Location: RER - Europe
This dataset represents the production of compressed air at a pressure level of 1000 kPa gauge with a small-scale compressor (<30kW) in a network which has a leakage rate of 5% (optimised). Compressed air is used for a large number of production processes in small workshops up to large factories and plants. It is used to operate simple compressed air pistols, manual machining tools and is also used in automated machining centres. A typical compressed air supply system encompasses the following components:
- compressor
- compressed air storage container (optional)
- dryer (optional)
- filter (optional)
- pipe network for distribution
- consumer devices
The distribution network (from the compressor to the final consumer) is part of this dataset. This network cannot be separated since the pressure in the network is maintained by the compressor which is part of the transforming activity. As there is some variation from factory to factory with regard to the LCI, it is advised that in case this dataset becomes important in the results, it is recommended to investigate further if the assumptions made for this dataset are applicable or not. This dataset is based on literature data.
References:
Steiner R. and Frischknecht R. (2007) Metals Processing and Compressed Air Supply. ecoinvent report No. 23. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, 2007.
Undefined unit processes (UPRs) are the unlinked, multi-product activity datasets that form the basis for all of the system models available in the ecoinvent database. This is the way the datasets are obtained and entered into the database by the data providers. These activity datasets are useful for investigating the environmental impacts of a specific activity (gate-to-gate), without regard to its upstream or downstream impacts.