Cumulative calculus and life cycle evaluation

Abstract

In most cases the assumption of the balance boundary is important from the point of view of energy and exergy analysis. Analysis in the local boundary encompassing single component of the system is in many cases constrained only for comparison of similar technologies of resources transformation. For complex analysis the system approach has to be applied, in which the boundary reach the level of primary resources extraction from nature. For the assessment of total resources expenditure burdening the fabrication of particular useful product the calculus of cumulative energy and exergy consumption, analysis of exergy cost or Life Cycle Assessment should be applied. The Chapter presents fundamentals for the mentioned methods.