On Optimization of Air Pollution and Electricity Production of Thermal Power Plants of Delhi using Goal Programming

Air pollution is a serious problem in today’s rapidly developing world. Burning of fossil fuels has been the source of air pollution since ages. Coal is a major source of electricity production in India. About 56% of total electricity produced is from Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). In Delhi we have taken 5 TPPs producing about 2800 MW of energy catering to the desire of the nation for this study.Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Total Suspended particulate matter (TSPM) are the main pollutants emitted from TPPs. Due to burning of coal in huge amount in TPPs a large amount of pollutants is emitted in the air. But on the contrary we cannot stop this process completely as coal is efficient as well as easily available resource in this day and other non conventional sources like solar, tidal, wind power etc. are in their infancy in the country. In this paper we are trying to optimize pollutants of air emitted from TPPs and electricity production in aggregate from 5 TPPs working in Delhi using a Goal Programming (GP) model. Keywords: Thermal Power Plant (TPP), SO2, NOx, TSPM, Optimization, Goal Programming (GP

Economics And Air Pollution- An Analysis Of Chennai City

Air pollution causes a variety of environmental effects, besides harming human health. Acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. These acids are formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. In the economics of pollution, we see that there is a point where both society and the environment have some satisfaction, or in other words, there is an optimum amount of pollution. The optimum amount of pollution can be defined as the point where the marginal benefit equals the marginal cost of pollution. Air pollution is responsible for major harmful effects on human health, animal lives, natural ecosystems and the man-made environment. It is also responsible for climate change due to the enhanced greenhouse effect, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer that constitute important global environmental problems. The relationship between environmental degradation and economic growth has been object of constant debate among environmental economists. During the last two decades, the debate between economic growth and the environment introduced into the discussion. External effects or externality is one of the most basic concepts evoked by economists when looking at problems of environmental pollution. The market impacts of outdoor air pollution are projected to lead to global economic costs that gradually increase to 1% of global GDP by 2060. Costs related to additional health expenditures and labour productivity losses dominate in the long run. From an economics perspective, demand law suggests an inverse relationship between price and the quantity consumed of a marketable product. However, when a product does not have a very well-established market, this product will be most likely underpriced. This is the case of natural systems such as air or water. The lack of property rights for these natural inputs and the absence of environmental regulation or legal protection to pollution receptors make a firm to perceive air as an input that can be freely used, like a common resource, thus neglecting all external costs imposed to other agents of the economy. In other words, if there were well-defined property rights for air, firms would have to buy the right to pollute it and emissions could be internalized through a market mechanism. The six-scale Air Quality Index (AQI) rates air quality from ‘good’ (minimal impact) to ‘severe’ (affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases). The air quality in Chennai has deteriorated sharply, with the AQI downgrading air quality in the city from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘very poor’

ESSAYS ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT IN INDIA

Expanding electricity generation is driving economic activity in the developing world. Increasing energy demand, largely met through the combustion of coal and natural gas, poses significant trade-offs between development objectives and environmental well-being. In this dissertation I examine the Indian electricity sector. Chapter 1 studies the impact of regulatory changes affecting state-owned electricity utilities on the efficiency of coal-fired power plants. The results indicate that the unbundling of generation companies from state-owned utilities improved operating reliability at coal-fired power plants. The improvements were, however, restricted to states that restructured their electricity utilities prior to the Electricity Act of 2003. The results also show that the reforms did not result in an improvement in thermal efficiency or capital utilization at these plants. Chapter 2 estimates the health impacts from PM2.5, SO2 and NOx emissions from coal-fired plants in India. I derive estimates of the total premature mortality impact from each plant in my sample associated with each of the three pollutants. I find that the majority of the impact, about 70%, is due to SO2 emissions--a pollutant currently unregulated in India due to the low sulfur content of Indian coal. I also conduct a cost benefit analysis of two pollution control options currently available in India--coal washing and the installation of an flue-gas desulfurization unit (FGD). The results from the case study show that both options pass the cost-benefit test using reasonable estimates of the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) for India. Chapter 3 more thoroughly examines the benefits and costs of FGD retrofit at coal-fired power plants in India. Using emissions estimates and output from a medium-range Lagrangian puff (atmospheric) model I estimate the net benefits of FGD installation for a sample of power plants. The results show that a substantial proportion of power plants pass the cost-benefit test for an FGD installation using reasonable estimates of the VSL for India. The results indicate a substantial scope for FGD installation to control SO2 emissions in the Indian power sector and suggest that it should be considered as a viable option for pollution control policy

Оцінка ризиків для здоров’я населення міста Івано-Франківська у зв’язку з забрудненням атмосферного повітря

Робота публікується згідно наказу ректора від 21.01.2020 р. №008/од "Про перевірку кваліфікаційних робіт на академічний плагіат у 2019-2020 навчальному році". Керівник роботи: доцент кафедри екології, к.т.н., Радомська Маргарита МирославівнаObject of research – Impacts of air pollution. Subject – Relationship between air pollutants and ailments Aim оf work – To investigate the possible health risks caused by air pollution among the population in the study area Methods of research: Statistical Data Analysis, Air Quality Evaluation

Оцінка ризиків для здоров’я населення міста Івано-Франківська у зв’язку з забрудненням атмосферного повітря

Робота публікується згідно наказу ректора від 21.01.2020 р. №008/од "Про перевірку кваліфікаційних робіт на академічний плагіат у 2019-2020 навчальному році". Керівник роботи: доцент кафедри екології, к.т.н., Радомська Маргарита МирославівнаObject of research – Impacts of air pollution. Subject – Relationship between air pollutants and ailments Aim оf work – To investigate the possible health risks caused by air pollution among the population in the study area Methods of research: Statistical Data Analysis, Air Quality Evaluation

Оцінка ризиків для здоров’я населення міста Івано-Франківська у зв’язку з забрудненням атмосферного повітря

Робота публікується згідно наказу ректора від 21.01.2020 р. №008/од "Про перевірку кваліфікаційних робіт на академічний плагіат у 2019-2020 навчальному році". Керівник роботи: доцент кафедри екології, к.т.н., Радомська Маргарита МирославівнаObject of research – Impacts of air pollution. Subject – Relationship between air pollutants and ailments Aim оf work – To investigate the possible health risks caused by air pollution among the population in the study area Methods of research: Statistical Data Analysis, Air Quality Evaluation

Source apportionment of organic gas and particulate matter pollutants using concentration and flux measurements in Delhi

One of the world’s worst cities for air pollution is Delhi, India. Past studies have shown air pollution in Delhi has a significant burden on the population’s respiratory and cardiovascular health. It is therefore important to analyse the sources of these pollutants in order to improve air quality mitigation strategies. This thesis presents time-resolved source apportionments of the organic fraction of particulate matter (PM) and of the gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were measured in Delhi. The results of this analysis are used to identify the sources of these air pollutants and determine their atmospheric implications. Online aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements taken in Old Delhi during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons revealed concentrations of submicron particulate matter (PM1) reaching ~750 μg m-3 The largest contributing inorganic species to PM1 in the post-monsoon is nitrate (8%) but this changes to sulphate during the monsoon (24%) and premonsoon (24%). PM1 is dominated by the organics throughout the three measurement periods (54% - 68%). Source apportionment on the organics fraction using Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) revealed that PM1 traffic emissions are the largest contributor of primary organic aerosol (POA) in the pre-monsoon (12%) and monsoon (16%) periods. Two traffic factors were resolved: a hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) and another HOA factor rich in nitrogen (NHOA). The N within NHOA is previously undocumented within AMS measurements and is found to be linked to nitrile species. The two traffic factors are found to have separated due to fuel-type where NHOA is related to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and diesel emissions while HOA is related to petrol and compressed natural gas emissions. The highest PM1 concentrations are observed in the post-monsoon period during which the highest form of POA is from a burning-related factor. These factors alone contribute 35% to the total post-monsoon increase when concentrations increase by 188%. A high correlation between one burning factor, semi-volatility biomass burning organic aerosol (SVBBOA), and Earth observation fire counts in surrounding states demonstrates its link to crop residue burning. Another burning factor, solid-fuel OA (SFOA), is found to have a high composition of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and novel AMS-measured marker species for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). SFOA is therefore linked to local open-waste burning. There is also a 522% increase in chloride concentrations from pre-monsoon to post-monsoon. High correlations with SVBBOA and SFOA, suggest the post-monsoon increase in chloride is due to crop residue and open-waste burning. Future air quality mitigation strategies should concentrate on traffic emissions in order to cause a reduction PM1 across the whole year. To reduce peak PM1 concentrations during the post-monsoon, requires targeting of burning-related activities in future air quality policy. The monitoring and measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Delhi is often overlooked. While the effects of VOCs on people’s heath is still being debated, the outcome of their interaction with the atmosphere can play a pivotal role in PM formation, OH reactivity and photochemical ozone creation potentials (POCP). For the first time, a novel approach to source apportionment was developed which allows for emission and deposition to be calculated for positive matrix factorisation (PMF) VOC source factors. Spatial flux patterns for PMF factors are presented, which give in-depth detail of the localised fluxes. A total of nine factors were resolved, of which traffic emissions are the largest (70% of total flux) and are the most significant source of OH reactivity flux and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP). The two traffic factors separate based on the HGV restrictions causing the composition of one factor (TRAF1) to have a strong connection with diesel emissions and the other (TRAF2) with petrol and compressed natural gas. The second most significant source of emissions is an evaporative VOC (EVOC) source (10% of total flux) which has a high composition of marker species related to asphalt emissions. These are found to be naphthalene and tetralin-based structures, along with 1,3-butadiene and styrene which are constituent species of the adhesives used in asphalt. The peak in emissions of EVOC occurs during midday and follows surface temperature and solar radiation. Due to their similar meteorological controls, most of the biogenic VOCs reside within the EVOC factor. It is estimated that biogenic emissions contribute 25% to total monoterpene concentrations and 18% to the localised monoterpene fluxes. However, the traffic factors have the highest composition of monoterpenes and, as a result, they dominate the monoterpene contributions to concentrations (60%) and localised fluxes (78%). Two burning-related factors were separated, one associated with solid-fuel combustion VOCs (SFVOC) and another associated with pyrotechnical activity VOCs (PVOC). The two factors are shown to share the largest percentage of the concentration-weighted OH reactivity. This is caused by a high content of furan-based species. The first observation of a strong urban deposition flux for PMF factors is also seen for SFVOC and an oxidised VOC (OVOC1) factor. Spatial deposition flux patterns suggest vegetation could act as a VOC sink in Delhi, however, the magnitude of which could show it to be small. Over recent years, multiple PM mitigation strategies have been implemented in Delhi, but, how effective these changes have been to reduce PM is not clear. It is however possible to chart the changes in PM by analysing large archives of PM filter samples that have been collected over multiple years. An automated offline-AMS method was developed which has enabled high-throughput analysis, allowing PM concentrations to be charted over multiple years. This novel offline-AMS method uses an organic solvent mix of acetone and water which can extract high quantities of OA (95.4 ± 8.3 %). PM10 filter samples collected in Delhi for the years of 2011, 2015 and 2018, were analysed. PMF analysis was performed on the organic fraction and nine factors were resolved. These factors can be grouped into four source categories: cooking, traffic, coal-combustion and burning-related (solid fuel or open burning) OA. Burning-related OA is the highest contributor when total OA concentrations are also at their highest, during the winter and post-monsoon. As a result, burning-related OA likely contributes significantly to acute PM-related health affects in Delhi. Annual averages show a decline in burning related OA concentrations from 2015 to 2018 (47%). This could be linked to the 2015 ban on open-waste burning; however, compositional analysis of OA factors suggests municipal waste burning is still present in 2018. Further mitigation strategies are therefore required to reduce burning-related OA further. The shutdown of the two coal power stations in Delhi, along with initiatives to reduce the popularity of coal-use in businesses, residential homes, and industry, has led to a significant decrease (87%) in coal-combustion OA. Total OA concentrations were also predicted to be reduced by 17%, therefore, proving these measures brought effective reductions in PM10. The Bharat stage emissions standards for vehicles likely supressed PM10 OA concentrations as the annual averages of traffic OA factors do not reflect the coinciding rapid increase in population and registered vehicles. However, restrictions on HGVs entering during the day shows possible links to increases in PM10 concentrations during the winter and post-monsoon months. This is likely due to the large influx of diesel-engine HGVs entering the city when the boundary layer is particularly low during the early mornings and evenings

Pairing mega events and hydrological systems for urban sustainability : strategy framework for Delhi beyond the Commonwealth Games 2010

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-81).(cont.) initiate a process by which the city learns to seize opportunities through benign and sustainable change. Furthermore, this thesis intends to inform decision makers with a checklist of crucial tradeoffs, risks and benefits involved in incorporating water systems as a strategy framework. Eventually, the thesis argues that CWG 2010 organizers cannot ignore the crucial nature or threats posed by the neglect of Delhi's Water Systems. It proves that CWG 2010 organizers can benefit from the inherent utility offered by Delhi's Water Systems. Finally, it demonstrates that Delhi's hydrological systems allow an advantageous compatibility of the CWG's short-term objectives and the city's long-term objectives.This thesis studies the inter-influence of urban hydrological systems and mega congregative events, as basis for urban strategy for sustainability. It questions how structuring the Commonwealth Games 2010 around Delhi's stream networks and the Yamuna River front create a more sustainable city. Millennia of continuous urban settlement have evolved hydraulic networks that allow extensive human control of Delhi's hydrological complex. This hierarchical system of water retaining, diverting and flood control structures made large populations possible in an otherwise arid landscape. Delhi's topography and this network of streams, lakes, step wells, canals and the Yamuna River determined the size and shape of successive settlements through critical urban functions, such as defense, transport, drinking water supply, irrigation and flood control. Identifying persistent aspects of this framework can help determine the range and nature of physical effects triggered by the Commonwealth Games. The thesis hypothesizes that strategy frameworks that employ Delhi's hydrological system to frame large, planned events are more likely to be beneficial and sustainable over time. It attempts to identify the utility and crucial nature of Delhi's hydrological system to the success of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010. I aim to demonstrate the potential of Delhi's hydrological system in informing strategies to pool existing resources and make future investments. The thesis also aims to exploit the opportunity provided by the Games to establish Delhi's hydrological systems as the guiding force of future planning efforts. This entails making the city more self-aware and stimulating an envisioning process. It expects to raise public awareness and debate toby Danny Cherian.M.C.P