The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
The scarcity of ore and environmental intensity of copper production creates a strong incentive to explore alternative materials for conducting electricity. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) rely on plentiful feedstock materials (i.e., graphite) and exhibit high theoretical conductivity on a per mass basis. However, bulk conductivities measured at the laboratory scale indicate further improvements...
Sustainable engineering has strong potential for hands-on multi-disciplinary project-based learning. In particular, projects within sustainable engineering can readily involve electrical, mechanical, computer, civil, and chemical engineering aspects while still being accessible to undergraduate engineering students. In this paper, we discuss a series of renewable energy and alternative energy storage...
Through the development of a general model of electronics recycling systems, the effect of product portfolio choices on economic and environmental system performance is explored. The general model encompasses the three main functions of a recycling system-collection, processing, and system management-and allows for the effect of both contextual and architectural inputs-including product scope-to be...
Increased recycling, product redesign and substitution can improve firm resilience in the face of uncertainties in materials availability. The delays involved in implementing these strategies may result in unprepared firms losing market share to competitors who are better prepared to address these challenges. This paper will expand from previous work in this area by examining the statistical significance...
We present the current state and perspective of reuse businesses in Japan. We classify reuse businesses into two categories: ldquodesign-oriented reuserdquo and ldquocirculation-oriented reuserdquo. The design-oriented reuse is based on design for environment (DfE) of products and in most cases, maker companies undertake it. The circulation-oriented reuse is such as secondhand shops, and non-maker...
The energy consumed to produce and purify a kilogram of laser vaporization SWCNTs at the laboratory scale was found to be 0.13-0.19 GWh/kg under standard production conditions, with 0.114 GWh/kg coming from electrical energy. Most of the energy consumption results from thermal and resistive losses of the laser and single zone furnace in use. The time and temperature of final oxidation of the material...
The metals contained in various mobile phones were analyzed. More than 20 elements were detected and their net amounts were found to increase year by year. The environmental and economic impacts were assessed based on an elemental analysis. The CO2 emissions generated by the incineration of plastics were estimated to be almost the same as those avoided by recovering the metals. Gold had the biggest...
To ensure that future engineers are armed with the necessary skills and knowledge to design environmentally conscious products, a multi-faceted approach has been implemented to incorporate green engineering principles into the university curriculum. Among the various facets, which range from introductory freshman courses to graduate courses, this paper focuses on efforts to introduce green design...
The University of California has recently funded a new Lead Campus program: Research and Education in Green Materials, a multi-campus graduate fellowship program designed to bridge the disciplinary boundaries of engineering, science, toxicology and social science. This paper describes the program and the graduate course on green engineering.
This paper uses economic value metrics to evaluate the retention of value of secondary materials and provides a framework for characterizing value throughout a material and product life-cycle. These economic value metrics are compared with analogous life cycle assessment metrics in order to determine the conditions under which economic value effectively represents environmental impact for EoL material...
The trade of secondhand electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) from developed to developing countries has become a growing environmental issue owing to concerns about improper recycling of these goods in developing countries. We followed a 40-foot cargo container of cathode-ray-tube color TVs exported from Japan to the Philippines in February 2008. We surveyed the number of TVs damaged in transport,...
Increasing and expanding electrification has further stimulated debate on the comparative benefits of overhead (OH) versus underground (UG) power distribution. This analysis investigates the distinction in the potential environmental burdens between the full life cycles of OH and UG primary power distribution systems including their installation, maintenance, and decommissioning. The results will...
Mechatronics use the synergies from the interaction of electronics, mechanics and information technology. It covers a wide range of components, interconnection technologies, and application specific software. Mechatronics design is a multi-domain exercise involving concurrent design evaluations and respective decision making in various fields of engineering. Whereas small form factors and the improvement...
The implementation of energy scavenging technologies in distributed, self-sufficient micro systems offers new approaches to the realization of long-time power supplies within reasonable system dimensions. In this article various technical solutions to supply a low-power micro system with basic functions and fixed energy requirements are examined from an environmental point of view. Based on the material...
International trade is recognized as a mechanism to optimally allocate resources including capital, labor, and materials at the global scale. Recently there has been increasing interest in the embodied environmental impacts of international trade, especially in emissions embodied in trade. Focusing on the environmental side, it is standard to ignore the environmental overhead of the labor (EOL), environmental...
Due to their unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted considerable interest for use in a number of applications such as lithium ion batteries, fuel cells, and conductive wiring. However, the energy required to synthesize and purify SWCNTs in the manufacturing phase must be considered in order to fully realize the benefits in the use...
Analog CATV Converters are becoming obsolete in the United States due to the initiation of digital cable and television. This paper presents an end-of-life information exchange structure for the analysis of these cable boxes. The results from this paper show an economic model and simulation. A case study is presented showing the validity of end-of life processing for an analog CATV converter.
Ericsson has successfully transferred to lead-free solder for its high volume telecom network infrastructure products. By implementing measures for lead-free soldering in all stages of the product development process, from design and component selection to the production process, reliable products are ensured. As the high volume consumer electronic products are driving the components market towards...
This article discusses how end-of-life management (EoL) networks evolve and adapt by looking at different characteristics of the network components. We provide a literature review and present a theoretical analysis of EoL networks. Then, using the example of cell phone EoL management, we illustrate potential EoL network dynamics.
Recycling efficiency requirements increase from economic and legislative pressure and the current pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling processes are a technical misfit with cobalt-limited chemistries. New technology is required to economically recycle them. This work describes results for low cost, environmentally friendly recycling of LiFePO4 (LFP) from lithium-iron phosphate lithium-ion...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.