The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean)
Other Authors: Timothy G. Gutowski.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39876
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author Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean)
author2 Timothy G. Gutowski.
author_facet Timothy G. Gutowski.
Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean)
author_sort Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean)
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007.
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spelling mit-1721.1/398762020-04-07T21:26:52Z The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean) Timothy G. Gutowski. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007. This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Includes bibliographical references. Metal casting is an energy and materials intensive manufacturing process, which is an important U.S. industry. This study analyzes iron casting, in particular, for possible improvements that will result in greater efficiencies and therefore greater global competitiveness. The quantity and types of materials and energy used are dependent on the technologies selected and the cast part parameters. The most energy intensive step is melting, which is explored with an input-output analysis and an energy comparison of three major technologies: cupola melting and the heel and batch types of coreless electric induction melting. The major goal of this project is the creation of a material and energy flow model of the typical iron casting facility. This input-output process model is used to analyze the effect that different melting technologies will have on energy, materials and pollution, including selected upstream processes. Findings show that energy and the associated carbon dioxide emissions vary widely with melting technology and the relative benefits depend on where the boundaries are drawn in the analysis. (cont.) An understanding of the current technology then allows for the analysis of new technologies under development and how they will affect the facility in terms of material and energy use, pollution and economics. The model is based on data collected from partner casting companies. The study concludes with a review of the available policy options which can improve the environmental profile of the facilities. by Alissa J. Jones. S.M. 2009-03-20T19:40:03Z 2009-03-20T19:40:03Z 2007 2007 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39876 181655903 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 112 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Jones, Alissa J. (Alissa Jean)
The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title_full The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title_fullStr The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title_full_unstemmed The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title_short The industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
title_sort industrial ecology of the iron casting industry
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39876
work_keys_str_mv AT jonesalissajalissajean theindustrialecologyoftheironcastingindustry
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