Blockchain VOC Emission Tracking Across Manufacturing Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers seek accurate tracking of environmental pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), generated during the manufacturing process to understand the environmental impact of their purchases.
Innovation Solution
A system using sensors to measure VOC emissions at each stage of manufacturing, associating detected emissions with lot numbers, and storing data on a blockchain for later evaluation, allowing access to determine total emissions associated with consumer or industrial products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor data from multiple manufacturing stages is collected and stored to track VOC emissions, then measurement precision and data completeness improve, but device complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the manufacturing process into distinct stages (e.g., mixing, extrusion, molding) and assigns sensors to each stage independently. Each sensor captures VOC data for its specific stage, and the blockchain stores data in segmented blocks corresponding to each manufacturing stage. This segmentation allows precise tracking at each stage without requiring a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain as an intermediary layer between sensors and end-users. The blockchain receives raw sensor data, processes it into standardized emission profiles, and stores it immutably. This intermediary automates data aggregation and verification, reducing the management burden on users while maintaining high measurement precision.
2Loss of information
If detailed VOC emission data is stored for every manufacturing stage, then data completeness improves, but information storage requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of sensor data by generating emission profiles that summarize key VOC characteristics (species, concentrations, temporal patterns) at each manufacturing stage. These pre-processed profiles are stored on the blockchain, allowing users to retrieve comprehensive emission information without processing raw sensor data, thus reducing retrieval time while maintaining data completeness.
3Reliability
If blockchain technology is used to store manufacturing emission data, then data reliability and traceability improve, but manufacturing cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional blockchain system that simultaneously provides data storage, immutable recording, automated verification, and emission profile generation. This universal system handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components, reducing overall system complexity and implementation cost while maintaining high reliability through blockchain's inherent security and traceability features.
Data Source
AI summary
Among other things, data characterizing a manufacturing process is received. An amount and species of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during manufacturing is determined based on the data characterizing the manufacturing process. The data characterizing the amount and species of VOCs released during the manufacturing process is provided.