Paper_Clip_Tutorial Part1.pdf - GaBi Software

Procedure
11 Elementary and non-elementary flows and tracking
11.01 Elementary & non-elemntary flows
In order to calculate the potential environmental impact of a system, GaBi needs to
understand the nature of the input and output flows. In GaBi, all flows must be defined as
either an elementary or non-elementary flows.
Elementary flows are flows that enter the technosphere directly from nature (those you can
find in the Resources flow-folder) and flows that exit the technosphere directly to nature
(e.g. all flows in the Emissions to air, water and soil folders). In our system, iron ore for the
production of steel is an elementary flow entering the paper clip technosphere. Carbon
dioxide emissions, arising from production, are an elementary flow leaving the paper clip
technosphere.
Non-elementary flows are flows that move only within the technosphere. They are not
entering directly from the natural world and do not exit the technosphere to the natural
world.
11.02 Flow types in GaBi
GaBi requires that you specify, within a process, if a flow is an elementary flow, a waste
flow or a tracked flow.
11.03 Tracked flows
Tracked flows include valuable substance and energy flows that can be used in another
process. A tracked output flow can be connected with a tracked input flow of the following
process in the process chain. A connection between plans and processes by tracked flows
is also possible.
11.04 Waste flows
Waste flows are, not surprisingly, waste flows that require additional processing within or
outside of the current system but that remain within the technosphere.
11.05 Specifying flow type
You need to tell GaBi which of the entered inputs and outputs are tracked, waste or
elementary flows. When entering flows, GaBi will enter the type of flow automatically.
However, you can modify this if necessary.
44. Click in the ‘Tracked flow’ field until the appropriate symbol appears.
Tracking a flow with an X or star indicates that these flows will remain in the technosphere
and represent a tracked flow and a waste flow respectively. This allows you to connect the
flow to another process or plan.
45. Steel wire is a valuable substance, so specify it as a tracked flow by clicking in the
‘Tracked flows’ box until an ‘X’ appears.
46. Electric power is also a valuable substance and so is the paper clip.
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