as photovoltaic power generation ($87/ton$CO_2$). Finally the GHG emission reduction potential was reviewed on the projected GHG emission emitted when the same amount of energy produced in combination of conventional power plants and individual boilers as substitution of district energy. It showed there were 10.1~41.8% of GHG emission reduction potential in district energy compared to the combination of conventional power plants and individual boilers.

EXPLORING THE FUEL ECONOMY POTENTIAL OF ISG HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES THROUGH DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING

  • Ao, G.Q.;Qiang, J.X.;Zhong, H.;Yang, L.;Zhuo, B.
    • International Journal of Automotive Technology
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    • v.8 no.6
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    • pp.781-790
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    • 2007
  • Hybrid electric vehicles(HEV) combined with more than one power sources have great potential to improve fuel economy and reduce pollutant emissions. The Integrated Starter Generator(ISG) HEV researched in this paper is a two energy sources vehicle, with a conventional internal combustion engine(ICE) and an energy storage system(batteries). In order to investigate the potential of diesel engine hybrid electric vehicles in fuel economy improvement and emissions reduction, a Dynamic Programming(DP) based supervisory controller is developed to allocate the power requirement between ICE and batteries with the objective of minimizing a weighted cost function over given drive cycles. A fuel-economy-only case and a fuel & emissions case can be achieved by changing specific weighting factors. The simulation results of the fuel-economy-only case show that there is a 45.1% fuel saving potential for this ISG HEV compared to a conventional transit bus. The test results present a 39.6% improvement in fuel economy which validates the simulation results. Compared to the fuel-economy-only case, the fuel & emissions case further reduces the pollutant emissions at a cost of 3.2% and 4.5% of fuel consumption with respect to the simulation and test result respectively.

Investigation of Low-Cost, Simple Recycling Process of Waste Thermoelectric Modules Using Chemical Reduction

  • Kim, Woo-Byoung
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.34 no.7
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    • pp.2167-2170
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    • 2013
  • A low-cost and simple recycling process of waste thermoelectric modules has been investigated using chemical reduction methods. The recycling is separated by two processes, such as dissolving and reduction. When the waste thermoelectric chips are immersed into a high concentration of $HNO_3$ aqueous solution at $100^{\circ}C$, oxide powders, e.g., $TeO_2$ and $Sb_2O_3$, are precipitated in the $Bi^{3+}$ and $HTeO{_2}^+$ ions contained solution. By employing a reduction process with the ions contained solutions, $Bi_2Te_3$ nanoparticles are successfully synthesized. Due to high reduction potential of $HTeO{_2}^+$ to Te, Te elements are initially formed and subsequently $Bi_2Te_3$ nanoparticles are formed. The average particle size of $Bi_2Te_3$ was calculated to be 25 nm with homogeneous size distribution. On the other hand, when the precipitated powders reduced by hydrazine, $Sb_2O_3$ and Te nanoparticles are synthesized because of higher reduction potentials of $TeO_2$ to Te. After the washing step, the $Sb_2O_3$ are clearly removed, results in Te nanoparticles.

The Evaluation of the Validity of Equipment-replacing Alternatives in Consideration of the Differences of Cost Flow (비용 흐름의 차이를 고려한 교체 설비 대안에 대한 타당성 평가)

  • 김성집;박흥석
    • Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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    • v.17 no.31
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    • pp.99-114
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    • 1994
  • The introduction of new equipments to strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises is one of pretty important factors. Enterprises introducing new equipments strengthen competitiveness through productivity increasing, high quality maintenance, inventory reduction, improved design and production interface, simple scheduling process, low scrap rate, rework reduction, etc. Managers will work out the best equipment-replacing strategy through the appropriate combination of potential cost attributes and qualitative attributes difficult to quantify in accordance with the business purpose. This study is to present a method to select an equipment-replacing alternative through the decision-making model of Analytic Hierarchy Process in consideration of the differences of cost flow of the alternatives, taking into consideration tangible attributes and strategic intangible attributes.

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A Study on LCC Analysis by Floor Finishing Material to Reduce NOX in Urban Areas - Focusing on the photocatalytic pavement and cement pavement -

  • Bong, Jiwan;Lee, Chanhee;Choe, Suhyeon;Kim, Han Soo;Jeong, Kwangbok
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.25 no.5
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    • pp.73-81
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    • 2024
  • In South Korea, NOX emissions are a major concern, leading to acid rain and smog, harming both the atmosphere and human health, particularly in urban areas. This study seeks to determine the most advantageous pavement material for NOX reduction in urban areas and assess whether photocatalytic pavement blocks, proven to reduce NOX emissions, can serve as a viable alternative to conventional cement pavement blocks. To achieve this, a comparative life cycle cost (LCC) analysis was conducted between photocatalytic pavement blocks and conventional cement pavement blocks installed for their NOX reduction capabilities. The cost-saving benefits of NOX reduction were monetized for photocatalytic pavement blocks. The analysis period was based on the least common multiple of the replacement cycles of both pavement materials: 30 years. The results revealed that while photocatalytic pavement blocks initially produce higher installation costs than cement pavement blocks, they offer greater cost savings in terms of total cost and net present value due to their NOX reduction effect over the life cycle. Additionally, the cost-saving effects of photocatalytic pavement blocks are even more pronounced because their replacement period is 5 years longer than that of cement pavement blocks. This study holds significance in performing an LCC analysis of the previously unanalyzed photocatalytic pavement blocks while also demonstrating their potential as substitutes for cement pavement blocks.

P-RAM 기술의 전망

  • Jeong Hong-Sik
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society Of Semiconductor Equipment Technology
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    • 2006.05a
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    • pp.21-40
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    • 2006
  • [ ${\Box}$ ] Opportunities for PRAM Nearly ideal memory characteristics Potential for high density & low cost memory ${\Box}$ Technical Challenges Writing current reduction is the most urgent issue. ${\to}$ chalcogenide, programming volume, current density, heat loss control Improvement of writing speed, reliability ${\Box}$ Prospects (PRAM as a Mainstream Memory) Evenn, We have demonstrated 256Mb PRAM Realization of high density and low cost PRAM with good reliability will be key succss factor. We need to develop PRAM specific applications.

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Optimization of three small-scale solar membrane distillation desalination systems

  • Chang, Hsuan;Hung, Chen-Yu;Chang, Cheng-Liang;Cheng, Tung-Wen;Ho, Chii-Dong
    • Membrane and Water Treatment
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    • v.6 no.6
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    • pp.451-476
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    • 2015
  • Membrane distillation (MD), which can utilize low-grade thermal energy, has been extensively studied for desalination. By incorporating solar thermal energy, the solar membrane distillation desalination system (SMDDS) is a potential technology for resolving the energy and water resource problems. Small-scale SMDDS (s-SMDDS) is an attractive and viable option for the production of fresh water for small communities in remote arid areas. The minimum-cost design and operation of s-SMDDS are determined by a systematic method, which involves a pseudo steady state approach for equipment sizing and the dynamic optimization using overall system mathematical models. The s-SMDDS employing three MD configurations, including the air gap (AGMD), direct contact (DCMD) and vacuum (VMD) types, are optimized. The membrane area of each system is $11.5m^2$. The AGMD system operated for 500 kg/day water production rate gives the lowest unit cost of $5.92/m^3$. The performance ratio and recovery ratio are 0.85 and 4.07%, respectively. For the commercial membrane employed in this study, the increase of membrane mass transfer coefficient up to two times is beneficial for cost reduction and the reduction of membrane heat transfer coefficient only affects the cost of the DCMD system.

Automatic Addition Control of the External Carbon Source by the Measurement of ORP in Biological Nitrogen Removal Process (생물학적 질소 제거공정에서 ORP 측정을 통한 외부탄소원의 자동 주입 제어)

  • Shin, Choon-Hwan
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.383-390
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    • 2012
  • For the cost-effective biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process whose characteristics of influent have low COD/N ratios, the automatic control system for the addition of external carbon based on oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) data in an anoxic reactor has been developed. In this study, it was carried out with a pilot-scale Bardenpho process which was consisted of anoxic 1, aerobic 1, aerobic 2, anoxic 2, aerobic 3 tank and clarifier. Firstly, the correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of the dosage of external carbon source and ORP value was about 0.97. Consequently, the automatic control system using ORP showed that the dosage of external carbon source was decreased by about 20% compared with a stable dosage of 75 mg/L based on the COD/N ratio of the anoxic influent.

Active Controls of Flow Over a Sphere for Drag Reduction (능동제어를 이용한 구의 저항 감소)

  • Jeon, Seung;Choi, Hae-Cheon
    • 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2006.08a
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    • pp.199-202
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    • 2006
  • The objective of this study is to propose methods of controlling the wake behind a sphere for drag reduction using the suboptimal control theory and surrogate management framework, respectively. The Reynolds numbers considered is 300 at which the base flow is unsteady planar symmetric. Given the cost function defined as the square of the difference between the target pressure (potential-flow pressure) and real flow pressure on the sphere surface, the suboptimal control makes the flow steady axisymmetric and produces drag reduction. Based on the actuation profile from the suboptimal control, the optimal wavy actuation profile is obtained using the surrogate management framework and produces drag reduction.

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