Life Cycle Assessment of Press Felt and Filtration Products
Peltomäki, Jere (2020)
2020
Materiaalitekniikan DI-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Materials Engineering
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2020-10-15
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202010147343
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202010147343
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study was to find out which of the life cycle phases carries the biggest environmental burden in the life cycles of press felt and filtration products. This is an important study for the commissioner as they try to continuously improve their environmental performance. Life cycle assessment were used to determine the impacts for each of the life cycle phases. The different phases are elaborated on in theoretical background. The phases are then assessed in materials and methods. The data needed to conclude the study were acquired from the suppliers and from the commissioner.
Based on the results from life cycle assessment studies, the biggest burden to the life cycle is created in the production of raw materials. Production of raw materials consists of production of consumed granulates and processing of the granulates into usable intermediate products which are used in either press felt’s or filtration product’s production. Granulate production was alone the biggest contributors to the life cycle impacts in both studies. Processing the granulates into intermediate products was the second biggest in most of the impact categories as it consumes energy.
These results indicate that the product development should focus on finding alternative, more sustainable, materials for these products. Also, the energy consumed during the processing should be cleaner in order to decrease the life cycle impacts of both products. Decreasing the impacts in raw materials production would have a major impact on the whole life cycle of evaluated products.
Based on the results from life cycle assessment studies, the biggest burden to the life cycle is created in the production of raw materials. Production of raw materials consists of production of consumed granulates and processing of the granulates into usable intermediate products which are used in either press felt’s or filtration product’s production. Granulate production was alone the biggest contributors to the life cycle impacts in both studies. Processing the granulates into intermediate products was the second biggest in most of the impact categories as it consumes energy.
These results indicate that the product development should focus on finding alternative, more sustainable, materials for these products. Also, the energy consumed during the processing should be cleaner in order to decrease the life cycle impacts of both products. Decreasing the impacts in raw materials production would have a major impact on the whole life cycle of evaluated products.