Exploratory Considerations of Scale Effects on the Potential Performance of Wood-Energy Conversion Systems

摘要

Scale effects on the potential performance of wood energy conversion systems whose products might compete in many of the same diverse and dispersed markets as comparable products from fossil fuels are explored. The analytical approach is derived from the average total cost formulation of micro-economics which is configured to account for the factors of total cost rate for wood production, transportation, and conversion in systems with a given conversion efficiency and capacity. The exploratory systems analysis includes: systems elements and cost formulation; area production and associated transportation; point production and associated transportation; conversion system capacity effects; conversion plant learning curve effects; subsystem disaggregation, staging, and production rate effects, and conversion plant financing effects. (ERA citation 08:004625)