Life cycle assessment improvement analysis

In the previous chapters, thermodynamic analysis is used to improve processes. However, as pointed out in Chapter 9 (Energy Conversion), the exergy analysis did not make any distinction between the combustion of coal and natural gas and, as a result, could not make any statements regarding toxicity or environmental impact of exploration, production and use of the two fuels. A technique that can do this is LCA. What exactly is life cycle analysis In ISO 14040 [1], life cycle analysis (or life cycle assessment) is defined as "the compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle."... 

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a three-step design evaluation methodology composed of inventory profile, environmental impact assessment, and improvement analysis (Keoleian and Menerey 1994). The purpose of the inventory step is to examine the resources consumed and wastes generated at all stages of the product life cycle, including raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair, reclamation, and waste disposal. 

Value analysis does not try to break down already established costs instead, it seeks to build a new solution from a value established for the main function of a product, a reasoning similar to the determination of the functional unit in life cycle assessment. It follows that value analysis can elucidate hidden potential for environmental improvement that can directly translate into cost savings. As with LCA, it is likely that value analysis will be particularly effective in the development of new products rather than in the rationalisation of existing products. 

It is environmentally important to perform a life cycle assessment analysis, not only for non-biodegradable polymers but also for partially biodegradable or even completely biodegradable polymers. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a tool which helps in understanding the environmental impact associated with the products, processes and activities throughout the life of a polymer. The life cycle of vegetable oil-based polymers is shown in Rg. 2.6. Thus a complete LCA would include three separate but interrelated components, an inventory analysis, an impact analysis and an improvement analysis. 

The Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) has produced a series of ecoprofile reports on various plastics, including packaging materials. APME adopted the term ecoprofile since the analysis extends only to the point of sale and does not cover disposal. Also, the reports do not include the impact or improvement portions of life-cycle assessment. The reports are publicly available on the association website, www.apme.org and are updated periodically. 

Compared with conventional diesel refining process, GTL diesel offers significant environmental advantages such as less carbon emissions and improvement of air quality with the total absence of sulfur in the fuel. However, the GTL technology often requires intensive energy and resources input. This paper applies Life cycle assessment (LCA) method to quantify the environmental impacts of gas-to-liquid fuel processes. LCA is a tool for the analysis of environmental impacts of a product or a system, taking into... 

The International Standard Organization (ISO 14040) [26] breaks the LCA framework into four main stages (1) Goal and scope definition of the study. This stage clarifies the purposes of carrying the study while the assumptions and system boundaries are described clearly. (2) Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis. LCI involves data collection and calculation procedures to quantify relevant inputs and outputs of the entire system defined within the system boundaries. (3) Life cycle impact assessment involves qualifying the potential environmental impacts of the inventory analysis results. (4) The interpretation of the results from the previous phases of the study in relation to the objective of the study. This interpretation can be in form of conclusions and recommendations to decision-makers for process changes to deliver improvement in the environmentel performance. 

The key measurement tool to assess the enviromnental sustainability of a product is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Life cycle inventory analysis accounts for all inputs and outputs for a particular product and is typically practiced on a cradle-to-grave basis. A key benefit of LCA is the opportunity to benchmark performance against competitor products and processes in the marketplace, both to justify performance claims and to identify operations appropriate for performance improvement efforts. 

Life cycle assessment involves an inventory analysis to provide information about the consumption of material and release of wastes from the point that raw material is obtained to make a product to the time of its ultimate fate, an impact analysis to consider the environmental and other impacts of the product, and an improvement analysis to determine the measures that can be taken to reduce impacts. A life cycle assessment gives a high priority to the choice of materials in a way that minimizes wastes. It considers which materials and whole components can be used or recycled. And it considers alternate pathways for manufacturing processes or, in the case of chemical manufacture, alternate synthesis routes. 

It is important to note that LCA is a tool to evaluate all environmental effects of a product or process throughout its entire life cycle. This includes identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, assessing their environmental impact, and evaluating opportunities for improvement. LCA can also be used in various ways to evaluate alternatives including in-process analysis, material selection, product evaluation, product comparison, and policy-... 

The components of a life cycle analysis include the life cycle inventory. These involve a complete resource requirement to be identified in terms of materials and eneigy. The life cycle impact assessment characterizes and assesses the effects of the environmental emissions. The life cycle Improvement analysis is used to quantify the life cycle inventory and import, and is used to assess possible environmental improvements that can be made. 

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