Over 40 million tons of electronic devices (e.g., computers, laptops, notebooks, and cell phones) became obsolete in 2020, and this estimate is expected to grow exponentially, mainly due to the decreasing lifespan of electronics. Most of the electronics replaced end up in municipal landfills. Electronic waste (e-waste) has raised concerns because many components in these products are not biodegradable and are toxic. Some of the toxic materials and chemicals include rare earth elements (REEs), which are currently experiencing supply constraints. This study focuses on generated e-wastes from households due to the high amount of these wastes. Technologies for e-waste mining must be tailored to household needs rather than large-scale industrial processes. The use of portable e-waste recovery systems may produce win-win outcomes where industry, households, and regulatory bodies could benefit, and this will incentivize e-waste mining for all stakeholders. This study investigates the sustainability benefits of employing a portable e-waste recycling and REEs recovery, using techno-economic and life cycle assessment methods. The results indicate that the proposed approach in this study mitigates environmental impacts when maleic acid is used as one of the key ingredients in recovering and separating REEs and other metals. It is concluded that when adopted globally, this technology can significantly address the e-waste challenge while improving the availability of REEs for high-tech applications.
Abstract. The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Project, managed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is directed by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, to research, develop, design, construct, and operate a prototype forth generation nuclear reactor to meet the needs of the 21 st Century. As with all large projects developing and deploying new technologies, the NGNP has numerous risks that need to be identified, tracked, mitigated, and reduced in order for successful project completion.A Risk Management Plan (RMP) was created to outline the process the INL is using to manage the risks and reduction strategies for the NGNP Project. Integral to the RMP is the development and use of a Risk Management System (RMS). The RMS is a tool that supports management and monitoring of the project risks. The RMS does not only contain a risk register, but other functionality that allows decision makers, engineering staff, and technology researchers to review and monitor the risks as the project matures.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis report describes the path forward in creating Technology Development Roadmaps (TDRMs) and their associated Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and Test Plans, introduces two draft Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) TDRMs, and documents the methods used to create them. The NGNP draft roadmaps for the hydrogen production system and the intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) are used as examples to depict the results of the TDRM process and the benefits of the TDRMs to the NGNP project. This report outlines a breakdown of the physical systems, subsystems, and components (SSCs) associated with each major area of NGNP for the purpose of assessing their individual technology maturity. Several options exist for which technologies are selected to fulfill the functions (i.e., heat production, heat transfer, heat-intensive applications) of the NGNP. These options are represented by differing SSCs and are grouped into reference designs, as currently proposed by the nuclear vendor community. Each SSC associated with each reference design is evaluated, rated, and assigned a technology readiness level (TRL). A rollup of the TRLs allows for comparison of the various reference designs.A TDRM documents the tasks needed to obtain information in key discriminating criteria to support technology down selection, and the tasks and tests required to sufficiently mature the technology and enhance project performance. The TRL and TDRMs will be assessed and validated by an independent board of subject matter experts. The set of validated TDRMs along with their associated documentation will represent the path forward for the NGNP project to complete their mission to develop and demonstrate design, performance, operational, licensing, and economic viability of high-temperature gas reactor and leading process heat technologies. This report presents the path forward, methods, and tools used to understand the requirements, manage the uncertainty, and mitigate the risk early in the NGNP project. The key method, TDRMs, is the means to facilitate NGNP risk-informed decision making, technology down selection, and technology qualification and maturation while serving to coordinate engineering, research and development, and licensing efforts.In summary, this process provides the following benefits to the NGNP project:• Identifies precise project objectives and helps focus resources on critical technologies that are needed to meet those objectives • Creates a consensus vision of NGNP project needs based on capabilities needed now and in the future • Provides early identification of high-risk items and allows early focused attention to reduce later cost overruns and schedule delays.• Supports engineering and R&D priorities and schedule development, and assignment of resources.
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