A hierarchical end-of-life decision model for determining the economic levels of remanufacturing and disassembly under environmental regulations

Remanufacturing, in contrast to material recycling and disposal, can reduce environmental impacts by retaining the geometrical form of the product, thereby regarded as a more eco-efficient approach. In this paper, an end-of-life (EOL) decision model for remanufacturing options is presented to facilitate remanufacturing. The proposed model, in order to maximize the economic value of remanufacturing options while meeting environmental regulations, takes an integrative approach to EOL-option decision-making. Also presented in this paper is a hierarchical approach that represents both the overall hierarchical structure of a product and the interconnections among components. Illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model.     

Eco-efficiency gains from remanufacturing: A case study of photocopier remanufacturing at Fuji Xerox Australia

Achieving eco-efficient production and consumption systems requires ‘closing the loop’ to create cyclic systems. Product systems based on remanufacturing, where used products or components are restored to ‘as new’ condition for reuse, offer the potential to create such cyclic systems. For some existing manufacturers, the economic efficiency of remanufacturing is clear and it has become a widely held assumption that such systems would also be more eco-efficient. However, this assumption has not been systematically tested. This research attempted to quantify the life cycle environmental benefits achieved by incorporating remanufacturing into a product system, based on a study of Xerox photocopiers in Australia. The study found that remanufacturing can reduce resource consumption and waste generation over the life cycle of a photocopier by up to a factor of 3, with greatest reductions if a product is designed for disassembly and remanufacturing. This research represents a first-level assessment, limited by certain estimates and assumptions. It is intended that this research will form the basis of a larger, more detailed study of Xerox remanufacturing, worldwide.     

Integrated design of remanufacturable products based on product profiles

The mass of products at end of life becomes a real problem for the environment. Thus, industrials are turning their attention to strategies for the management of products at the end-of-life. The remanufacturing is an end-of-life strategy that reduces the use of raw materials and saves energy while preserving the value added during the design and manufacturing processes. But, in most of the cases, remanufacturing processes must be adapted to existing products because products have not been designed to be remanufacturable. However, the process adaptations increase costs and this can lead the overall benefits obtained with the remanufacturing process to be reconsidered.The aim of our research was to propose an approach for the designers to integrate remanufacturing constraints throughout the design process; mainly in the earliest phases. The eco-methodology assists designers in two steps. They are first helped in improving the reliability of a remanufacturing end-of-life strategy for that product on the bases of the analysis of the project context. Then they are guided towards a product whose properties are adapted to remanufacturing. Our approach is built upon remanufacturable product profiles (RPP) encapsulating the knowledge on both remanufacturing contexts and remanufactured product properties.For the product profile definition, eight categories of design criteria were identified based on a survey of about 30 products successfully remanufactured. A statistical analysis was made to identify clusters of products. Then, product profiles were extracted while examining the links between internal and external criteria for each group.This methodology is supported by the tool REPRO² (REmanufacturig with PROduct PROfiles) that we have developed, which should lead to a real integrated design of remanufacturable products. Indeed, designers assisted with this tool, made early design by product profiling. It gives specific information to improve the internal technical definition of the product under study from a remanufacturing point of view.     

基于分区的多目的地TCM模型及其在游憩资源价值评估中的应用——以九寨沟自然保护区为例

作为评估户外游憩价值的经典方法,旅行费用法穴TCM雪主要存在3种基本模型,即分区旅行费用法穴ZTCM雪、个人旅行费用法穴ITCM雪和随机效用法穴RUM雪。尽管这3种模型在理论和实践上都已相当成熟,却均无非常完善的方法来解决广为存在的多目的地环程旅行问题,致使该问题成为TCM研究应用中的难点和热点。论文根据九寨沟的实际情况,首次提出应用基于分区的多目的地TCM模型穴MZTC雪来评估九寨沟的游憩价值,得到2002年九寨沟自然保护区的总游憩价值为15.61×108元,人均1246.10元;其中消费者剩余为4.71×108元,人均375.92元,与国外最新游憩价值综述研究的结果非常接近。     

Is European end-of-life vehicle legislation living up to expectations? Assessing the impact of the ELV Directive on ‘green’ innovation and vehicle recovery

The end-of-life vehicle (ELV) Directive in Europe aims to generate environmental gains through increased levels of vehicle recovery and a reduction in the use of hazardous substances. This paper presents an evaluation framework based on five anticipated changes that could result from the ELV Directive. These changes relate to three areas: (a) vehicle design, (b) level of ELV recovery, and (c) information provision. We evaluate the extent to which expected outcomes have materialized since the establishment of the ELV Directive. Current information provides an emerging picture of the impact of ELV legislation. We show that legislative factors and market forces have led to innovation in recycling, increased hazardous substance removal and improved information dissemination. Such actions may be sufficient to reach ELV Directive targets and could have spill-over benefits to other industries. Carmakers are also taking steps to design for recycling and for disassembly. However, movement toward design for re-use and remanufacturing seems limited. Increasing the level of re-use and remanufacturing will be a key part of moving toward sustainable vehicle production.     

Designing a sustainable reverse logistics channel: the 18 generic structures framework

Remanufacturing end-of-life products requires setting up an economically and environmentally viable reverse logistics channel for supplying reusable used modules to the production chain. This paper introduces a framework to allow generating and assessing different reverse logistics channel structures. The framework is then applied to a product remanufacturing case. We analyze the current reverse logistics channel structure and propose alternative structures with less environmental impact and higher economic benefits.     

中国汽车行业钢铁物质流代谢研究

汽车行业在我国发展迅速,汽车行业的钢铁物质流代谢在整个国民经济的钢铁物质流代谢系统中的影响已不可忽视。研究中国汽车行业钢铁物质流代谢对再生资源利用产业、再制造行业的发展具有重要的意义。结合系统动力学方法及相关经验模型对中国汽车行业钢铁物质流代谢进行研究。首先通过Gompertz模型研究了世界主要国家汽车千人保有量与时间的关系,以此为参照设定中国汽车千人保有量随时间变化的相关参数。其次利用中国汽车行业钢铁物质流循环代谢的系统动力学模型,对系统关键流量、存量的动态变化过程进行考察分析,通过设定不同情景、不同寿命分布,研究中国汽车报废量、钢板和零件耗钢量随时间变化的规律,并探讨了零件再制造、汽车轻型化等问题。选取汽车千人保有量为260辆/千人的中等情景进行分析,考察时间为2011-2050年,结果表明报废汽车年折钢量与汽车行业钢材年消耗量比值不断上升,最终可达到1.2;再制造行业潜力巨大,零件再制造数量将近8亿件;延长汽车4 a寿命,可减少近一半的汽车报废量;通过轻型化,钢材年消耗量可减少18%,减少近650万t,累计减少1亿多吨钢材,节省大量资源,经济和环境效益显著。     

再制造工程——末端产品最佳资源化方式

再制造工程是一种末端产品的资源化利用方式。阐述了再制造工程的内涵、在全生命周期中的地位及国内外发展现状，分析了再制造所能够带来的巨大的资源效益、经济效益、社会效益和环境效益，得出结论：再制造工程是末端产品进行资源化处理的最佳利用方式。     

医院污水处理与水资源综合利用

污水的资源化利用具有重要的现实意义，本文从提高环境质量和节约经费开支两方面综合考虑，设计了医院污水的处理工艺，通过长时间的运行监测下检测，该工艺处理的污水各项指标均达到生活杂用水水质标准，将其用于浇灌，冲洗以及池塘水环境的治理，取得了一定的经济效益，环境效益和社会效益。     

Implementing extended producer responsibility: vehicle remanufacturing in China

With the rapid growth of vehicle population in China and subsequent environmental problems, remanufacturing has become the development direction of the vehicle industry for its huge environmental benefit. However, the current vehicle remanufacturing industry is still in its infancy, which makes the introduction of extended producer responsibility inevitable. This paper describes the development of China’s remanufacturing policies based on EPR and discusses the recycling system in line with the country’s actual conditions. This then can provide some ideas on EPR application to other developing countries.     

废旧轮胎再制造过程的环境污染及防治研究

随着汽车和轮胎行业的迅速发展,由此产生的废旧轮胎也逐年增加。废旧轮胎再利用技术既可解决橡胶资源短缺问题,又能消除黑色污染,是循环经济的重要环节,在推广这一技术的同时,应注意其伴生的环境污染。再利用生产主要分为清洗、打磨、粘中垫胶、粘预硫化胎面、低温硫化等步骤。此过程将产生粉尘、非甲烷总烃废气、橡胶颗粒以及清洗废水等污染物。应对这些污染物采取有效的治理措施,使其满足达标排放和无害化的要求,以达到经济利益和环境保护的双赢。     

Environmental aspects of laser-based and conventional tool and die manufacturing

Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) technologies such as Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) have made it possible to eliminate environmentally polluting supply chain activities in the tooling industry and to repair and remanufacture valuable tools and dies. In this article, we investigate three case studies to reveal the extent to which DMD-based manufacturing of molds and dies can currently achieve reduced environmental emissions and energy consumption relative to conventional manufacturing pathways. It is shown that DMD's greatest opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of tool and die manufacturing will come from its ability to enable remanufacturing. Laser-based remanufacturing of tooling is shown to reduce cost and environmental impact simultaneously, especially as the scale of the tool increases.     

秸秆能源化利用技术评价方法探究与优化

生物质能源是未来能源结构的重要组成部分,而农作物秸秆作为生物质能资源的主要来源之一,其能源化利用技术值得探索。为科学评价秸秆能源化利用技术的资源利用、技术适用性、经济效益、环境效益和社会效益,以现有文献为基础,对常用于秸秆能源化利用技术的评价方法研究现状进行综述,分析各种技术评价方法的优缺点,总结比较了不同方法的评价范围,提出适合秸秆能源化利用技术的评价方法,即全生命周期评价法与层次分析法相结合的综合评价方法。并根据现有文献建立了评价指标体系,为后续秸秆能源化技术利用模式的科学评价提供参考。     

面向循环经济的矿产资源开发利用模式

科学的发现与技术进步使一些矿物逐渐变成为人类所利用的资源。矿物的开发利用又为可持续发展的实现提供支持。论文面向循环经济,对经济发展的模式进行了探讨,分析了矿产资源开发利用的循环经济途径,针对矿业的特点,从企业、产业园区、区域3个层次确定了矿产资源的开发利用模式,提出了相应的产业政策。研究认为:①循环经济模式是矿业可持续发展的惟一途径;②矿产资源的开发利用在不同的层次应采取各自的发展模式;③煤炭是我国的主要能源,煤炭资源的循环经济模式可以提高资源的利用率和减少对环境造成的破坏与污染,促进国民经济可持续发展。     

历届环保最佳实用技术经济效益统计分析

统计分析了1992－1998年我国环保最佳实用技术的经济效益数据，得到了最佳实用技术经济效益的基本特点、年际变化规律及行业分布规律，并根据不同行业的特点，提出了相应的环保最佳实用技术推广模式。     

石化行业挥发性有机物源强核算及LDAR技术的应用研究

石化行业排放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)是引发大气环境问题的重要污染物,有效控制VOCs的排放已经成为现阶段中国大气环境治理领域中的热点问题.泄漏检测与修复技术(LDAR)是发现和修复工艺装置泄漏的一种源项控制技术.通过对LDAR技术的文献及石化行业的应用调研,总结了LDAR技术国内外应用进展,挥发性有机物源强的核算方法,重点介绍了LDAR技术在石化行业开展的实施流程及潜在的效益.对石化行业开展泄漏检测与修复工作,减少挥发性有机物无组织的排放起到借鉴作用.     

硝基苯废水治理的最新研究进展

硝基苯类化合物的高毒性、难降解性及其在环境中的积累性,使得硝基苯污染治理越来越受到科研工作者的关注.近几年国内外硝基苯废水治理的研究主要包括物化法、生物法两大类.深入探讨每种技术的基本原理和存在的问题,对硝基苯类废水的处理难点和关键技术以及今后的研究方向进行了分析探讨,发现目前尚未出现具有显著经济和环境优势的技术,同时还指出硝基苯废水处理技术近期的进展可能取决于将现有处理技术综合应用.     

Innovation dynamics and environmental technologies: the emergence of fuel cell technology

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of environmental innovation using the case of Ballard Power System’s Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology. Many have argued that this technology offers considerable environmental benefits and may surpass the internal combustion engine as the dominant vehicular power source. However, more than a century of incremental improvements, government policy and the emergence of complementary industries have made the latter a dominant and difficult to challenge technology. The authors review the difficulties of developing and adopting a radical innovation by analysing the value chain and supporting infrastructure. They also question the environmental implications and the role of government policy with regard to such technologies.     

A critical assessment of motives for product recovery: the case of engine remanufacturing

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in product take-back, product recovery and the (re-)distribution of these products. The automotive sector, in particular, has a strong history of product recovery operations, such as remanufacturing. Alongside this development, an academic interest in the management of re-use, recycling or remanufacturing has evolved and developed into the field of closed-loop supply chain management. Closed-loop supply chain management, however, is only characterised by a short research history, the earliest contributions can be found on reverse logistics and were published in the early 1990s. Due to the novelty of the field there are still a large number of unsolved research problems. One of these is the question for the rationale behind product recovery operations. This research is based on in-depth case studies within the remanufacturing facilities of a major European Vehicle Manufacturer. The article examines whether the ‘classic’ motives for product recovery are applicable to automotive remanufacturing. It concludes with a summary of the contributions this research makes to theory, to industry and to future research in the field.