Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (including cathode ray tubes)

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR governs foreground data production for finished electron valves and tubes whose electron transport occurs in a sealed vacuum or gaseous envelope, including thermionic, cold-cathode and photo-cathode devices and CRTs. The representative foreground starts with a purchased or separately modelled unsealed assembly and covers final preparation, sealing, evacuation, activation, ageing, testing and packing. Upstream fabrication must remain linked. A mass-declared dataset is not a claim that different tube functions are equivalent. [un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025; epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984; hamamatsu-about-pmts]

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.radio-television-and-communication-equipment-and-apparatus.thermionic-cold-cathode-or-photo-cathode-valves-and-tubes-including-cathode-ray-tubes
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 47140; classification context, not an accepted mapping decision
covered_products	Finished thermionic, cold-cathode and photo-cathode electron tubes, including CRTs
excluded_products	Open glass envelopes and separate parts; semiconductor devices; electric lamps; complete television sets, monitors and instruments; X-ray apparatus
representative_product	One declared model of a sealed glass-envelope vacuum electron tube
production_route	Unsealed assembly receipt; optional water rinse; electric sealing and evacuation; cathode/getter activation; ageing and acceptance testing; optional corrugated box packing
market_state	New, sealed, tested tube at factory gate; net tube mass excludes transport packaging

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Electron control, amplification, switching, light detection or image production, as declared for the specific model
How much	Declared unit: 1 kg of accepted finished tubes of one model; record item count and mean net mass
How well	Meet declared manufacturer acceptance tests, electrical ratings and model-specific response requirements
How long or cycle	One manufacturing campaign; service life is a disclosed product qualifier, not included operational energy
reference_flow_link	finished_tube

Field	Value
Reference amount	1
Reference product flow	Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (including cathode ray tubes) ac3173f5-f70e-4122-a541-ac35b54330cc
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	Tube model and function; cathode type; envelope material and lead content; vacuum or gas fill and pressure; finished dimensions; net mass per item; electrical ratings; CRT screen or photocathode response when applicable; acceptance tests and reject criteria; declared life and duty; assembly starting state; site, period and upstream coverage

Required qualifiers must be recorded in dataset metadata, product description or equivalent fields; missing qualifiers make the reference flow incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
net_mass	finished tubes	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Cross-check output using measured item count times model mean net mass; do not normalize by packed gross mass.
energy_conversion	electricity	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66	MJ	Retain raw kWh; convert with 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ; upstream grid emissions are not direct emissions here.
water_mass	rinse water	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	For volume-to-mass conversion retain measured density and temperature; do not silently assume density.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Unsealed assembly with fabricated envelope, electrodes and functional surfaces; disclose whether getter and frit are already incorporated
starting_condition_role	intermediate_product
product_classification_scope	Finished tubes within CPC 47140; unsealed assembly is a separately identified same-category precursor
recursive_input_rule	Record the unsealed input once with its upstream dataset and exact fabrication state; do not link it recursively to the finished-tube dataset
upstream_dataset_requirement	Include envelope, electrode, cathode, phosphor or photocathode fabrication and assembly in linked supplier or separate foreground datasets; verify no gap at the interface
disclosure	Disclose gate-to-gate foreground and upstream links separately; use and end-of-life are downstream scenarios

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
boundary_operations	foreground	Include actual sealing, evacuation, activation, ageing, failed tests, rework energy and waste transfers. The historical EPA sequence and modern PMT description support these operations; neither supplies a current plant inventory.	epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984; hamamatsu-about-pmts
boundary_extension	route	The tabulated route uses electric heating and a dry vacuum pump. For gas-filled, fuel-heated, oil-pumped, in-house coated or CRT externally coated/banded routes, add measured atomic exchanges and supplier links for the actual operation before claiming completeness; do not assign zeros to uncollected exchanges.
boundary_waste	waste	Record rejected whole tubes separately from dismantled glass, and rinse wastewater as a waste transfer to identified treatment. If treatment is on site, add treatment inputs, sludge and measured species discharged at the environmental boundary; do not count the same pollutant again as untreated wastewater.	epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
rinse	Final water rinse	conditional	Water-only rinsing is performed after assembly receipt	foreground production	1 kg accepted tubes
finish	Seal, evacuate, activate and test	required	All datasets	foreground production	1 kg accepted tubes
pack	Corrugated box packing	conditional	Corrugated boxes cross the delivery boundary	foreground production	1 kg accepted tubes

Process: Final water rinse (rinse)

Inputs

Product flows

Process Water (rinse_water)

Include only water-only final rinsing actually performed; meter fresh water, not recirculated throughput.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_rinse
• Sources: epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984

Outputs

Waste flows

Wastewater from cleaning (rinse_wastewater)

Include when rinsing discharges a liquid waste stream; record mass, composition and treatment destination.

• Selected flow: Wastewater from cleaning f0402393-e82c-47e8-9cd8-a486c97f3e89
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_rinse
• Sources: epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984

Process: Seal, evacuate, activate and test (finish)

Inputs

Product flows

Assembled electronic valve or tube, unsealed (unsealed_assembly)

Measure net assemblies consumed including those later rejected; link the exact upstream fabrication state.

• Selected flow: Assembled electronic valve or tube, unsealed 5a46a125-0b34-4e90-b714-2e46bb5c1257
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_lot
• Sources: hamamatsu-about-pmts

Lead-containing glass sealing frit (sealing_frit)

inclusion_condition: frit sealing occurs and frit is not already in the assembly inventory; weigh dry frit and declare binder separately if used.

• Selected flow: Lead-containing glass sealing frit
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_lot
• Sources: epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984

BaAl4/Ni evaporable getter device (getter_device)

inclusion_condition: this purchased getter is installed in the foreground and is not already included in the unsealed assembly; measure the whole device mass. Activation deposits barium inside the tube, not automatically into ambient air.

• Selected flow: BaAl4/Ni evaporable getter device
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_lot
• Sources: saes-ep1402554a1

Electricity (electricity)

Meter sealing, bakeout, dry pumping, activation, ageing and acceptance tests, including rejected units; allocate auxiliary operations once.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / MJ; unit group 93a60a57-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_energy

Outputs

Product flows

Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (including cathode ray tubes) (finished_tube)

Weigh accepted sealed tubes without transport packaging; reconcile item count and acceptance logs.

• Selected flow: Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (including cathode ray tubes) ac3173f5-f70e-4122-a541-ac35b54330cc
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_lot

Waste flows

Rejected sealed electron tube (rejected_tube)

Record intact rejected tubes transferred out for treatment or recovery, with envelope composition and destination; do not substitute mixed electronic scrap.

• Selected flow: Rejected sealed electron tube
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_lot
• Sources: epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984

Process: Corrugated box packing (pack)

Inputs

Product flows

corrugated board boxes (corrugated_box)

Include only when this box is used; weigh net box consumption per dispatched accepted tube mass. Add any actual cushioning as separate identified exchanges.

• Selected flow: corrugated board boxes 4f197bec-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg; unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
• Amount rule: Collect campaign quantity under the linked protocol; normalize by accepted net tube mass in the same campaign.
• Value mode: foreground_record
• Specificity: site_specific
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg accepted net finished tube mass
• Basis kind: reference_flow
• Evidence kind: collected_record
• Collection protocol: cp_pack

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivide	shared_equipment	Use direct campaign meters first. Allocate shared vacuum and oven electricity by measured equipment power multiplied by occupied operating time, including attributable standby; document remaining shared services.
allocation_rejects	accepted_output	Charge rejects and rework to accepted tube output; do not treat failed units as burden-free co-products. Internal reuse is an internal loop; exported recovery is a separate waste fate with no automatic avoided-production credit.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_rinse	rinse	rinse_water; rinse_wastewater	water_meter; waste_transfer	time; inlet/outlet mass; temperature; density; composition; destination	calibrated meters and weighing; sampling; transfer tickets	kg	each batch	complete representative campaign with start/end dates	declared site and equipment	sum actual quantities then divide by same-campaign accepted net mass; document absent operations as not applicable	calibration; original logs; supporting tickets
cp_lot	finish	unsealed_assembly; sealing_frit; getter_device; finished_tube; rejected_tube	batch_record	batch; model; count; net mass; issues and stocks; test results; waste destination	weighing; stores reconciliation; test logs	kg	each batch	complete representative campaign with start/end dates	declared site and equipment	sum actual quantities then divide by same-campaign accepted net mass; document absent operations as not applicable	calibration; original logs; supporting tickets
cp_energy	finish	electricity	meter_record	equipment; timestamps; kWh; batch; occupancy; standby; allocation share	submeter readings; measured power and time for shared equipment	kWh	each batch	complete representative campaign with start/end dates	declared site and equipment	sum actual quantities then divide by same-campaign accepted net mass; document absent operations as not applicable	calibration; original logs; supporting tickets
cp_pack	pack	corrugated_box	stores_record	box grade; count; unit mass; dispatch batch; stock changes	weighing and dispatch reconciliation	kg	each batch	complete representative campaign with start/end dates	declared site and equipment	sum actual quantities then divide by same-campaign accepted net mass; document absent operations as not applicable	calibration; original logs; supporting tickets

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
normalize	all rows	q_i = sum(Q_i) / M_accepted	same-campaign measured exchange and accepted mass	exchange per kg
yield	mass reconciliation	M_in + M_added = M_accepted + M_rejected + M_losses + delta_stock	campaign weighing and stock records	reconciliation, not a universal yield factor

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_sampling	output and energy	Cover startup, stable production, shutdown, ageing and rejects; do not select only best batches	campaign logs and complete meter series
dq_upstream	unsealed assembly	Supplier boundary must cover incorporated materials and preceding operations; model uncovered operations separately	supplier process map, bill of materials and dataset boundary
dq_ranges	quantities	Use foreground records; no external inferred range without synthesis of two independent, original-text-verified, boundary-compatible sources	raw records and uncertainty disclosure

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	applies_to	rule	source_ids
validate_identity	reference_flow	Reject a dataset without model, net mass, cathode/envelope state and test criteria; do not compare different functions using kg alone.
validate_balance	inventory	Reconcile assembly intake, added retained solids, accepted tubes, rejected tubes, measured losses and stock change. Explain discrepancies using weighing uncertainty and rework records, not an invented tolerance.
validate_coverage	boundary	Require route applicability, upstream interfaces, meter coverage and destination evidence; unresolved flow identity is disclosed and never silently substituted by a proxy. Missing route-specific exchanges make completeness inconclusive.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset
downstream_use	Component supply for equipment process and lifecyclemodel projections
allowed_use	Declared model and compatible manufacturing route with explicit upstream links
excluded_use	Universal mass-based comparison between CRTs, receiving tubes and photomultipliers; complete equipment footprint; use-phase or disposal claims
required_metadata	Model, site, period, assembly supplier, cathode, envelope, gas/vacuum state, ratings, unit mass, process boundary and allocation drivers
required_quality_disclosure	Meters, calibration, yield reconciliation, missing flows, upstream representativeness, waste destinations and uncertainty
update_trigger	Change in tube design, cathode chemistry, pump or furnace technology, supplier, yield, energy supply or waste treatment

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025	official_guidance	UN Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 structure, row 47140 (30 June 2025); https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv; retrieved 2026-09-09	Classification identity only
epa-electronic-components-phase-2-1984	official_guidance	US EPA, Development Document for Electrical and Electronic Components, Phase II (1984), sections 4.1.3, 4.2 and 5.2.2; https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=2000K55B.TXT; retrieved 2026-09-09	Historical tube process sequence and rinse-water pathways; no numerical transfer
hamamatsu-about-pmts	literature	Hamamatsu Photonics, About PMTs, Behind high-performance PMTs and Main components; https://www.hamamatsu.com/jp/en/product/optical-sensors/pmt/about_pmts.html; retrieved 2026-09-09	Photo-cathode tube components, sealing, evacuation and inspection
saes-ep1402554a1	literature	SAES Getters, EP1402554A1, Evaporable getter device for cathode-ray tubes, description; https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1402554A1/en; retrieved 2026-09-09	Conditional purchased BaAl4/Ni getter device and in-envelope activation; no numeric factor