생물환경연구실

논문 초록 (Abstract)

Eco-design is an essential way to reduce the environmental impacts and economic cost of processes and systems, as well as products. Until now , the majority of eco-design approaches have employed multi-objective optimization methods to balance between environmental and economic performances. However, the methods have limitations because multi-objective optimization requires decision makers to su bjectively assign weighting factors for objectives, i.e., environmenta l impacts and economic cost. This implies that, depending on decision makers' preference and knowledge, different design solutions can be engendered for the same design problem. Thus, this study proposes an e co-design method which can generate a single design solution by devel oping mathematical optimization models with a single-objective fu nction for environmental impacts and economic cost. For the formulatio n of the single-objective function, environmental impacts are moneti zed to external cost by using the Environmental Priority Strategie s. This enables the tradeoffs between environmental impacts and eco nomic cost in the same unit, i.e., monetary unit. As a case study, the proposed method is applied to the eco-design of a water reuse system in an industrial plant. This study can contribute to improving th e eco-efficiency of various products, processes, and systems. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.