Assessment of life cycle impacts of sustainable technologies in industrial environments

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the analysis and assessment of the life cycle impacts of heat pipe-based heat exchangers (HPHE) in energy-intensive industries (EIIs), namely the steel, aluminium, and ceramics industries. These industries, vital to the European economy, are responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions, which renders their decarbonisation a key priority. Waste heat recovery (WHR) innovations, such as the HPHE, offer an attractive solution by capturing and reusing waste heat to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. This is the premise of the ETEKINA project, that has served as the starting point for this study. The research investigates the economic and environmental implications of HPHEs, through a life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA involves the quantification of the environmental impacts through the calculation of indicators, such as global warming potential and human carcinogenic toxicity. To perform the calculations, the goal, scope, functional unit, boundary conditions and inventories of the LCA are created. The LCA is thus carried out for the three industrial demonstrations of the ETEKINA project, the ceramics, aluminium and steel industries. Additionally, the thesis explores business modelling to assess the market viability of HPHE technologies, considering economic benefits such as reduced operational costs and enhanced competitiveness in global markets. Key findings highlight the energy-saving potential of HPHEs, translating it to environmental indicators, identifying hotspots for further design and production improvement, and aligning the development work with the decarbonisation targets outlined in the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement.