Abstract
Purpose
Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) is one of the most relevant tools delving in sustainability science, based currently on the triple bottom line idea that is defined as the contemporary implementation of the three tools of life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). The methodology is currently being applied to a wide set of products and systems. However, as per in the large interest towards energy-related products, the sustainability assessment of energy systems—in particular those where fluid streams are used—could be more effective if some further stages could be included in the analysis, i.e. a process level analysis with regard to energy quality and exergy, and a more thorough energy analysis of the fluid flows available to achieve an optimal design of the system.
Methods
This paper proposes an extended framework for LCSA introducing two additional stages to the methodology: Constructal law (CL) inspired analysis of the energy design of the system and exergy analysis (EA) of the system and its life cycle. A fully developed case study (a biomass boiler) is proposed, described the extended life cycle energy and sustainability assessment (LCESA: LCA, LCC, S-LCA, CL, EA), highlighting both the quantitative results related to each section together with the strengths and limits of the methodology, while stressing the potential applications as, e.g., decision support tool and support to the design of energy system.
Results
The results highlight different and optimized designs for the boiler through a constructal law–based analysis and several hot-spots throughout different stages of the life cycle, ranging from the production stage of steel for most environmental indicators in LCA to the cooking stage for the exergy analysis. Relevant positive impacts are traced also in the S-LCA point of view during both the use and production step.
Conclusions
The methodology could represent a potential advancement towards the LCSA application to energy technologies as it highlights some limits and proposes specific advancements.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ardente F, Beccali G, Cellura M (2003) Eco-sustainable energy and environmental strategies in design for recycling: the software “ENDLESS”. Ecol Model 163(1–2):101–118
Ardente F, Beccali M, Cellura M (2004) F.A.L.C.A.D.E.: afuzzy software for the energy and environmental balances of products. Ecol Model 176(3–4):359–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2003.11.014
Author (n.d.-a) https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf. Accessed 25 Jan .2017
Author (n.d.-b) https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC99101/lbna27624enn.pdf. Accessed 24 Jan 2018
Author (n.d.-c) Sonia Valdivia and Guido Sonnermann - Towards a life cycle sustainability assessment, making informed choices on products – UNEP ISBN: 978–92–807-3175-0
Beccali M, Cellura M, Mistretta M (2007) Environmental effects of energy policy in Sicily: the role of renewable energy. Renew Sust Energ Rev 11(2):282–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2005.02.001
Beccali M, Cellura M, Longo S, Guarino F (2016) Solar heating and cooling systems versus conventional systems assisted by photovoltaic: application of a simplified LCA tool. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 156:92–100
Bejan A, Lorente S (2008) Design with constructal theory. Wiley, Hoboken, p 2008
Blanco JM, Lehmann A, Muñoz P, Antón A, Traverso M, Rieradevall J, Finkbeiner M (2014) Application challenges for the social life cycle assessment of fertilizers within life cycle sustainability assessment. J Clean Prod 69:34–48
Bösch ME, Hellweg S, Huijbregts MAJ, Frischknecht R (2007) Applying cumulative exergy demand (CExD) indicators to the ecoinvent database. Int J Life Cycle Assess 12:181–190
Catrini P, Cellura M, Guarino F, Panno D, Piacentino A (2018) An integrated approach based on life cycle assessment and thermoeconomics: application to a water-cooled chiller for an air conditioning plant. Energy 160:72–86
Cellura M, Guarino F, Longo S, Mistretta M (2017) Modeling the energy and environmental life cycle of buildings: a co-simulation approach. Renew Sust Energ Rev 80:733–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.273
Dekoninck EA, Domingo L, O’Hare JA, Pigosso DCA, Reyes T, Troussier N (2016) Defining the challenges for ecodesign implementation in companies: development and consolidation of a framework. J Clean Prod 135:410–425 ISSN 0959–6526
Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products
EN 15804 (2012) Sustainability of construction works, environmental product declarations, core rules for the product category of construction products
European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre e Institute for Environment and Sustainability (2008) European Life Cycle Data Network
European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre e Institute for Environment and Sustainability, 2012 Characterization factors of the ILCD recommended life cycle impact assessment methods. Database and Supporting Information, first ed. Luxembourg Publications Office of the European Union. EUR 25167
European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability 2011 ILCD handbook e recommendations for life cycle impact assessment in the European context e based on existing environmental impact assessment models and factors. Available on: http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Fernandes de Magalhães R, de Moura Ferreira Danilevicz A, Palazzo J (2019) Managing trade-offs in complex scenarios: a decision-making tool for sustainability projects. J Clean Prod 212:447–460 ISSN 0959-6526
Finkbeiner M, Schau EM, Lehmann A, Traverso M (2010) Towards life cycle sustainability assessment. Sustainability 2(10):3309–3322. https://doi.org/10.3390/su2103309
Finocchiaro P, Beccali M, Cellura M, Guarino F, Longo S (2016) Life cycle assessment of a compact desiccant evaporative cooling system: the case study of the “Freescoo”. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 156:83–91
Fontes J (2016) Handbook for Product Social Impact Assessment, p 153. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23821.74720
Guarino F, Traverso M, Cellura M, Finkbeiner M The use phase in social life cycle assessment: a case study of a biomass boiler. Proceedings of 1st Latin American SDEWES Conference, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 28–31 2018
Gulotta TM, Guarino F, Cellura M, Lorenzini G (2017) Constructal law optimization of a boiler. Int J Heat Technol 35(2):297–305. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.350210
Gulotta TM, Guarino F, Cellura M, Lorenzini G (2018) A constructal law optimization of a boiler inspired by life cycle thinking. Thermal Sci Eng Progress 6:380–387
Inabez Forés V, Bovea MD, Perez-Belis V (2014) A holistic review of applied methodologies for assessing and selecting the optimal technological alternative from a sustainability perspective. J Clean Prod 70:259–281
Incropera FP, DeWitt D, and Bergman T “Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer,” J. W. SONS, Ed., seventh ed, (2011), pp. 468–476;517–593
ISO 14040 2006 Environmental management e life cycle assessment e principles and framework. European Committee for Standardization
ISO 14044 2006 Environmental management e life cycle assessment e requirements and guidelines. European Committee for Standardization
ISO 21930 (2007) Sustainability in building construction—environmental declaration of building products
Kates RW et al (2001) Environment and development: sustainability science. Science 292:64
Kloepffer W (2007) Life cycle based sustainability assessment as part of LCM. IN proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Life Cycle Management, Zurich, Switzerland, 27–29
Kloepffer W (2008a) Life cycle sustainability assessment of products. Int J Life Cycle Assess 13:89–95
Kloepffer W (2008b) Life cycle sustainability assessment of products (with comments by Helias A. Udo de HAes p95). Int J LCA 13(2):89–95
Lamé G, Leroy Y, Yannou B (2017) Ecodesign tools in the construction sector: analyzing usage inadequacies with designers’ needs. J Clean Prod 148:60–72 ISSN 0959–6526
Longo S, Antonucci V, Cellura M, Ferraro M (2014) Life cycle assessment of storage systems: the case study of a sodium/nickel chloride battery. J Clean Prod 85:337–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.004
Lorenzini G, Moretti S (2009) A Bejan’s constructal theory approach to the overall optimization of heat exchanging finned modules with air in forced convection and laminar flow condition. J Heat Transf 131(8):2009
Lorenzini G, Moretti S, Conti A (2011) Fin shape optimization using Bejan’s constructal theory. Morgan & Claypool Publishers, San Francisco
Ness B et al (2007) Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecol Econ
Nzila C, Dewulf J, Spanjers H, Tuigong D, Kiriamiti H, Van Langenhove H (2012) Multi criteria sustainability assessment of biogas production in Kenya. Appl Energ 93:496–506
Osorio LAR, Lobato MA, Del Castillo XA (2009) An epistemology for sustainability science: a proposal for the study of the health disease phenomenon. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 16(1):46–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500902760571
Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2017 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU (Text with EEA relevance)
Rocha LAO, Lorente S, Bejan A (2012) Constructal law and the unifying principle of design. Springer, New York
Rossi M, Germani M, Zamagni A (2016) Review of ecodesign methods and tools. Barriers and strategies for an effective implementation in industrial companies. J Clean Prod 129:361–373 ISSN 0959-6526
Sala S, Farioli F, Zamagni A (2013a) Progress in sustainability science: lessons learnt from current methodologies for sustainability assessment: part 1. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18:1653–1672
Sala S, Farioli F, Zamagni A (2013b) Life cycle sustainability assessment in the context of sustainability science progress. Int J Life Cycle Assess 18(9):1686–1697
Santoyo-Castelazo E, Azapagic A (2014) Sustainability assessment of energy systems: integrating environmental, economic and social aspects (2014). J Clean Prod 80:119–138, ISSN 0959-6526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.05.061
Singh RK, Murty HR, Gupta SK, Dikshit AK (2012) An overview of sustainability assessment methodologies. Ecol Indic 15:281–299
Social Hotspot Database Project https://socialhotspot.org/, last accessed 05/01/2018
Spriensma R (2004) SimaPro database manual e the Buwal 250 library. PRé Consultants, the Netherlands Available from: https://www.pre-sustainability.com
Stefanova M, Tripepi C, Zamagni A, Masoni P (2014) Goal and scope in life cycle sustainability analysis: the case of hydrogen production from biomass. Sustainability 6:5463–5475. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6085463
Swarr TE, Hunkeler D, Klöpffer W, Pesonen HL, Ciroth A, Brent CA, Pagan R (2011) Environmental life-cycle costing: a code of practice. Int J LCA 16:389–391
Traverso M, Finkbeiner M, Jørgensen A, Schneider L (2012a) Life cycle sustainability dashboard. J Ind Ecol
Traverso M, Asdrubali F, Francia A, Finkbeiner M (2012b) Towards life cycle sustainability assessment: an implementation to photovoltaic modules. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17:1068–1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-012-0433-8
Traverso M, Bell L, Saling P, Fontes J (2018) Towards social life cycle assessment: a quantitative product social impact assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 23:597–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1168-8
UNEP (2009) Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products. Environ. Program
USGS Home, commodity statistics and information. https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/, last accessed 05/01/2018
WCED – World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our common future. Oxford
Wernet G, Bauer C, Steubing B, Reinhard J, Moreno-Ruiz E, Weidema B (2016) The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21:1218–1230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1087-8
Zamagni A, Amerighi O, Buttol P (2011) Strenghts or bias in social LCA? Int J Life Cycle Assess 16(7):596–598
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Christopher J Koroneos
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guarino, F., Cellura, M. & Traverso, M. Costructal law, exergy analysis and life cycle energy sustainability assessment: an expanded framework applied to a boiler. Int J Life Cycle Assess 25, 2063–2085 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01779-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01779-9