Yong-Woo Hwang

Sustainable manufacturing: a case study of the forklift painting process

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and design for environment (DFE) methods were applied to assess opportunities for reducing the environmental impacts of forklift manufacturing unit processes and to redesign those unit processes to increase overall sustainability. The unit processes of forklift manufacture generating the most environmental emissions were identified by applying LCA methodology. The results show that eco-toxicity and human toxicity were the most significant impacts of the forklift manufacturing process overall. Also, within the manufacturing unit processes, cutting, welding and painting had the highest impact values. In order to minimise environmental impacts, a new paint was created with increased solid content over the existing solvent paint used in the painting process. In addition, by applying DFE methodology and the high solid paint, overcoat and drying steps were eliminated from the forklift painting process. As a result, the environmental index of a follow-up LCA showed that environmental impacts could be reduced by 20%, while volatile organic compound (VOC) and paint usage could be decreased by 30% and 20%, respectively.

Methodology for recycling potential evaluation criterion of waste home appliances considering environmental and economic factor

An evaluation method to assess recycling potential, considering both the environmental and economic aspects, was suggested for the material recovered from waste home appliances. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method was applied to obtain the environmental score (S/sub Env/), and the actual value and a static economic model was used to obtain the economic score (S/sub Eco/). The S/sub Env/ of recycled glass and circuit board showed the highest value (11.97), followed by copper (9.37), iron (6.77), and plastic (3.67). The S/sub Eco/ of recycled copper showed the highest value (6.97), followed by aluminum (5.23), iron (5.15), plastic (4.82), and glass and circuit board (3.50). The recycling potentials for the recyclable materials were calculated by weighting S/sub Env/ and S/sub Eco/ with the factors obtained from the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. As a result, the recycling potential of copper was the highest, followed by iron, glass, circuit board, and aluminum. This calculated data and methodology would provide a useful data for decision makers and product designers in design for environment (DfE).

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) substance flow analysis for safe and sustainable chemical industry

AbstractIn this study, the chemical substance flow of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid, HF) in domestic chemical industries in 2014 was analyzed in order to provide a basic material and information for the establishment of organized management system to ensure safety during HF applications. A total of 44,751 tons of HF was made by four domestic companies (in 2014); import amount was 95,984 tons in 2014 while 21,579 tons of HF was imported in 2005. The export amount of HF was 2180 tons, of which 2074 ton (China, 1422 tons, U.S. 524 tons, and Malaysia, 128 tons) was exported for the manufacturing of semiconductors. Based on the export and import amounts, it can be inferred that HF was used for manufacturing semiconductors. The industries applications of 161,123 tons of HF were as follows: manufacturing of basic inorganic chemical substance (27,937 tons), manufacturing of other chemical products such as detergents (28,208 tons), manufacturing of flat display (24,896 tons), and manufacturing of glass container package (22,002 tons). In this study, an analysis of the chemical substance flow showed that HF was mainly used in the semiconductor industry as well as glass container manufacturing. Combined with other risk management tools and approaches in the chemical industry, the chemical substance flow analysis (CSFA) can be a useful tool and method for assessment and management. The current CSFA results provide useful information for policy making in the chemical industry and national systems. Graphical abstractHydrogen fluoride chemical substance flows in 2014 in South Korea.

A Study on the Safety Distances for High Pressure-toxic Gases by Specific Accident Scenarios

Gu-mi hydrogen fluoride leak accident in 2012 was amplified social anxiety for chemical accidents. To relieve these anxieties Off-site Risk Assessment was introduced in 2015. Off-site Risk Assessment is targeted at most chemicals, and most of the high-pressure-toxic gases which are mainly used in high-tech industries such as semi conductor, display, Photovoltaic panels industry are included in the substance of the Off-site Risk Assessment. Since Korean companies occupy a high market share in high-tech industries, high pressure-toxic domestic gas consumption is constantly increasing. Accordingly, it is expected to increase the possibility of accidents. In accordance with the circumstances, this study was to conducted Consequence Analysis(CA) about high pressure-toxic gases those are high demand in domestic. CA was used for ALOHA developed by US EPA & US NOAA and the CA result of Arsine was the largest at 4,700 m. CA results are expected to be utilized for determining the effective Safety distances when high pressure-toxic gas leak.

MACT Application Effect in Petrochemical Industry to Minimize Benzene Fugitive Emission

In this study, MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) application effect was evaluated for minimization of benzene fugitive emission in petrochemical industry. Although fugitive emission for benzene in the nation was regulated by the Clean Air Conservation Act from 2015, the US EPA already has introduced MACT standard to minimize its emission with up-todate technology since 1995. EPA Emission Factor (AP-42) and EPA MACT Standard Guideline were used to assess MACT application effect. As a result, For MACT application it could reduce benzene emission up to 98% (average) comparing with uncontrolled facility, while the national regulation could achieve about 95% (average) reduction which is slightly lower than MACT. However there is no control measure in the national regulation to reduce benzene emission for vessel loading even though MACT standard requires preventive facility such as VRU (Vapor Recovery Unit). For further reduction of benzene emission, it needs to be mandatory for operation of VRU when benzene product is loaded in vessel. These efforts could contribute to achieve the global level for benzene emission management in national petrochemical industry.

LCA기법을 적용한 구리 및 알루미늄 금속자원 순환의 환경성 평가

구리 및 알루미늄의 1차가공제품을 제조함에 있어 2차자원(스크랩)의 사용 및 미사용 시 발생되는 환경부하량을 전 과정평가(LCA)기법을 적용하여 정량화하고, 환경에 미치는 영향을 8가지 환경영향범주로 나누어 환경부하를 분석하였다. 또한 구리 및 알루미늄의 자원순환율이 증가할 경우 동일한 1차가공제품생산 단계에서 발생되는 온실가스 발생량을 국내범위와 전지구적범위로 분석하였다. 그 결과 구리의 경우 1차가공제품 1 ton 생산 시 2차자원의 사용 및 미사용 시 전체 환경범주에 대한 환경영향은 각각 6.09E + 01 person-yr/f.u. 및 7.23E + 01 person-yr/f.u.로 나타났으며, 온실가스 발생량은 국내범위 및 전지구적범위 모두 자원순환율이 증가함에 따라 저감되는 것으로 조사되었다. 알루미늄의 경우 1차가공제품 1 ton 생산 시 2차자원의 사용 및 미사용 시 전체 환경범주에 대한 환경영향은 각각 2.34E + 02 person-yr/f.u. 및 3.01E + 02 person-yr/f.u.로 나타났으며, 온실가스 발생량은 국내범위에서는 자원순환율이 감소함에 따라, 전지구적범위에서는 자원순환율이 증가함에 따라 저감되는 것으로 조사되었다.

Estimation of Resource Efficiency and Its Demand for Photovoltaic Systems Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Method

In this study, the resource efficiency and future metal resource requirement in photovoltaic (PV) production system were evaluated by using material balance data and life cycle assesment (LCA) method. As a result, in the resource efficiency of ferrous and non-ferrous metal, lead and tin had higher resource efficiency than other materials in all PV systems (SC-Si, MC-Si, CI(G)S, CdTe). In the resource efficiency of rare metals, gallium and rhenium in silicon system and rhenium and rhodium in thin-film system ranked as the first and second high resource efficiency. In case of rare earth metal, gadolinium and samarium took higher resource efficiency. The results of the future metal resource requirement in PV systems showed that 2,545,670 ton of aluminium, 92,069 ton of zinc, 22,044 ton of copper, 1,695 ton of tin and 31 ton of nickel will be needed by 2030 in South Korea, except resource recycling supplement.