understanding coal fired thermal power plants

8/8/2019 Understanding Coal Fired Thermal Power Plants

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y Power generating units aremega projects

y Require huge capital

investmenty Require natural resources

like, fossil fuels

y Large amount of water

y Changes the local eco system

y Huge Impacts on theEnvironment and Health


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In keeping with the policy of liberalization set inmotion since 1991, welcoming private sectorparticipation, Thermal Projects identified for private

sector Participation in Karnatakay Mysore Stage I 2x250 MW

y Mysore Stage II 2x500 MW

y Hospet Thermal Power Station 2x250 MW*

y Raichur Thermal Power Station 2x250 MW *y Mangalore Thermal Power Station 1000 MW


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Air Quality

y Around the coal based plants the ambientconcentrations of Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides ofNitrogen and SPM are high.

y Epidemiological Studies have shown that of

the area surrounding coal based thermalplants, population living within a 2 -5 kmradius of the plant suffers from respiratorydisorders .

y Two other gases, carbon dioxide and ozone areemitted. The high amount of carbon dioxide

emission from thermal power plantscontribute to global warming leading toclimate change is significant Ground levelozone, which is formed due to photolyticreactions of NOx and its impacts are understudy


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y Fly ash contains a toxic brew of dangerous chemicals and is the largestcontributor to mercury pollution


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y Composition ofFly ash

It contains as main chemical components SiO2 (51.4wt%), Al2O3 (22.1 wt%) and Fe2O3 (17.2 wt%; ignited

weight basis). As commonly observed, many toxicelements and heavy metals are highly enriched in thefly ash relative to the original coal. For example,considerable amounts of Be (16.4 ppm), Cu (106 ppm),

Zn (578 ppm),A

s (40.4 ppm), Cd (2.6 ppm), Hg (18ppm), Pb (71 ppm), and U (21.8 ppm) is found in Flyash.


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y The exposure ofemployees to high noiselevels is very high

y Increased transportationactivities due to theoperation of the powerplants lead to increase in

noise levels in theadjacent localities.


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y Large amount of land is usedto dispose flyash from the coalbased plants

y Due to this there is change innatural soil properties. Itbecomes more alkaline due tothe alkaline nature of fly ash.


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y Minamata disease sometimes referredto as Chisso-Minamata disease is aneurological syndrome caused by severemercury poisoning. Symptoms include

ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet,general muscle weakness, narrowing ofthe field of vision and damage tohearing and speech. In extreme cases,insanity, paralysis, coma and deathfollow within weeks of the onset ofsymptoms. Acongenital form of thedisease can also affect fetuses in the

womb.


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y Minamata disease was firstdiscovered in Minamata city in Japanin 1956. It was caused by the releaseof methyl mercury in the industrial

Waste water from the ChissoCorporation's chemical factory,

which continued from 1932 to 1968.This highly toxic chemicalbioaccumulated in shellfish and fishin Minamata Bay and the ShiranuiSea, which when eaten by the localpopulace resulted in mercurypoisoning. While cat, dog, pig andhuman deaths continued over morethan 30 years, the government andcompany did little to prevent thepollution.


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y As of March 2001, 2,265victims had been officiallyrecognised (1,784 of whomhad died)and over 10,000 hadreceived financial

compensation from Chisso,lawsuits and claims forcompensation continue tothis day.

y Amemorial service was held

at the Minamata DiseaseMunicipal Museum on 1 May2006 to mark 50 years sincethe official discovery of thedisease.


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y Each year power plants and chemical facilities createmany tons of mercury pollution, which makes its wayinto our homes and bodies in fish.

y Two of the biggest sources of mercury pollution arechlorine chemical plants and coal-fired power plants.Chlorine plants, which use massive quantities ofmercury to extract chlorine from salt, "lose" dozens oftons of mercury each year; power plants emit around

50 tons of mercury pollution annually. Coal is naturallycontaminated with mercury, and when it is burned togenerate electricity, mercury is released into the airthrough the smokestacks.


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y Coal-fired power plants are the largest source ofmercury air emissions worldwide. As the price of oilrises, coal becomes a more economically attractive

source of energy in countries where it is abundant andinexpensive. Currently, coal-fired power plants supplyseventy-five percent of China's energy; in the nexteight years, China is expected to add more than 560plants coal plants -- a pace of more than one new planteach week.


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Land acquisition leads to loss of habitat of some species and results in loss offlora and faunal species


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y Uses ofFly ash

Fly ash is used in producingvery strong high powerconcrete. Which is called self

compacting Concrete(SCC),soil stabilization, fly ash fillsroads, precast products liketiles and blocks, f ly ashbricks also called green

bricks , agricultural use ,raising of dykes, mine fillingetc.


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y Toxicology:

y HowMercury Harms Humans Elemental (metallic) mercury and all of itscompounds are toxic, exposure to excessive levels can permanently damage orfatally injure the brain and kidneys.

y Elemental mercury can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergicreactions. Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds can cause severe renal

and gastrointestinal damage.y Organic compounds of mercury such as methyl mercury are considered the

most toxic forms of the element. Exposures to very small amounts of thesecompounds can result in devastating neurological damage and death.

y For fetuses, infants and children, the primary health effects of mercury are onneurological development.

y Even low levels of mercury exposure such as result from mother's consumptionmethyl mercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervoussystem.

y Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found inchildren exposed to moderate levels in the womb.


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y Air borne mercury is highly toxic when inhaled. How does itget in the air?Metallic mercury slowly evaporates when exposed to the air.The air in a room can reach unhealthy levels just from themercury in a broken thermometer;

y Mercury may be released into the air when coal, oil, or wood

are burned as fuel or when mercury-containing wastes areincinerated. The resulting mercury concentrations inoutdoor air are usually low and of little direct concern.However, mercury in the air can fall to the ground with rainand snow, landing on soil or in bodies of water, causingcontamination. Lakes and rivers are also contaminated whenthere is a direct discharge of mercury-laden industrial ormunicipal waste into the water.

y When mercury enters bodies of water, biological processestransform it to methylmercury, a highly toxic andbioaccumulative form. Fish can absorb methylmercury fromtheir food and directly from water as it passes over their gills.


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y The cycle of mercury in nature is complex. This illustrationsummarizes how methyl mercury accumulates at the higher levels ofthe food chain and becomes concentrated in fish and animals that eatfish.

y Methylmercury in the water and sediment is taken up by tiny animalsand plants known as plankton.

y Minnows and juvenile fish eat large quantities of plankton over time.y Larger predatory fish consume many smaller fish, accumulating

methylmercury in their tissues. The older and larger the fish, thegreater the potential for high mercury levels in their bodies.

y Fish are caught and eaten by humans and animals, causingmethylmercury to accumulate in human tissues.

y Most people are exposed to mercury by eating fish containing mercury.There is no method of cooking or cleaning them that will reduce theamount of mercury in a meal.


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y Biofuel

understanding coal fired thermal power plants

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