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(T/MC244) Use of LCI and LCIA in Industrial Process Development: Conclusions from a Case Study. Rehnström, Carina1, 1 ABSTRACT- Hitherto, a main focus of LCAs has been on using the information from an LCA in product development. This paper analyses possibilities and limitations for the use of LCA methodology and results when developing new industrial production processes. The analysis is based on a case study, in which an LCI and an LCIA was done for two chemical recovery methods in the pulp industry. The functional unit is per 2500 tds (ton dry solids) and day. The study is focused on two alternative processes for one section of a pulp line, which delivers the same product. Thus, the system boundary is such that a large part of the pulp line can be left out of the analysis. One of the processes is under development, so there are no available data from a plant in operation. The data for this process is based on calculations for a ficticious plant with a capacity of 2400 tds/day. All data for the two processes are based on assumptions of best available technology. The assumed lifetime is the same for both systems and taken to be the technical lifetime, 30 years. The main problems discussed and analysed concern firstly, the use of ficticious data and in particular how to deal with changes in such data during the process development process, and secondly, the assessment and weighting stage of an LCA when there are several very different forms of energy involved in the processes. The first lead to difficult updating problems, the second point at seemingly fundamental incommensurabilities. Key words: LCA, process, development, energy |
