Process Specific Fuel Analysis

The life cycle analysis of numerous combinations of fuel production pathways and feedstocks are often of interest. However, most fuel cycle models calculate an average result based on the weighted inputs for the U.S. or other regions in the world. Calculating fuel cycle results for an individual pathway requires the composite results of a complex array of model inputs, process assumptions, transportation distances, and regional specific parameters.

For example, the life cycle inventory for important components such as natural gas and electricity vary by region while a fuel pathway typically involves the use of electricity from different regions. Furthermore, the results for primary energy carriers such as diesel and natural gas affect all other fuel pathways. Therefore, fuel cycle models that calculate average emission impacts typically produce incorrect results for individual fuel pathways.

MOUSE Life Cycle Associates solves this problem by applying combining a matrix of life cycle inventory (LCI) data with process specific performance parameters. The energy inputs are represented as the specific energy, which represent the primary energy used in a fuel processing step (not the fuel cycle energy). A specific energy array is multiplied by the LCI matrix to produce a process specific fuel cycle analysis.

The MOUSE tool allows for the efficient development of fuel cycle scenarios that are tied to transparent and well-documented inputs. When used in combination with Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model, this approach eliminates many of the issues associated with an average fuel cycle model. The development of new fuel pathways and calculations for blended fuels are also straightforward.

Taking into account regional and process specific variations with different fuel pathways is impossible without a structured database approach.