Abstract
Performing a pollution prevention assessment of a chemical process design is typically resource intensive. Time constraints, a lack of resources and limited inhouse expertise, particularly in developing nations, have resulted in inconsistent and non-routine identification of pollution prevention opportunities. To address these problems, computer based tools may be developed to enable designers to rapidly understand environmental implications and provide suggestions of process modifications. A software prototype, P2TCP (Pollution Prevention Tool for Continuous Processes) is presented. P2TCP provides support and helps facilitate pollution prevention assessments of continuous chemical processes at all stages of design.
There is a significant need for quantitative methods for comparison of process alternatives. Although chemical and safety hazard rating schemes have a long history, there is no universally accepted method for comparison in terms of potential environmental impacts. Full health and environmental risk analysis is not suitable for conceptual process design decision making but models or indicators can provide a suitable approach. A number of methods are incorporated in P2TCP.
The benefits of heat and mass integration tools for pollution prevention (P2) have been widely demonstrated. However no tool has been developed specifically to assist in the intuitive process of systematically identifying alternatives for continuous chemical processes which may reduce waste generation and energy consumption. P2TCP incorporates an expert system for P2 design analysis which is complementary to existing integration and simulation tools. The key features of the analysis system are presented.
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© 1997 IFIP
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Pennington, D.W., Yue, P.L. (1997). Development of a Pollution Prevention Tool for Design of Continuous Chemical Processes. In: Denzer, R., Swayne, D.A., Schimak, G. (eds) Environmental Software Systems. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-5041-2869-8_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-5041-2869-8_28
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