Giorgio Beccali

Managing municipal solid waste

GoalThis research aims to assess the environmental effects of integrated strategies in a municipal waste management system. In particular, analysis is focused on a waste stream in Palermo, where landfill involves the prompt disposal of the most waste after collection. The current local management system is compared with two integrated waste management alternatives. Both the options comply with Italian regulations, but each one predicts adopting the available technologies in different ways.Methods and objectivesEnergetic and environmental balances are carried out in each management system referring to local waste composition in order to quantify energy consumption, the recovery of material and energy, and the environmental releases. Impact assessment is carried out to define the environmental profile of each option. Impact categories are defined and inventory data, by means of a suitable aggregation, can be used to evaluate the potential contribution that system inputs and outputs could bring to the relative category.ResultsIn opposition to the current management, which involves energy balance at a loss, the mass and energy balances outcomes in both of the two hypothetical management systems show the capability to obtain energy and material recovery to a substantial extent. Sorted collection plays a remarkable role in the improvement of environmental performance of management systems. In particular, the thermal treatment of waste associated with energy recovery, and the concomitant material recycling, increase the saving of energy.ConclusionsEnvironmental pressure factors of the management system are assessed depending on the relevant consumption of raw materials and energy, and on the emission of pollutants. The resulting figures reflect the two different integrated management options as being sustainable solutions for achieving an improvement in environmental performance, which is based on increasing the value of waste, as an alternative to resources, and the reduction of environmental releases. Life Cycle Assessment of municipal waste management systems can be usefully applied to define synthetic indices of environmental impact. These indices could single out possible alternatives in multi-criteria analysis, together with economic and technical parameters.

Eco-sustainable energy and environmental strategies in design for recycling: the software “ENDLESS”

Abstract This paper describes a model, named “ENDLESS”, useful to address the design process towards more eco-compatible solutions. In particular, this tool can support the designer in the choice of the product with an higher recyclability potential from a set of different alternatives. The model takes into consideration a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making method and allows calculating a “Global Recycling Index” (GRI) starting from a set of energy, environmental, technical and economic indicators. A weight is assigned to each parameter following the experience of the designer; a sensitivity analysis is then performed to state how the different assumptions can affect the final results. The model is implemented in a software and applied to a case study: to establish the best recyclability option of middle and low voltage electrical lines used for electricity distribution in Italy.

New exergy criterion in the “multi-criteria” context: a life cycle assessment of two plaster products

This paper deals with the exergy analysis (EXA) of plaster materials and ranks the environmental burdens due to the production of such materials. The calculation of the exergy loss during the whole examined process represents a relevant index, looking at the technology improvement of a process, as a suitable tool in aid of the trade-off of alternative materials in the decision making. A life cycle inventory is performed for building plaster products and the matrix method is used. The authors extend the application of EXA to life cycle assessment, conducting an exergetic life cycle assessment, and propose an exergetic index in the framework of multi-criteria decision making. An exergy balance, accounting for energy and material flows, is applied to calculate the exergy losses and efficiencies for each stage of the examined processes: resources extraction, materials processing, transport and product manufacturing. Furthermore, exergy values are calculated for the pollutants and wastes.

The Environmental Product Declaration EPD With A ParticularApplication To A Solar Thermal Collector

The principles of sustainable development and of Integrated Product Policy are applied in new voluntary regulations, which have been internationally agree. The aim is to grant transparency of environmental information and to promote the diffusion of environmentally friendly products. A new tool under study is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a technical paper annexed to products that synthesises their energy and environmental performances. This paper points out the reasons for developing EPD for the energy sector, and puts special focus upon renewable energy systems, products whose environmental performances are often not clearly defined. We describe how results of a LCA upon a solar thermal collector can be included in an EPDdocument, summarising its ecological profile and making information comparable. EPD could be employed for a correct decisional strategy, making a balance between the benefits and the impacts of this technology, and could represent a way to diffuse scientific results to customers.

An Improved Algorithm For Thermal Dynamic Simulation Of WallsUsing Z-transform Coefficients

The Transfer Function Method (TFM), recommended by American Society of Heating, Refkigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), is one of the most modern tools available to solve heat transfer problems in building envelopes and environments. TFM utilises Z-transform to solve the equations system that describes the heat transfer in a multi-layered wall. Due to an analogy with an electric circuit, it is possible to write the equations system in a matrix suitable to be solved by computer. Authors carried out an analysis on an historical building placed in the south of Italy to test the reliability and the quality of the thermal dynamic simulation using TFM. The analysis is performed using some control systems tools like Bode plots, step response, root and poles location. Results show clearly that, for very massive building, a simply application of TFM fails but if the poles and the residuals are re-ordered in a different position, it will be possible to solve the numerical problem. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the choice of the sampling period is a significant factor to obtain a reliable simulation.

The Emission Saving Related To The Use Of Renewable Energy Sources:The Case Study Of Solar Thermal Collectors

The employment of renewable energy sources can represent a useful way to reduce air emissions released by conventional ones. In this paper we describe the results of a Life Cycle Analysis performed upon one of the most world-wide diffused renewable technologies: the solar thermal collectors for warm sanitary water. Two domestic solar plants have been investigated: mono-familiar plant with a passive flat collector and a large solar plant with forced fluid circulation. The first step has been the evaluation of direct and indirect emissions related to the production and use of plants. The main emissions have been categorised in three of the most important indicators (Global Warming Potential, Acidification Potential and Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential) and successively we have estimated the emission saving. Considering that a solar plant works with an auxiliary heater, the pollutants that would be produced by the conventional part of the plant without the employment of collectors are the emission saving. These avoided atmospheric releases depend on the typology of the used conventional system. The case studies of electric and gas heaters have been investigated. The final aim is to perform a global balance between the air emissions related to the production and use of the solar plants and the emissions saved during their useful-life. These results are synthesised by various indicators that contain useful information to evaluate the environmental efficiency of the studied renewable technology.

A decision support system to compare different strategies for achieving the Italian Kyoto Protocol commitment

In order to meet the Italian Kyoto Protocol commitment, in 2002 the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) approved the national allocation plan for the reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), envisioning various alternative scenarios. In this paper an extended impact assessment of the plan is accomplished and some further options are conceived and analysed in order to find an optimal trade-off among the different economic, environmental and social items at stake. After the selection of a set of independent indicators, nine different scenarios for the GHG reductions were evaluated and they were sorted according to the principles of the multicriteria analysis. The results of the evaluation process show that the preferable options are also the ones realising a good compromise between economic investment and reduction of GHG emissions. Although the model is necessarily affected by some subjective choices, it has a high level of transparency and scientific reliability.