Environmental

aspects of
THERMAL POWER PLANTS

SUBMITTED BYSONALI SINGH

SECTION-E8
1120864

CONTENTS
Introduction
Overview
Plant layout
Associated Risks
References

Introduction
In a thermal power plant :
Steam is produced and is used to
spin a turbine that operates a
generator.
Uses coal, oil, or natural gas as fuel
to boil water to produce the steam.
The electricity generated at the
plant is sent to consumers through
high-voltage power lines.

Overview: Thermal power

plants
Power generating units
are mega projects
Require huge capital
investment
Require natural
resources like fossil
fuels
Large amount of water
Changes the local ecosystem
Huge Impacts on the
Environment and Health

PLANT LAYOUT

Resources used and their

effects on environment

Coal , a non-renewable
resource
Takes millions of
years to form
Coal-based power
plant leads to its
huge wastage
By products like fly
ash

Mining site

Land that cannot be reused

Occupational
hazard

Breathing issues due

to dust
Falling of the cave
called cave-ins
Fire hazard
Gas explosions due to
leakage of various
gases

Gases produced
Coal produces carbon dioxide,

the main greenhouse gas

Produces oxides of sulfur and nitrogen
Mercury a poisonous gas
Coal dust
Particulate matter in the air

FLY ASH(Combustion product of

Coal)
Composition
It contains as main chemical components
SiO2 , Al2O3 and Fe2O3
Many toxic elements and heavy metals are

highly enriched in the fly ash relative to the

original coal. For example, considerable
amounts of Be ,,Cu Zn , Cd , Hg, Pb is found
in Fly ash.

Fly ash contains a toxic brew of dangerous

chemicals and is the largest contributor to

mercury pollution

WATER-SLURRY
Used to take the ash from the power plant to the

ash pond for disposal.

Water slowly seeps into the ground while carrying
with it the ash .This Water contains harmful
heavy metals like boron, which have a tendency
to leach out over a period of time.
When fly ash comes into contact with water,
leaches into groundwater supplies which get
polluted and unsuitable for domestic use.
The release of ash pond decant into the local
water bodies- water dries up, dust nuisance,
increases turbidity, decreases primary
productivity, affects fishes and other aquatic biota

Effects on the employees

The exposure to high

noise levels
Increased

transportation
activities due to the
operation of the
power plants lead to
increase in noise
levels in the adjacent
localities.

Disposal of slurry/other waste

Large amount of land is

used to dispose flyash

from the coal based
plants
Due to this there is
change in natural soil
properties. It becomes
more alkaline due to the
alkaline nature of fly ash.
Soft bodied soil workers
like earthworms will die
out
Food will contain a wider
cocktail of chemicals as

 damage or fatally injure to the brain and kidneys.

Skin allergic reactions.
Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds causes

severe renal and gastrointestinal damage.

Exposures to very small amounts of the organic

compounds of mercury can result in devastating

neurological damage and death.

Water pollution

Vital sources of water culminated

Effects of thermal plants on

us

The air
The water
The food
Nothing is spared from
contamination

Loss of habitats ,loss of

assets

River Kabini, Chamalapura and

forests belts

Loss of wildlife

Loss of fertile land

Is this what we want?

References
Generation of electrical power- B.R.GUPTA www.google.com
www.slideshare.com
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-th
ermal-pollution.php
http
://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Thermal_pollution_from_coal_
plants
http://www.visionofearth.org/featured-articles/coal-powerpollution-politics-and-profits/