BY: Gopal Gupta

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 10905943

History

Reciprocating steam engines have been used for mechanical power sources since the 18th Century, with notable improvements being made by James Watt. The very first commercial central electrical generating stations in New York and London, in 1882, also used reciprocating steam engines. As generator sizes increased, eventually turbines took over they encres the hose power.

Understanding Coal fired 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 eco system Huge Impacts on the Environment and Health

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

In keeping with the policy of liberalization set in motion since 1991, welcoming private sector participation, Thermal Projects identified for private sector Participation in Karnataka Mysore Stage I 2x250 MW Mysore Stage II 2x500 MW Hospet Thermal Power Station 2x250 MW* Raichur Thermal Power Station 2x250 MW * Mangalore Thermal Power Station 1000 MW

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

1. Cooling tower
2. Cooling water pump 3. transmission line (3-phase) 4. Step-up transformer (3-phase) 5. Electrical generator (3-phase) 6. Low pressure steam turbine 7. Condensate pump 8. Surface condenser 9. Intermediate pressure steam turbine

10. Steam Control valve 11. High pressure steam turbine 12. Deaerator 13. Feedwater heater 14. Coal conveyor 15. Coal hopper 16. Coal pulverizer 17. Boiler steam drum 18. Bottom ash hopper

19. Superheater 20. Forced draught (draft) fan 21. Reheater 22. Combustion air intake 23. Economiser 24. Air preheater 25. Precipitator 26. Induced draught (draft) fan 27. Flue gas stack

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

Air Quality Around the coal based plants the ambient concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen and SPM are high. Epidemiological Studies have shown that of the area surrounding coal based thermal plants, population living within a 2 -5 km radius of the plant suffers from respiratory disorders . Two other gases, carbon dioxide and ozone are emitted. The high amount of carbon dioxide emission from thermal power plants contribute to global warming leading to climate change is significant Ground level ozone, which is formed due to photolytic reactions of NOx and its impacts are under study

Understanding Coal Fired Thermal Power Plants

Fly ash contains a toxic brew of dangerous chemicals and is the largest contributor to mercury pollution

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

Composition of Fly ash:It contains as main chemical components SiO2 (51.4 wt%), Al2O3 (22.1 wt%) and Fe2O3 (17.2 wt%; ignited weight basis). As commonly observed, many toxic elements and heavy metals are highly enriched in the fly ash relative to the original coal. For example, considerable amounts of Be (16.4 ppm), Cu (106 ppm), Zn (578 ppm), As (40.4 ppm), Cd (2.6 ppm), Hg (18 ppm), Pb (71 ppm), and U (21.8 ppm) is found in Fly ash.

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

Water slurry is 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 leachate. Water may contain 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

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

The exposure of employees to high noise levels is very high Increased transportation activities due to the operation of the power plants lead to increase in noise levels in the adjacent localities.

Understanding Coal fired Thermal Power plants

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.

Chisso Corporation's Wastewater discharge

Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956. It was caused by the release of methyl mercury in the industrial Waste water from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. This highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which when eaten by the local populace resulted in mercury poisoning. While cat, dog, pig and human deaths continued over more than 30 years, the government and company did little to prevent the pollution.

Minamata struggle continues

As of March 2001, 2,265 victims had been officially recognised (1,784 of whom had died)and over 10,000 had received financial compensation from Chisso, lawsuits and claims for compensation continue to this day. A memorial service was held at the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum on 1 May 2006 to mark 50 years since the official discovery of the disease.

A view of the Raichur Thermal Power plant, Shaktinagar, Raichur

Sources of Mercury in our Environment

Each year power plants and chemical facilities create many tons of mercury pollution, which makes its way into our homes and bodies in fish. Two of the biggest sources of mercury pollution are chlorine chemical plants and coal-fired power plants. Chlorine plants, which use massive quantities of mercury to extract chlorine from salt, "lose" dozens of tons of mercury each year; power plants emit around 50 tons of mercury pollution annually. Coal is naturally contaminated with mercury, and when it is burned to generate electricity, mercury is released into the air through the smokestacks.

Flyash Pond of Raichur

China's model of Growth

Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury air emissions worldwide. As the price of oil rises, coal becomes a more economically attractive source of energy in countries where it is abundant and inexpensive. Currently, coal-fired power plants supply seventy-five percent of China's energy; in the next eight years, China is expected to add more than 560 plants coal plants -- a pace of more than one new plant each week.

FlyAsh tank, Raichur

No place for wildlife

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

Reuse of Flyash- How sustainable? How safe?

Uses of Fly ash:Fly ash is used in producing very strong high power concrete. Which is called self compacting Concrete(SCC), soil stabilization, fly ash fills roads, precast products like tiles and blocks, fly ash bricks also called green bricks , agricultural use , raising of dykes, mine filling etc.

Alternate forms of Energy: Solar Energy

Wind Energy

Bio fuel