Federal deficits: a faulty gauge of government's impact on financial markets

Deficit financing

Sizing up the deficit: an efficient tax perspective

Deficit financing

Indexation: a reasonable response to inflation

Inflation (Finance) ; Indexation (Economics)

The CPI futures market: the inflation hedge that won't grow

Consumer price indexes ; Futures ; Inflation (Finance)

The use of exergy analysis to benchmark the resource efficiency of municipal waste water treatment plants in Ireland

Exergy Analysis has been identified in the literature as a powerful tool to benchmark the resource efficiency of thermal systems. The exergy approach provides a rational basis for process optimisation, where, in theory, the processes with the greatest exergy destruction represent the greatest energy efficiency opportunities. Exergy analysis of a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) has been performed. In addition, two separate reference environments for WWTPs are defined based on plant location. Biological oxygen demand was identified as the most useful parameter when calculating the chemical exergy of organic matter in waste water. The results of this study indicate that organic matter is the principal contributor to chemical exergy values and that exergy analysis is a useful approach to identify inefficient processes within a WWTP

Opportunities for process control optimisation in Irish municipal wastewater treatment plants

As societies ever increasing reliance on electrical energy continues, the role of process optimisation becomes more and more prevalent. This paper presents an energy audit of a typical Irish wastewater treatment plant (P.E. 30,000 ) and attempts to investigate measures to increase the energy efficiencies within treatment plants across Ireland. Based on an in depth review of international energy efficient wastewater treatment plants, energy savings opportunities exist via the use of variable frequency drives to control pumps and blowers; the introduction of inter-basin dissolved oxygen control systems to provide the varying, relevant oxygen requirements to the aeration basin; and effective plant management using appropriate control strategies via accurate sensor feedback and real-time, online monitoring

Life cycle assessment of waste water treatment plants in Ireland

The European Water Act 91/271/EEC introduced a series of measures for the purpose of protecting the environment from the adverse effects of effluent discharge from Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). There are environmental costs associated with attaining the required level of water quality set out in the act such as, emissions from energy production, ecotoxicity from sludge application to land. The goal of this study is to assess these costs. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been the analytical tool used to evaluate the environmental loadings. The CML 2001 Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodology has been adopted and implemented using GaBi 6.0 LCA software. Two plants of varying size and location were chosen for the study. The study found that energy consumption and sludge application to land are the largest contributors to the environmental impact associated with waste water treatment

Benchmarking resource efficiency in wastewater treatment plants: developing best practices

Energy and water are inextricably linked global resources which are under stress; water is required to generate electricity, and energy is required to purify water. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an integral part of the water resources chain. Individual plants operate continually and are subject to a number of pressures (e.g. population changes, varying influent due to storm water, more stringent requirements for WWTP managers to meet discharge limits etc.) making the implementation of resource efficiencies uniquely challenging. Implementing efficiencies in WWTPs requires robust benchmarking and key performance indicator (KPI) tools, in order to implement more effective control, and identify opportunities for improvement. In Ireland, and internationally, these challenges have long been recognised, therefore a great deal of attention is focused on developing benchmarking tools suitable for the wastewater sector. This study presents a unique benchmarking system that enables WWTP managers and engineers isolate where and how resources are used and identify potential resource consumption mitigation measures within WWTPs. A unique and critical element of this benchmarking system is a tool (KPIAdvisor) that enables stakeholders to easily (i) assess the current level and accuracy of data collection undertaken at a WWTP; (ii) decide whether opting into a benchmarking system would be feasible based on the level of data collection onsite; (iii) identify data sources which may require corrective action prior to the adoption of a benchmarking system. KPIAdvisor automatically informs the construction and customisation of a KPI calculation and reporting tool (KPICalc) in order to ensure its applicability in a wide variety of WWTPs. This feature ensures that KPICalc users will not be presented with modules which are irrelevant, and streamlines data entry, thus increasing the toolkit’s usability. As part of the resource benchmarking system, KPIAdvisor enables resource efficiencies to be identified with ease, owing to the automated customisation of the benchmarking system achieved from KPIAdvisor output

Life cycle assessment of wastewater treatment plants in Ireland

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC introduced a series of measures for the purpose of protecting the environment from the adverse effects of effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants. There are environmental costs associated with attaining the required level of water quality set out in the directive such as greenhouse gas emissions due to energy production, and ecotoxicity from sludge application to land. The goal of this study is to assess the environmental costs in an Irish context, focusing specifically on the effects of variation in scale and discharge limitation. Life cycle assessment is the analytical tool used to evaluate the environmental impact. The life cycle impact assessment methodology developed by the Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University (2010) has been adopted and implemented using GaBi 6.0 life cycle assessment software. Two plants of varying size and location were chosen for the study. The study found that energy consumption and sludge application to land are the largest contributors to the overall environmental impact associated with the treatment process at both plants. Economies of scale were observed in energy usage during secondary aeration

Comparable patencies of the radial artery and right internal thoracic artery or saphenous vein beyond 5 years: Results from the Radial Artery Patency and Clinical Outcomes trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the optimum conduit for coronary targets other than the left anterior descending artery, we evaluated long-term patencies and clinical outcomes of the radial artery, right internal thoracic artery, and saphenous vein through the Radial Artery Patency and Clinical Outcomes trial.MethodsAs part of a 10-year prospective, randomized, single-center trial, patients undergoing primary coronary surgery were allocated to the radial artery (n = 198) or free right internal thoracic artery (n = 196) if aged less than 70 years (group 1), or radial artery (n = 113) or saphenous vein (n = 112) if aged at least 70 years (group 2). All patients received a left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending, and the randomized conduit was used to graft the second largest target. Protocol-directed angiography has been performed at randomly assigned intervals, weighted toward the end of the study period. Grafts are defined as failed if there was occlusion, string sign, or greater than 80% stenosis, independently reported by 3 assessors. Analysis is by intention to treat.ResultsAt mean follow up of 5.5 years, protocol angiography has been performed in groups 1 and 2 in 237 and 113 patients, respectively. There are no significant differences within each group in preoperative comorbidity, age, or urgency. Patencies were similar for either of the 2 conduits in each group (log rank analysis, P = .06 and P = .54, respectively). The differences in estimated 5-year patencies were 6.6% (radial minus right internal thoracic artery) in group 1 and 2.9% (radial minus saphenous vein graft) in group 2.ConclusionAt mean 5-year angiography in largely asymptomatic patients, the selection of arterial or venous conduit for the second graft has not significantly affected patency. This finding offers surgeons, for now, enhanced flexibility in planning revascularization