148 research outputs found
Modeling uncertain demand in wood pellet supply chains: a case study from Northern Ontario
No full textThis thesis aims to enable Canadian wood pellet producers with the opportunity to offer competitive pricing through optimization of their value chains and supply chains, by employing an operational-level decision support tool (DST). Improving the competitiveness of Canada’s individual wood pellet manufacturers will ultimately improve Canada’s position amidst the rapidly developing global wood pellet market. Primary information is used from a case study of Industries Lacwood (ILW), in Hearst, ON; a firm that produces wood pellets using residue generated from processing of its primary wood items. The specific objectives of this study are to: 1) Determine how to optimize the operations of a wood pellet producer, through a comparison of three different gross margin (GM) optimization models, given uncertain demand conditions. These three models will illustrate why it is important to utilize inventory and a variable production rate, in order to most effectively optimize the GM of a pellet producer, given uncertain consumer demand. 2) Produce 100 demand datasets (to satisfy the Central Limit Theorem) for pellet 1 and pellet 2 and run these datasets through each of the three models created for objective 1. Compare the GM results of the three models and demonstrate why the operational environment specified in model 2 should be used for GM optimization of wood pellet producers, and will be used for further analysis. 3) Generate stochastic demand schedules for pellets by averaging the 100 demand datasets produced for objective 2. Use these stochastic demand schedules as the base case demand input values for model 2, along with other standard input values (obtained from ILW). Benchmark output values of production, inventory and unfulfilled demand generated from these standard inputs are compared with output values of production, inventory and unfulfilled demand generated from the variable inputs of 11 different scenarios. These comparisons will illustrate how model 2 is a comprehensive DST that the operational-level managers of wood pellet producers may use to achieve optimal GMs for the producer, under uncertain demand conditions and with other variable input factors. The results show that the model is most sensitive to fluctuations in demand, supply and inventory holding costs
Building green energy initiatives in Northern Ontario Indigenous communities: case study on community development in Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation
No full textNorthern Ontario’s First Nations communities rely heavily on diesel energy, a fuel source with high economic and environmental costs. Thus, many communities are examining the viability of making a partial or full transition to a renewable energy-derived community power source. This thesis will examine the recent renewable energy initiatives conducted by Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, an Ojibwe community located approximately 130 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the benefits, challenges, and viability of such a large-scale project
Exploring wild blueberries as a place-based socio-economic development opportunity in Ignace, Ontario
No full textWild blueberries are an important food source in rural communities of Northwestern Ontario, and can be used as a possible alternative to diversify their economic resource base. This study explores the socio-economic development opportunity through wild blueberries in and around the township of Ignace in Northwestern Ontario through two research papers. The first paper demonstrates the economic viability of a wild blueberry business by exploring the market demand and willingness-to-pay for wild blueberries picked by rural and First Nation communities, and developing an economic profile of a pilot wild blueberry picking and selling business in and around the township of Ignace in Northwestern Ontario. The second paper explores through a community case study how a complex adaptive system’s theoretical lens can facilitate an understanding of the challenges associated with alternative development opportunities in communities, where growth and economic development are limited to primary resource industries such as mining and forestry. From a complexity lens, the resilience and adaptation of local communities in sustainable diversification of resource based businesses are explored. The results of market survey and conjoint analysis support wild blueberries as a viable food source for economic development and strengthening food security in the region. The complex relationship and challenges demonstrate that such challenges may be better understood and overcome through a complexity approach
Stand density management implications on the woody quality of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) in the Sault Ste. Marie MNR District of Ontario
No full textCreating quality tolerant hardwood stands through intensive silviculture and mapping their properties is considered a means for optimizing the value chain in Northeastern Ontario. A comprehensive literature review was conducted concerning the growth, morphology and factors influencing end merchantability of diffuse porous hardwoods, which commonly grow in Northeastern Canada and North America. It was seen that there was a gap in the literature concerning the effects varying degrees of density management have on the internal properties of the growing stock occurring on site. The literature did, however, provide a knowledge base from which to evolve. Based on the current gaps in the literature, mapping of the internal properties associated with density management of yellow birch was conducted from a research site 30 kilometers Northwest of Thessalon, Ontario in the Algoma Forest District. Density management associated with the specific research site reflect releasing trees to 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of tree height at time of treatment, since the trees were on average 10m high the treatments consist of releasing plus trees to one, two, three and four m, respectively. Destructive testing was performed on 15 yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) trees from the thinning trial located in the Northern regions of the Great Lakes St Lawrence forest zone. The results showed that the thinning treatments applied had a significant effect on the internal wood properties of the yellow birch growing on site. The greatest variability was not between treatments but axially throughout the trees. Janka Ball side hardness values attained from the test specimens were on average 24% higher than published values. Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) values attained were 15% and 15% lower than the published values, respectively. The average ring width values across all treatments analysed were found to be 80% higher than the published values. The values for the microscopic attributes (fibers and vessels) displayed no difference between treatments and followed published trends associated with morphological changes in the trees. It was observed that the properties do not follow any discernable pattern associated with the intensity of crop tree thinning intensity. It was determined that thinning treatments do have a significant effect on the internal mechanical properties of the yellow birch growing on site and is suggested that thinning can increase stem merchantability and decrease rotation ages
Supply chain management of advanced wood pellets: storage and real time field characterization
No full textCanada announced plans to phase-out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. Therefore, in 2014, the province of Ontario has phased out the use of coal in the production of electricity. Former coal powered generating stations have been converted to use biomass. Ontario Power Generation, Ontario’s largest producer of electricity, has converted former coal powered Thunder Bay Generating Station (TBGS) to use advanced wood pellets (AWP), which are produced from thermally treated biomass. The thermal treatment with steam explosion makes the AWP more durable and water resistant as compared to conventional wood pellets, hence allowing TBGS to use the same handling and storage equipment they used for coal, including outside storage of AWP. However, the quality properties of AWP may degrade due to exposure to weather conditions while stored outside, affecting their performance as a fuel. The purpose of this study was to analyze the degradation of AWP while stored outside, and to give recommendations for the most effective storage approach to the industry. We examined the trends and level of degradation of AWP quality properties, while stored outside in uncovered and covered piles, through a period of 11 months. Additionally, we monitored internal temperature trends of the piles, to assess if there is any risk of self-heating, and tested fresh factory samples, which served as a baseline. The results showed that AWP moisture content is highly influenced by weather conditions (in the first place precipitation), with moisture content directly or indirectly affecting the rest of the properties. Furthermore, the covered pile displayed significantly better preservation of properties, while self-heating was not observed in any of the piles. We recommend covering AWP piles, especially in the winter months, to reduce snow pack that could thaw and penetrate into the pile in the spring. This study also contributes to the existing knowledge in the biomass area, since there are very few studies done on AWP storage and quality properties
Stroke research priorities for the next decade - A supplement statement on intracranial haemorrhage
No full textAhsenu'l-Hadith of Okcuzade Mehmed Shahi (Study on-text)
No full textSosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İslam Tarihi ve Sanatları Ana Bilim Dalı, Türk İslam Edebiyatı Bilim Dalı"Okçuzâde Mehmed Şâhî'nin Ahsenü'l-hadîs'i (İnceleme-Metin)" adını taşıyan bu çalışmada, Mehmed Şâhî'nin Ahsenü'l-hadîs'inin metni verilerek eser, dinî-edebî yönden incelenmiştir. Giriş, üç bölüm ve sonuçtan oluşan çalışmanın sonuna bir de sözlük ilave edilmiştir. Giriş kısmında edebiyatımızdaki manzum kırk hadis yazma geleneğinden bahsedilmiştir. Birinci bölümde Okçuzâde Mehmed Şâhî'nin hayatı, tarîkatı, şahsiyeti, eserleri ve Ahsenü'l-hadîs'i ele alınmıştır. İkinci bölümde Ahsenü'l-hadîs, dinî-edebî yönden incelenmiş; âyet, hadîs, atasözü, deyim, şiir, hikâye ve kıssa gibi unsurların değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Üçüncü bölümde ise eserin yurt içi ve yurt dışındaki nüshalarının tavsifi yapılmış ve metnin kuruluşunda takip edilen metod açıklanmıştır. Ayrıca bu bölüm, eserin muhtemel müellif hattı nazara alınarak oluşturulan metnini içermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Ahsenü'l-hadîs, Okçuzâde Mehmed Şâhî, Kırk HadisIn this study bearing the name of "Ahsenu'l-hadith of Okcuzade Mehmed Shahi (Study on-Text)", the work has been examined in the aspects of religion and literature by presenting the text of Ahsenu'l-hadith of Mehmed Shahi. Vocabulary has been added to the end of the work consisting of an introduction, three chapters, and a conclusion. In the introduction part, the tradition of the poetic writing of forty hadith in our literature has been mentioned. In the first chapter, life, religious order, personality, works and Ahsenu'l-hadith of Okcuzade Mehmed Shahi have been discussed. In the second chapter, Ahsenu'l-hadith has been studied in the aspects of religion and literature; evaluation of elements such as verses, hadiths, proverbs, idioms, poems, stories and kıssas has been carried out. Moreover, in the third chapter, characterization of copies of the work located in the country or abroad has been done and the method followed while establishing the text has been explained. In addition, this chapter also contains the text of the work which is created by considering the handwriting of the author. Key Words: Ahsanu'l-hadith, Okcuzade Mehmed Shahi, Forty Hadit
Environmental and economic impact assessment of biochar-based bioenergy production in Northwestern Ontario, Canada
No full textBioenergy is becoming very popular in Ontario with the 2014 ban on the use of coal in power generation. Biochar is produced as a by-product or a co-product of bioenergy. Past literature shows that if biochar is produced as a co-product with bioenergy from sustainably managed forests and used for soil amendment, it could provide a carbon neutral or even carbon negative solution for current environmental problems. It also shows that detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) that compares the potential environmental and economic impacts of BBBP system with those of conventional coal-based system is missing. This study fills that gap by assessing environmental and economic implications of a BBBP system in northwestern Ontario throughout its lifecycle using SimaPro® Ver. 8.1, EIOLCA® software and spreadsheet modeling. Under the assumption that only forest residues and/or under-utilized species are used, results show that although a system including biochar based land application consumes 4,847 MJ t-1 dry feedstock more energy than the conventional coal-based system, it reduces the GHG emissions by 68 kgCO2e t-1 dry feedstock during its life cycle. It also improves the ecosystem quality by 18%, reduces global warming potential by 15%, and resource use by 13% but may impact human health by increasing disability adjusted life years (DALY) by 1.7% if biomass availability is low to medium. The economic viability of this BBBP system, within the LCA system boundary, is directly dependent on the costs of pyrolysis, feedstock processing (drying, grinding and pelletization), feedstock collection and the value of total carbon offset provided by the system. The BBBP system is economically viable only in case of high biomass availability within 200km and when the cost of carbon sequestration exceeds C$60 t-1 of CO2e. The environmental and economic impact assessment results developed through this study, can be scaled up to a larger regional scale which is expected to help in reinforcing the confidence of industries and its partners in promoting BBBP systems and the use of biochar as a soil amendment in the region
The economic feasibility of replacing diesel with renewable energy resources in remote First Nation communities in Northern Ontario
No full textOntario has many First Nation communities in the remote northern region that use diesel fuel to generate part or the whole of their energy requirements. There is a huge financial and environmental cost associated with shipping diesel fuel by air transport in the spring, summer, and autumn months and over ice roads during winter months to these remote communities. A significant portion of the electricity produced from diesel fuel is used to heat community buildings and homes during the extreme cold winters in the remote northern Ontario region. Biomass district heating is a cleaner and sustainable heat source commonly used in European communities. However, biomass has not been used successfully in Ontario for district heating, despite the existence of plentiful forest biomass resources. Solar and wind power, representing cleaner and renewable energy opportunities, have grown in Ontario since the introduction of the Green Energy Act in 2009.
The purpose of this thesis research was to determine the socio-economic feasibility and benefits associated with using forest biomass for district heating combined with solar and wind power for electricity production in remote northern Ontario First Nation communities to offset part of the current energy load. Two remote First Nation communities, one an off-grid, fly-in community (Sachigo Lake) and the other an on-grid, drive-to community (Lac Seul), participated in the study. Information related to the present costs of energy in the communities, the types of heating devices used in the community buildings, and the forest resources available for biomass district heating was collected. Solar and wind resources were evaluated using publicly available wind and solar maps and commercially available tools and software. A specialized Forest Resource Inventory was also done in both communities. Solar resources were evaluated and measured in both communities to determine actual average sun hours per day. The site data was used to evaluate average annual savings for different solar power scenarios in each community, along with the cost of a project, which was factored into payback time calculation in years. Analysis suggests that there is a sufficient sustainable supply of biomass available for both communities for use in biomass district heating, and the payback time for the off-grid community is much shorter than for the on-grid community.
Lac Seul First Nation has forestry operations in the reserve and crown forest and should be able to access equipment and personnel as well as possibly biomass residues from a nearby sawmill for biomass heating. The Lac Seul arena currently has electric hydronic boilers that could be replaced by biomass boilers with solar thermal pre-heating as this site also has good solar resources. Sachigo Lake First Nation does not have forestry operations or a forest management plan but good solar resources at the school and at the diesel generator plant at the airport. Sachigo Lake First Nation pays the higher Standard “A” rate for diesel derived electricity and ample space at the airport for a ground-mounted solar array, and was found to have good potential saving and short payback times for a potential solar project. A full list of recommendations is found in the Conclusions and Recommendations section
Pre-harvest lumber value recovery modeling: integrating sawline laser-scanning with an enhanced forest inventory
No full textSupply chain management research in forestry is becoming increasingly important in the forest sector worldwide. Predicting lumber value recovery from pre-harvest forest inventory forms an important aspect of forestry supply chain management research. The purpose of this research was to conduct a case study for tracking a stud sawmill's supply chain in Ontario's boreal forest from pre-harvest forest inventory through to green lumber value recovery (GLVR)
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