A Life Cycle Assessment of ABB Process Industries’ mine hoist system
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Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Industrial ecology (MPTSE), MSc
Publicerad
2021
Författare
Hjelm, Axel
Ström, Fredrik
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
An extensive shift in how materials are being produced, used, and disposed of, and
measures in how to use effectively and efficiently, is needed to handle future environmental
challenges and comply with the Paris Agreement. This study investigates the
environmental impacts of ABB Process Industries’ mine hoist system by conducting
an attributional LCA on a recently installed system currently used by LKAB in
Kiruna. Mine hoist systems are industrial lifts used in underground mines for transporting
mining ore, equipment, and humans. The information for the assessment
is gathered from interviews and contacts with personnel at ABB and LKAB. The
LCA-software openLCA is used in combination with the database Ecoinvent v.3.7.
Within the investigated mine hoist system, assumed to be used for 25 years in Kiruna
in northern Sweden, the LCA results showed that the use phase was the most contributing
life cycle phase. The electricity consumption over the life cycle showed the
most contributing activity within all investigated environmental impact categories
and contributed 72% of the climate change impact. The sensitivity analysis led to
the understanding of critical aspects and how to proceed. Differences in electricity
mix showed that it is possible to save up to 266 kilotonnes of CO2eq over the lifetime.
Materials used in various applications for yearly maintenance over the entire
lifetime showed a significant contribution. Each year, close to 30 tonnes of materials
are replaced as maintenance materials, and over 25 years, more than one kilotonne
of materials are used. A circular perspective and life cycle thinking, framed around
waste and resource management with measures to use materials more effectively and
efficiently and measures to extend the usage, could reduce the material flows with
significant environmental savings.
The study helps ABB Process industries to understand the environmental impacts of
their operations and provides suggestions for how to proceed in their environmental
work. The results of this study, emphasizing the environmental impacts associated
with energy consumption and material usage throughout the lifetime, shows how
ABB could reduce the environmental impact associated with products offered by
the hoist division. Other impacts that ABB and LKAB initially believed had more
significant importance, such as transportations, end of life treatment, and lubrication
oils usage showed little importance. The study found that ensuring that the
energy comes from clean sources and further measures to reduce the material use,
especially maintenance materials, are the two key takeaways and should be prioritized
in order to reduce environmental impacts.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Life Cycle Assessment , LCA , Circular economy , Sustainability , Elevator , Lift , Mining