Exergy inefficiency: An indicator for sustainable development analysis

The present days can be considered a crossroad in the history of our world because the economic, social, and environmental needs do not agree one another. The result is the present socio-economic difficulties, from which it seems very difficult to escape. A new viewpoint must be introduced, but it cannot be based on the usual economic indicators. So, a new viewpoint and a new related approach are required. In this paper we suggest three new indicators based on an engineering approach of irreversibility. They allow us to evaluate both the technological level and the environmental impact of the production processes and the socio-economic conditions of the countries. Indeed, they are based on the exergy analysis and on the irreversible thermodynamic approach, in order to evaluate the inefficiency both of the process and of the production systems, and the related consequences. Three applications are summarized in order to highlight the possible interest from different scientists and researchers in engineering, economy, etc, in order to develop sustainable approaches and policies for decision makers. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.