Application of exergy analysis in the environmental assessment of concrete structures

Title: Application of exergy analysis in the environmental assessment of concrete structures
Author(s): R. Muigai, M.G. Alexander, and P. Moyo
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Conference on Advances in Construction Materials Through Science and Engineering
Editor(s): Christopher Leung and K.T. WAN
ISBN: 978-2-35158-116-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-117-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 1030 - 1036
Total Pages: 7
Nb references: 32
Language: English

Abstract: Exergy analysis is a thermodynamic technique based on sound scientific and engineering principles: the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and provides a means of assessing and evaluating the impact of materials and processes on the environment. For materials, exergy is defined as the amount of work needed to produce the resource from common materials in the environment. A material generally has physical and chemical exergy components that are measured relative to the environment. This study demonstrates the applicability of exergy analysis in accounting for resource consumption of products. The exergies of raw materials and energy for concrete are computed from the cradle-to-factory gate phase. The results show that cement (CEM I) has the highest exergy value at 79.5% of the total exergy required for the production of 1m3 of concrete. This is followed by coarse aggregates (16.5%), fine aggregates from crushed rock (3.5%) and water (0.5%). In conclusion, exergy is found to be a suitable metric for resource consumption as it provides a common set of units to evaluate material and energy flows.

Online publication: 2011-10-31
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00