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Decision-Making for Biomass-Based Production Chains: The Basic Concepts and Medothologies presents a comprehensive study of key-issues surrounding the integration of strategic… Read more
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Save up to 30% on top Physical Sciences & Engineering titles!
Decision-Making for Biomass-Based Production Chains: The Basic Concepts and Medothologies presents a comprehensive study of key-issues surrounding the integration of strategic, tactical and operational decision levels for supply chains in the biomass, biofuels and biorefining sectors. Comprehensive sections cover biomass resources, harvesting, collection, storage and distribution systems, along with the necessary technical and technological background of production systems. In addition, the basics of decision-making, problems and decision levels encountered in design, management and operation phases are covered. Case studies are supplied in each chapter, along with a discussion and comparative analysis of topics.
The book presents a clear vision of advances in the field. Graduate students and those starting in this line of research will also find the necessary information on how to model this kind of complex system. Finally, this comprehensive resource can be used as a guide for non-expert industry decision-makers and government policymakers who need a thorough overview on the industry.
Engineering researchers and practitioners in the biomass, biofuels and biorefining fields, especially those without an industrial engineering background. Graduate students in areas of energy systems, renewable energy, bioenergy, biomass and sustainable design. Managers, specialists and consultants in biomass, biorefinery and bioenergy sectors. Project developers in on-site biomass and bioenergy feasibility projects
Chapter 1. Introduction to biomass – resources, production, harvesting, collection and storage
1. Biomass concept and the main biomass resources
1.1. Dedicated energy crops
1.1.1. Herbaceous energy crops
1.1.2. Woody energy crops
1.1.3. Plantation and harvesting of energy crops
1.1.3.1. Site selection and pre-planting site preparation
1.1.3.2. Planting and harvesting
1.1.4. Treatment and storage of dedicated energy crops
1.2. Residues
1.2.1. Agricultural residues
1.2.2. Forestry residues
1.2.3. Harvesting, treatment and storage of residues
1.3. Wastes
1.3.1. Animal wastes
1.3.2. Municipal solid waste
1.3.3. Wastewater and sludge
1.3.4. Industrial wastes
1.3.5. Treatment and storage of wastes
2. Recent trends in biomass production
3. Discussion
Chapter 2. Biomass based production systems
1. The main systems, technologies and processes for biomass based production
1.1. Thermo-chemical conversion technologies
1.1.1. Combustion
1.1.2. Gasification
1.1.3. Pyrolysis
1.1.4. Hydrothermal liquefaction
1.2. Biochemical conversion technologies
1.2.1. Anaerobic digestion
1.2.2. Fermentation
1.3. Mechanical extraction
2. Recent trends in biomass based production technologies
3. Discussion
Chapter 3. Biomass based supply chains and logistics networks
1. General structure and key components of biomass based supply chains
1.1. Biomass cultivation, harvesting, collection and storage
1.2. Biomass pre-treatment
1.3. Biomass transportation
1.4. Biomass conversion
1.5. Biofuel storage, transportation and consumption
1.6. Energy production and transmission
2. Discussion
Chapter 4. Sustainability issues in biomass based production chains
1. Sustainability of biomass based production chains
1.1. Economic sustainability
1.2. Environmental sustainability
1.3. Social sustainability
1.4. Technical sustainability
2. Design, planning and implementation of sustainable biomass based production chains
2.1. Sustainability indicators, standards and certification schemes
2.2. Sustainability assessment in design and management of biomass based production chains
2.3. Life cycle assessment of biomass based production systems
3. Discussion
Chapter 5. Uncertainty issues in biomass based production chains
1. Uncertainty in biomass based production chains
1.1. Uncertainty in market demand and prices
1.2. Uncertainty in supply of biomass and other materials
1.3. Technology and process uncertainties
1.4. Uncertainty in governmental and regulatory policies
1.5. Uncertainty in transportation and logistics
1.6. Natural uncertainties and disruption possibility
2. Handling uncertainties in biomass based production chains
2.1. Approaches for uncertainty modelling
2.1.1. Stochastic Programming
2.1.2. Robust optimization
2.1.3. Fuzzy decision making
2.2. Methods for Uncertainty Impact Evaluation
2.2.1. Sensitivity analysis
2.2.2. Scenario analyses
3. Discussion
Chapter 6. Basics of decision making in design and management of biomass based production chains
1. Decision levels in design and management of biomass based production chains
1.1. Strategic decisions
1.2. Tactical decisions
1.3. Operational decisions
2. Decision making in design and management of biomass based production chains
2.1. The main objectives and criteria
2.1.1. Economic objectives and criteria
2.1.2. Environmental objectives and criteria
2.1.3. Social objectives and criteria
2.1.4. Technical criteria
2.2. Multiple Attribute and Multiple Criteria Decision Making Methods in Biomass Based Production Chains
2.2.1. Multiple Attribute Decision Making
2.2.2. Multiple Objective Decision Making
2.2.2.1. Fuzzy Multiple Objective Linear Programming
3. Discussion
Chapter 7. Modelling and optimization approaches in design and management of biomass based production chains
1. Mathematical modeling based approaches
1.1. Linear Programming
1.2. Non-linear programming
1.3. Methods and tools to solve linear and non-linear programming problems
1.3.1. Simplex Method and Interior Point Methods
1.3.2. Column Generation and Dantzig Wolfe Decomposition
1.3.3. Cutting plane method and benders decomposition
1.3.4. Lagrangian relaxation
1.3.5. Branch and bound method
2. Simulation based approaches
3. Artificial intelligence based approaches
3.1. Computational search and optimization methods
3.1.1. Greedy Algorithms
3.1.2. Simulated annealing
3.1.3. Tabu search
3.1.4. Evolutionary computation
3.1.5. Swarm intelligence
3.2. Machine learning
4. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
5. Game theory
6. Discussion
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