INTRODUCTION TO SIMAPROHOW TO MODEL?

Stephan Pfister ETH Zurich, Institute for Environmental Engineering, Ecological Systems Design Group

Zürich, May 7, 2018

Based on material from: An De Schryver & Ronnie Juraske (2011)

STRUCTURE OF SIMAPRO

Databases, libraries, processes and product stages

Software program:

• Managing of data

• Storing of data

• Making calculations

• Check the reliability

LCI

LCIA

Intepretation

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Structure of SimaPro Database

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Ecoinvent BUWAL ETH-ESY

Project B

903 MJ

Electricity , low

v oltage,

6,43

7,4 kg

Paper,

wood-containing,

1,13

1 p

Assembly model

Pro (aluminium)

1,4

1 p

Housing Pro

(extruded alumin.)

0,974

3,65E3 p

Filter production

1,19

3,65E3 p

Use of a cof f ee

f ilter

1,31

1 p

Lif e cy cle Pro, no

takeback

9,55

Project A

3,6 MJElectricity, low

voltage, productionUCTE, at

0,0257

0,5 tkmTransport, lorry28t/CH S demo

0,0109

1,5 kgRecycling

aluminium S demo

-1,28

1 pdispose aluminium

part

-1,24

1,5 kgRecycling onlyB250 avoided

demo

-1,28

Project

…

Project 1

0,48 MJ

Heat diesel B250

0,00441

0,22 MJ

Electricity from coal

B250

0,00187

0,353 MJ

Electricity from gas

B250

0,00522

0,72 MJ

Electricity

Netherlands B250

0

0,25 tkm

Truck 28t B250

0

1 kg

Planks

0,00702

Project 2

1,35E3 MJ

Electricity , low

v oltage,

9,62

9,49 kg

Municipal waste

NL 2002 S demo

0,927

8,12 kg

Incineration S

demo

0,948

7,4 kg

Paper,

wood-containing,

1,13

1 p

Lif e cy cle model

Sima (plastic)

12,6

3,65E3 p

Filter production

1,19

3,65E3 p

Use of a cof f ee

f ilter

1,31

General

data

Units

Subst.

Images

…

Ecoinvent BUWAL …

Libraries

77 numbered *.nx1 files

SimaPro libaries

Two types of libraries:

One Method library

• 14 different impact assessment methods within SimaPro

Number of Data libraries

• 2 types:

• Based on physical values: ex, the use of 1kg of paper

• Based on financial values: ex, the use of 1$ of paper (input-output libraries)4

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Ecoinvent 3.2 library

• More than 10’000 processes • Including capital goods, Good quality

• For some processes: regional differences (Swiss and average Europe)

• American, Asian electricity mixes, agricultural processes,…

• Uncertainty in the data (MC)

• In SimaPro picture provided with most processes

• Consistent and well documented

• Updated regularly

• Includes Unit processes and System processes

For more info: www.ecoinvent.ch5

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Ecoinvent processes

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Unit processes: large network

for every process

System processes: aggregated data (one box per process)

Process A

Process B

Process F

Process C

Process D Process E

Process G

Process A

Why? Process A

Process B

Process F

Process C

Process D

Process E

Process G

HOW TO MODEL IN SIMAPRO?

Introduction to different functions

Search for the database: Browse !

C/users/Public/Public documents/Simapro/Database

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How to model in SimaPro

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Create a new project: Introduction to SimaPro

Open a project

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Explore SimaPro

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Navigate through SimaPro

Look at the libraries: select ecoinvent allocation recycled content, unit

Click on description

Click on processes

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Explore SimaPro

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Available dataLibrary

Organized

START MODELLING IN SIMAPRO

Some simple exercises

Case study: water bottle

• Learn how to model in SimaPro

• Model the production of a plastic water bottle

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Non reusable plastic bottle

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Model a material (under processes)

New material

Choose a folder or make a new one

Model a material (under processes)

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Name of the material

Input materials and processes (double click to add)

Emissions to air, water and soil.

Search function (project and libraries)

• TO be added

• Also discuss Verteilung / distribution

• UCTE medium voltage problem

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Waste type

• Within SimaPro each material is send to waste scenario

• Waste scenario describes where waste is going

• Waste treatment describes the emissions per kg waste land filled or burned

• This is based on the waste type

You flag the material

Waste scenario send waste to specific waste treatment16

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Summary: Model a material (under processes)

• Have a look in SimaPro

• Make a new folder

• Open a new process

• Several Tabs

• Documentation: Description and specification of the data

• Input/ Output: The data of your process

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EXERCISE 1: MODEL WATER BOTTLE USING PROCESSES

Model a material

• Material a: 20gr of Plastic bottle• 22gr of PET (RER, S)

• Blow molding of the plastic (RER, S)

• 2 gr waste during production: municipal incineration (treatment)

• Material b: 3gr of plastic cap• 3.75 gr Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, ABS

• 0.75gr of waste during production: municipal incineration, plastic mixture

Work on your own: 15min19

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Use ecoinvent unit processes

Combine your materials

• Model the full plastic bottle

• 20gr bottle

• 3gr of cap

• Pumping, purifying & filling process: 0.02 kWh/bottle (UCTE electricity mix, medium voltage)

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Use unit processes

Work on your own: 10min

Have a look at the network

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Analyze options: tree, network, comparison

Select method

Calculate

Have a look at the network

• See how the life cycle is taking form

• Cradle to gate level/ not LC yet

• Main features of the Network

• Take a look at the inventory list

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Have a look at the tree

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Model the life cycle

• 1 water bottle of 23g

• 2x 50km transport, lorry 20-28 ton

• Disposal to incineration scenario CH

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Use unit processes

Modeling details

• Modeling transport

• “ton x km” or “kg x km”

• 50% loaded, full to go & empty on return

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Have a look at the network

• See how the life cycle is taking form

• Main features of the network

• Different options

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Have a look at the tree

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IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN SIMAPRO

Characterisation, normalization,…

Result interpretation:

• Analyse if the flows make sense

• Look at the network with a 0,1 % cut-off

• How much material goes in the system

• How much material goes of the system to the waste scenario?

• What are the processes that contribute with most of the impact

• Check the thicknesses of the arrows

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Analyze impact of plastic bottle

Different impact assessment steps

Presentation

Analyze impact of plastic bottle

Process contribution

Inventory

EXERCISE 3: GLASS WATER BOTTLE

Case study 2: Glass bottle

• Model on your own in SimaPro

• Model the production and use of glass bottled water

• Use system processes

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Model the materials

• Material a: 200gr glass bottle• 210 gr white (virgin) glass

• glass blowing: 0.01kWh

• 10gr waste scenario

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• Material b: 5gr aluminum cap• 5gr aluminum

• production process

Use system processes

Model Assembly and LC: use product stages

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• Assembly: bottled water• glass bottle

• aluminum cap

• process bottling: 0.02kWh

• Life cycle: Glass water bottle• bottled water

• transport

• waste

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Modeling results

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Assembly Life cycle

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Glass bottle Aluminum cap

Have a look at the network

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EXERCISE 5:COMPARE PLASTIC BOTTLE AND GLASS BOTTLE

Compare both products

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Thank you for your attention.

pfister@ifu.baug.ethz.ch

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EXERCISE 2: MODEL WATER BOTTLE USING PRODUCT STAGES

Model an assembly

• Model the full plastic bottle

• bottle

• cap

• Pumping, purifying & filling process

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Model an assembly

• Have a look in SimaPro

• Product stages: New assembly

• Several Tabs

• Input/ Output and comment: The data of your assembly

• Parameters: Input of variable data as functions

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Model an assembly

• Model 1p of plastic bottle

• 20gr bottle

• 3gr of cap

• pumping, purifying & filling process: 0.02 kWh/bottle (UCTE electricity mix S)

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Use system processes

Have a look at the tree

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Analyze options: tree, network, comparison, monte carlo,…

Select method

Have a look at the tree

• See how the life cycle is taking form

• Cradle to gate level/ not LC yet

• Main features of the Network

• Take a look at the inventory list

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Have a look at the tree

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Model a life cycle

• Have a look in SimaPro

• Product stages: New life cycle

• Several Tabs

• Input/ Output and comment: The data of your assembly

• Parameters: Input of variable data as functions

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Model a life cycle

• 1p water bottle

• 2x 50km transport, lorry 20-28 ton

• disposal to incineration scenario CH

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Use system processes

Modeling details

• Modeling transport

• Ton x km or kg x km

• 50% loaded, full to go & empty to return

• Disposal to incineration

• With or without energy recovery

• Avoided product can be used: avoid electricity or heat production

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Have a look at the network

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EXERCISE 6:MODEL WITH PARAMETERS (APPLY TO PLASTIC BOTTLE)

Model with parameters

Insert a variable instead of constant data

When??• Preliminary data is available, inputs could change if better data is available• Different input values can be used to calculate more versions of the same life

cycle• Reduce the possibility of making calculation mistakes. Easy to check

• Insert calculation rules instead of constant data as input data.• Available for all processes and product stages• With or without uncertainty distribution

• Calculation rule:• Defined in SimaPro• Based on input parameter

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Exercise 6.1: Model bottling with parameters

• Electricity use for bottling• Uncertain value

• Combination of values

• Input parameters (apply to plastic bottle)• ‘pumping&cleaning’: 0.015kWh/l

• ‘filling ’: 0.005kWh/l

• Calculated parameter• bottling=‘pumping&cleaning + filling’

• Process input data• ‘bottling‘

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Exercise 6.2: Model transport with parameters

• Use Input parameters for distance and weight

• Use a calculated parameter for transport

• Replace transport within case study 1 by a calculation rule

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Switches: • Local: Distance <=50km

• Regional: 50km<distance and distance>150km

• Abroad: Distance=>150km

Exercise 6.3: Different distances-different transport

• Process sheet:

• Parameter tap: Make the necessary switch parameters

which are 1 when the distance is conform the scenario

• In the input for transport: add two lines for the transport with a van and transport with lorry 20-28t. Multiply inputs by the corresponding switches

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Scenario Distance Transport mode

1. Local Smaller or equal than 50km van < 3,5t/RER S

2. Regional Between 50 and 150km Lorry of 16t, fleet average/RER

3. Abroad Bigger or equal than 150km Lorry of 20-28t, fleet average/RER

Compare different versions of your model

• First parameters are defined at process/project or database level

• A Calculation setup can be used to define two or more scenarios

• Each scenario considers different values for the parameter

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