openLCA Tutorial

Basic Modelling with Parameters

Software Version: 1.10

Manual Version: 1.2 (March 2020)

1
Table of Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4
2 Goal and Scope.......................................................................................................... 5
3 Parameters ................................................................................................................. 6
4 Modelling with parameters ................................................................................... 7
4.1 Create global parameters .............................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Create a product system ............................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Create parameters on the process level ....................................................................................... 8
4.4 Using parameters on the project level ........................................................................................ 11

5 Feedback & Contact ................................................................................................16

Figures
Figure 1: Product system PET Bottle Life Cycle ................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 2: Hierarchy of parameter levels ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Figure 3: Create a new global parameter ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 4: Input/Output tab of the process PET Transport B ......................................................................................................... 9
Figure 5: Parameters tab of the process PET Transport B .............................................................................................................. 9
Figure 6: Input/Output tab of the process PET Bottle Use ........................................................................................................... 10
Figure 7: Input/Output tab of the process PET Transport C for case 1 ....................................................................................... 10
Figure 8: Model graph of the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle - Case 1 ........................................................................... 10
Figure 9: Project setup for comparison of the product system in case 1 and 2 ....................................................................... 12
Figure 10: Environmental impact results for the product system in case 1 and 2 .................................................................. 13
Figure 11: Project setup for comparison of variant 1 and 2 ............................................................................................................ 14
Figure 12: Environmental impact results of variant 1 and 2 ......................................................................................................... 15
Tables
Table 1: Transport types and distances for each case ...................................................................................................................... 5
Table 2: Inputs for creating global parameters (Case 1) .................................................................................................................. 7
Table 3: Inputs for creating parameters on the process level for case 1 .................................................................................... 8
Table 4: Inputs for creating the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle ....................................................................................... 8
Table 5: Inputs for creating parameters on the project level ...................................................................................................... 13
1 Introduction
This text focuses on basic modelling with parameters using the 1.10 version of openLCA and includes using
global and local parameters on different levels, such as process and project levels. If you feel that some
steps are missing (instructions are not clear enough), please first read the ‘openLCA 1.10 - Basic Modelling’
documentation which is available on the openLCA website.
Please note that the example given is not a comprehensive LCA case study with realistic data. The example
given is for instructional purposes only and is not meant to be accurate.
The example given is based on the product system modelled in the tutorial "openLCA 1.10 - Basic
Modelling" using the ELCD database 3.2 and the LCIA method package openLCA LCIA methods v2.0.4, both
of which are available free of charge on the Nexus web repository (https://nexus.openlca.org/databases).
The solved version of this database is linked in the ‘openLCA 1.10 - Basic Modelling’ tutorial.
2 Goal and Scope
In this tutorial, the product system PET Bottle Production modelled in the previous tutorial ‘openLCA 1.10
- Basic Modelling’ (available in the openLCA website) will be extended to a ‘PET Bottle Life Cycle’ product
system. The environmental impacts of different transport types and distances are modelled with
parameters in openLCA.

Figure 1: Product system PET Bottle Life Cycle

It was assumed that the lorry transports are carried out with the process Lorry transport, Euro 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
mix, 22 t total weight, 17,3t max payload - RER in case 1 and 2 and the rail transports are conducted with
Rail transport, technology mix, diesel driven, cargo - RER process (ELCD database 3.2). Furthermore, it was
assumed that the empty water bottle after usage is transported to landfill as final disposal.

Table 1: Transport types and distances for each case

Process Case 1 Case 2

PET Transport A 500 km lorry 500 km lorry

PET Transport B 300 km lorry 300 km rail

PET Transport C 50 km lorry 50 km lorry

3 Parameters
Parameters can be used instead of concrete values for inputs and outputs in openLCA. It is possible to
define parameters as simple values, formulas, or complex functions.
Parameters are available on different levels:

• Process
• Product system
• Project
• LCIA method
• Database

Figure 2: Hierarchy of parameter levels

Note! Parameters modelled on higher levels (e.g. project level), will overwrite parameters created on
lower levels (e.g. process level).
4 Modelling with parameters

4.1 Create global parameters

To create a new global parameter, double click the database elements Indicators and parameters, right-
click next to Global parameters and select New Parameter. Enter the parameter names and amounts
according to table 2.
The global parameters created are now available on all levels within the active database (e.g. process,
product system, etc.)

Table 2: Inputs for creating global parameters (Case 1)

Process Parameter Name Amount

PET Transport A TA 500

PET Transport B TB 300

PET Transport C TC 50

Figure 3: Create a new global parameter

4.2 Create a product system

The processes PET Granulate Production, PET Transport A, and PET Bottle Filling were already modelled in
the product system PET Bottle Production of the ‘openLCA 1.10 - Basic Modelling’ documentation.
Create the flow PET Bottle, filled, transported with the flow type product flow and the reference property
Number of items. Create the flow PET Bottle, empty with the flow type product flow and the reference
property Mass. Create the flow PET Bottle, empty, transported with the flow type product flow and the
reference property Number of Items.
4.3 Create parameters on the process level
Then, create the process PET Transport B with the quantitative reference flow PET Bottle, filled,
transported.
In the Input parameter section of the parameter tab of the process created, you can add the parameters
on the process level according to table 3. In the Input/Outputs tab, you can enter the input flows and
according to table 4. Add the input flow Transport in t*km twice and select the provider Lorry transport,
Euro 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 mix, 22 t total weight, 17,3t max payload - RER for case 1 and Rail transport, technology mix,
diesel driven, cargo - RER for case 2. The parameter Rail is set to zero, so the input flow connected to the
rail transport process is switch off and will not be considered for the process in case 1.
The process modelled with the transport types as parameters on the process level allows for switching on
and off the transport types depending on the case considered. Modelling the process PET Transport B with
parameters this way, it can be used for both cases, instead of creating a process for each case.

Table 3: Inputs for creating parameters on the process level for case 1

Process Parameter Name Value Description

PET Transport B Lorry 1 0 if not used, 1 if used

PET Transport B Rail 0 0 if not used, 1 if used

Table 4: Inputs for creating the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle

Process Quantitative reference Input Flows Amount Comment

PET Transport B PET Bottle, filled, transported PET Bottle, filled 1.065 kg

Transport in t*km 1.065 kg * TB * Lorry Case 1

Transport in t*km 1.065 kg * TB * Rail Case 2

PET Bottle Use PET Bottle, empty PET Bottle, filled, transported 1 item

PET Transport C PET Bottle, empty, transported PET Bottle, empty 0.065 kg
 Transport in t*km 0.065kg * TC

Landfill of plastic waste -0.065 kg

Create the processes PET Bottle Use and PET Transport C with the respective the input flows and
quantitative references as output flows, adjust the amount, and select the provider according to table 4.
The process PET Transport C reflects the transportation of the empty water bottle after usage to the final
disposal. Currently, waste modelling in openLCA (using the ELCD database) is modelled in ‘reverse
direction’: waste is not modelled as an output flow of the process generating the waste, but as an input
flow with a negative sign.

Figure 4: Input/Output tab of the process PET Transport B

Figure 5: Parameters tab of the process PET Transport B

 Figure 6: Input/Output tab of the process PET Bottle Use

Figure 7: Input/Output tab of the process PET Transport C for case 1

After having modelled the processes, you can create the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle with the
reference process PET Transport C by selecting Auto-link processes and Only link default providers. The
product system created should look like figure 8.

Figure 8: Model graph of the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle
4.4 Using parameters on the project level
Create the project Water Bottle Life Cycle - Case 1 vs Case 2, select the LCIA method ILCD 2011 Midpoint+
and the following the impact categories:

• Acidification
• Climate change
• Ozone depletion

In the Compared product systems section of project setup, add the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle
and name it Case 1. Then, add the product system PET Bottle Life Cycle again and name it Case 2.
In the Parameters section of the project setup, add the process parameters, Lorry and Rail. Then, change
the amount for the parameter Lorry in case 2 to the amount of zero and the amount for the parameter
Rail in Case 2 to the amount of 1. By changing the amounts of the process parameters on a higher hierarchy
level, such as the project level, the parameters on the lower level (process level) will be overwritten. Since
the global parameters defined for the transport distances are available on LCIA methods level and have
the same amount in both cases, they do not need to be added in the parameter section.
Figure 9: Project setup for comparison of the product system in case 1 and 2
 Figure 10: Environmental impact results for the product system in case 1 and 2

Now duplicate the project by using copy and paste and rename it Water Bottle Life Cycle - Variant 1 vs
Variant 2. Select the same LCIA method and impact categories as described above. Rename the product
system options Transport_normal as option 1 and Transport_long as option 2.
Clear the parameters section and then add the global parameters TA, TB, and TC. Adjust the amounts of
the parameters for the variant Transport_long according to table 5.

Table 5: Inputs for creating parameters on the project level

Process Case 1 Transport_normal Transport_long

PET Transport A 500 km lorry 500 2000

PET Transport B 300 km lorry 300 1200

PET Transport C 50 km lorry 50 200

Figure 11: Project setup for comparison of variant 1 and 2
Figure 12: Environmental impact results of variant 1 and 2
5 Feedback & Contact
GreenDelta GmbH, the developer of openLCA, offers openLCA users prioritised and guaranteed
professional openLCA support via the GreenDelta helpdesk (https://www.openlca.org/helpdesk/). Free
(User2User) support for openLCA is available https://ask.openlca.org/.
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