Unit 20 - Packaging and the environment Flashcards
What are the topics that government around the world can cover to tackle climate change?
restriction on emission levels
Restrictions of water use
Changes in agricultural growth patterns
increases in energy prices
changes in consumer habits
What is a key measure of environmental damage?
carbon dioxide - greenhouse gas.
Distillation due to it’s large usage of heat energy, has the potential to be a major net producer of carbon dioxide.
What is the principle source of carbon dioxide emissions in the spirits packaging industry?
burning of of fossil fuels, either in the plant itself for heating purposes and in the generation of the electricity supplied.
How much energy does electricity produce as well as carbon dioxide?
25% of the energy required
Creates almost 50% of carbon dioxide emissions
How much energy does natural gas produce as well as carbon dioxide?
66% of total energy requirement.
40% carbon emissions.
What are examples of Horizontal technologies techniques?
Steam raising
Refridgeration
compressed air
utility pipework distribution systems and insulation
Combined heat and power
electric motors and drives
Biomass solutions
What is the challenge of sustainable development?
To achieve economic, social and environmental objects at the same time.
What is approach 1 in achieving the savings of energy?
Horizontal technologies.
Can be invariably be applied across many industries, for example:
Steam raising, refrigeration, compressed air, utility pipework distribution systems and insulation, combined heat and power, electric motors and drives, biomass solutions as alternative energy sources.
What is approach 2 in achieving savings of energy?
overall energy management.
What is technique A in overall energy management?
Analysis of energy use and implementation of a monitoring & targeting (M & T) system.
This is a fundamental energy management technique that must always be implemented first. It ensures that all energy usage is monitored on a regular basis.
Information findings must be spread within the plant, this is of prime importance as it’s in line with awareness training which helps motivate staff.
What is technique B in overall energy management?
An investigation is initiated to look at an area (or areas) oh high energy usage or known inefficiency.
High energy users would be targeted first for example:
electricity - refrigeration, compressed air, large pumps, and conveyor systems.
What are the key processes in the targeted investigation plan?
Audit the process
produce findings
evaluate findings
produce action plan
make modification/investment
re-evaluate process performance
assess energy saving and financial implications.
What is technique C in overall energy management?
Pinch analysis and pinch technology.
-Introduced in 1980’s - provides a systematic approach to analyse energy networks and improve the energy performance of industrial processes.
Uses graphical representations of the energy flows in the process and utility streams, to determine the minimum energy consumption a process should use to meet its specific production requirements.
What are the two steps of pinch technology?
1st Step - composite curves are created considering all the streams within the process that require cooling as “hot” lines & all the streams that require heating as “cold” line. Theory is then compared with the actual amount of utility to pinpoint to what extent there is room for improvement. Where the “hot” and “cold” points come closest to each other are called “pinch point”
Step 2 - aspects that can be improved can be studied from the perspective of energy conservation (savings), operational costs and new plant capital costs.
Finally, the heat exchange network is improved and optimised.
What is approach D of overall energy management?
Alternative technologies.
Require significant capital investment to be realised
Technologies might be:
Combined heat power
Wind power
Generation of methane from biomass.
