Review of simulation-based life cycle assessment in manufacturing industry

Abstract

The manufacturing industry has a duty to minimize its environmental impact, and an increasing body of legislation mandates environmental impact evaluations from a life cycle perspective to prevent burden shift. The manufacturing industry is increasing its use of computer-based simulations to optimize production processes. In recent years, several published studies have combined simulations with life cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate and minimize the environmental impact of production activities. Still, current knowledge of simulations conducted for LCAs is rather disjointed. This paper accordingly reviews the literature covering simulation-based LCAs of production processes. The results of the review and cross-comparison of papers are structured in terms of seven elements in line with the ISO standard definition of LCA and report the strengths and limitations of the reviewed studies. ARTICLE HISTORY

Integration of Energy Oriented Manufacturing Simulation into the Life Cycle Evaluation of Lightweight Body Parts

“…Modeling and simulation of manufacturing systems on different levels (process, machine and process chain) has been widely applied in the domain of energy efficiency and production planning [32]. Examples for the application of a modeling and simulation methodology to perform a LCA of a manufacturing system can also be found [33]. As an example, Löfgren et al and Rödger et al use simulation results as a data source for a subsequent LCA [34,35].…”

“…These works relate manufacturing system configurations and production strategies with their corresponding environmental impact. However, previous methodological approaches and applications of modeling and simulation within an LCA still show some incoherence [33]. Since many alternatives exist regarding system boundaries in simulation studies of manufacturing systems, Seow et al introduced a framework for modeling energy flows from the product perspective [36,37].…”

Quantitative Sustainability Assessment of Flow Chemistry–From Simple Metrics to Holistic Assessment

“…A life cycle assessment study has been conducted for a new alternative to diethyl 2-ethyl-2-phenylmalonate production proposed by Zhao et al . with respect to the Claisen ester condensation step.…”

“…A life cycle assessment study has been conducted for a new alternative to diethyl 2-ethyl-2-phenylmalonate production proposed by Zhao et al 99 with respect to the Claisen ester condensation step. This specific analysis evaluates three main impact categories, GWP, AP, and energy consumption for the synthesis of the aforementioned chemical by means of batch and continuous flow reaction mode, and analyzes the results based on the contribution of the major process units.…”

“…The ever-growing concern over natural resource depletion and global climate change has posed great challenges in the operation of chemical and pharmaceutical industries which are one of the major sources of air and water pollution. − While flow chemistry and process intensification have proven to considerably improve product yield and energy efficiency of these industrial processes, effective sustainability tools are necessary to monitor their environmental footprint, especially considering the large amount of solvents employed. − Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has contributed immensely toward that direction, as it constitutes a comprehensive tool for quantifying and appraising the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across its whole life cycle. It has been widely applied in a variety of industrial sectors, for example, manufacturing, agriculture, telecommunication, and more, and has provided important insights in the early stage process/product design and development. − In the context of this perspective, the focus is placed on the employment of LCA in the laboratory and industrial-based continuous flow synthesis of different chemicals with the view to illustrate the capabilities of this method in facilitating decision making and improving the design of intensified chemical processes.…”