Abstract
The general consensus is that 3D-printing technologies can help to render industrial production more sustainable, e.g. by shortening process chains, allowing more efficient production processes or providing benefits resulting from light-weight construction. This paper aims to quantify the impact of additive manufacturing processes on energy demand by examining selective laser sintering (SLS). To this end, a model is suggested and applied that focuses on three important phases in the life cycle of additively manufactured components and that allows a comparison with conventional manufacturing processes. The three phases considered are the production of the required raw material, the actual manufacturing process of specific components and their utilisation. The analysis focuses on the automotive and aircraft industries. The main factors influencing energy demand are analysed and discussed, and the impact of additive manufacturing is estimated on a national level for a sample component based on Germany as an example. The results indicate that substantial energy savings can be achieved, even though only a small component was replaced.
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- e 1 :
-
specific energy demand for EAF metal smelting and refining [MJ/kg]
- e 2 :
-
specific energy demand for smelting process [MJ/kg]
- e 3 :
-
specific energy demand for casting and processing [MJ/kg]
- e 4, gas :
-
specific energy demand for the (gas) atomising process [MJ/kg]
- △T i :
-
material-specific temperature difference [K]
- c i :
-
material-specific heat capacity [MJ/(kg·K)]
- δ i :
-
specific smelting enthalpy [MJ/kg]
- α :
-
mark-up factor for real-world demand [no dimension]
- e sub :
-
specific energy demand for the conventional production route [MJ/kg]
- e dir :
-
specific energy demand for the direct additive route [MJ/kg]
- e ind :
-
specific energy demand for the indirect additive route [MJ/kg]
- p sub :
-
power demand per metal removal [MJ/mm3]
- V blk :
-
volume of metal block for conventional processes [mm3]
- V com :
-
volume of the target component [mm3]
- h com :
-
height of the component [mm]
- h lay :
-
thickness of an additively manufactured layer [mm]
- β :
-
mark-up factor for adjusting to real-world building rate [no dimension]
- r add :
-
material specific volume building rate [mm3/s]
- P add :
-
power demand for system operation [W]
- t lay :
-
time for mechanical movements per layer (lifting table, powder distribution) [s]
- t mec :
-
total time for mechanical movements of lifting table and powder distribution [s]
- t con :
-
time for building the component [s]
- E add :
-
energy demand for a specific component using additive processes [J]
- E sub :
-
energy demand for a specific component using conventional processes [J]
- a con :
-
annual energy demand for product usage [J/a]
- γ :
-
average product life span [a]
- θ :
-
pre-factor for alterations in product shape impacting on energy demand [no dimension]
- Δg :
-
weight difference of additively and conventionally manufactured products [g]
- A sub :
-
energy demand in utilisation of conventionally produced final product [J]
- A add :
-
energy demand in utilisation of an additively produced final product [J]
- a wgt :
-
annual energy savings per unit of weight [J/(a·g)]
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Hettesheimer, T., Hirzel, S. & Roß, H.B. Energy savings through additive manufacturing: an analysis of selective laser sintering for automotive and aircraft components. Energy Efficiency 11, 1227–1245 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-018-9620-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-018-9620-1