M. Sharma et P. Vyas, Identification and quantification of environmental issues of aging coal-based power plant - Case study, J ENERG ENG, 127(3), 2001, pp. 59-73
This research has focused on three environmental issues: (1) fugitive dust
emissions; (2) water management; and (3) operational parameters (such as th
ermal efficiency) of aging coal-based thermal power plants, using a case st
udy. Regarding dust emissions, it was observed that the identified sources
are fugitive in nature and contribute to a significant loss of raw material
and particulate emissions. These sources include coal dust emissions from
a wagon tippler area, ball mill operations, and leakage from the ash hopper
s of electrostatic precipitators. In situ measurements of air quality and m
eteorological measurements were undertaken to estimate the emissions from a
wagon tippler area, and a mass balance technique was applied across other
operations to estimate the emissions. These fugitive emissions were about 9
8% of the total particulate emissions and the remaining 2% emissions were f
rom the stack. The losses of water in various unit operations were also exa
mined. The sources of water losses include the clariflocculator, the demine
ralization plant, and auxiliary water cooling of motors and pumps. The oper
ational parameters such as auxiliary power requirement and thermal efficien
cy that indirectly affect the environment were also studied. The auxiliary
power requirement was estimated as 9 MW against the accepted requirement of
7 MW. The thermal efficiency of the plant was estimated to be 26%, against
the acceptable level of 32% of such plants in India. This study suggests t
hat a significant reduction in cost and improvements in the environment cou
ld be achieved if the plant could be operated at rated efficiencies. It was
observed that nonpoint (fugitive) sources, although significant, are ignor
ed.