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Integrating input–output models with pinch technology for enterprise sustainability analysis

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Abstract

This article proposes an integrated framework for enterprise sustainability assessment by integrating enterprise input–output modeling with water pinch analysis. Firstly, material metabolism of an enterprise is investigated to establish a baseline; then, potential for resource conservation and waste minimization is evaluated. The environmental performance and economic feasibility of modifications are then assessed based on identification of key processes. Thus, the framework provides a method to connect material metabolism analysis of enterprises with the implementation of specific actions for resource conservation and waste minimization. The case of the water utilization system at Wangpo coal mine in China is used to illustrate the framework developed. Two process integration scenarios, involving direct reuse/recycle and regeneration, are presented. The corresponding revised input–output models for each scenario are illustrated.

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Abbreviations

SR i :

Water source i

SK j :

Water sink j

F SRi,SKj :

Flowrate from SR i to SK j

F SRi :

Flowrate of water source i

F SKj :

Flowrate of water sink j

F C,k :

Cumulative flowrate at concentration level k

Σ i F SRi :

Total flowrate of water source i

Σ j F SKj :

Total flowrate of water source i

Σ i F SRi − Σ j F SKj :

Net flowrate at concentration level k

C SRi :

Impurity concentration of water source i

C SKj :

Impurity concentration limit of water sink j

C k :

Concentration level k of cascade table

Δm k :

Impurity load in each concentration interval k

Cum.Δm k :

Cumulative impurity load at concentration level k

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Acknowledgments

We thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. This article is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21136003 and 41101570). Data and technical assistance from the Wangpo mine are also appreciated. We thank Dr. S. Liang from University of Michigan for his technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China

    Xiaoping Jia, Zhiwei Li & Fang Wang

  2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Centre of Excellence for Green Technologies, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Broga Road, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

    Dominic C. Y. Foo

  3. Chemical Engineering Department/Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 0922, Manila, Philippines

    Raymond R. Tan

Authors
  1. Xiaoping Jia
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  2. Zhiwei Li
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  3. Fang Wang
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  4. Dominic C. Y. Foo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoping Jia.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supporting Information the Supporting Information provides details on (1) the conceptual structure of EIO model, (2) EIO tables for BAU scenario and new scenarios (direct reuse/recycle and regeneration), and (3) the limiting data for water cascade analysis and the results.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 590 kb)

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Jia, X., Li, Z., Wang, F. et al. Integrating input–output models with pinch technology for enterprise sustainability analysis. Clean Techn Environ Policy 17, 2255–2265 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-0963-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-0963-4

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