Five Life Cycle Stages of Transformers and Inductors
Image: Flickr user Graffiti Land
The US EPA http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/wire-cable/wirecable-factsheet.pdf life cycle factsheet for wire and cable outlines the four following stages for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
* Raw material extraction or acquisition and material processing;* Product manufacture;
* Product use/maintenance; and
* End-of-life disposition.
When dealing with transformers and inductors, we find it helpful to call attention to an additional stage:
* Re-manufacturing/downcyclingThe re-manufacturing/downcycling stage fits into the chronology after Product use/maintenance and before End-of-life disposition. It's important for designers to be aware of the re-manufacturing/downcycling stage early in the product development process.