Stability Assessment of an Eco-Industrial System Based on Entropy Analysis Method

Abstract

Eco-industrial system is a typical kind of dissipative structure system, and its stability is influenced by industrial metabolism of materials as well as the degree of industrial symbiosis. Based on entropy analysis method, function entropy and structure entropy of the eco-industrial system are put forward to express the chaos of an eco-industrial system, and to evaluate the system stability and evolution direction. This method is implemented on a case study of Xinfa industrial park in China. According to the results, the function entropy showed a trend of decline. Improving of water reuse efficiency and material use efficiency was the main cause, while energy use efficiency constrained the development of Xinfa eco-industrial system. The addition of new node enterprises resulted in an increase of the structure entropy, and at the same time improved the utilization efficiency of upstream enterprises by coupling. Industrial symbiosis and cleaner production were the main ways for Xinfa industrial park to enhance its stability. Entropy analysis method offers an evaluation method with comprehensive consideration for quantifying the stability of eco-industrial system, and lays a ground work for conducting evolution of industrial clusters.