Study on the Method of Constructing Regional Circular Economic Model based on Sy

Abstract. In this paper, by getting a real understanding of the intension of the regional circular economic model and its construction principle, the authors make an analysis on the system integration of the regional circular economic model from material integration, energy integration, technology integration, and information integration, and also briefly propose the application of the construction of regional circular economy model.

Key words:Regional Circulation; Economic Model; System Integration

1. Introduction

Regional circular economy refers to an economy, which is guided by the concept of the circular economy and the principles of the industrial ecology and is based on environment and resource carrying capacities, and organizes the economic and social activities into the feedback flows (resourcesproductsrenewable resources) at different levels and areas through the scientific planning and economic structure and regional industrial layout optimizations within a certain range.

Compared with the development of individual enterprises at "points", regional circular economy is capable of overcoming the problems such as the limited scale and inadequate investment of individual enterprises, and also can exert a more effective role in the huge-investment and wide-range areas such as infrastructure construction.

In the mean time, it is capable of more effectively realizing the high-efficient utilization of resources and energy, and also sharing information and infrastructure to a high degree. Through the development of circular economy in the regions, a symbiosis network for high-efficient industries can be generated at industrial parks or clusters, thus producing agglomeration effect and ecological benefit at the same time, and also promoting regional economy to attain a rapid development further.

2. Basic Principles for the Construction of Regional Circular Economic Model

2.1. Developing regional economy according to local conditions

With the purpose of achieving regional development, it is necessary to give full consideration to natural resources, ecological environment and socio-economic conditions, and select models giving priority to the characteristics of local places, and also scientifically formulate measures for circular economy development. Hence, different development models and supporting technologies can be selected; the industrial structure and layout within regions can be scientifically and rationally adjusted; the coupling of multiple industries can be achieved by taking the realization of the maximum overall effectiveness as principle and the utilization of resources changed from as link.

As a result, an industrial system with unique characteristics can be established, and also the sustainable development of both society and economy can be accomplished.

2.2. Regional integration

To develop circular economy, it is necessary to effectively integrate the advantageous conditions such as industries, resources, environment and social development within regions. Therefore, technical supports and scientific guarantees can be provided for people to correctly select and construct the effective and stable industrial chain of circular economy.

As a result, the maximization of the economic benefits of all chains of the enterprises and industries within the regions can be ensured, and a sustainable development can be realized within the regions at the same time.

2.3. Continuous improvement

Circular economy is a systemic project. At present, the construction of circular model is based on the condition that it meets the characteristics within the regions. The development model of circular economy will spirally and dynamically rise.

Also, it is necessary to make a continuous improvement to the model in the development process.

2.4. Technology first

Development of the circular economy mainly relies on the progress of technologies. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the principles, tools and methods of science and technology to support the development of the circular economy, and also the economic and technical-benefit analysis principles and methods that are capable of improving eco-efficiency. Also, it is necessary to research and develop a good number of platforms and common technologies, which can realize good economic returns, low resource consumption, and little environmental pollution.

To realize all these, international cooperation can be established with other countries, to introduce advanced concepts and prevent national people from taking a roundabout course in development of circular economy.

2.5. Economic feasibility

Relying on advanced concepts, circular economy is capable of playing a role in the adjustment of regional industrial structure. Hence, an ecological industrial chain network can be constructed through industrial layout optimization.

However, it should be noted that in circular economy, the material closed loop is not always blindly adjusted, but sometimes high technical requirements and capital investment are necessary if wasters need to be incorporated into the circular economy industrial chain network.

3. System Integration of Regional Circular Economy

The construction of the regional circular economic model is realized mainly by the means of system integration, which can be primarily reflected from material integration, energy integration, technology integration, and information integration.

3.1. Material integration

In material integration, the upstream and downstream relationships between enterprise members are determined mainly according to the overall regional industry planning, and also the route, throughput and composition of material flow are adjusted using the process integration technology according to the needs of material suppliers. As a result, the construction of the ecological chain of the regional circular economy can be completed.

From the perspective of technical approach, material integration generally includes reuse, material recycling, chemical recycling, waste recycling, and heating recycling.

In waste water integration, water saving technology, grey water recycling, water cycle, water resource integration utilization, and comprehensive water distribution network are mainly considered, for the purposes of reducing the consumption of water resource and the production of waste resource, developing new available water resource, increasing waste water recycling and re-utilization, realizing water multi-purpose, and also providing proper and effective sewage treatments.

In solid waste integration, solid waste production and reduction, waste resource utilization, the resource re-utilization, waste exchange, waste network configuration and comprehensive waste treatment are mainly considered.

In material integration, the idea of the regional circular economy can be reflected by three levels: it is necessary to encourage green products within enterprises, and promote green design of products and green manufacturing technology. In the whole life cycle of product, it is necessary to give priority to the environmental prosperities such as disassembled design, recycling, easy maintenance and re-utilization of product, and also regard these as design objectives, aiming at meeting the goals and needs of environment, ensuring a full and effective utilization to resources, and minimizing the consumption in the whole life cycle of product.

As a result, the needs on material resources and energy are reduced, and simultaneously wastes are eradicated in infancy, reducing the number of wastes to the minimum.

3.2. Energy integration

Energy integration not only requires all enterprises within the regions to independently seek their own maximized utilization efficiency of resources, and also should be aiming at realizing the optimized utilization of the overall energy in an entire region.

Therefore, it is necessary for regional enterprises to carry out an analysis on the energy supply and demand relationship in the entire system, save energy and improve existing technologies and equipments starting from the overall situation, and make an effective allocation on energy, thus realizing the reasonable and effective utilization within the system and minimizing the impacts on environment. It not only includes the effective utilization of energy in every production process but also the energy exchange among all processes.

According to the energy use quality demands of different industries, products, and technologies, it is necessary to plan and design the energy stair-step utilization flow within the regions, bringing energy into full play within the regional circular economy industrial chains.

With the purpose of realizing energy integration, it is necessary to reduce energy consumption within enterprises, and vigorously research and develop energy conservation and utilization technologies at the same time.

The quantity and quality of energy should be also considered by enterprises in its entirety, and also two energy consumption forms (powering and heating) should cooperate with each other. Thus, energy can be utilized with a gradual step for multiple times based on quality. Within regions, central heating from multiple heating sources and areas can be provided in the form of heat and power cogeneration, and ultimately the reliability, safety and stability of the system operation can be improved.

3.3. Technology integration

Promoting clean production and realizing green management are specific ways for the development of circular economy within regions.

In the planning and construction of regional circular economy, it is necessary to introduce and improve existing production technologies of enterprises, and make use of high technology, anti-risk technology, waste use and exchange technology, information technology and management technology for the construction of ecological industry starting from product design and according to the theory of product life cycle and the concept of ecological design, aiming at establishing a high-tech system with minimum resource consumption, minimum waste and pollutant production, and maximum product output.

3.4. Information integration

To establish an effective material recycling and energy integration within regional enterprises, it is highly necessary to carry out it based on a real understanding of the supply and demand information of each other.

In addition, the construction of the regional circular economic model is a process with gradual development and continuous improvement, and a large amount of information is also necessary in this period. These kinds of information include the composition of all sorts of wastes, the flow and final destination of wastes, production information about related industrial chains, market development information, technical information, laws and regulations information, personnel information, and the other areas of information related to ecological industry. This requires regional enterprises establish sound information databases, computer networks and electronic commerce systems.

In information integration, it is also necessary for regional enterprises to pay attention to the diversity of information, the complexity of establishing information systems, as well as the important role of information on the ecological industry.

4. Application of the Construction of the Regional Circular Economic Model

From above analysis, the construction of the regional circular economic model can be conducted from three levels, namely the enterprise internal level, the industrial level among enterprises, and the overall regional level.

In the enterprise internal level, clean production is mainly implemented relying on regional enterprises, and hence the advanced technologies can be introduced and developed to the regions, the existing unreasonable technologies can be changed, the consumption of raw materials can be decreased as far as possible, and especially the input of toxic substances as well as the output of wastes can be cut down in this process.

However, owing to the multiple restrictions from the economic and technical conditions, it is impossible for regional enterprises to totally digest wastes within them. This requires regional enterprises to give consideration to waste treatment from both industrial level and overall regional level. Therefore, it is more necessary for the construction of the regional circular economic model from both industrial level and overall regional level.

5. References

[1] Haireti?Tursun. Durban ecological environment planning [M]. Beijing: Chemistry Industry Press, 2005.

[2] Hongchun Zhou. Cycle Economics [M]. Beijing: Chinese Development Press, 2005.

[3] Zhijun Feng. Introduction to Cycle Economics [M]. Beijing People's Publishing House, 2004.