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Displaying LCA Results using GIS

Life Cycle Assessment looks at the entire life cycle of a product, extending from acquiring the materials to recycling. These processes occur in certain locations (e.g. vehicles are assembled in Detroit, etc.); we can assemble these spatial data into a Geographic Information System (GIS) and show where these processes occur on a map of the globe with the help of GIS software. This research uses ArcGIS to portray where life cycle inventory materials and energy flows occur.  Specifically, I have been working on a case study modeling the life cycle of the PEM fuel cell vehicle. Technologies such as the PEM fuel cell vehicle are not yet commercially available; by incorporating GIS into LCA, we can reveal where:

• materials will be extracted and moved for processing

• emissions will occur

• how maintenance components might be managed

• jobs might be created or lost

Fuel Cell Example

Fuel Cells Fuel cells convert chemical energy directly into electricity. Because there is no intermediate conversion into mechanical energy, the fuel cell is more efficient than the internal combustion engine. In addition, the fuel cell is very clean; its only emissions are electricity, heat, and water if pure hydrogen is used as the fuel. However, there are emissions during other stages of the fuel cell’s life cycle; one of the purposes of doing an LCA is to determine what these emissions are.

The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the most promising type of fuel cell for automotive applications because it has a high power density, can operate at low temperatures, has a relatively quick start-up, and can quickly vary its power output.

As shown in Figure 1, individual fuel cells are combined into a fuel cell stack of the desired power. An individual PEM fuel cell consists of two seals, two flow field plates, and a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). The MEA contains two gas diffusion layers and two platinum catalyst layers surrounding the electrolyte, the proton exchange membrane.

Figure 1. PEM FC Hardware

• Method

I began with a sample problem on the cycle of graphite in the fuel cell vehicle to determine a good way to work with the data. Considerations for developing the approach to work with the data included ease of use, ability to update, and ability to expand to include the life cycles of other systems. Producing maps to display the data entailed Learning how to use ArcGIS Developing the relational database behind the maps Acquiring data on where the processes occur Assigning geographical coordinates to the locations based on zip code, city, state, or country, depending on the precision of the data on the facility and on the availability of geographical coordinates to match that data.

• Results: View Our Maps here!!!

Maps showing the following stages of the Graphite and Platinum Cycles throughout the life cycle of the PEM fuel cell vehicle are shown below: acquiring the materials, producing the components of the fuel cell, assembling the fuel cell stack, assembling the vehicle, using the vehicle, and recycling the materials.

• Conclusions

This research has shown that life cycles can be successfully modeled using GIS. the life cycle of the PEM fuel cell vehicle has been successfully Furthermore, the database can be extended to include the life cycles of other systems. In addition to the graphite and platinum cycles in the fuel cell vehicle, the life cycle of the fuel, hydrogen, is particularly of interest. A next step is therefore to model the life cycle of hydrogen. Further work could include adding quantitative data, such as percentages of platinum mined in different countries. Additional research opportunities lie in:

• optimizing transportation and storage systems throughout the life cycle

• citing materials processing, manufacturing, maintenance, and recycling facilities

Erica Peterson, an undergraduate researcher in the UWME DFE Lab, led this project which is being funded by the Washington Space Grant Program and the Ford Corporation.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Joyce Smith Cooper at cooper@me.washington.edu