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Thermoeconomics meets industrial ecology

Abstract:

Industrial Ecology involves the transformation of industrial processes from linear to closed loop systems: matter and energy flows which were initially considered as wastes become now re-sources for existing or new processes. In this paper, Thermoeconomics is presented as a systematic and general approach for the analysis of waste flow integration, which characterizes Industrial Ecol-ogy. The formulation is based on extending the thermoeconomic process of wastes cost formation in order to consider their use as input for other processes. Consequently, it can be applied to important Industrial Ecology issues such as identification of integration possibilities and efficiency improvement, quantification of benefits obtained by integration, or determination of fair prices based on physical roots. The capability of the methodology is demonstrated by means of a case study based on the integration of a power plant, a cement kiln and a gas-fired boiler.