LT: A Thermodynamic Basis for LCA and Optimization of Industrial Processes for Environmental Performance

本研究的目的是发展生命周期分析（LCA）的热力学基础，克服目前限制其适用于工业生态问题的几个障碍，并为量化工业系统的潜在环境影响提供理论框架。本研究将利用结合热力学第一定律和第二定律的火用概念来跟踪材料和能源需求，确定废物再利用和回收的潜力，并估计特定现实世界半导体制造过程的环境负担。最后，将构建一个制造过程的计算机模型，以创建一个“虚拟实验室”，其中可以系统地测试各种替代方案或场景。预计这项研究将实现工业生态学的开创性愿景，其中工业系统可以根据材料和能源需求进行优化，同时设计最小的环境影响。它将开发一种新的分析工具，具有良好的科学基础，可应用于工业生态系统、单一设施或单一过程。它将测试这种方法在实际半导体制造过程中的有效性，并在工业生态的背景下提出改进建议。这项资助是根据美国国家科学基金会/朗讯科技公司1998年工业生态研究奖学金计划提供的

9873589 Theis The objective of this research is to develop a thermodynamic basis for life-cycle-analysis (LCA) that overcomes several of the obstacles that currently limit its applicability to problems of industrial ecology and to provide a theoretical framework for quantifying the potential environmental impact of industrial systems. This research will utilize the concept of exergy, which combines the first and second laws of thermodynamics, to track material and energy resource demands, to identify the potential for reuse and reclamation of waste products, and to estimate the environmental burden of a specific real-world semiconductor manufacturing process. Finely, a computer model of the manufacturing process will be constructed to create a 'virtual laboratory' wherein various alternatives or scenarios can be tested systematically. It is anticipated that this research will realize the seminal vision of industrial ecology wherein industrial systems can be optimized for material and energy demands and while being designed for minimal environmental impact. It will develop a new analytical tool with a sound scientific basis that can be applied to an industrial ecosystem, a single facility or a single process. It will test the efficacy of this approach on a real semiconductor manufacturing process and generate recommendations for improvement within the context of industrial ecology. This grant is made pursuant to the joint NSF/Lucent Technologies Industrial Ecology Research Fellowships Program 1998.***