Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Liao, W. 2012

A thermodynamic perspective on technologies in the Anthropocene: analyzing environmental sustainability

Doctoral Thesis

open access

Technologies and sustainable development are interrelated from a thermodynamic perspective, with industrial ecology (IE) as a major point of access for studying the relationship in the Anthropocene... Show moreTechnologies and sustainable development are interrelated from a thermodynamic perspective, with industrial ecology (IE) as a major point of access for studying the relationship in the Anthropocene. To offer insights into the potential offered by thermodynamics in the environmental sustainability analysis of technologies, this thesis develops a hierarchical framework which defines techno-systems at four levels, viz. the ecosphere, the anthroposphere, and individual technologies, the latter being further subdivided into a foreground system and a supply chain. The role and applications of thermodynamic analysis in IE and broader human-environment systems is reviewed. The production of US bioethanol, global biofuels, and Chinese titania is studied by applying a series of thermodynamic sustainability indicators, combining thermodynamic analysis with material flow analysis (MFA), and combing thermodynamic analysis with life cycle assessment (LCA), respectively, in the framework. The outcomes of the review and case studies show that taking account of thermodynamics is a necessity when analyzing the environmental sustainability of technologies, and integrating energy analysis, exergy analysis, and emergy analysis with LCA and MFA is both feasible and useful. The thesis then discusses the limitations and challenges of the developed framework and ends with three recommendations for the further development of thermodynamic analysis for sustainability. Show less