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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Pollution prevention assessment for a manufacturer of power supplies

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/125055· OSTI ID:125055
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
  2. University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of waste but who lack the expertise to do so. In an effort to assist these manufacturers Waste Minimization Assessment Centers (WMACs) were established at selected universities and procedures were adapted from the EPA Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual. The WMAC team at Colorado State University performed an assessment at a plant that manufacturers power supplies from printed circuit boards and electronic components. Through-hole components are attached to the boards using a wave soldering machine. Surface-mounted components are mounted onto the boards which are then combined with cases, frames, and other prefabricated parts to form power supplies. The product is then tested and shipped. The assessment team`s report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that waste cooling water is generated in large quantities in the testing and burn-in area, and that significant cost savings could be achieved through the installation of a closed-loop cooling system. This Research Brief was developed by the principal investigators and EPA`s National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH, to announce key findings of an ongoing research project that is fully documented in a separate report of the same title available from University City Science Center.

Research Organization:
National Risk Management Research Lab., Cincinnati, OH (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
125055
Report Number(s):
EPA--600/S-95/025; ON: DE96004033
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English