Process Alternatives for Pollution Prevention

为了帮助实施环境保护署减少污染源和循环利用的优先事项，PI计划制定一个系统的程序，以确定处理问题的根源，从设计决策的角度来确定问题的根源（如添加蒸汽作为反应堆稀释剂）。通过将设计决策确定为原因，可以确定一个替代决策，以避免处理或处置的必要性。这种方法既适用于连续过程，也适用于批量过程，但由于连续过程中的流流量要大得多，因此应该可以更大幅度地减少排放。将实施分层决策程序，提供一种在新工序发展阶段早期识别潜在污染问题的简单方法。这个过程的重点是完成设计所需的决策。如果做出了备选决策，则生成了流程备选方案。有些决策会影响流程的退出流（以及流程的feed），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，如果一个人可以做出决定，即找到不会导致污染问题的替代品，那么他就可以开发更清洁的工艺。分层决策过程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. ***