1. spm 2/17/07 GREEN ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS AT VIRGINIA TECH Dr. Sean McGinnis Director – Green Engineering Program VT College of Engineering www.eng.vt.edu Aerospace & Ocean EngineeringBiological Systems Engineering Computer Science Electrical & Computer Engineering Civil & Environmental Engineering Engineering Education Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mining & Mineral Engineering Engineering Science & Mechanics LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS (LCA): ­ A method based on scientific data for analyzing and quantifying environmental impacts of products, processes, and systems over their entire life cycle ­ LCA provides objective environmental data for decision-making on issues that cross political, economic, social, technological, and environmental boundaries GREEN ENGINEERING: Green Engineering is the design of materials, processes, devices, and systems with the objective of minimizing overall environmental impact across the entire life cycle. Green Engineering considers life-cycle environmental impacts as initial design constraints. It recognizes that environmental impacts are more effectively minimized the further upstream they are considered. Green Engineering focuses at the interface between the environment, technology, economics, and society. Chemical Engineering Industrial System Engineering 4. Data Interpretation (ISO 14043) −How should different impact categories be weighted? −How accurate and sensitive are results to the data? −LCA provides the data/analysis, not the decision Environment EconomicsSociety Technology Hydrosphere Eutrophication Acidification Aquifer depletion Ecotoxicity Human Health Extraction Manufacturing Use Disposal 1.Define the project scope, boundaries, and assumptions (ISO 14040) −What system boundaries? Which impact categories? Which data sources? 2. Compile a detailed inventory of all inputs and outputs (ISO 14041) −Confirm mass balance (inputs = outputs) within system boundaries 3. Translate inventory outputs to potential environmental impacts across categories (ISO 14042) −Use scientifically derived characterization factors for comparison Biosphere Soil depletion Deforestation Resource Depletion Ecotoxicity Human Health Atmosphere Climate Change Ozone Depletion Smog Formation Acidification Human Health compost reuse recycle Example: Biodiesel Production From Soybeans “An Overview of Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel Life Cycles” http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24772.pdf NREL LCI Database http://www.nrel.gov/lci Extraction Manufacturing Use Disposal GREEN ENGINEERING DESIGN PRINCIPLES: 1.Consider the entire life cycle ­ Environmental impacts occur across multiple life cycle phases for products/processes and are most effectively minimized by good design 2.Materials Selection ­ The mass and production energy of materials used are key factors for determining life cycle environmental impact 3.Consider waste as a design flaw ­ Waste from all life cycle phases should be minimized through the use of materials which either return to nature or can be recycled indefinitely 4.Look to nature for sustainable designs ­ Nature designs materials and systems with high performance, efficient energy use, and no waste VIRGINIA TECH GREEN ENGINEERING PROGRAM MISSION: (1)To increase students’ awareness of the environmental impact of engineering practice (2)To provide students with courses and other educational experiences in which they learn skills to minimize environmental impacts and to design for sustainability (3)To facilitate interdisciplinary research and collaboration in areas of green engineering and sustainability among faculty (4)To engage the university, local, and global communities in discussions focused on engineering approaches to sustainability. Since green engineering is multidisciplinary, the program searches for opportunities in education, outreach, and research across all VT colleges and departments. INPUTS PER 1000 KG SOYBEAN OUTPUT (1 acre) Agrochemicalskg0.41 Diesel (Farm Tractor)gal4.5 ElectricityMJ19 Gasoline (Farm Tractor)gal2.1 Lime (quick, CaO)kg83 Liquified Petroleum Gas (fuel)MJ19 Natural Gas (fuel)MJ19 Nitrogen Fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 as N)kg1.1 Phosphorous Fertilizer (TSP as P 2 O 5 )kg3.8 Potash Fertilizer (K2O)kg7.7 Transport: Rail (kg.km)tkm46 Transport: Road (diesel oil, liter)gal0.27 Cropland (Conservation Tillage)m2m2 2278 Cropland (Conventional Tillage)m2m2 956 Cropland (Reduced Tillage)m2m2 813 Water Used (total)gal10897 Water: Rivergal6887 Water: Wellgal4010 OUTPUTS PER 1000 KG SOYBEAN OUTPUTAirWaterSolid 2,4 - D (C 8 H 6 Cl 2 O 3 )kg0.00210.0001 Alachlor (C 14 H 2 OClNO 2 )kg0.00150.0001 Bentazon (C 10 H 12 N 2 O 3 S)kg0.00130.0001 Bromoxynil (C 7 H 3 Br 2 NO)kg0.0017 Chlorpyrifos (C 9 H 11 Cl 3 NO 3 PS)kg0.000560.00002 Clomazone (C 12 H 14 ClNO 2 )kg0.000290.00001 Glyphosate (C 3 H 8 NO 5 P)kg0.100.0043 Metolachlor (C 15 H 22 ClNO 2 )kg0.00290.0001 Metribuzin (C 8 H 14 N 4 OS)kg0.00070.00003 Pendimethalin (C 13 H 19 N 3 O 4 )kg0.0160.0007 Sulfosate (C 12 H 32 NO 5 PS 3 )kg0.0080.0004 Trifluralin (C 13 H 16 F 3 N 3 O 4 )kg0.0160.0004 Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) (biomass uptake)kg-1559 Hydrocarbons (unspecified)kg0.25 Nitrogen Oxides (NO x as NO 2 )kg0.19 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O)kg2.47 Nitrogenous Matter (unspecified, as N)kg0.14 Phosphorous Matter (unspecified, as P)kg0.02 Suspended Matter (unspecified)kg2812 Soybean Residueskg2097 NREL LCI Database http://www.nrel.gov/lci Life Cycle Air Emissions for B20 and B100 Compared to Petroleum Diesel Comparison of Net CO 2 Life Cycle Emissions for Biodiesel Blends and Petroleum Diesel Comparison of Total Wastewater Flows for Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel Life Cycles Life Cycle Total and Fossil Fuel Production Energies (including feedstock) for Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel SOYBEAN OIL CONVERSION - PROCESS INPUTS Soybean Oil (degummed)kg1040 Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) catalystkg2.3 Methanol (CH 3 OH)kg96 Sodium Methoxide (CH 3 ONa)kg24 ElectricityMJ230 Steamkg1030 Process Waterliter360 SOYBEAN OIL CONVERSION - PROCESS OUTPUTS Biodiesel (neat)kg1000 Crude Glycerinkg150 Soap stockkg0.54 Process Water (chemically polluted)liter380 Waste (other)kg12 Air Emissions (various)seegraphs