Abstract
Emergy analysis can analyze the resource utilization and environmental performance of a system. Loop circuit is a common structure in the process industry, but when emergy analysis is carried out to such structure, mistakes such as emergy double counting often occur. To avoid emergy double counting, two types of loop circuit—direct loop circuit and indirect loop circuit—are theoretically distinguished, and the methods to avoid such mistake are proposed. Finally, PVC production and vinyl acetate production are adopted to demonstrate the methods.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakshi, B. R. (2000). A thermodynamic framework for ecologically conscious process systems engineering. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 24(2–7), 1767–1773.
Brown, M. T., & Buranakarn, V. (2003). Emergy indices and ratios for sustainable material cycles and recycle options. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 38(1), 1–22.
Brown, M. T., & Herendeen, R. A. (1996). Embodied energy analysis and EMERGY analysis: a comparative view. Ecological Economics, 19(3), 219–235.
Cyclopaedia of chemical engineering (pp. 747–760) (2nd vol.). (1991). Beijing: Chemical Industrial Press.
Dai, Y. (2004). Emergy evaluation of industry system. Dissertation, Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Dan, Y. (2002). A comparison between two transforming technologies for acetylene tail gas. Natural Gas Chemical Industry, 27(5), 25–31.
Feng, X., Min, S., Dai, Y., & Liu, Y. (2005). Emergy analysis of industrial multi-product systems. The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering, 5(3), 317–321.
Flow Sheet of Chemical Industry (1997). (pp. 474–5013rd ed.). Beijing: Chemical Industrial Press.
Lan, S. F., Qin, P., & Lu, H. F. (2002). Emergy evaluation of eco-economic system pp. 167–193. Beijing: Chemical Industrial Press.
Long, J. (2003). Selection of processes for producing acetic acid. Guizhou Chemical Industry, 28(2), 3–5.
Lou, H. H., Kulkarni, M. A., & Singh, A. (2004). Sustainability assessment of industrial systems. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 43(15), 4233–4242.
Lu, H., Lan, S., & Peng, S. (2003). Extending study on energy indices for sustainable development. Environmental Science, 24(3), 150–154.
Odum, H. T. (1971). Environmental, power, and society p. 341. New York: Wiley.
Singh, A., & Lou, H. H. (2006). Hierarchical pareto optimization for the sustainable development of industrial ecosystems. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 45(9), 3265–3279.
Ulgiati, S., & Brown, M. T. (2002). Quantifying the environmental support for dilution and abatement of process emissions The case of electricity production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 10(4), 335–348.
Wang, S. (2003). The technique for the multi-purpose utilization of natural gas pp. 163–205. Beijing: Chemical Industrial Press.
Wang, P. (2005a). Acetic acid production and its market. Chemical Engineering Design, 15(2), 42–46.
Wang, X. (2005b). The analysis of economy and costs of methanol production. International Information on Chemical Industry, 4, 10–18.
Wang, L., Ni, W., & Li, Z. (2006). Emergy evaluation of combined heat and power plant eco-industrial park (CHP plant EIP). Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 48(1), 56–70.
Xu, X. (2000). The study on the possibility of PVC production from natural gas acetylene. China Chlor-Alkali, 5, 5–9.
Xue, Z. (2005). The study on the possibility of developing PVC production. Polyvinyl Chloride, 2, 9–14.
Yang, H., Li, Y., & Shen, J. (2003). Evaluating waste treatment, recycle and reuse in industrial system: an application of the eMergy approach. Ecological Modelling, 160(1–2), 13–21.
Zhao, S., Lib, Z., & Lia, W. (2005). A modified method of ecological footprint calculation and its application. Ecological Modelling, 185(1), 65–75.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cao, K., Feng, X. The emergy analysis of loop circuit. Environ Monit Assess 147, 243–251 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0116-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0116-2