Environmentally optimized microreactor design through Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

Design decisions made in early R&D of a new technology ultimately determine its future environmental performance. Owing to the awareness of environmental impacts of technologies during their life cycle, the optimization of their design seems fundamental to develop more sustainable technologies. Using the example of a microstructured reactor for gas to liquid fuel conversion in early R&D, the Modular Server-Client-Server methodology for combining technical optimization with parametric Life Cycle Impact Assessment was used to analyze different design and manufacturing options. Two structuring fabrication techniques for metal foils were compared for several microreactor designs with respect to their ecological impact. Furthermore, improvable and non-improvable technical parameters regarding environmental impact, the impact of each fabrication step and within one fabrication step were analyzed. In conclusion, our analyses provide helpful information allowing for environmentally optimized design considerations in early R&D of a microreactor.

Sustainability lessons from practice: how flow intensification can trigger sustainability and modular plant technology in EU projects

“…[64] The experiments were carried out both Figure 12. Methodology of modular server-client-server approach (E. Zschieschang et al; [63] reproduced with permission from De Gruyter). LCI, life-cycle inventory; LCIA, life-cycle impact assessment; R&D, research and development.…”

“…An interesting study was conducted to compare two methods of manufacturing micro-reactors for the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels by Fischer-Tropsch process. [63] The first method of production was by wet-chemical etching and the other by mechanical micromachining (milling). A modified version of LCA was applied by first carrying out a parameterized life-cycle inventory (LCI) instead of a regular inventory analysis, followed by a simplified impact assessment that considered only one impact indicator-GWP.…”

“…Still, given the importance of such investigations, a recent study, as part of the EU-funded project CoPIRIDE, aimed to determine whether micro-reactors with catalytic coatings on their walls should be disposed of completely or if it is more beneficial to remove the catalytic coating and recycle the microstructured substrate. [64] The experiments were carried out both [63] reproduced with permission from De Gruyter). LCI, life-cycle inventory; LCIA, life-cycle impact assessment; R&D, research and development.…”

“…Energy demand Raw material quantities Packaging and sealing Raw material quantities Figure 13. Impact of different micro-reactor fabrication processes on the global-warming potential (E. Zschieschang et al; [63] reproduced with permission from De Gruyter).…”