Challenges for Sustainable Biomass Utilisation : Proceedings of the Chilean-German Biociclo Workshop (Karlsruhe, 26.03.2009)


Book Description

"The industrial or energetic use of woody or herbal biomass can provide solutions to the ecologic and economic problems of the growing worldwide demand for energy and fuel. A two-year research exchange named Biociclo between the Universidad de Concepcion (Chile) and the Universitat Karlsruhe (TH) (Germany) aimed at establishing contracts for supporting joint research in the field. This book contains the contributions for the final workshop of this exchange funded by the German BMBF and the Chilean CONICYT. It reflects the internationality and interdisciplinarity of the workshop's participants and the scope of the contributed papers about Biomass Utilization Paths in Chile, Pyrolysis and Life-Cycle Assessment of Biomass and Logistic Concepts of Biomass Utilization Concepts. We are glad to offer a documentation, which may foster the exchange of scientific approaches and their practical application."--Publisher's description.




Renewable Raw Materials


Book Description

One of the main challenges facing the chemical industry is the transition to sustainable operations. Industries are taking initiatives to reduce resource intensities or footprints, and by adopting safer materials and processes. Such efforts need to be supported by techniques that can quantify the broad economic and environmental implications of industrial operations, retrofi t options and provide new design alternatives. This contemporary overview focuses on cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments of existing or conceptual processes for producing valueadded fuels, chemicals, and/or materials from renewable agricultural residues, plant-derived starches and oils, lignocellulosic biomass, and plant-based industrial processing wastes. It presents the key concepts, systems, and technologies, with an emphasis on new feedstocks for the chemical industry. Each chapter uses common themes of specifi c raw materials, thus forming a natural progression throughout the book. The result is coverage from a wide range of perspectives, emphasizing not only the technical issues but also considering the market place and socio-economic aspects.




Fischer-Tropsch Technology


Book Description

Fischer-Tropsch Technology is a unique book for its state-of-the-art approach to Fischer Tropsch (FT) technology. This book provides an explanation of the basic principles and terminology that are required to understand the application of FT technology. It also contains comprehensive references to patents and previous publications. As the first publication to focus on theory and application, it is a contemporary reference source for students studying chemistry and chemical engineering. Researchers and engineers active in the development of FT technology will also find this book an invaluable source of information. * Is the first publication to cover the theory and application for modern Fischer Tropsch technology * Contains comprehensive knowledge on all aspects relevant to the application of Fischer Tropsch technology* No other publication looks at past, present and future applications




Supply Chain Management and Reverse Logistics


Book Description

The world of logistics has considerably changed due to globalization, modern information technology, and especially increasing ecological awareness. Large Supply Chain Management (SCM) systems are developing to global logistic networks. This book reflects major trends of the recent decade in SCM and, additionally, presents ideas and visions for logistic networks of the 21st century. Among the various aspects of SCM, emphasis is placed on reverse logistics: closing the loop of a supply chain by integrating waste materials into logistic management decisions.




Bioslurry


Book Description

This review attempts to synthesize the findings of the growing peer-reviewed literature on bioslurry to provide a sound and scientific basis for bioslurry use. At the same time, it sets out to identify the various research gaps related to bioslurry.




Operations Research Proceedings 2001


Book Description

This proceedings volume contains a selection of 97 papers presented at the International Conference on Operations Research (OR 2001), the Annual Conference of the German Operations Research Society (GOR). The contributions cover the broad interdisciplinary spectrum of Operations Research and present recent advances in theory, development of methods, and applications in practice. Subjects covered are Transport and Traffic, Energy and Environment, Quantitative Methods in Marketing, Production and Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Finance and Banking and Insurance, Scheduling and Project Planning, Operations Research in the Health Service, Continuous Optimization, Discrete and Combinatorial Optimization, Stochastic Optimization and Simulation, Econometrics and Statistics and Mathematical Economics, Decision Theory, Artificial Intelligence and Fuzzy Logic, Information and Decision Support Systems and Operations Research in the Internet, Didactics of OR and Public Understanding.




Greener Fischer-Tropsch Processes


Book Description

Greener Fischer-Tropsch Processes How can we use our carbon-based resources in the most responsible manner? How can we most efficiently transform natural gas, coal, or biomass into diesel, jet fuel or gasoline to drive our machines? The Big Questions today are energy-related, and the Fischer-Tropsch process provides industrially tested solutions. This book offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the Fischer-Tropsch process, from the basic science and engineering to commercial issues. It covers industrial, economic, environmental, and fundamental aspects, with a specific focus on “green” concepts such as sustainability, process improvement, waste-reduction, and environmental care. The result is a practical reference for researchers, engineers, and financial analysts working in the energy sector, who are interested in carbon conversion, fuel processing or synthetic fuel technologies. It is also an ideal introductory book on the Fischer-Tropsch process for graduate courses in chemistry and chemical engineering.




Biorefineries


Book Description

This book offers a comprehensive review on biomass resources, examples of biorefineries and corresponding products. The first part of this book covers topics such as different biorefinery resources from agriculture, wood processing residues and transport logistics of plant biomass. In the second part, expert contributors present biorefinery concepts of different biomass feedstocks, including vegetable-oils, sugarcane, starch, lignocellulose and microalgae. Readers will find here a summary of the syngas utilization and the bio-oil characterization and potential use as an alternative renewable fuel and source for chemical feedstocks. Particular attention is also given to the anaerobic digestion-based and Organosolv biorefineries. The last part of the book examines relevant products and components such as alcohols, hydrocarbons, bioplastics and lignin, and offers a sustainability evaluation of biorefineries.




Case Studies in System of Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Complex Systems Engineering


Book Description

Suitable as a reference for industry practitioners and as a textbook for classroom use, Case Studies in System of Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Complex Systems Engineering provides a clear understanding of the principles and practice of system of systems engineering (SoSE), enterprise systems engineering (ESE), and complex systems engineering (CSE). Multiple domain practitioners present and analyze case studies from a range of applications that demonstrate underlying principles and best practices of transdisciplinary systems engineering. A number of the case studies focus on addressing real human needs. Diverse approaches such as use of soft systems skills are illustrated, and other helpful techniques are also provided. The case studies describe, examine, analyze, and assess applications across a range of domains, including: Engineering management and systems engineering education Information technology business transformation and infrastructure engineering Cooperative framework for and cost management in the construction industry Supply chain modeling and decision analysis in distribution centers and logistics International development assistance in a foreign culture of education Value analysis in generating electrical energy through wind power Systemic risk and reliability assessment in banking Assessing emergencies and reducing errors in hospitals and health care systems Information fusion and operational resilience in disaster response systems Strategy and investment for capability developments in defense acquisition Layered, flexible, and decentralized enterprise architectures in military systems Enterprise transformation of the air traffic management and transport network Supplying you with a better understanding of SoSE, ESE, and CSE concepts and principles, the book highlights best practices and lessons learned as benchmarks that are applicable to other cases. If adopted correctly, the approaches outlined can facilitate significant progress in human affairs. The study of complex systems is still in its infancy, and it is likely to evolve for decades to come. While this book does not provide all the answers, it does establish a platform, through which analysis and knowledge application can take place and conclusions can be made in order to educate the next generation of systems engineers.




Operations Research Proceedings 1999


Book Description

This proceedings volume contains a selection of 87 papers presented at the Symposium on Operations Research (SOR 99) that was held at the Otto-von-Guericke-University of Magdeburg from September 1-3, 1999. The contributions cover developments in Mathematical Programming, Combinatorial Optimization, Graphs and Complexity, Control Theory, Stochastic Models and Optimization, Econometrics and Statistics, Mathematical Economics and Economic Theory, Game and Decision Theory, Experimental Economics, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, and Fuzzy Systems, Information and Decision Support Systems, Finance, Banking, and Insurance, Scheduling and Project Planning, Transport and Traffic, Inventory and Logistics, Production, Marketing, Energy, Environment, and Health. In this broad field of subjects where Operations Research is applied both, most recent advances in theory and new successful applications to practice, are reported.