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Conclusion:The case study provides a picture of the hydraulic motor OMV/W-800 with the most generated, rigorous and representative database of all material involved in the hydraulic products system. The results can be used reliably to assist decision-making and for evaluating the performance of hydraulic products in the context of sustainable development. Furthermore development seems to be desirable to support the use of the LCA in reaching consensus on the impact assessment. The results also provide the opportunity for Sauer-Danfoss and externally involved companies to benchmark and evaluate improvement measures to their processes and products systems. The study has tried to evaluate the impact potentials from the most significant parameters and further prepares an environmental diagnosis report on the hydraulic product system and many of the choices made have been based upon representing the real interaction of those parameters with the global environment. The significant parameters are aggregated, which contribute to the most significant potentials for global warming, acidification, nutrient enrichment and photochemical ozone formation, crude oil, natural gas, nickel and molybdenum potential impacts categories i.e. energy/electricity consumption, raw material extraction, ancillary substance and hydraulic oil incineration. The energy consumption in the use stage is very high. The large amount of oil combustion in the diesel engine contributes mainly to global warming, acidification, photochemical ozone creation, nutrient enrichment and human toxicity environmental impact potential and natural gas, and crude oil resource consumptions amounting to 94% in average. The electricity consumption in the different processes such as raw material preparation and manufacturing processes, is also important in energy related resource consumptions i.e. coal, natural gas, and environmental impacts categories (global warming, acidification, nutrient enrichment, radioactive waste, bulk waste, slag and ashes). The cast iron and steel manufacturing processes contribute mainly to persistent toxicity due to the emission of heavy metals to the environment. Most of the persistent toxicity derives from the manganese used in the form of manganese resource in the steel products and ferrosilicon manganese and ferromanganese in the basic raw materials of cast iron and steel. The different waste also derives from raw material production processes. Please note that the hazardous waste recommended by a group report on steel production (Course 80410, IPL, DTU, 2000) should read as being 10 times lower than the value. The resource consumption of metals i.e. nickel and molybdenum are also due to the different qualities of steel. The
ancillary substances contribute significantly to eco-toxicity and persistent
toxicity due to the chronic and acute toxicity emissions through wastewater
amounting to 50% of the eco-toxicity, and 3.7% of the persistent toxicity in the
hydraulic product system. The ancillary substances (oil products) containing
manganese and molybdenum contribute significantly to eco-toxicity and persistent
toxicity. The used hydraulic oil in the drain system influences the environmental impact potentials and resource consumptions in the use stage and disposal stage significantly. Finally,
the life span and efficiency of the hydraulic motor is the most significant, but
the life span is an unambiguous parameter because Sauer –Danfoss will not
accept a reduction of the life span. Increased life span of the hydraulic motor
increases environmental impact potentials and energy related resources
consumptions in the product system. The efficiency of the hydraulic motor is an
ambiguous parameter. By improving efficiency of the hydraulic motor
environmental impact potentials and energy related resource consumptions
decrease significantly in the product system. The only way to make an
improvement is to increase the motor efficiency thereby decreasing the
environmental impact potentials and energy related resources significantly In
conclusion, we are able to conclude that the efficiency of the hydraulic product
is an ambiguous parameter with regards to the impacts on the environment and
resource consumption. Minor changes in efficiency affect the results
significantly. We have also
documented an improvement in the different parameters, which were considered to
be important. To
conclude, the LCA has carried out a comprehensive and technically rigorous study
to set down the foundations for good LCAS with regard to hydraulic
products. For LCA to be used as a reliable tool for decision making, high
quality data, sound methodology and transparent reporting will be essential.
This study is a major step towards enhancement of standards and Sauer-Danfoss
intends to continue and encourage this trend in future product improvement work.
Final comments:There are still a lot of gaps in our knowledge (e.g. raw material extraction, energy consumption, transport and ancillary substances etc) and uncertainties about the realism of potential impacts are assessed. The available data that may be used in LCA are in many cases intended for others proposals than LCA and possibly not fit for that use. Furthermore, LCA is still immature and a concept under development. These facts would logically lead to a recommendation not to use LCA in the real structure. LCA is an ongoing process likely to become better and more appropriate for various use. Environmental problems lie ahead of us and there are growing demands for a holistic approach to solve these problems. By using LCA as a tool we get a holistic approach. LCA does not provides the “truth” but gives an overview of the environmental impacts associated with a product system and provides a step further toward sustainable development. The more LCA will be used, the more knowledge will be gained about its structure, function and applicability. In the decision-making context, LCA is still mostly used for raising awareness of the life cycle environmental burdens of the products, although LCA is thought to be important and is being used in strategic decision-making. The LCA model i.e. “MECEEO model” can be used for other similar products, which have the same functional unit e.g. for all type of hydraulic motors. The MECEEO model is not valid for other products such as, steering units and hydraulic valve etc, but some parts of the LCA can be used in the others products.
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