You are the manager of a large crude-oil refinery. As part of the refining process, a certain heat exchanger (operated at high temperatures and with abrasive material flowing through it) must be replaced every year. The replacement and downtime cost in the first year is $165,000. This cost is expected to increase due to inflation at a rate of 9% for five years(i.e. until the EOY 6) , at which time this particular heat exchanger will no longer be needed. If the company's cost of capital is 15% per year, how much could you afford to spend for a higher quality heat exchanger so that these annual replacement and downtime costs could be eliminated?
You could afford to spend $_________ thousands for a higher quality heat exchanger (round to 3 decimal places)