Eco design LCA of an innovative lab scale plant for the production of oxygen-enriched air. Comparison between economic and environmental assessment. (10th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galli, Federico; Pirola, Carlo; Previtali, Daniele; Manenti, Flavio; Bianchi, Claudia L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 171(2018)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2018-01-10
• Subjects: Enriched air -- LCA -- PRO/II -- Lab-scale plant -- Eco-design -- SimaPro 8.1; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.268
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Here we developed an early-stage attributional LCA of an innovative production process of oxygen-enriched air by water desorption. We compared LCA's results with a rigorous economic model, in an eco-design optimization perspective. We developed the life cycle analysis using primary data from the lab-scale plant. We used SimaPro 8.1.1.16 for the LCA analysis and the ReCiPe Endpoint V 1.12 E/A method for the interpretation of the results. The functional unit was the amount of enriched air produced by the plant in 24 h in Milano (Italy). A steady state chemical plant simulation software (PRO/II 9.3) calculated the reference flow and we input it in SimaPro with a parametric function. We considered a "cradle-to-grave" analysis. Temperature, pressure and water flowrate were varied to minimize environmental burdens and plant costs. Uncertainty analysis revealed that there is no difference between operating the degassing unit at 20 °C or 30 °C. SimaPro and PRO/II presented different optimum conditions. However, taken as a whole, we individuated the best process parameters from an eco-economic prospective. The results obtained are related to a lab-scale plant and thus no comparisons between industrial processes are possible, but the methodology we propose will improve the design of any process. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Oxygen enriched air was obtained by water degassing using a lab-scale plant. Lab-scale plant LCA analysis and economic assessment were performed. Economic and environmental optimization give different optimum parameters. The best eco-economical operating parameters were individuated.