Emission from Indian Thermal

Power Plant
By
Er Mayadhar Swain
Director,
School of Electrical Engineering
KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
 Introduction
 Coal is one of the main sources of world
energy.Economic growth and industrialization in
developing countries are leading to a rapid
increase in the demand for energy; in other words,
an increased demand in the use of coal, which is
inexpensive and readily available , for electric
power and process heat.
Power Generation in India from Different
Sources ( as on 28.02.2017)
SOURCE Installed Capacity (MW) % of TOTAL

Coal 189047.88 59.93

Gas 25329.38 8.03

Diesel 837.63 0.27

Nuclear 5780.00 1.83

Hydro 44413.43 14.08

Renewable 50018.00 15.86

Total 315426.32 100.00

Indian Power Generation Capacity
By Fuel( %)
1.83
15.86
14.08
Coal
Gas
59.93 Diesel
8.03 Nuclear
Hydro
Renewable

0.27
Typical Characteristics of Indian
Coal
Property Value
Ash content 25 - 55 %
Moisture content 4-7%
Sulphur content 0.2 - 1 %
Gross Calorific Value 3100 - 5100 kcal/kg
Volatic matter content 20 - 30 %
Thermal Power plant Emissions
 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
 Particulate Matter (PM)
 Carbon Monoxide (CO)
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
 Volatile Organic Compounds
 Ash
Effects of Emissions
Respiratory illness
Cardiovascular Condition
Compromised immune system
Cancer
Global warming
Why Thermal Power?
 Coal is available in Plenty
 India is World’s 3rd largest coal
producing country
 Generation cost is less.
 Technology is well established.
 Gestation period is comparatively less.
Emission Standard for Thermal Power Plant
Date of Installation : Before 31.12.2013
Parameters Standards

Particulate Matter 100 mg/Nm3

Sulphur Dioxide 600 mg/Nm3(units smaller than 500 MW capacity

Units)
200 mg/Nm3(units having capacity of 500 MW and
above)

Oxides of Nitrogen 600 mg/Nm3

Mercury Nil (units smaller than 500 MW capacity Units)

0.03 mg/Nm3(units having capacity of 500 MW
and above)
Emission Standard for Thermal Power Plant
Date of Installation : After 31.12.2013
Parameters Standards
Particulate Matter 50 mg/Nm3

Sulphur Dioxide 200 mg/Nm3(units having capacity of

500 MW and above)

Oxides of 300 mg/Nm3

Nitrogen

Mercury 0.03 mg/Nm3(units having capacity of

500 MW and above)
Emission Standard for Thermal Power Plant
Date of Installation : After 01.01.2017
Parameters Standards

Particulate 30 mg/Nm3
Matter

Sulphur Dioxide 100 mg/Nm3

Oxides of 100 mg/Nm3

Nitrogen
Mercury 0.03 mg/Nm3
Emission Control Measures
 Flue Gas Desulphurization.
 Coal Beneficiation.
 Coal Blending.
 Efficiency Improvement of Existing Power Plant.
 Super-Critical Boiler.
 Fluidized Bed Combustion.
 Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plant.
 Carbon Capture & Storage.
Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD)
 When coal is burned, generally 90% or more of the
sulfur present in it is emitted into the atmosphere as
SO2.
 FGD reduces emission of SO2 up to 97 %
 Not installed in most power plants in India as it will
increase generation cost.
 It is felt earlier not required for law sulphur Indian
Coal.
 Height of Stack is specified for Control of SO2.
Stack Height Requirement for TPP
Capacity Stack height (meter)
Less than 210 MW H= 14 (Q) 0.3, where Q is
emission rate of SO2 in kg/hr, and
H= Stack height in meters
210MW to less than 200
500 MW
500 MW & above 275 (+ space provision for flue
gas desulphurization systems in
future )
FGD Scheme
Coal Beneficiation
 It is the process of removing impurities .
 Reduces emission of ash and SO2 when coal is
burnt.
 Reduces CO2 emission by 5 %.
 Mandatory for Power plants located beyond 1000
km from pit head and in critically polluted areas,
urban areas and ecologically sensitive area.
Coal Blending
 Indian coal has high ash content.
 Blend with imported coal having high
calorific value and lower ash content.
 Improves combustion performance.
 Ash production is less.
Efficiency Improvement of Existing
Power Plants
 Scope for efficiency improvement.
 Equipment upgrading, systematic
performance monitoring and diagnostic
testing of boiler, turbine, condenser,
auxiliary equipment.
 New electrostatic precipitator.
Super – critical Boiler
 Sub- Critical technology –
25% to 35 % efficiency.
 Super – Critical technology –
37 % to 44 % efficiency.
 Ultra super- Critical technology –
45 % - 60% efficiency.
 Super- Critical Boiler
Sub-critical Super- Ultra Super-
critical critical

2000

1500
CO2 (g/kWh)

1000

500

0
25% 35% 45% 55%

Efficiency
Emission of CO2 Vs Efficiency in Thermal Power Plant
Fluidized Bed Combustion
 Uses low grade coals, biomass and other
waste fuel.

 Produces less NOx and SO2 than

conventional Coal based TPP
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle
Power Plant (IGCC)
 It is emerging as a best available technology to utilize low quality or
contaminated energy resources, coal or oil.

 Includes steam power generation and gas-turbine based power generation.

 Gas turbines produces 65 % and steam turbine produces 35 % power.

 Coal is partially oxidized in the gasifer producing syn gas (mixture of CO,
CO2 & H2).

 Efficiency is 45 % to 50 %.

 It can meet emission limits not achievable by other conventional or

advanced competing technologies.

 New technology
Basic Structures of IGCC
Carbon Capture & Storage
• Capturing CO2 from large point sources.
• Permanently stored away from atmosphere.
• Reduces CO2 to atmosphere by about 80 to
90 % compared to plant without CCS
Conclusion …….
India has little option but to invest in coal
because it is cheap and domestically
available.
In 2016 , coal generated roughly 80 % of
country’s electricity
Current known coal reserves is about
250 billion tonnes
Expected to last another 100 years at
current levels of consumption .
Cont….
Coal beneficiation is already started.
Super- Critical boilers are installed
for unit size of 660 MW and above.
Time has come for India to adopt CCS
and IGCC technologies.