The application of life cycle assessment to design

This paper explores the practical application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to product system development. While life cycle assessment methods have been studied and demonstrated extensively over the last two decades, their application to product design and development has not been critically addressed. Many organizational and operational factors limit the integration of the three LCA components (inventory analysis, impact assessment and improvement assessment) with product development. Design of the product system can be considered a synthesis of individual decisions and choices made by the design team, which ultimately shape the system's environmental profile. The environmental goal of life cycle design is to minimize the aggregate environmental impacts associated with the product system. Appropriate environmental information must be supplied to decision makers throughout each stage of the development process to achieve this goal. LCA can serve as a source of this information, but informational requirements can vary as the design moves from its conceptual phase, where many design choices are possible, to its detailed design and implementation. Streamlined approaches and other tools, such as design checklists, are essential. The practical use of this tool in product development also depends on the nature and complexity of the product system (e.g. new vs. established), the product development cycle (time-to-market constraints), availability of technical and financial resources, and the design approach (integrated vs. serial). These factors will influence the role and scope of LCA in product development. Effective communication and evaluation of environmental information and the integration of this information with cost, performance, cultural and legal criteria will also be critical to the success of design initiatives based on the life cycle framework. An overview of several of these design initiatives will be presented.     

Life cycle analysis and choice of natural gas-based automotive alternative fuels in Chongqing Municipality,China

Road transport produces significant amounts of emissions by using crude oil as the primary energy source. A reduction of emissions can be achieved by implementing alternative fuel chains. The objective of this study is to carry out an economic, environmental and energy (EEE) life cycle study on natural gas-based automotive fuels with conventional gasoline in an abundant region of China. A set of indices of four fuels/vehicle systems on the basis of life cycle are assessed in terms of impact of EEE, in which natural gas produces compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol, dimethylether (DME) and Fischer Tropsch diesel (FTD). The study included fuel production, vehicle production, vehicle operation, infrastructure and vehicle end of life as a system for each fuel/vehicle system. A generic gasoline fueled car is used as a baseline. Data have been reviewed and modified based on the best knowledge available to Chongqing local sources. Results indicated that when we could not change electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into commercial vehicles on a large scale, direct use of CNG in a dedicated or bi-fuel vehicle is an economical choice for the region which is most energy efficient and more environmental friendly. The study can be used to support decisions on how natural gas resources can best be utilized as a fuel/energy resource for automobiles, and what issues need to be resolved in Chongqing. The models and approaches for this study can be applied to other regions of China as long as all the assumptions are well defined and modified to find a substitute automotive energy source and establish an energy policy in a specific region.     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

人工甜味剂环境行为研究进展

人工甜味剂是一类人工合成或半合成的蔗糖取代物,由于人们对饮食健康的关注而被越来越广泛地应用于食品和饮料中.但是大多数人工甜味剂在人体内几乎不被代谢就随尿液和粪便直接排到生活污水中.近年,几种典型的甜味剂在水体中广泛被检出且浓度较高,同时研究发现部分甜味剂难以降解,因此人工甜味剂已被视为新型有机污染物而得到关注.本文就人工甜味剂在水处理设施中的行为及其在环境来源和分布的相关研究进行了综述,总结了水处理设施和水环境中甜味剂的污染特征规律,并对今后的研究进行了展望.     

基于维纳过程的MEMS陀螺仪贮存寿命评估

目的 针对MEMS陀螺仪在步进应力加速试验条件下获取的性能退化数据,提出基于维纳过程的贮存寿命评估方法及其模型准确度检验方法。方法 首先,确定温度为影响MEMS陀螺仪性能退化的主要环境因素,采用步进温度应力加速试验的方式获取其性能退化数据。其次,分析各项性能参数的演变规律,确定标度因数为表征产品性能退化的特征性能参数。最后,采用漂移维纳过程对标度因数退化轨迹进行建模,并外推得到常温条件下的贮存寿命。结果 采用留一法对模型精度进行验证,模型准确度最低为86.44%。可靠度水平为0.95时,常温贮存(25 ℃)条件下的寿命评估结果为50.02 a。结论 基于维纳过程建立的性能退化模型的准确度在85%以上,该模型可应用于指定贮存条件下MEMS陀螺仪的性能退化预测及贮存寿命评估。     

基于Arrhenius模型和Peck模型的分段非线性加速模型

目的 解决Arrhenius模型无法估计湿度应力敏感产品和Peck模型试验时间较长的问题。方法 考虑温度应力和湿度应力对产品贮存寿命的综合影响,在产品激活能不变的假设下,将Arrhenius模型对产品激活能的估计和Peck模型对湿度应力参数的估计相结合,建立Arrhenius&Peck分段非线性加速寿命估计模型。基于此模型,在双应力恒加试验条件下,得到产品的寿命估计方程。结果 以弹上电子产品的恒定应力加速贮存试验为例,进行仿真分析,得到产品寿命的估计,并对比产品实际寿命。Arrhenius&Peck模型的寿命误差和失效率误差均控制在5%以内,准确度高于Arrhenius模型和Peck模型。结论 构建的Arrhenius&Peck分段非线性加速寿命模型可以充分利用温度和湿度条件下的试验数据,对温湿敏感产品的寿命估计有较好的应用效果,为导弹产品的寿命估计提供一种可选方法。     

电子产品野外环境下温循加速载荷谱编制方法

目的 将电子产品在野外环境下日变化波动与季节差异明显的温度载荷编制成温循载荷谱和转换为加速载荷谱。方法 通过四点雨流计数法提取原谱中的载荷循环信息,对提取的循环信息进行分布拟合、相关性检验等统计分析,进而构建循环均值与范围值的联合概率密度函数,再运用概率密度法,编制出8×8二维环境载荷谱。在二维载荷谱基础上,编制出温循载荷谱,使用针对电子部件参数修正的加速方程转化为加速载荷谱。结果 利用野外作业现场1个作业周期内的气温纪录,提供了一套编制温循载荷谱和转换加速载荷谱的合理化流程和解决方案。结论 该制谱方法可以利用原始环境谱中绝大部分有效信息,较好地还原电子部件野外作业阶段经历的温度变化过程,为电子产品的加速寿命试验和使用寿命预测奠定基础。     

信号分子强化改性挂膜沸石持续抑制沉积物中氨氮释放

为寻找一种长期有效的底泥修复方式,对沸石进行了改性并挂膜的实验.考察了 4种铝盐[AlCl3、Al(NO3)3、Al2(SO4)3和KAl(SO4)2]改性挂膜沸石对上覆水中氨氮的去除情况.结果表明,AlCl3改性挂膜沸石效果最佳,且最佳改性浓度为0.8 mol·L-1.进一步分析添加信号分子OHHL后,AlCl3改性...     

水生植物对污染物的清除及其应用

综述了水生植物对氮、磷、重金属及有毒有机物等各类污染物的清除作用及其在污染治理中的应用实践,同时对水生植物在废水处理和湖泊治理方面的应用提出了相应的建议。