Title: Life cycle assessment of microwave tube furnace using analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation

Authors: G. Chen, J.H. Peng, J. Chen

Addresses: Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China. ' Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China. ' Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China

Abstract: Life cycle assessment of designing and manufacturing products has received significant attention in the recent years. Analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation approach on life cycle assessment of microwave tube furnace is used in this study. The effects of the evaluation aspects, such as environmental impact, resource consumption, economy, capability and function, on the mathematical model were systematically investigated. The process involves constructing hierarchical structure, comparing pairwise comparison matrices, establishing assessment criteria, setting weight matrix and fuzzy assessment matrix, and then calculating green degree of microwave tube furnace by fuzzy mathematical method and statistical technique. The results show that microwave tube furnace has a good green degree, which can fulfil the need for green manufacture, especially in energy consumption, processing time and environmental protection. The presented methodology is an easy and practical way to provide a mechanism for improving product quality with low resource consumption and less environment pollution.

Keywords: microwave tube furnaces; life cycle assessment; LCA; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; fuzzy comprehensive evaluation; mathematical modelling; environmental impact; resource consumption; economy; capability; function; green manufacturing; environmental manufacturing; energy consumption; product quality; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2011.041937

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2011 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.252 - 261

Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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