Sustainable Development by Design: Review of Life Cycle Design and Related Approaches |
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| Authors: | John G Watson Mr Terrance McManus Ms Gwen Eklund Mr Bruce Vigon Mr Michael Italiano Mr William Franklin |
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| Institution: | 1. Critical Review Sub-Committee Chairman, and Research Professor, Desert Research Institute , PO Box 60220, Reno , NV , 89506 , USA;2. Manager of Corporate Environmental Operations , INTEL Corporation , 5000 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler , AZ , 85226 , USA;3. Senior Manager , Radian Corporation , PO Box 201088, Austin , TX , 78720 , USA;4. Research Leader , Battelle Memorial Institute , 505 King Ave., Columbus , OH , 43201 , USA;5. Gardner, Carbon and Douglas , 1301KSt. NW, Washington , D.C. , 43201 , USA;6. Vice President , Franklin Associates Ltd. , 4121 W 83rd St., Suite 108, Prairie Village , KS , 66208 , USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The quality of stationary source emission factors is typically described using data quality ratings, which provide no quantification of the precision of the emission factor for an average source, nor of the variability from one source to another within a category. Variability refers to actual differences caused by differences in feedstock composition, design, maintenance, and operation. Uncertainty refers to lack of knowledge regarding the true emissions. A general methodology for the quantification of variability and uncertainty in emission factors, activity factors, and emission inventories (EIs) is described, featuring the use of bootstrap simulation and related techniques. The methodology is demonstrated via a case study for a selected example of NOx emissions from coal-fired power plants. A prototype software tool was developed to implement the methodology. The range of interunit variability in selected activity and emission factors was shown to be as much as a factor of 4, and the range of uncertainty in mean emissions is shown to depend on the interunit variability and sample size. The uncertainty in the total inventory of ?16 to +19% was attributed primarily to one technology group, suggesting priorities for collecting data and improving the inventory. The implications for decision-making are discussed. |
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