Renewable energy utilization in apple production process: A thermodynamic approach

摘要

Horticultural inputs have various potential environmental impacts which can be simultaneously evaluated by input-output energy methods. This technique is considered as an appropriate evaluation method to analyze ecosystems through recognizing, quantifying, and appraising resources depleted and released within the environment. This study aims to apply the thermodynamic approach to maximize the decision-making information on the environmental impacts of energy consumption in the apple production process. In this case, two different scenarios of energy and exergy flow during the apple production process are assessed thermodynamically and the environmental effects of these scenarios are evaluated. The first scenario is based on conventional agriculture carried out by using almost no renewable energy source, while in the second scenario, renewable energy sources including hydroelectricity, biodiesel, and microbial fertilizers are employed. The results indicated that in the second scenario, the Cumulative Exergy Consumption (CECx) and exergy loss are decreased by more than 93% and 74%, respectively (584.5 and 3023 MJ.ton(-1)), while the Cumulative Degree of Perfection (CDP) and Renewability Index (RI) are increased by 6.01 and 0.83, respectively. Additionally, in this scenario, the Cumulative Carbon Dioxide emission (CCO2) was decreased to 11.23 kg.ton(-1). The results also indicated that the application of microbial fertilizers along with improving the irrigation system can decrease the total energy-exergy loss and total input costs of the apple production process. The results of the present study pointed a direction for the invention and development of new technologies or methodologies in agricultural productions to improve the energy-exergy flow and mitigate CO(2 )emission in the future.