Abstract
This thesis is a contribution to the subject of applied economic analysis, and it is written with an operational research and decision support system`s perspective. The thesis focuses on the economics of ferrosilicon (FeSi) production and its scope is limited to tactical issues for a plant operating up to two furnaces. The first part of this text is concerned with technical issues. It presents results from empirical analyses of silicon yield and specific energy consumption. The silicon yield is surprisingly stable over time when furnace operation is adjusted for accumulation and ``melt outs`` of silicon. This knowledge is used when modeling and estimating functional expressions of the specific energy consumption. The parameters estimated will be the constant energy loss and energy losses proportional with the electric load at normal electric load levels. The second part of the thesis presents different models for economic evaluation of furnace operation. Several furnaces are combined with costs and losses after tapping and limited amounts of low-cost energy in models which may be used to calculate how to run the furnaces optimally at different FeSi price levels. The final part focuses on the furnace exit and entry decisions. The cost of stopping and starting a
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Citation Formats
Heimdal, S I.
Decision support for the production of 75% FeSi; Beslutningsstoette for produksjon av 75% FeSi.
Norway: N. p.,
1991.
Web.
Heimdal, S I.
Decision support for the production of 75% FeSi; Beslutningsstoette for produksjon av 75% FeSi.
Norway.
Heimdal, S I.
1991.
"Decision support for the production of 75% FeSi; Beslutningsstoette for produksjon av 75% FeSi."
Norway.
@misc{etde_10141624,
title = {Decision support for the production of 75% FeSi; Beslutningsstoette for produksjon av 75% FeSi}
author = {Heimdal, S I}
abstractNote = {This thesis is a contribution to the subject of applied economic analysis, and it is written with an operational research and decision support system`s perspective. The thesis focuses on the economics of ferrosilicon (FeSi) production and its scope is limited to tactical issues for a plant operating up to two furnaces. The first part of this text is concerned with technical issues. It presents results from empirical analyses of silicon yield and specific energy consumption. The silicon yield is surprisingly stable over time when furnace operation is adjusted for accumulation and ``melt outs`` of silicon. This knowledge is used when modeling and estimating functional expressions of the specific energy consumption. The parameters estimated will be the constant energy loss and energy losses proportional with the electric load at normal electric load levels. The second part of the thesis presents different models for economic evaluation of furnace operation. Several furnaces are combined with costs and losses after tapping and limited amounts of low-cost energy in models which may be used to calculate how to run the furnaces optimally at different FeSi price levels. The final part focuses on the furnace exit and entry decisions. The cost of stopping and starting a furnace are high, and a volatile FeSi price will give exit and entry price levels which are different from price levels calculated by pure deterministic models. The theoretical foundation for this part are contingent claims analysis and stochastic optimal control theory. 44 figs., 45 tabs., 50 refs.}
place = {Norway}
year = {1991}
month = {Apr}
}
title = {Decision support for the production of 75% FeSi; Beslutningsstoette for produksjon av 75% FeSi}
author = {Heimdal, S I}
abstractNote = {This thesis is a contribution to the subject of applied economic analysis, and it is written with an operational research and decision support system`s perspective. The thesis focuses on the economics of ferrosilicon (FeSi) production and its scope is limited to tactical issues for a plant operating up to two furnaces. The first part of this text is concerned with technical issues. It presents results from empirical analyses of silicon yield and specific energy consumption. The silicon yield is surprisingly stable over time when furnace operation is adjusted for accumulation and ``melt outs`` of silicon. This knowledge is used when modeling and estimating functional expressions of the specific energy consumption. The parameters estimated will be the constant energy loss and energy losses proportional with the electric load at normal electric load levels. The second part of the thesis presents different models for economic evaluation of furnace operation. Several furnaces are combined with costs and losses after tapping and limited amounts of low-cost energy in models which may be used to calculate how to run the furnaces optimally at different FeSi price levels. The final part focuses on the furnace exit and entry decisions. The cost of stopping and starting a furnace are high, and a volatile FeSi price will give exit and entry price levels which are different from price levels calculated by pure deterministic models. The theoretical foundation for this part are contingent claims analysis and stochastic optimal control theory. 44 figs., 45 tabs., 50 refs.}
place = {Norway}
year = {1991}
month = {Apr}
}