Comparative Environmental Benefits of Lightweight Design in the Automotive Sector: The Case Study of Recycled Magnesium Against Cfrp and Steel

A LCA feasibility study was undertaken to determine the environmental impact of an Eco-magnesium process route by recycled chips to manufacture panel for the automotive sector to be compared with comparative scenarios, a non-recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and a baseline steel-made component scenario. The objective of this LCA study was to assess the actual benefits of a lightweight solution considering the whole life cycle, including the dirty-phase (i.e. the “cradle-to-exit gate” stage) that impacts differently for the different materials. For this reason the analysis has regarded the net “cradle-to-grave” scenario. Different automotive floor pans were then compared considering the rate of fuel consumption during vehicle operation - i.e. the fuel-mass correlation factor - and the different material substitution factors allowed by the different materials selected

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Payback for Lightweighted Vehicles Using Aluminum and High-Strength Steel

In this article we consider interactions between life cycle emissions and materials flows associated with lightweighting (LW) automobiles. Both aluminum and high-strength steel (HSS) lightweighting are considered, with LW ranging from 6% to 23% on the basis of literature references and input from industry experts. We compare the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with producing lightweight vehicles with the saved emissions during vehicle use. This yields a calculation of how many years of vehicle use are required to offset the added GHG emissions from the production stage. Payback periods for HSS are shorter than for aluminum. Nevertheless, achieving significant LW with HSS comparable to aluminum-intensive vehicles requires not only material substitution but also the achievement of secondary LW by downsizing of other vehicle components in addition to the vehicle structure. GHG savings for aluminum LW varies strongly with location where the aluminum is produced and whether secondary aluminum can be utilized instead of primary. HSS is less sensitive to these parameters. In principle, payback times for vehicles lightweighted with aluminum can be shortened by closed-loop recycling of wrought aluminum (i.e., use of secondary wrought aluminum). Over a 15-year time horizon, however, it is unlikely that this could significantly reduce emissions from the automotive industry, given the challenges involved with enabling a closed-loop aluminum infrastructure without downcycling automotive body structures.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79236/1/j.1530-9290.2010.00283.x.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79236/2/JIEC_283_sm_SuppMatS1.pd

Analysis of graphical samples of gases constructed for chromatographic analysis of gases dissolved in oil for high-voltage power transformers with various types of defects

В статье выполнены исследования графических образов, построенных по результатам хроматографического анализа растворенных в масле газов, по 1167 единицам высоковольтного маслонаполненного оборудования с разными типами дефектов. По результатам анализа установлено, что даже при одном и том же дефекте, графические образы могут существенно отличаться. Для учета данного обстоятельства, предложено использовать не строго фиксированные графические образы, а диапазоны значений координат графических образов, которые получены для дефектов разного типа. Построенные по результатам анализа образы, позволяют значительно расширить базу эталонных образов, что позволит распознавать большее число дефектов, особенно это касается перегревов в диапазоне низких и средних температур, а также комбинированных дефектов, для которых газом с максимальной концентрацией является этан.The article made the study of graphic images, built on the results of chromatographic analysis of gases dissolved in oil at 1167 units of high-voltage oil-filled equipment with different types of defects. The analysis found that even with the same defect, graphic images may differ materially. To account for this fact, it is proposed to use not strictly fixed symbols and graphic images ranges of coordinate values, which are obtained for different types of defects. Built on the analysis of images, can significantly expand the base master images, which will identify a greater number of defects, especially overheating in the range of low and medium temperature and combined defects for which the gas with the maximum concentration is ethane