Environmental Performance of a Solid Waste Monetization Process Applied to a Coal-Fired Power Plant with Semi-Dry Flue Gas Desulfurization

Mixing of semi-dry flue gas desulfurization solids and fly-ash from coal-fired power plants results in a solid waste contaminated by calcium sulfite. Therefore, it becomes useless for industry and is often landfilled. To support decision-making on process configurations to monetize this solid residue a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment was performed, considering three scenarios: BASE case – standard 360 MW power plant, CASE I – base plant adopting dry thermal oxidation treatment of spray dryer solids, CASE II ‒ bypass of desulfurization system. Cases I and II allow commercialization of the solid residue as class C fly-ash. Evaluated alternatives were compared based on quantitative potential environmental impacts, using United States Environmental Protection Agency waste reduction algorithm. Based on the results, the BASE case was more aggressive to the environment, due to solid waste production. CASE II increased photochemical oxidation and acidification potentials. CASE I was the more environmentally friendly but demands additional capital and operational expenditure

A comparative analysis of water collected from Koel River & water released from Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP)

The expected increase in the use of coal as an energy source for the production of steel has resulted in several investigations into environmental cycling of coal unleashes pollutants. Among these is the release of various liquid effluents that are associated with coal throughout the carbonization, cleaning and combustion processes. The industries, like coal, by-product coke-plants, coal washeries and thermal power plants unleash their liquid effluents that are required urgent attention for the treatment, before they are discharged into the contemporary water streams. There’s also the release of ash pond decant into the local water bodies from the coal-based industries. Such unleash pond decant tends to deposit ash all along its path thereby inflicting fugitive dust nuisance when it dries up. Additionally when such water mixes with a water body, it will increase the turbidity of the water body thereby decreasing the primary productivity. This is often harmful to the fisheries and other aquatic biota within the water body. The objective of this project work is to investigate the environmental impacts of waste water discharged from coal based industries and need to recognize the consequences. The Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) releases the polluted water to Koel River which is the main river in Rourkela & most of the people are dependent on it for different purpose like drinking, washing, bathing etc.The present study indicated that most bacteria which were isolated from the Koel River are Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium&Bacillus pumilis

The Mineralogy And Inorganic Geochemistry Of Coal And Combustion Products From The Mae Moh Mine, Thailand: Environmental Implications Of Resource Utilization

The coals, associated sediments and combustion products, from the Tertiary, Mae Moh Lignite Mine Lampang, Thailand, have been investigated using XRD, XRF, NAA and SEM/EDS. The investigation is primary aimed at documenting the overall mineralogy and geochemistry of the coal and combustion products, in an attempt to briefly describe the local environmental impacts of resource utilization.;Ash content in composite run of mine samples in three important (J, K and Q) coal zones averages 44%. Ash in the power plant feed coal averages 41%. Dominant mineral phases in the zones include: detrital quartz, illite and kaolinite along with authigenic calcite and pyrite. The detrital minerals plus pyrite dominate the lignite horizons while calcite dominates the intra-seam partings.;The highest ash content and major element (Si, Al, Ca, Fe, K and S) concentrations in coal is reported in samples from J zone. There is an overall decrease in ash and major element concentration from J to Q zones. These coals are particularly high in S ranging from 0.3 to 14%, with an average of 8%.;As with the major elements, the trace elements are enriched in J zone, particularly in the upper portion, and show an overall concentration decrease from J to Q zone. The As content of these coals, which ranges from 3 to 488 ppm with an overall average of 60 ppm, is significantly higher than the reported global average.;The minerals identified in the combustion products include quartz, magnetite, hematite, anhydrite, mullite, gehelenite, anorthite and clinopyroxene. Silicon, Al, Fe and Ca, which account for more than 90% of the major elements in the ash, show little partitioning between samples of bottom ash (BA) and electrostatic precipitator ash (ESP). Arsenic, Co, Cr, Mo, Sb, Se, U and Zn, which are all enriched in samples of ESP ash relative to BA, show a distinct concentration increase with decreasing particle size.;Based on an annual coal consumption of approximately 16 million tons, 6.5 million tons of ash, which contain significant proportions of potentially toxic trace elements, are produced annually. Calculations show that for most trace elements selective mining would result in an annual emission reduction of 20 to 50%. For these elements cleaning the coal prior to combustion could produce a 30% decrease

Co-firing of biomass and other wastes in fluidised bed systems

A project on co-firing in large-scale power plants burning coal is currently funded by the European Commission. It is called COPOWER. The project involves 10 organisations from 6 countries. The project involves combustion studies over the full spectrum of equipment size, ranging from small laboratory-scale reactors and pilot plants, to investigate fundamentals and operating parameters, to proving trials on a commercial power plant in Duisburg. The power plant uses a circulating fluidized bed boiler. The results to be obtained are to be compared as function of scale-up. There are two different coals, 3 types of biomass and 2 kinds of waste materials are to be used for blending with coal for co-firing tests. The baseline values are obtained during a campaign of one month at the power station and the results are used for comparison with those to be obtained in other units of various sizes. Future tests will be implemented with the objective to achieve improvement on baseline values. The fuels to be used are already characterized. There are ongoing studies to determine reactivities of fuels and chars produced from the fuels. Reactivities are determined not only for individual fuels but also for blends to be used. Presently pilot-scale combustion tests are also undertaken to study the effect of blending coal with different types of biomass and waste materials. The potential for synergy to improve combustion is investigated. Early results will be reported in the Conference. Simultaneously, studies to verify the availability of biomass and waste materials in Portugal, Turkey and Italy have been undertaken. Techno-economic barriers for the future use of biomass and other waste materials are identified. The potential of using these materials in coal fired power stations has been assessed. The conclusions will also be reported

Implementation of signal conditioning circuitry for CO2 sensor for monitoring CO2 emissions from coal fired power plant in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (Tamil Nadu, India)

The most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas causing global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2). Due to the increase of burning of fossil fuels by industries, the atmospheric CO2 concentration increased by more than 30% in 10 years and is expected to continue to increase. This dissertation analyses a sensor unit used to monitor the emission levels of carbon dioxide from the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) coal fired power plant which is located in the southern part of India. Most of India’s power generation sectors are based on coal fired power plants. The NLC power plant is owned by the central government of India. It can produce a maximum electric power of 2490MW. The power plant lets out significant CO2 emissions while generating electricity. These carbon dioxide emissions are the root cause for the greenhouse effect. To control the carbon dioxide emissions, in this dissertation a sensor has been designed, analysed and used to monitor the CO2 emission levels from the Neyveli Lignite Corporation. This dissertation focuses on the design and implementation of the CO2 sensor using various electronic components. In NLC, this CO2 sensor was kept under observation and tested. The CO2 emissions measured by the sensor were analysed to monitor CO2 emissions from the Neyveli Lignite Corporation and to guide measures and policy for future scenarios. This dissertation identifies and examines the CO2 emission levels and the possible environmental impacts. It also describes the advantages/disadvantages of the CO2 sensor and how this could guide the possible reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to meet a green environment agenda in the future. Key environmental concerns in the coal-power sector in India include air pollution (primarily from the flue gas emissions of particulates, carbon dioxide emissions, sulphur oxides, nitrous and other hazardous chemicals) which has led to increased particulate pollution and ash disposal problems. The enforcement of regulations to reduce CO2 emissions has been weak in the southern part of India

Economic and Environmental Impacts from Industrial Symbiosis Exchanges: Guayama, Puerto Rico

Industrial symbiosis (IS) engages traditionally separate industries in a collective approach to competitive advantage involving the physical exchange of material, energy, water, and/or by-products. Although IS has been advocated as a business-friendly approach to environmental problems, there are few analyses of the financial and other business-related consequences for the individual participants in the exchanges. In this article, the nascent system of IS exchanges in Guayama, Puerto Rico, is explored from the environmental, business, and regulatory perspectives of the individual participants and the community. A coal-fired power plant built, owned, and operated by the AES Corporation is critical from the resource flow perspective with regard to uptake of water and sale of energy products. The article presents estimates of the economic and environmental costs and benefits for the symbiosis participants, concluding that there are substantial business reasons to engage in symbiosis, although the benefits fall unevenly on participating firms.

Financial Risks of Investments in Coal

Analyzes the regulatory, commodity, and construction risks of investing in coal mining and coal-fired power plants. Examines industry analysts' consensus on viable alternatives to coal, including natural gas, solar, wind, and energy efficiency

Chemical composition and minerals in pyrite ash of an abandoned sulphuric acid production plant

The extraction of sulphur produces a hematite-rich waste, known as roasted pyrite ash, which contains significant amounts of environmentally sensitive elements in variable concentrations and modes of occurrence. Whilst the mineralogy of roasted pyrite ash associated with iron or copper mining has been studied, as this is the main source of sulphur worldwide, the mineralogy, and more importantly, the characterization of submicron, ultrafine and nanoparticles, in coal-derived roasted pyrite ash remain to be resolved. In this work we provide essential data on the chemical composition and nanomineralogical assemblage of roasted pyrite ash. XRD, HR-TEM and FE-SEM were used to identify a large variety of minerals of anthropogenic origin. These phases result from highly complex chemical reactions occurring during the processing of coal pyrite of southern Brazil for sulphur extraction and further manufacture of sulphuric acid. Iron-rich submicron, ultrafine and nanoparticles within the ash may contain high proportions of toxic elements such as As, Se, U, among others. A number of elements, such as As, Cr, Cu, Co, La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr, were found to be present in individual nanoparticles and submicron, ultrafine and nanominerals (e.g. oxides, sulphates, clays) in concentrations of up to 5%. The study of nanominerals in roasted pyrite ash from coal rejects is important to develop an understanding on the nature of this by-product, and to assess the interaction between emitted nanominerals, ultra-fine particles, and atmospheric gases, rain or body fluids, and thus to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of pyrite ash materials

Technology and carbon mitigation in developing countries: Are cleaner coal technologies a viable option?

human development, climate change