An economic investigation of the wind-hydrogen projects: A case study

Hydrogen as an energy carrier can play a significant role in reducing environmental emissions if it is produced from renewable energy resources. This research aims to assess hydrogen production from wind energy considering environmental, economic, and technical aspect for the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. The economic assessment is performed by calculation of payback period, levelized cost of hydrogen, and levelized cost of electricity. Since uncertainty in the power output of wind turbines may affect the payback period, all calculations are performed for four different turbine degradation rates. While it is common in the literature to choose the wind turbine based on a single criterion, this study implements Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques for this purpose. The results of Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis illustrates that economic issue is the most important criterion for this research. The results of Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment shows that Vestas V52 is the most suitable wind turbine for Ahar and Sarab cities, while Eovent EVA120 H-Darrieus is a better choice for other stations. The most suitable location for wind power generation is found to be Ahar, where it is estimated to annually generate 2914.8 kWh of electricity at the price of 0.045 $/kWh, and 47.2 tons of hydrogen at the price of 1.38 $/kg, which result in 583 tons of CO₂ emission reduction.     

Multicriteria decision-making using Archimedean aggregation operators in Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy environment

In multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), the existing aggregation operators are mostly based on algebraic t-conorm and t-norm. But, Archimedean t-conorms and t-norms are the generalized forms of t-conorms and t-norms which include algebraic, Einstein, Hamacher, Frank, and other types of t-conorms and t-norms. From that view point, in this paper the concepts of Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm are introduced to aggregate Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy information. Some new operational laws for Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy numbers based on Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm have been proposed. Using those operational laws, Archimedean t-conorm and t-norm-based Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy weighted averaging operator and weighted geometric operator are developed. Some of their desirable properties have also been investigated. Afterwards, these operators are applied to solve MCDM problems in Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy environment. The developed Archimedean aggregation operators are also applicable in Pythagorean fuzzy contexts also. To demonstrate the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of the proposed method, a practical problem is considered, solved, and compared with other existing method.     

[数据驱动的产品设计]基于功能模型和层次分析法的智能产品服务系统概念方案构建

为研究智能产品服务系统概念方案的构建，解决系统的复杂特性和功能耦合特性，提出应用发明问题解决理论（TRIZ）功能模型和层次分析法(AHP)两种工具，在概念设计阶段利用TRIZ功能模型定性地对其进行分析建模，并借助层次分析法对不同服务供应商所提供的服务功能模块进行定量的决策分析，通过择优集成相关功能模块，形成智能产品服务系统概念方案的构建方法。最后以3家服务供应商的服务功能模块构建为例，验证该方法的有效性。     

An improved iterative stochastic multi-objective acceptability analysis method for robust alternative selection in new product development

Alternative selection in new product development (NPD) is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. It usually starts with incomplete, imprecise or even partially missing information. Currently, most existing methods in dealing with this problem cannot work well if required information is incomplete or missing. It is acknowledged that stochastic multi-objective acceptability analysis (SMAA) can be applied to address MCDM problem with incomplete preference information and uncertain criteria measurements. In SMAA, alternatives are evaluated based on SMAA measurements (acceptability index, central weight vector and confidence factor). The discriminability of SMAA for the optimum alternative heavily depends on differences of SMAA measurements among different alternatives. Usually, a large number of alternatives and high level of uncertainty are involved in alternative selection in NPD. In this situation, the differences among SMAA measurements are not obvious, and therefore SMAA cannot deal with such problem very well. To this end, this paper proposes an improved SMAA method called Iterative-SMAA (I-SMAA) for alternative selection in NPD. In the I-SMAA, an iterative multi-step decision-making process is suggested to improve differences of SMAA measurements among different alternatives, and thus assist decision makers (DMs) to positively discern from the most preferred alternative. To enhance the decision-making efficiency, sensitive criteria are acquired in each iteration by ranking sensitivity analysis. DMs are guided to provide partial preference information and give more accurate criteria measurements for sensitive criteria rather than all criteria. Eventually, to verify the proposed method, a numerical example of the existing literature is solved with the method, and the results are compared. And then, a practical example of a preparation equipment for coal samples is further employed to verify the practicability of the proposed I-SMAA.     

A large group linguistic Z-DEMATEL approach for identifying key performance indicators in hospital performance management

In hospital management, performance measurement is of vital importance for improving healthcare service quality. The performance of a healthcare organization is often influenced by numerous indicators, and it is unrealistic to manage them all due to the restriction of resources. In addition, the performance measurement for improvement relates to the benefits of many departments, and it is necessary for large number of experts with different backgrounds to participate in the evaluation process of healthcare indicators. In response, this study develops a large group evaluation approach using linguistic Z-numbers and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to determine key performance indicators (KPIs) for hospital management. For this approach, the complex and uncertain interrelation evaluations among indicators are given by experts using linguistic Z-numbers. An extended DEMATEL method is proposed to determine KPIs based on the cause and effect relationships of performance indicators. Finally, a case study in a rehabilitation hospital is presented to illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed large group linguistic Z-DEMATEL approach. The results indicate that incidents/errors, accidents/adverse events, nosocomial infection, nursing technology pass rate, and length of stay are KPIs for the given application.     

Matching of technological forecasting technique to a technology using fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making methods: Case study from the aerospace industry

Given the accelerating pace of technological advances and environmental changes, technology-based companies are required to predict and understand future events in their environments. However, there is a wide range of forecasting methods creating confusion on which method to use. This paper demonstrates the selection of an appropriate technique for technology forecasting in the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO). To this end, a review of the literature was first reviewed to extract the proper criteria for selecting a forecasting method. Next, the SWARA and fuzzy MUTLIMOORA methods were used to evaluate and prioritize a total of twelve forecasting methods proposed for the case study. The results suggested that the Delphi method for technology forecasting in the IAIO. Scenario writing and the relevance tree are the next proper alternatives that can be used.     

The potential limitations on its basin decision-making processes of granting self-defence rights to Father Rhine

ABSTRACT

Recent grants of legal rights to rivers would seem to infuse traditional anthropocentric river governance with greater eco-centrism. Through a thought experiment, we scrutinize this proposition for the Rhine basin. We consider the governance implications of granting (procedural/material) rights to the river and elaborate on their implications for the three highly institutionalized regimes of the Rhine River of water quality, flooding and transport. Since we find that a shift to more eco-centrism has already occurred and since the right granted to the river would not be absolute, we deem radical transformations unlikely.     

Protection of power transformer using multi criteria decision-making

Power transformers are protected by different relays that operate independently. Malfunction of each relay has a major role in reducing the reliability of the protection system. In order to mitigate the main drawbacks of the power transformer relays, an overall protection scheme is presented in this paper. This scheme proposes a novel multi criterion algorithm using decision-making based on fuzzy logic. In this paper the outputs of restricted earth fault relay and a directional check unit, are combined with the output of the differential protection relay. Therefore, problems that are pertaining to independent operation of each relay have been mitigated and the relays cover protection blind spots of each other. The improved power transformer protection (IPTP) scheme enhances the sensitivity and reliability of the power transformer protection. Extensive simulations are used to measure the effectiveness and merit of the proposed IPTP relay. The above efforts result in a multi criteria approach for protection of power transformers.     

Online-review analysis based large-scale group decision-making for determining passenger demands and evaluating passenger satisfaction: Case study of high-speed rail system in China

High-speed rail (HSR) has become an essential mode of public transportation in China and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. To promote the development of the HSR industry, a high level of passenger satisfaction must be ensured, which means that passenger satisfaction must be assured. Focusing on HSR in-cabin factors that affect the travel experience of HSR passengers, this study aims to determine passenger demands (PDs) and to evaluate passenger satisfaction by using a combination of online review analysis and large-scale group decision-making (LSGDM). By using web crawler technology, online reviews related to HSR were harvested from a microblogging platform to extract PD data and information. The six PDs that reflect the most frequent concerns of passengers were identified by analyzing the online reviews. The level of satisfaction of passengers with respect to these PDs was analyzed based on the online responses from 100 HSR passengers and by adopting the interval-valued two-tuple linguistic representation model. The final degrees of satisfaction and rankings of the PDs were then determined by using the LSGDM approach with the k-means clustering method and a consensus-reaching process. This research thus constructs an index system of HSR passenger satisfaction evaluation based on online-review analysis and evaluates the process by using LSGDM approaches. The conclusions provide insights into the improvements desired by HSR passengers for in-cabin services and to improve passenger satisfaction.