Abstract
Development of sustainable energy systems implies comprehensive analyses that go beyond thermodynamics. The environmental impact, resource depletion, cost, and societal impact must be accounted for in addition to the efficiency and effectiveness defined according to the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The method of life-cycle assessment (LCA) is commonly used to analyze the life cycle of a system from cradle to grave. This method is defined by International Standards Organization norm ISO 14040 as the “compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.” In general, LCA, when applied to energy systems, defines, on a case-by-case base, an integrated efficiency of the whole process by considering final outputs over the lifetime and initial material inputs and the associated energy and exergy flows. This kind of cradle-to-grave analysis is extremely important for policy elaboration and decision making for sustainable development. Sustainability often leads authorities to incorporate environmental considerations into planning. The need to satisfy basic human needs and aspirations, combined with the increasing world population, is a driver toward successful implementation of sustainable development. LCA is a key tool for identifying the best paths leading to sustainable development.
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Abbreviations
- A :
-
Acidification indicator, kg SO2 equivalent
- ACP:
-
Acidification potential, kg SO2 equivalent per kg
- AD:
-
Abiotic depletion, kg antimony equivalent
- ADP:
-
Abiotic depletion potential, antimony equivalent per kg
- AP:
-
Air pollution indicator, kg NOx equivalent
- APP:
-
Air pollution potential, kg NOx equivalent per kg
- Bd:
-
Discharge burn-up, MJ/kg
- EEQ:
-
Total exergy equivalents
- EOP:
-
Exergy associated with manufacturing
- Ex :
-
Exergy, MJ
- GW:
-
Global warming indicator, kg CO2 equivalent
- GWP:
-
Global warming potential, kg CO2 equivalent per kg
- HHV:
-
Higher heating value, MJ/kg
- LFT:
-
Life-cycle time
- LHV:
-
Lower heating value, MJ/kg
- m :
-
Mass, kg
- NInd:
-
Normalized indicator
- ODP:
-
Ozone depletion potential
- P :
-
Pressure, Pa
- PO:
-
Photo-oxidant formation indicator, kg ethylene equivalent
- POCP:
-
Photochemical ozone creation potential, kg ethylene equivalent per kg
- Q :
-
Heat, MJ
- R :
-
Universal gas constant, J/molċK
- T :
-
Toxicity indicator, kg DCB equivalent
- TP:
-
Toxicity potential, kg DCB equivalent per kg
- W :
-
Shaft work, MJ
- α :
-
Cost ratio
- γ :
-
Capital investment efficiency factor
- ψ :
-
Exergy efficiency
- η :
-
Energy efficiency
- cmp:
-
Compression
- dir:
-
Direct
- e:
-
Environment
- el:
-
Electric
- ENG:
-
Engine
- f:
-
Fossil fuel
- g:
-
Gasoline
- i :
-
Index
- ind:
-
Indirect
- LFC:
-
Life-cycle
- max:
-
Maximum
- min:
-
Minimum
- VLC:
-
Vehicle life-cycle
- (˙):
-
Rate (per unit of time)
- i :
-
Index
- LFC:
-
Life-cycle
- ng:
-
Natural gas
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Study Questions/Problems
Study Questions/Problems
-
15.1
Define the method of life-cycle assessment and explain its applications.
-
15.2
What represents comparative LCA?
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15.3
What represents exergetic LCA?
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15.4
Describe the stages of LCA methodology.
-
15.5
What are the parameters used to quantify the environmental impact in an LCA?
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15.6
Explain the notion of abiotic resource depletion potential.
-
15.7
Comment on the environmental impact of energy systems.
-
15.8
Explain how an exergetic life-cycle assessment can be performed.
-
15.9
Define the capital investment efficiency factor.
-
15.10
What is the use of normalized indicators?
-
15.11
Perform a comparative life-cycle assessment between electric vehicles and compressed air vehicles of proximity.
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Dinçer, İ., Zamfirescu, C. (2011). Life-Cycle Assessment. In: Sustainable Energy Systems and Applications. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-95861-3_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-95861-3_15
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