IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v36y2011i3p1442-1459.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An exergy-based framework for evaluating environmental impact

Author

Listed:
  • Simpson, Adam P.
  • Edwards, Chris F.

Abstract

The analysis framework introduced in this paper utilizes the recognition that exergy is a form of environmental free energy to provide a fundamental basis for valuing environmental interactions independent from their secondary impacts (e.g., global warming, photochemical smog). In order to extend exergy to analyze environmental interactions, modifications are required to the traditional representation of the environment and definition of the dead state used in technical exergy analysis. These are accomplished through a combination of logical extensions and use of non-equilibrium thermodynamic principles. The framework is comprised of two separate components: (1) environmental exergy analysis and (2) anthropocentric sensitivity analysis. Environmental exergy analysis is based on fundamental thermodynamic principles and analysis techniques. It extends the principles of technical exergy analysis to the environment in order to quantify the locations, magnitudes, and types of environmental impact—state change, alteration of natural transfers, and destruction change. Anthropocentric sensitivity analysis is based on the concepts of anthropocentric value and anthropocentric sensitivity. It enables the results of environmental exergy analysis to be interpreted for decision making, but at the expense of introducing some subjectivity into the framework. A key attribute of the framework is its ability to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of energy systems on a level playing field, regardless of the specifics of the systems—resources, by-products, sizes, time scales.

Suggested Citation

  • Simpson, Adam P. & Edwards, Chris F., 2011. "An exergy-based framework for evaluating environmental impact," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 1442-1459.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:3:p:1442-1459
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2011.01.025
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544211000260
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2011.01.025?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sciubba, Enrico & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2005. "Emergy and exergy analyses: Complementary methods or irreducible ideological options?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1953-1988.
    2. Szargut, Jan T, 2003. "Anthropogenic and natural exergy losses (exergy balance of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(11), pages 1047-1054.
    3. Hermann, Weston A., 2006. "Quantifying global exergy resources," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1685-1702.
    4. Milia, Daniela & Sciubba, Enrico, 2006. "Exergy-based lumped simulation of complex systems: An interactive analysis tool," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 100-111.
    5. Sciubba, Enrico, 2003. "Cost analysis of energy conversion systems via a novel resource-based quantifier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 457-477.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Martin N. Nwodo & Chimay J. Anumba, 2020. "Exergetic Life Cycle Assessment: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Ramakrishnan, Sankaran & Edwards, Christopher F., 2014. "Maximum-efficiency architectures for steady-flow combustion engines, I: Attractor trajectory optimization approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 44-57.
    3. Liu, J. & Goel, A. & Kua, H.W. & Wang, C.H. & Peng, Y.H., 2021. "Evaluating the urban metabolism sustainability of municipal solid waste management system: An extended exergy accounting and indexing perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    4. Diaz-Mendez, S.E. & Sierra-Grajeda, J.M.T. & Hernandez-Guerrero, A. & Rodriguez-Lelis, J.M., 2013. "Entropy generation as an environmental impact indicator and a sample application to freshwater ecosystems eutrophication," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 234-239.
    5. Wu, Junnian & Wang, Ruiqi & Pu, Guangying & Qi, Hang, 2016. "Integrated assessment of exergy, energy and carbon dioxide emissions in an iron and steel industrial network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 430-444.
    6. Ramakrishnan, Sankaran & Edwards, Christopher F., 2014. "Unifying principles of irreversibility minimization for efficiency maximization in steady-flow chemically-reactive engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 844-853.
    7. Wu, Junnian & Pu, Guangying & Guo, Yan & Lv, Jingwen & Shang, Jiangwei, 2018. "Retrospective and prospective assessment of exergy, life cycle carbon emissions, and water footprint for coking network evolution in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 479-493.
    8. Yang, Siyu & Yang, Qingchun & Qian, Yu, 2013. "A composite efficiency metrics for evaluation of resource and energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 455-462.
    9. Sun, Jingchao & Na, Hongming & Yan, Tianyi & Qiu, Ziyang & Yuan, Yuxing & He, Jianfei & Li, Yingnan & Wang, Yisong & Du, Tao, 2021. "A comprehensive assessment on material, exergy and emission networks for the integrated iron and steel industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    10. BoroumandJazi, G. & Saidur, R. & Rismanchi, B. & Mekhilef, S., 2012. "A review on the relation between the energy and exergy efficiency analysis and the technical characteristic of the renewable energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3131-3135.
    11. Simpson, Adam P. & Edwards, Chris F., 2013. "The utility of environmental exergy analysis for decision making in energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 742-751.
    12. Meggers, Forrest & Ritter, Volker & Goffin, Philippe & Baetschmann, Marc & Leibundgut, Hansjürg, 2012. "Low exergy building systems implementation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 48-55.
    13. Chen, Zhichao & Wang, Zhenwang & Li, Zhengqi & Xie, Yiquan & Ti, Shuguang & Zhu, Qunyi, 2014. "Experimental investigation into pulverized-coal combustion performance and NO formation using sub-stoichiometric ratios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 844-855.
    14. Golberg, Alexander, 2015. "Environmental exergonomics for sustainable design and analysis of energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 314-321.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Simpson, Adam P. & Edwards, Chris F., 2013. "The utility of environmental exergy analysis for decision making in energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 742-751.
    2. Ukidwe, Nandan U. & Bakshi, Bhavik R., 2007. "Industrial and ecological cumulative exergy consumption of the United States via the 1997 input–output benchmark model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 1560-1592.
    3. Sciubba, Enrico, 2010. "On the Second-Law inconsistency of Emergy Analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 3696-3706.
    4. Valero, Alicia & Valero, Antonio & Martínez, Amaya, 2010. "Inventory of the exergy resources on earth including its mineral capital," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 989-995.
    5. Nielsen, S.N. & Müller, F., 2009. "Understanding the functional principles of nature—Proposing another type of ecosystem services," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(16), pages 1913-1925.
    6. Seckin, Candeniz & Bayulken, Ahmet R., 2013. "Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) analysis of municipal wastewater treatment – Determination of environmental remediation cost for municipal wastewater," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 55-64.
    7. Qi, Hai & Dong, Zhiliang & Dong, Shaohui & Sun, Xiaotian & Zhao, Yiran & Li, Yu, 2021. "Extended exergy accounting for smelting and pressing of metals industry in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    8. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, B., 2009. "Extended-exergy analysis of the Chinese society," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1127-1144.
    9. Hoang, Viet-Ngu & Rao, D.S. Prasada, 2010. "Measuring and decomposing sustainable efficiency in agricultural production: A cumulative exergy balance approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 1765-1776, July.
    10. Hepbasli, Arif, 2008. "A key review on exergetic analysis and assessment of renewable energy resources for a sustainable future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 593-661, April.
    11. Kyrke Gaudreau & Roydon A. Fraser & Stephen Murphy, 2012. "The Characteristics of the Exergy Reference Environment and Its Implications for Sustainability-Based Decision-Making," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Chen, G.Q. & Ji, Xi, 2007. "Chemical exergy based evaluation of water quality," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 200(1), pages 259-268.
    13. Sciubba, Enrico, 2011. "A revised calculation of the econometric factors α- and β for the Extended Exergy Accounting method," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(4), pages 1060-1066.
    14. Brown, Mark T. & Campbell, Daniel E. & De Vilbiss, Christopher & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2016. "The geobiosphere emergy baseline: A synthesis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 339(C), pages 92-95.
    15. Gengyuan Liu & Zhifeng Yang & Bin Chen & Yan Zhang & Meirong Su & Lixiao Zhang, 2013. "Emergy Evaluation of the Urban Solid Waste Handling in Liaoning Province, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-21, October.
    16. Chen, B. & Chen, G.Q., 2007. "Modified ecological footprint accounting and analysis based on embodied exergy--a case study of the Chinese society 1981-2001," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2-3), pages 355-376, March.
    17. Gasparatos, Alexandros & El-Haram, Mohamed & Horner, Malcolm, 2009. "The argument against a reductionist approach for measuring sustainable development performance and the need for methodological pluralism," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 245-256.
    18. Mellino, Salvatore & Ripa, Maddalena & Zucaro, Amalia & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2014. "An emergy–GIS approach to the evaluation of renewable resource flows: A case study of Campania Region, Italy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 271(C), pages 103-112.
    19. Torío, H. & Schmidt, D., 2010. "Framework for analysis of solar energy systems in the built environment from an exergy perspective," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2689-2697.
    20. Naim Hamdia Afgan, 2010. "Sustainability Paradigm: Intelligent Energy System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(12), pages 1-19, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:3:p:1442-1459. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.