Keywords
life cycle assessment
aluminium pistons
steel pistons
How to Cite
Abstract
The main aim of the study was to compare two technologies of diesel engine piston manufacturing. Additionally, a simplified analysis was also made for the operation stage. The environmental impact was determined using a life cycle assessment. The research was conducted in four phases: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory, life cycle impact assessment and interpretation. From the perspective of production itself, the aluminium pistons have been revealed to be a better option. However, differing emission characteristics and lower impact while in operation have compensated for the differences resulting from production and equalised the environmental impact of both solutions. Despite less environmentally friendly production, the fact that steel pistons are used in newer generations of engines means that, in terms of the two analysed life cycle stages, both solutions are environmentally comparable. The environmental hot spots of the production processes turned out to be different, although in both cases, they are associated with energy consumption. The research is of an applied nature with reference to real production processes and with highlights of the importance of factoring in the perspective of life cycle.
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