Life Cycle Assessment of Polymers and Compounds for
Wire and CableHaridoss Sarma, IEEE Senior Member
Kriya Consulting, Canada
Polymers in CablesMarch 31-April 1, 2011
Miami, FL, USA
Presentation Scope
Jacket
Insulation
Conductor
• PVC• PE/HDPE• EVA/ZH…• PE/FEP/
TPU…• XLPE • NanoComp
…
• Cu• Al• Alloys
• LCA Framework
• DfE/TURI WCP
• Base Polymers
• Other recent developments
• LCA Attributes & Opportunities
• ISO 14040:2006 – Principles and Framework
• ISO 14044:2006 – Requirements and Guidelines (Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, Impact Assessment, Interpretation, nature & quality of data)
LCA
Standards
LCI Databas
es
Software Tools
http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/lcainfohub/toolList.vm
http://www.plasticseurope.org/plastics-sustainability/life-cycle-thinking.aspx
CMR CMP NM-B
Inventory, Impact Assessment, Interpretation Leaded, Lead-Free and Zero-Halogen Insulation & JacketEPA 744-S-08-001 2008
Inventory and Stages
Inputs
•Materials
•Energy
•Resources
Stages
•Raw materials Extraction/Aquisition
•Processing
•Product Manufacture
•Product use/maintenance/repair
•Final Disposition/end-of-life
Outputs
•Wastes (emissions and effluents)
•Products
Sys
tem
B
ou
nd
ary
Impact Uncertaintie
s
Impact Categories
NRREnergyLandfill
Global warming
Ozone depletion
SmogAcidification
Air particulatesWater
EcotoxicityOccupationalPublic• Carcinogenic• Non-carcinogenic
Data Types and Significance
EOLPrimary Secondary
Installation & Use
Delivery
Manufacture
Primary Secondary
Upstream
Secondary
Analysis Using GaBi4 Software Tool
CMR – Pb and Pb-Free
EPA 744-S-08-001 2008
EPA 744-S-08-001 2008
CMP – Pb and Pb-Free
•Baseline cable had environment burden in 12 impact categories with 4 being statistically significant•4 Impact categories with statistical significance related to toxicity•For the Pb-free cable electricity is the top contributing factor
NM-B – Pb and Pb-Free
•Baseline cable had a greater environmental burden in 13 impact categories•Jacketing production is the top contributing factor•Data is only for cradle-to-gate analysis
Different System BoundariesInstalled LAN Cable
Landfill /Incineration
End of Life
CAT 6e Cable
Steel Conduit
Jacket Insulation
SpacerSteel Recycle
Cu Recycle
Cu wire
Source:DuPont (2007): PVC/PE; LSZH/PE; PVC/PFPSPI (2009): PVC/PE; PVC/PFP
Fire-LCA Model:
Product Use
1. Material2. Product
Landfill
Landfill Fire
Incineration
Recycling
Cab
le
Rep
lace
men
t
Source: SP Report 2001:22
LCA – Polymers - Cradle-to-gate Polymer LCA Rank
PP 1
HDPE 2
LDPE 3
PHA (stover) 4
PS 5
PLA 6
PVC 7
PHA 8
PLA 9
PET 10
PC 11
Bio PET 12
• PVC• Teflon• PE
• XLPE (peroxide)• XLPE (silane)• Silicone• Mica• TPU
Source: Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, p8264, 2010
Power Cable Systems1
2
3
LCA of 11 kV OH lines and UG Cables (GB)J.Cleaner Prod. 18, p.1464, 2010
LCA of OH Vs UG Power cables systems in Southern California EdisonEnv. Sci. Tech. 44 p.5587, 2010
Sustainable Power Cable Materials with Improved Whole Life Performance GnosysUK, National Grid, Dow, Univ. Southampton
LCA of Transmission Network in Great Britain Energy Policy, 38, p.3622, 2010
4
1
LCA – significant factors•Systematic evaluation of environmental impact of product, process, service •Applicable to Functional systems•Helps to avoid shifting environmental problems from one place to another•Helps the decision makers to fully characterize the environmental trade-offs (not meant for determining the cost-performance benefits of a product)
LCA provides what technology wants - Not Preacautionary principle – Proactionary principle• Anticipation•Continual assessment•Prioritization of risks, including natural ones•Rapid correction of harm•Not prohibition but redirection
in LCA – Cable Context
29.988; 53%9.05200000000001; 16%
17.891; 31%
Water Footprint Mm3p.aBorealis – PO Value
ChainFeedstock ElectricityOperational
• ISO 14046 - Proposed standard to deliver• Principles, requirements and guidelines• WF metrics for products, processes, organization• Impact assessment as per ISO 14044
Source: KatsoufisThesis, KTH, Sweden 2009 Source: Nexans Data Harness Cable
LCA to Life Cycle Thinking•Developments have been strong (increasing readiness):
• Attributional Vs Consequential LCA• Methods of System boundary expansion• Data Quality and Tools• Models for Impact Assessment
•LCA serves only as one component of the decision process
• Selection of alternatives is not straightforward (not intended)
• Completeness, sensitivity and consistency of data to be checked
LCA – Wire and Cable•Opportunities for further development
• Materials, Energy and EOL• Impacts from land use, water use• Modeling of impacts and damages • Available data weighting methods (eg.
Toxicity of nanomaterials)• Modeling uncertainties