Das Projekt "MATREX - Ein globaler Ansatz nach dem 2. Hauptsatz der Thermodynamik zur Bewertung von Energieumwandlungs-Systemen unter Beruecksichtigung oekonomische und oekologischer Faktoren" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Institut de Thermique, Laboratoire d'Energetique Industrielle durchgeführt. Develop the foundations and application of a methodology for the optimum design and performance evaluation of energy conversion systems. Based on the 2nd Law of thermodynamics, it will simultaneously take into account not only the thermodynamics of a system being analyzed, but also the economics of the capital equipment used and the impact which pollution and the use of natural resources have on the environment. The resulting mathematical models incorporate the same types of assumptions used in more traditional approaches, assumptions based on good engineering practice. Specific features such as the introduction of penalty factors for pollution and the use of natural resources are being developed as well as a consistent Second Law basis (both from a manufacturing and recycling standpoint) for the value of the capital equipment used in such systems. All these elements are incorporated into the optimization of an overall model of the system.