Process Alternatives for Pollution Prevention

为协助执行环境保护局减少污染源和回收利用的优先事项，环境保护局计划制定一套系统的程序，根据造成问题的设计决定(例如添加蒸汽作为反应堆稀释剂)确定处理问题的根源。通过将设计决策确定为原因，可以确定避免处理或处置的必要性的替代决策。这种方法既适用于连续过程，也适用于间歇过程，但由于连续过程中的水流要大得多，因此应该可以更大程度地减少排放。将实施分级决策程序，提供一种在新工艺开发阶段早期识别潜在污染问题的简单方法。该程序侧重于完成设计所需的决策。如果做出备选决策，则生成流程备选方案。有些决策会影响流程的退出流(以及流程的馈送)，在某些情况下，这些退出流可能会对环境产生不利影响。因此，如果一个人能够做出决定，即找到不会导致污染问题的替代方案，那么他就可以开发出更清洁的过程。分层决策程序也可用于分解现有设计；然后，可以确定消除现有污染源的工艺替代方案。***

To aid in the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's priorities for source reduction and recycling, the PI plans to develop a systematic procedure for identifying the source of treatment problems in terms of the design decisions that are the cause of that problem (such as the addition of steam as a reactor diluent). By identifying the design decision as the cause, an alternative decision, that will avoid the necessity for treatment or disposal, can be identified. This approach is applicable to both continuous and batch processes, but since the stream flows are much larger in continuous processes, much larger reductions in emissions should be possible. A hierarchical decision procedure will be implemented that provides a simple way of identifying potential pollution problems early in the development stages of a new process. The procedure focuses on the decisions required to complete a design. If alternative decisions are made, process alternatives are generated. Some of the decisions affect the exit streams from (and the feeds to) the process, and in some cases these exit streams can have an adverse environmental impact. Hence, of one can make decisions, i.e. find alternatives, that do not lead to pollution problems, one can develop cleaner processes. The hierarchical decision procedure can also be used to decompose existing designs; then, process alternatives that eleminate existing pollution sources can be identified. ***