Structure stability analysis of industrial system and construction of eco-industrial chain: A case study of Lianyungang Xuwei New Area, China

Structure stability analysis is a vital prerequisite for the construction of eco-industrial chain. This study proposed four steps for applying an integrated structure stability index, which was derived to characterize both the diversity and equilibrium of eco-industrial chain, to structure stability analysis, and searching a final eco-industrial chain with the highest structure stability as follows: (1) analyzing links and link points of existing and planned industries through material and energy flow analysis; (2) identifying supplementary industries, which are integrated with pillar industries to enhance structure stability, through forward diffusion effect, backward diffusion effect and sideward diffusion effect analysis of pillar industries; (3) testing industrial structure stability by introducing an integrated structure stability index; (4) coupling of all definitized links and link points.These four steps were applied to a case study of Lianyungang Xuwei New Area, China. The results showed that: (1) there were 9 link points and 17 links of the planned five pillar industries in this area; (2) cement, building materials, chemical fertilizer, fine chemicals and marine chemicals with newly added 23 link points and 44 links should be considered as the supplementary industries; (3) the improvement in structure stability was confirmed by the integrated structure stability index increasing from 0.116 to 0.158 after adding supplementary industries; and (4) the final “steel–petrochemical-equipment manufacturing-logistics-IGCC polygeneration” eco-industrial chain was constructed by coupling 32 link points and 61 links. Therefore, by taking pillar industries as the kernel and by introducing an integrated structure stability index for the verification of stability improvement in industrial structure, these proposed four steps were proved to be an effective process and feasible method for enhancing the stability of eco-industrial system structure.