Life Cycle Assessment PDF

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science MECE3260U-Introduction to Energy Systems Life Cycle Assessment Dr. Ibrahim Dincer Professor of Mechanical Engineering  OUTLINE Introduction & Importance LCA Method...

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science MECE3260U-Introduction to Energy Systems Life Cycle Assessment Dr. Ibrahim Dincer Professor of Mechanical Engineering  OUTLINE Introduction & Importance LCA Method Key Steps Practical Examples Case Studies Closing Remarks 2 Source: Google Images 3  LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) A tool for compiling and examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy and the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to the functioning of a product or service system throughout its life cycle. Consecutive and interlinked stages of a product or service system, from the extraction of natural resources to the final disposal. ISO 14040: 2006 Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework. (https://www.iso.org/standard/37456.html) A "cradle-to-grave" analysis. Some example questions are:  What materials to use?  Where to order these materials from?  What types of energy to use in production?  How to package the products?  How to transport the products to customers?  How to dispose of wastes? under the criteria: minimizing the cost and environmental impact, and maximizing the product quality and efficiency. 4  Key Steps of LCA Goal and Scope Definition: defining aims, and boundaries of the study identifies and quantifies the environmental loads involved, the energy and raw materials consumed, the emissions and wastes generated, etc. Inventory Analysis: compiling an inventory of relevant inputs (the use of materials, energy, and land) and outputs (products, co-products, and emissions to air, water, and land) of a technology life cycle, and qualifying each input and output. Impact Assessment: listing the effects on the environment for each input and output identified in inventory analysis, evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with those inputs and outputs, and describing the impacts qualitatively and quantitatively (adverse effects on human health and welfare, ecosystems, and materials as well as resource depletion). Improvement Analysis: listing the needs and opportunities to reduce adverse effects identified in impact analysis and inventory analysis, explaining the results of the inventory analysis and impact assessment phases in relation to the goals of the study, and describing the improvements qualitatively and quantitatively. 5 Source: vttresearch.com 6  Mining of ores, harvesting of trees, extraction of oil from wells. Processing iron ore to make iron, processing wood to make pulp, processing crude oil to make petroleum products. Use of the product by consumer, reuse and maintenance of the product. Disposal of the product and end of its useful life, landfilling or incineration, recycling its parts. Rubin (2007) 7 Rubin (2007) 8 Rubin (2007) 9 Rubin (2007) 10 Source: Edward S. Rubin, Introduction to Engineering and the Environm ent , McGraw Hill, NY (2007). 11  Case Study 1: Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessments and Comparisons of Alternative Fuels for Clean Vehicles Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.01.036 Bicer, Y., & Dincer, I. (2018). Life cycle environmental impact assessments and comparisons of alternative fuels for clean vehicles. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 132, 141-157. 12  Boundaries of Conducted LCA Analyses Including Fuel and Vehicle  CML Impact Assessment:  Human toxicity  Global warming  Acidification potential  Europhication  Depletion of abiotic resources  Stratospheric ozone depletion  Terrestrial ecotoxicity  Eco-indicator 99 impact assessment  Uncertainty analyses Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.01.036 13  Life Cycle Global Warming Potential for Vehicle and Fuel Types Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.01.036 14  Single Score Comparison of All Vehicles According to Eco-indicator 99 Impact Assessment Method Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.01.036 15  Case Study 2: A Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Two Cogeneration Plants Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900425 Siddiqui, O., & Dincer, I. (2020). A Comparative Life‐Cycle Assessment of Two Cogeneration Plants. Energy Technology, 8(11), 1900425. 16  CHP-boiler-based system NG-fired CC-based cogeneration system Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900425 17  System Boundaries and Life Cycle Stages CHP-boiler-based system NG-fired CC-based cogeneration system Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900425 18  Life Cycle Global Warming Potential Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900425 19  Life Cycle Acidification Potential Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900425 20  40 Coal 35 CO2 Emissions (kg CO2/kg H2) 30 Oil 25 Natural 20 Gas 15 10 5 Small Geothermal Solar Large Nuclear thermal PV Wind hydro Biomass hydro 0 CO2 emissions during hydrogen production from different energy sources (Prof. Dincer’s Group) 21  Closing Remarks LCA is a tool for compiling and examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy and the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to the functioning of a product or service system throughout its life cycle. LCA aims minimizing the production cost and environmental impact, and maximizing the product quality and efficiency. LCA should be part of any engineering decisions. LCA leads to better environment and sustainability. 22