Biomass supply chain logistics for co-firing coal power plants

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorCastillo, Krystel
dc.contributor.authorHart, Jonathan
dc.contributor.committeeMemberChen, F. Frank
dc.contributor.committeeMemberKiniry, James
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-09T21:56:52Z
dc.date.available2024-02-09T21:56:52Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionThis item is available only to currently enrolled UTSA students, faculty or staff. To download, navigate to Log In in the top right-hand corner of this screen, then select Log in with my UTSA ID.
dc.description.abstractThis thesis presents a decision-making model for the use of agricultural lands producing biomass intended for co-firing coal power plants. The model accounts for the yield of biomass from the major soil types in the area surrounding the power plant, the cost of producing the biomass, and the transportation costs associated with a biomass supply chain network. The model is a mixed-integer program with an objective function aimed to minimize the total supply, production, and transportation costs associated with the biomass supply chain. This research introduces a new method of determining the biomass supply potential of a region using the agricultural simulation software, ALMANAC. This case study in southwest Texas is presented using switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). It is determined that, for this case study, a co-firing rate of up to 10% can reasonably accommodate utilizing lands from Wilson and Atascosa counties. The locations to be used for growing the biomass are determined through successive iterations of the model, resulting in the selection of six harvesting locations utilizing three consolidation depots. This model helps decision makers determine if biomass co-firing would be an effective initiative for conforming to new environmental emission standards and how to design their supply chain.
dc.description.departmentMechanical Engineering
dc.format.extent76 pages
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.isbn9781339718774
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12588/3738
dc.languageen
dc.subjectBiomass Logistics
dc.subjectCo-Firing Coal-Based Plants
dc.subjectMixed-Integer Programming
dc.subjectNetwork Simplex
dc.subject.classificationEngineering
dc.subject.classificationOperations research
dc.subject.lcshBiomass conversion -- Environmental aspects
dc.subject.lcshCoal-fired power plants -- Fuel
dc.subject.lcshEnergy crops -- Harvesting -- Simulation methods
dc.subject.lcshGreenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects
dc.subject.lcshGreenhouse gas mitigation -- Decision making -- Simulation methods
dc.subject.lcshSwitchgrass
dc.titleBiomass supply chain logistics for co-firing coal power plants
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.dcmiText
dcterms.accessRightspq_closed
thesis.degree.departmentMechanical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Hart_utsa_1283M_11909.pdf
Size:
1.53 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Electronic Theses and Dissertations - UTSA Access Only