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.     

南昌地震台地下水位变化异常的分析判别

本篇文章主要通过对南昌台地下水位资料变化的处理分析，利用求地下水水位变化的加速度来判别和分析地震异常，并初步进行试验预报和探索研究。     

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.     

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。     

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。     

冻融-碳化耦合环境下自燃煤矸石混凝土耐久性实验研究

为研究冻融-碳化耦合环境下自燃煤矸石混凝土耐久性能,通过冻融-碳化与碳化-冻融2种耦合环境实验,分析其质量、动弹性模量、抗压强度及碳化深度等损失特性,揭示冻融-碳化耦合环境作用机理。结果表明:冻融-碳化环境下质量、相对动弹性模量损失率均与循环次数、水灰比呈正相关;小于63次,碳化-冻融环境劣化其质量能力强于冻融-碳化环境;超过63次,冻融-碳化环境劣化能力强于碳化-冻融环境;冻融-碳化环境劣化动弹性模量能力高于碳化-冻融环境。初期碳化反应在一定程度上能促进强度增长,但冻融100次且碳化14 d后,冻融-碳化环境下强度损失率与水灰比呈正相关。冻融-碳化环境下碳化深度与时间、水灰比呈正相关,冻融环境是加速其碳化腐蚀的催化剂,碳化-冻融环境劣化碳化深度强于冻融-碳化环境,2种耦合环境碳化差值0.87~2.10 mm。为深入研究煤矸石混凝土在复杂环境中的耐久性提供参考。     

三峡水库入库溪流中麦氏花翅蜉(蜉蝣目:四节蜉科)的生活史研究

开展水生昆虫生长过程研究对掌握研究区域水生生物的生物学特征和研究区域生态环境状况等均具有重要作用,可为构建和完善研究区域河流生态环境保护体系提供科学参考。于2017年逐月对香溪河库湾入库支流(螃蟹溪)中的一种水生昆虫——麦氏花翅蜉(Baetiella macani)的种群进行了研究,基于大小频率法、幼虫期有效积温条件进行了生活史性状分析和验证。结果显示:麦氏花翅蜉为三化性昆虫,包含一个冬季世代和两个夏季世代。冬季世代幼虫的发育历期为3~4个月,所需有效积温为1 286 ℃;夏季世代幼虫的发育历期为1~2个月,所需有效积温为757 ℃。研究结果丰富了中国地区水生昆虫的生活史性状信息,并首次呈现了花翅蜉属的生活史特征。     

文丘里洗涤过滤型FCVS性能评价述评及建议

通过调研对国内外文丘里洗涤过滤型FCVS性能评价进展进行了阐述与比较,指出国内开展文丘里洗涤过滤型FCVS出厂性能评价不全面,需进一步开展相关性能评价技术研究;FCVS在现场的安装质量如何,随着时间的推移性能变化如何,并未开展试验验证,结合法规要求等,建议开展FCVS现场试验评价技术的研究.