Sustainable alternatives to using mined nutrients in agriculture must be found in order to limit environmental impacts such as eutrophication, habitat destruction and greenhouse gas emis-sions. Biogas slurry and urine recycled to hydroponic food production (a type of soilless agri-culture) have the potential of providing inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, the main essential nutrients required for plant growth. A Life Cycle Inventory Assessment (LCI) methodology has been used to compare the systems of producing artificial fertilizer, biogas slurry and urine based nutrient solutions for the growth of Brassica rapa L. (Chinese cabbage) in the context of a large scale hydroponic vertical farm. Costs and energy requirements have been the basis of the comparison and results show that both biogas slurry and urine are considerably cheaper than the commercial alternative and based on the nutrient content they have the potential of being successful nutrient solutions after dilution and nutrient supplementation. Filtration might also be required in order to remove suspended particles and pathogens.

A Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) se destaca como uma ferramenta de grande relevância na identificação dos impactos ambientais potenciais de um processo ou produto. Apesar disso, a ACV apresenta grandes limitações na avaliação de processos de manufatura discreta, devido à falta ou à incerteza nos dados adquiridos na fase de Inventário de Ciclo de Vida (ICV). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi propor e implementar um modelo dinâmico de execução da fase de ICV para uma unidade de processamento de manufatura discreta (ou processo unitário discreto de manufatura), com o intuito de reduzir as limitações referentes à falta e à incerteza dos dados de ICV. O modelo proposto baseou-se na metodologia Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory (UPLCI) e usou um sistema de monitoramento em tempo real compatível com o protocolo de comunicação MTConnect®. A implementação do modelo proposto foi feita em uma unidade de processamento de retificação cilíndrica externa, na qual os fluxos de energia elétrica, ar comprimido e emissão de ruído sonoro foram monitorados em tempo real. Além disso, seis modos de operação de corte foram definidos e testados. Três destes modos usaram rebolo de Al2O3 e trabalharam com taxas específicas de remoção (Q\'w) iguais a 10, 50 e 100 mm/mm3.min. Outros três modos de operação usaram rebolo de cBN e tiveram valores de Q\'w iguais a 50, 100 e 150 mm/mm3.min. Cada modo de operação de corte foi testado duas vezes, totalizando 12 testes. Cada teste consistia na remoção de 3000 mm3 de material de peças cilíndricas feitas com a liga de níquel e cromo, o Inconel 751. A partir dos dados encontrados na fase de ICV, um estudo de ACV com abordagem gate-to-gate foi realizado para a avaliação do desempenho ambiental dos seis modos de operação de corte. Além disso, itens de desempenho de produção (como tempo de processo, relação G, rugosidade e circularidade) também foram avaliados para os seis modos de operação de corte. Os dados obtidos na fase de ICV mostraram que os modos de operação com o rebolo de cBN apresentaram valores de potência até 30% superiores aos modos de operação com rebolo de Al2O3 com as mesmas taxas específicas de remoção (Q\'w). A avaliação de desempenho de produção mostrou grande superioridade do rebolo de cBN, que atingiu o menor de tempo de processo (com Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min), valores de relação G até 40 vezes superiores aos encontrados para o rebolo de Al2O3, além de maior estabilidade e resultados melhores nos quesitos de rugosidade e circularidade. Na avaliação de desempenho ambiental, o modo de operação com rebolo de cBN e Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min apresentou os melhores resultados em todos os indicadores de impactos ambientais avaliados. A partir da aplicação do modelo proposto pelo presente trabalho, foi possível criar um banco de dados de ICV organizado e em tempo real, fundamental para a realização das avaliações de desempenho ambiental e de produção. Além disso, foi possível determinar que o modo de operação com rebolo de cBN e Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min apresentou a melhor relação entre desempenho de produção e desempenho ambiental dentre os seis modos testados. / Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the most prominent tools to identify the potential environmental impacts of a process or product. The LCA, however, has great limitations on the assessment of discrete manufacturing processes, due the lack or the uncertainty of the data acquired during its Life Cycle Inventory phase (LCI). The objective of this work was to propose and to implement a dynamic model to perform the LCI phase for a discrete manufacturing unit process, in order to minimize the limitations associated with the lack and uncertainty of the LCI data. The proposed model was based on the Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory (UPLCI) methodology and used a real time MTConnect® compliant monitoring system. The implementation of the proposed model was executed on an external cylindrical grinding unit process, which had its energy, compressed air and noise emission flows monitored in a real time basis. Besides that, six cutting operational modes were defined and tested. Three of the cutting modes used a corundum grinding wheel and worked with specific removal rates Q\'w equals to 10, 50 and 100 mm/mm3.min. The other three modes used a cBN grinding wheel and worked with Q\'w equals to 50, 100 and 150 mm/mm3.min. Each cutting mode was tested twice, resulting in 12 tests. Each test consisted on the volume of removed material of 3000 mm3 from nickel-chrome alloy, the Inconel 751, cylindrical workpieces. From the LCI results, a LCA study was performed, using a gate-to-gate approach, to evaluate the environmental performance of the six cutting modes. Production performance items (process time, G-ratio, roughness and roundness) were also evaluated for the six cutting modes. The LCI data showed that the cBN wheel cutting modes presented power values 30% higher that the corundum wheel cutting modes with the same Q\'w specifications. The production performance evaluation showed the superiority of the cBN grinding wheel, which achieved the lowest process time (with Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min), presented G-ratio values 40 times higher than the corundum wheel cutting modes and higher stability and best results for roughness and roundness. On the environmental performance evaluation, the cutting mode using cBN grinding wheel and Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min presented the best results for all the potential environmental impacts indicators. From the application of the model proposed by this work, it was possible the creation of an organized and real time LCI database, used to perform both environmental and production performance evaluations. Besides, it was possible to decide that the cBN wheel cutting mode with Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min presented the best tradeoff between environmental and production performances among the six tested cutting modes.

A Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) se destaca como uma ferramenta de grande relevância na identificação dos impactos ambientais potenciais de um processo ou produto. Apesar disso, a ACV apresenta grandes limitações na avaliação de processos de manufatura discreta, devido à falta ou à incerteza nos dados adquiridos na fase de Inventário de Ciclo de Vida (ICV). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi propor e implementar um modelo dinâmico de execução da fase de ICV para uma unidade de processamento de manufatura discreta (ou processo unitário discreto de manufatura), com o intuito de reduzir as limitações referentes à falta e à incerteza dos dados de ICV. O modelo proposto baseou-se na metodologia Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory (UPLCI) e usou um sistema de monitoramento em tempo real compatível com o protocolo de comunicação MTConnect®. A implementação do modelo proposto foi feita em uma unidade de processamento de retificação cilíndrica externa, na qual os fluxos de energia elétrica, ar comprimido e emissão de ruído sonoro foram monitorados em tempo real. Além disso, seis modos de operação de corte foram definidos e testados. Três destes modos usaram rebolo de Al2O3 e trabalharam com taxas específicas de remoção (Q\'w) iguais a 10, 50 e 100 mm/mm3.min. Outros três modos de operação usaram rebolo de cBN e tiveram valores de Q\'w iguais a 50, 100 e 150 mm/mm3.min. Cada modo de operação de corte foi testado duas vezes, totalizando 12 testes. Cada teste consistia na remoção de 3000 mm3 de material de peças cilíndricas feitas com a liga de níquel e cromo, o Inconel 751. A partir dos dados encontrados na fase de ICV, um estudo de ACV com abordagem gate-to-gate foi realizado para a avaliação do desempenho ambiental dos seis modos de operação de corte. Além disso, itens de desempenho de produção (como tempo de processo, relação G, rugosidade e circularidade) também foram avaliados para os seis modos de operação de corte. Os dados obtidos na fase de ICV mostraram que os modos de operação com o rebolo de cBN apresentaram valores de potência até 30% superiores aos modos de operação com rebolo de Al2O3 com as mesmas taxas específicas de remoção (Q\'w). A avaliação de desempenho de produção mostrou grande superioridade do rebolo de cBN, que atingiu o menor de tempo de processo (com Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min), valores de relação G até 40 vezes superiores aos encontrados para o rebolo de Al2O3, além de maior estabilidade e resultados melhores nos quesitos de rugosidade e circularidade. Na avaliação de desempenho ambiental, o modo de operação com rebolo de cBN e Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min apresentou os melhores resultados em todos os indicadores de impactos ambientais avaliados. A partir da aplicação do modelo proposto pelo presente trabalho, foi possível criar um banco de dados de ICV organizado e em tempo real, fundamental para a realização das avaliações de desempenho ambiental e de produção. Além disso, foi possível determinar que o modo de operação com rebolo de cBN e Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min apresentou a melhor relação entre desempenho de produção e desempenho ambiental dentre os seis modos testados. / Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the most prominent tools to identify the potential environmental impacts of a process or product. The LCA, however, has great limitations on the assessment of discrete manufacturing processes, due the lack or the uncertainty of the data acquired during its Life Cycle Inventory phase (LCI). The objective of this work was to propose and to implement a dynamic model to perform the LCI phase for a discrete manufacturing unit process, in order to minimize the limitations associated with the lack and uncertainty of the LCI data. The proposed model was based on the Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory (UPLCI) methodology and used a real time MTConnect® compliant monitoring system. The implementation of the proposed model was executed on an external cylindrical grinding unit process, which had its energy, compressed air and noise emission flows monitored in a real time basis. Besides that, six cutting operational modes were defined and tested. Three of the cutting modes used a corundum grinding wheel and worked with specific removal rates Q\'w equals to 10, 50 and 100 mm/mm3.min. The other three modes used a cBN grinding wheel and worked with Q\'w equals to 50, 100 and 150 mm/mm3.min. Each cutting mode was tested twice, resulting in 12 tests. Each test consisted on the volume of removed material of 3000 mm3 from nickel-chrome alloy, the Inconel 751, cylindrical workpieces. From the LCI results, a LCA study was performed, using a gate-to-gate approach, to evaluate the environmental performance of the six cutting modes. Production performance items (process time, G-ratio, roughness and roundness) were also evaluated for the six cutting modes. The LCI data showed that the cBN wheel cutting modes presented power values 30% higher that the corundum wheel cutting modes with the same Q\'w specifications. The production performance evaluation showed the superiority of the cBN grinding wheel, which achieved the lowest process time (with Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min), presented G-ratio values 40 times higher than the corundum wheel cutting modes and higher stability and best results for roughness and roundness. On the environmental performance evaluation, the cutting mode using cBN grinding wheel and Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min presented the best results for all the potential environmental impacts indicators. From the application of the model proposed by this work, it was possible the creation of an organized and real time LCI database, used to perform both environmental and production performance evaluations. Besides, it was possible to decide that the cBN wheel cutting mode with Q\'w = 150 mm/mm3.min presented the best tradeoff between environmental and production performances among the six tested cutting modes.

<p>A growing number of companies realise that to achieve their environmental goals and satisfy stakeholder expectations, they need to look beyond their own facilities and to involve their suppliers in environmental initiatives. A life cycle approach means that the production system should be optimised as whole, across national boarders and individual organisations taking part all the way from extraction to disposal. This study is a Life Cycle Inventory of resources used when producing a piece of cotton garment and the method is based on the standardisation series of ISO 14040-43. The area of study, Tamil Nadu the most southern state of India, accounts for more than 90% of India’s knitwear exports to Western Europe. The main conclusion is that the Life Cycle Inventory could bean appropriate method to be used within the textile industry but the main advantage may not be in solving problems but instead framing them in a distinctive way and making people aware of them. An approach that combines life cycle and sustainability concepts could be a way towards enhanced corporate responsibility.</p>

The aim of this work is to reduce the cost and size of a brushless dc motor (BLDC) drive as well as increase the reliability and ruggedness of that drive. Traditional BLDC drives use Voltage Source Inverters (VSI) that utilize hard switching, thereby generating switching losses and entail the use of large heatsinks. VSI needs a huge dc link capacitor that is inherently unreliable and is one of the most expensive components of a drive. Hence, a Current Source Inverter (CSI) is used to replace the hard switchings by natural turn-off, thereby eliminating the heatsinks as well as the large dc link capacitor. A controlled rectifier together with a large inductor act as the current source. The only disadvantage is the large value of the dc link inductor and the huge number of turns needed to achieve these values of the inductances lead to huge resistive losses. Therefore, it is shown that it is possible to replace the controlled rectifier and the large inductor with a suitable dc-dc converter based current source switching at high frequencies and a much smaller value of the dc link inductor. Switching at high frequencies makes it possible to reduce the value of the dc link inductor without increasing the current ripple. Hence, it is possible to have the advantages of using a CSI as well as reduce the value of the dc link inductor without a corresponding increase in the heat sink and snubber requirements.

Probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) provide the capability of evaluating uncertainty and variability of product use in addition to correlating the results with aspects of the usage context. Although energy consumption during use can cause a majority of a product's environmental impact, common practice is to neglect operational variability in life cycle inventories (LCIs). Therefore, the relationship between a product's usage context and its environmental performance is rarely considered in design evaluations. This dissertation demonstrates a method for describing the usage context as a set of factors and representing the usage context through a PGM. The application to LCIs is demonstrated through the use of a lightweight vehicle design example. Although replacing steel vehicle parts with aluminum parts reduces the weight and can increase fuel economy, the energy invested in production of aluminum parts is much larger than that of steel parts. The tradeoff between energy investment and fuel savings is highly dependent upon the vehicle fuel economy and lifetime mileage. The demonstration PGM is constructed from relating factors such as driver behavior, alternative driving schedules, and residential density with local conditional probability distributions derived from publicly available data sources. Unique scenarios are then assembled from sets of conditions on these factors to provide insight for sources of variance. The vehicle example demonstrated that implementation of realistic usage scenarios via a PGM can provide a much higher fidelity investigation of energy savings during use and that distinct scenarios can have significantly different implications for the effectiveness of lightweight vehicle designs. Scenarios with large families, for example, yield high energy savings, especially if the vehicle is used for commuting or stop-and-go traffic conditions. Scenarios of small families and efficient driving schedules yield lower energy savings for lightweight vehicle designs. / text

The diploma thesis is focused on optimizing of the assembly line of automotive headlamps BMW F30 LCI LED in the HELLA AUTOTECHNIK NOVA, s.r.o. Mohelnice company. The main intention of this thesis is in her first part the analysis of current status of arrangement assembly line, material flow and assembly procedures. In the second part of my thesis are proposed possible options for optimization. And in the last part of thesis is then selected optimal solution that streamlines the entire assembly process, possibly reducing the number of workers on the line and all based on technical and economic evaluation.

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) covers a set of tools and techniques that aim to estimate the environmental impacts generated by a product or service all along its life-cycle including: rawmaterial extraction, production steps, transportation, use phase and end-of-life scenarios.The Life-Cycle Inventory (LCI) is a key step in LCA. It focuses on quantifying all physicaland/or monetary flows involved in the life-cycle of the product/service considered. Theseflows are named as ‘elementary flows’ in ISO terms. After having dealt with the main issuesof the ‘Goal and Scope definition’ step, that is giving a clear definition of the ‘functional unit’to consider, setting clear boundaries between elements to count in and those to disregard,practitioners need a coherent framework to quantify elementary flows and estimate missingelements. Several methodologies have been developed, each of them with both clearadvantages but also distinct disadvantages, depending on the purpose of the study: processbasedmethods, Input-Output based methods (IO-based methods), and also hybrid methods.In 2004, Suh suggested a method known as IHA (Integrated Hybrid Analysis) that appears towipe out the strict boundary between process-based and IO-based methods, taking advantagesof both methods as complementarities. Previous hybrid models were found incompleteregarding end-of-life scenario, especially with open-loop recycling.However, Suh admits that there remain several drawbacks in the IHA model, such as thetreatment of international trade and flows of products and services. They are usuallyconsidered as a single, homogeneous commodity despite their huge variety. This is apersistent limitation, already known by process-based and IO-based LCA practitioners. In aglobalized economy, where most products are manufactured in one place and consumed onthe other side of the world, this serious limitation cannot hold any longer.In this thesis, a review of both process-based, IO-based and hybrid methods for LCI ispresented, in terms of principles, advantages and limitations. It is followed by an explanationand demonstration of the mathematics underpinning the IHA model. Then, a model isproposed that would enable the model to take international trade into account. This is enabledthanks to the inspiration provided by a multi-regional framework proposed for ecologicalfootprint calculation. A numerical example supports this suggestion.The outcomes of this improved model are thought to go beyond its initial aims: the multiregionalIHA model could act as a variable geometry model where strongly affected regionsare efficiently focused on, without disregarding the others. This could prove efficient inavoiding side-effects of policy-making. Also, it would enable the development of moreregion-specific environmental impact coefficients, thus putting less pressure on fragileecosystems. The IHA model is a robust model: it is simple to handle – provided a userfriendlyinterface exists – but with a complex and evolutionary engine. It is compatible withan iterative progress in data collection. User-friendly software development could proveefficient to spread LCA practice and increase information exchange among industries,database builders and researchers. Using a multi-region framework would help industriescustomize impact assessment according to both the regional environmental condition andspecific geographic distribution of the supply chain, thus enriching their toolbox for strategicplanning.

The Swedish mining and minerals sector is one of the most prominent greenhouse gas emitters in the country. At the same time, it also provides Sweden and other nations with vast amounts of important metals and minerals, which are not easily replaced. However, in light of the increasing urgency to reduce global greenhouse gas concentrations, it is imperative that the combustion of fossil fuels is decreased. This quantitative case study uses a document review and interviews to investigate the prerequisites and technical potential for decarbonising the Dannemora iron ore mine in eastern Sweden. Furthermore, a comparative life cycle inventory based on methods from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol is performed in order to calculate potential savings of both energy and greenhouse gases from exchanging conventional underground mining equipment with more sustainable alternatives. Results show that emissions from underground activities in the Dannemora mine could potentially be reduced by up to 90 %, and energy consumption by up to 64 %. It was however also shown that no viable emission-free explosives currently exist that could safely replace conventional alternatives. Further research needs to be conducted in order to investigate the effects of Scope 3 emissions from the production of battery electric mining vehicles, as this would have an effect on overall GHG and energy savings.

I denna rapport undersöks motorn ZM10 genom att göra en livscykelanalys, även kallad LCA. Analysen görs för att företaget ZPARQ AB ska kunna få en bild av vilken miljöpåverkan deras motor har vid tillverkning. I rapporten är energiåtgång och koldioxidutsläpp det som undersöks. Motorn som är en eldriven OEM-motor med komponenter som tillverkas i framförallt Kina används för marin framfart och är tillverkad för fiskebåtar samt mindre segelbåtar. Det är en motor som till skillnad från sina konkurrenter är just eldriven och i och med det, är den mycket lättare än de fossildrivna konkurrerande båtmotorerna. För att göra livscykelanalysen undersöks en full beställning som företaget ZPARQ AB ämnat att göra. En beställning ser i dagsläget ut att bli på 100 beställda motorer och för att göra analysen används två standarder, ISO 14040 och ISO 14044. Dessa hjälper till att förklara hur man går tillväga för att göra livscykelanalysen men också för hur man levererar resultatet. De fyra huvudkategorierna i en livscykelanalys, mål och omfattning; inventeringsanalys; miljöpåverkan; rapportering, undersöks för att kunna få en helhetsbild av analysen. Genom att göra en strukturerad analys av målet och omfattningen kan man senare gå vidare med inventeringsanalys. Inventeringsanalysen visar på vad det är för olika komponenter, dess material och tillverkningsprocessen av dessa material. Även transporterna för komponenterna från det att de tillverkas till att de hamnar på företagets lager i Älta. Efter att den iterativa processen som är inventeringsanalysen har gjorts, fortsätter man med en miljöpåverkansbedömning, även kallad LCIA. Den visar att tillverkningen av materialet är det som står till grund för den största delen av miljöpåverkan i form av använd energi i (ca 80 300 MJ) samt av koldioxidutsläpp (6 100 kg CO2). Det materialet med mest energi- och koldioxidutsläpp visar sig vara aluminium. Under tillverkningsprocessen står aluminiumet för det största utsläppet i båda kategorierna. Transporten bidrar förhållandevis lite till miljöpåverkan med transporter för de flesta komponenter från Asien till Sverige. Inom standarden ISO 14044 kan man redovisa möjliga förbättringar som kan göras, i detta fall undersöks skillnaden med att använda delvis återvunnet aluminium. Det påvisar minskningar i utsläppen med cirka 18 procent mindre energiåtgång och 17 procent mindre kg CO2 på de 100 motorer som undersöks. Resultatet av analysen är svår att jämföra med annat då den endast sträcker sig från tillverkning av material och komponenter till företagets lagerhållning. I andra analyser undersöker man hela produktens livscykel från “vagga till grav”, denna analys handlar också, till skillnad från andra, om en prototyp. Avslutningsvis rekommenderas det att fortsätta arbetet genom att göra en fullskalig livscykelanalys efter produktens prototypfas är klar, från just vagga till grav för att kunna ge företaget siffror på vad det finns för miljöpåverkan i hela livscykeln. Även att fortsätta arbetet genom att använda programvaror och/eller databaser för att kunna undersöka vad för typer av utsläpp koldioxidutsläppet består av, rekommenderas. / In this report, the ZM10 engine is examined through a life cycle analysis (LCA). This analysis is conducted to provide ZPARQ AB with an understanding of the environmental impact of their engine during manufacturing. The report primarily investigates energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The ZM10, an electric OEM engine manufactured primarily in China, is used for marine propulsion in fishing boats and smaller sailboats. Unlike its fossil-fueled counterparts, this electric engine is significantly lighter. To perform the life cycle analysis, a full order that ZPARQ AB intends to place is examined, currently comprising 100 engines. The analysis adheres to two standards, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, which guide the methodology of the LCA and the presentation of results. The four main categories of the life cycle analysis—objectives and scope, inventory analysis, environmental impact, and reporting—are explored to provide a comprehensive overview. The analysis begins with a structured examination of the goal and scope, which is followed by an inventory analysis. This analysis details the various components, their materials, and their manufacturing processes. It also includes the transportation of the components from their production sites to the company’s warehouse in Älta. After completing the inventory analysis, the environmental impact assessment (LCIA) is conducted. The LCIA reveals that material manufacturing, particularly of aluminum, constitutes the largest portion of environmental impact, accounting for approximately 80,300 MJ of energy use and 6,100 kg of CO2 emissions. Aluminum manufacturing is the largest contributor to emissions in both categories, while transportation from Asia to Sweden contributes relatively little to the overall environmental impact. Within the framework of ISO 14044, potential improvements are assessed, including the use of partially recycled aluminum. This change could reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively, across the 100 engines analyzed. The results of this analysis are challenging to compare with others since it only extends from the manufacture of materials and components to the company’s warehousing. Unlike other analyses that examine the entire life cycle from "cradle to grave," this study focuses on a prototype. In conclusion, it is recommended that ZPARQ AB continue this work by conducting a full-scale life cycle analysis post-prototype phase, covering the entire life cycle "from cradle to grave," to provide comprehensive environmental impact figures. It is also advised to continue utilizing software and/or databases to further investigate the specific types of emissions comprising the CO2 emissions.