Assessment of the sustainability of technology by means of a thermodynamically based life cycle analysis

被引:45
作者
Dewulf, J [1 ]
Van Langenhove, H [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Ghent, Fac Agr & Appl Biol Sci, Dept Organ Chem, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
关键词
cumulative exergy consumption (CExC); exergy; impact assessment; life cycle assessment (LCA); sustainability; technology;
D O I
10.1007/BF02987502
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
Life cycle analysis is one of the tools in the assessment of the sustainability of technological options. It takes into account all effects on the ecosystem and the population which may endanger the possibilities of current and future generations. However, the main bottleneck in current LCA methodologies is the balancing of different effects, being all quantified on different scales. In this work, a methodology is proposed, which allows one to quantify different effects of the production, consumption and disposal of goods, and services on a single scale. The basis of the methodology is the second law of thermodynamics. All production, consumption and disposal processes affecting the ecosystem and the population, are quantified in terms of loss of exergy. The exergy content of a material is the maximum amount of energy which can be transformed into work at given environmental conditions. Next to the elaboration of the methodology, the new approach is illustrated by examples of the production of synthetic organic polymers, inorganic building insulation materials and different waste gas treatment options.
引用
收藏
页码:267 / 273
页数:7
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