FACTS and
THEORIES of
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT
By: Engr. Boy A. Ramos
TURBINE
SIMPLE DIAGRAM OF A COAL-FIRED STEAM POWER PLANT
CHIMNEY (PANGHAW)
BOILER (BUKALANAN SA TUBIG)
FLUE GAS HEAT + CO2 + N2O+ CO+ NO2+SO2
OTHER POLLUTANTS
HEAT REJECTED TO THE
COOLING WATER
POWER
OUTPUT HEAT INPUT to
boiler
PUMP
WORK
HEAT FROM THE
BURNED COAL
600MW
FURNACE
(PUGON)
200MWe
Generator
CONDENSER
(TRANSFORMS STEAM TO
LIQUID PHASE)
Solid waste as bottom
ash containing toxic
pollutants
Solid waste as fly ash
containing toxic
pollutants
Greenhouse
gases with air
pollutants
ESP
Thermal Pollution to Environment (Colorless)
Environmental impacts of coal-fired power plant: fuel supply
- Mining
-- Washing --- Transport
Underground mining is one of the most hazardous of occupations, killing and injuring many in accidents, and causing chronic health problems. COAL TRANSPORT A typical coal plant requires 40 railroad cars to supply 1.4 million tons in a year. Railroad locomotives, which rely on diesel fuel, emit nearly 1 million tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 52,000 tons of coarse and small particles in the United States. Dust blowing from coal trains contributes particulate matter to the air.
(Greenpeace)
In the US , the 1.05 billion tons of coal burn each year contain
109 tons of MERCURY
7,884 tons of ARSENIC
1,167 tons of BERYLLIUM
750 tons of CADMIUM
8,810 tons of CHROMIUM
9,339 tons of NICKEL
2,587 tons of SELENIUM
Mountaintop Coal-Mining
Coal Mining Site in Iowa, USA
NASA Image Captures Destruction of Island from Coal Mining A photograph taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station on March 31 captures a rare
cloud-free glimpse of the Panian Coalfield, one of the largest coal mines in Asia and one of three coal
operations on Semirara Island in the Philippines. The Semirara Mining Corporation, which operates the
coal field, uses open-pit methods in which rock and soil are removed to reach coal seams below. In this
image, released by NASA, several huge piles of rock and other mining debris can be seen ringing the
northern half of the pit, with the dark coal seams visible along the southern wall of the mine. Also visible
are plumes of sediment emanating from the piles of rock and soil known as overburden into the Sulu Sea off the islands northern coast. In recent years the mining company has denied allegations that waste from the coal operation has contaminated or damaged the islands coastal areas. The island is located about 174 miles south of Manila . Source: http://e360.yale.edu/content/images/0410-semirara-mining-nasa.html. Accessed: 7/7/2010
Per 1.05 billion tons of coal/year,
13 tons of MERCURY, 3,236 tons of ARSENIC,
189 tons of BERYLLIUM , 251 tons of CADMIUM ,
2,754 tons of NICKEL, 1,098 tons of SELENIUM
(Greenpeace)
Environmental impacts of coal-fired power plant: fuel burning - Stack Emissions -- Waste Heat --- Solid wastes
Situations in the USA
Per 1.05 billion tons of coal, 52 tons of
MERCURY, 47 tons of ARSENIC, 8 tons of BERYLLIUM, 3 tons of CADMIUM, 62 tons of
CHROMIUM , 52 tons of NICKEL, 184 tons of
SELENIUM, and Greenhouse gases such CO2, NO2, SO2, CO, H20, N2O, etc.
Emissions during
burning
ESP
PER 1.05 billion tons of coal,
44 tons of MERCURY, 4,601 tons of ARSENIC, 970
tons of BERYLLIUM , 496 tons of CADMIUM , 6,275
tons of CHROMIUM , 6,533 tons of NICKEL, 1,305
tons of SELENIUM which are trapped with the ashes
(Bottom ash and fly ash). Greenpeace
For the Proposed
200-MWe Coal-Fired Power Plant (Circulating Fluidized Combustion Technology)
Bituminous Coal has
MERCURY content of
12.5 52.4 nanogram/g
Source: Mercury Analysis of Various Types of Coal
By: Jae Young Park, et. Al. Department of Chemical Engineeering Yonsel University, Seoul, South Korea
Important!
47.71% of MERCURY content of coal
is emitted to the atmosphere during combustion
40.37% of MERCURY content of coal, by
weight, is TRAPPED with the FLY & BOTTOM ASHES which are bound
for disposal to the ASH POND
Proponent had distributed flyers claiming negligible emission of arsenic, lead, and
cadmium.
But, 58.35 % ARSENIC and 66.13% CADMIUM
in coal are trapped with the fly ash and are bound for disposal to a
LANDFILL (7 hectares of unknown depth and without roof)
Table 3. Estimated waste stream (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, P. 4)
Project phase
Type of generation
Estimated generation
Daily generation Annual generation
Construction Generation of sewage
118m3/day 118m3 43070m3
Operation Heated Effluents
8.7m3/sec 751,680m3 27.44M m3
Wastewater 260.4m3/day 68,790.4 gals. 25.11 million gals.
Emissions from boiler
0.01 kg/s TSP 0.12 kg/s SO2 0.05 kg/s NO2 53.34 kg/s CO2
864 kg TSP 10,368 kg SO2 4,320 kg NO2 4,608.6 tons CO2
315360 kg TSP 3,784 tons SO2 1,577 tons NO2 1,682,130 tons CO2
Ash 1.3 kg/s FA 0.14 kg/s BA
112320 kg FA 12096 kg BA
40,997 tons FA 4,415 tons BA
Domestic Solid Waste
871 kg/day 871 kg 317915 kg
Limestone
400MW thermal heat to
the environment
NO2 (1,576,800kg/yr),
SO2 (3,784,320kg/yr),
CO2 (1,682,130,240 kg/yr)
& Hg (3.33-13.91kg /yr), etc.
Fly ash (40,997 tons/yr) with Hg
(2.81-11.77kg/yr) & other toxic
matters such as arsenic, lead, etc.
Bottom ash
(4,415tons/yr) with
pollutants
Note: 45,412 tons of Ashes are for disposal in a 7 ha.-landfill
without roof & unknown depth. Hg (61.8-259.2 ppb)
SO2 react w/
limestone @
temp > 750oC
40.37 % of Hg
content of coal
47.7% of Hg
content of
coal
1,524,706 kg
coal/day
NOx
abatement
Optimum @
300-400oC
Colorless GHG
ESP
50% of Hg emitted
from CFPPs can
travel up to 600 miles
(966 km) from source
1 cu. meter of ash would range from 2100 3000 kg
Therefore,
7 hectares landfill @ 20 meters deep
may be filled with Coal Combustion By-Products in four (4) years.
ON CARBON SINK
A hectare of rubber trees (415 trees) can absorb 7.69 tons of CO2 per year
A mango tree absorbs
302 kg CO2/yr
Coffee/cacao trees absorb approximate 70 tons CO2/year-
hectare at 1100 trees per hectare
CO2 Absorption of trees: Rubber Tree - 7.69 Tons of CO2/(ha)(yr) International Rubber Research & Development Board @ 415 trees/ha
Mango (carabao) - 302 kg CO2/(tree)(yr) http://www.mangoseedling.com/advocacies2.htmlhttp://www.mangoseedling.com
For Mango, 1,682,130,240 kg CO2/yr would need 55,700 hectares @ 100 trees/ha.
Coffee/cacao (shaded) - 70 ton CO2/(ha)(yr)@ http:/www.agrometeorology.org 1,100 trees per ha.
24,030 hectares is necessary to
absorb the projected emission
Proponents forestation is only 7,500 hectares. Pls. take note of
this!
102 billion tons
of CO2 /year
Kept in BALANCE by
NATURAL SINKS
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS, TRANSPORT,
DEFORESTATION DUE TO MINING
2006, NEW BOOK OF POPULAR SCIENCE
THE OCEAN SLIGHTLY ABSORBS MORE THAN IT EMITS
OCEAN
INCREASING
AMOUNT OF GHG
CONSTANTLY
DISRUPTED THE
BALANCE CAUSING
GLOBAL WARMING
HEAT WASTE AS THERMAL POLLUTANT
TURBINE
SIMPLE DIAGRAM OF A COAL-FIRED STEAM POWER PLANT
CHIMNEY (PANGHAW)
BOILER (BUKALANAN SA TUBIG)
FLUE GAS HEAT + CO2 + N2O+ CO+ NO2+SO2
OTHER POLLUTANTS
HEAT REJECTED TO THE
COOLING WATER
POWER
OUTPUT HEAT INPUT to
boiler
PUMP
WORK
HEAT FROM THE
BURNED COAL
600MW
FURNACE
(PUGON)
200MWe
Generator
CONDENSER
(TRANSFORMS STEAM TO
LIQUID PHASE)
Hot water
being
aerated
at the
cooling
tower
Cooling Tower Condenser
Waste Water
Pond
Wastewater
treatment Recycled Cooling Water
Make-up Cooling Water
From Raw Water Source
Steam from
the turbine
Cold Air entering the
Cooling Tower
Waste water to somewhere w/ temp higher than the receiver
Heat emitted to the
surrounding air which is the
main portion of the 400,000 kJoules per second
Water to
boiler
Equivalent HEAT released when BURNING
25 kg of woods/sec
or
90,000 kg of woods/hour
WATER CONSUMPTION
WATER FOR STEAM GENERATION AND CONDENSER COOLING WATER
the power plant will need
750 CUBIC METER/HOUR (198,150 GALLONS/HOUR)
(Will be drawn from Siguil River or DEEP WELLS and to be supplied by a third
party) (THIS HOURLY CONSUMPTION WOULD BE ENOUGH TO SUPPLY TO 30 HOUSEHOLDS
WITH MONTHLY CONSUMTION OF 25 CUBIC METERS.)
Note: 1 cu m = 264.2 US gallons = 6.3 barrels
Adverse Impacts of Coal-Fired Plants in the Philippines * Impacts on Health Due to Emitted Substances * Flooding Due to Global Warming
Substances Emitted by Coal Fired Power Plants
Mercury
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Manganese
Arsenic
Boron
Selenium
Molybdenum
Uranium
Radium 226, 228
Thorium 232
Aluminum
Sulfate
Beryllium
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
US Environmental Protection Agency
Adverse Impacts of CFPPs Philippine Experience
Increase in respiratory diseases like
bronchitis & pneumonia (Brgy
Dacanlao near Calaca plant)
Lower forced vital capacity in almost all
male children (Brgy Dacanlao)
Increased incidence of skin, respiratory &
heart ailments, & eye irritation (Calaca)
Wilson Manuba, with his family. This Calancan Bay fisherman had his leg amputated due to arsenic poisoning
Photograph by David
Sproule/Oxfam Australia
Effects of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Potent respiratory irritant NOx + Hydrocarbons + sunlight = GROUNDLEVEL OZONE Ozone respiratory irritant burning
sensation & difficulty of breathing during exercise
--high risk groups: children,
elderly, persons w/ lung diseases, people who exercise outdoors
Effects of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Inflammation of nose & lungs Triggering of asthma attacks Triggering of heart attacks in
people with heart ailments
Toxic Effects of Mercury nervous system
heart
kidneys
Eyes, Ears, Mouth and throat
Muscle weakness
Reproductive system
Minamata Disease
The US EPA has set a limit of 2 parts of mercury per billion parts
of drinking water (2 ppb)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a
maximum permissible level of 1
part of methylmercury in a million
parts of seafood (1 ppm).
LEAD
Lead is one out of four metals that have the most damaging effects on
human health.
It can enter the human body through uptake of food (65%), water (20%)
and air (15%).
10ug/dl impair mental and physical development in children
>80 ug/dl causes convulsions, coma and death
Lead
From www.kdheks.gov/ables/images/later.gif
House painter with wasted muscles and wrist drop affected by chronic lead poisoning
Photo credit: www.corrosion-doctors.org
Specific Effects of LEAD
Toxic effects are noted after chronic exposure
Neurotoxicity encephalopathy, dizziness, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, headache, convulsions, lethargy, coma
Harms the digestive systems, blood, kidneys
Causes learning and behavioral problems in children
Causes miscarriages
Specific effects of ARSENIC
Cancers of the bladder, prostate, kidney, liver, lungs & skin
Dysfunctions of the digestive system & kidneys
Nervous system involvement w/ impairment in movement & sensation
Photo credit: arsenic project www.physics.harvard.edu
Specific Effects of CHROMIUM
Hexavalent form is among the strongest known causes of lung cancer
Nasal cancers Respiratory tract disturbances Liver & kidney damage Stomach ulcers Convulsions Hematologic disturbances anemia, intravascular
hemolysis
Ocular disturbances corneal opacification, keratitis, conjunctivitis
increased risk of bone, prostate, lymphomas, Hodgkins, leukemia, stomach, genital, renal and bladder cancer
EXISTING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES WITH HSTORY OF FLY ASH EMISSIONS
CONTAINING SOME TOXIC POLLUTANTS
Sual Location: Pangasinan
Operator: TeaM Energy Corp Configuration: 2 X 647 MW
Operation: 1999 Fuel: coal
Boiler supplier: Stein T/G supplier: GEC_Alstom
EPC: Alstom, Arup, Slipform Quick facts: Development started when Consolidated
Electric Power Asia Ltd (a subsidiary of Hopewell Holdings) bid and won a $900mn BOOT tender for a 1,000-MW power station at Sual. Site prep started in 1995 and construction started in Feb 1996. The 30ha site is on Bangayao Point on Lingayen Gulf. The plant
has wet limestone FGD scrubbers from Alstom. Photograph courtesy of Sound Research Laboratories Ltd
Posted 18 Oct 2006
Sample Number M10202
Description fly ash
Power Facility Sual
Element (dry wt) mg/kg
Arsenic (As) 8.4 =8.4 ppm
Cadmium (Cd)
Mauban, Quezon Location: Quezon
Operator: Quezon Power Ltd Configuration: 1 X 490 MW
Operation: 1999 Fuel: coal
Boiler supplier: FW T/G supplier: GE
EPC: Bechtel Quick facts: This IPP on a 100ha site in Mauban has electrostatic
precipitators, low-NOX burners, and an FGD scrubber. Union Bank of Switzerland agreed to underwrite up to $600mn of bank financing for
the $860mn project, which also includes a 31km transmission line. The project has a 25yr PPA with Meralco. In late 1997, lead developer InterGen sold a 26% stake in Mauban to Global Power Investments
LP, formed in 1994 by GE Capital, Soros Fund Management, and International Finance Corp. InterGen retains a 46% stake, with
Covanta having a 26% share and PMR holding 2%. The plant has a long-term coal supply contract with Indonesias PT Adaro and Kaltim Prima and burns about 1.65mn tons per year. Dedicated port and coal
handling facilities were built.
Photograph courtesy of Covanta Posted 28 Sep 2005
Sample Number M102013
Description fly ash
Power Facility Mauban
Element (dry wt) mg/kg
Arsenic (As) 41.8=41.8ppm
Cadmium (Cd)
Masinloc Location: Zambales
Operator: Masinloc Power Partners Co Ltd Configuration: 2 X 300 MW
Operation: 1998-1999 Fuel: coal
Boiler supplier: MHI T/G supplier: MHI, Melco
EPC: Stone & Webster, Commonwealth Engineers, MHI Quick facts: In Dec 2004, PSALM awarded the Masinloc plant to a
consortium of YNN Holdings Corp and Great Pacific Financial Group for $561.7mn. This was the largest sale by far to that date and was both double the next highest bid and substantially above
the expected bid. In the event, the consortium could not consummate the sale and the plant was rebid in Jul 2007 and
eventually sold to a consortium led by AES Corp. Financing closed in mid-April 2008, with the participation of the ADB, IFC and a
syndicate of commercial banks. A new 600-MW unit is in planning.
Photograph courtesy of National Power Corp Re-posted 18 Oct 2006
Sample Number M02014
Description fly ash
Power Facility Masinloc
Element (dry wt) mg/kg
Arsenic (As) 10.4
Cadmium (Cd)
Mindanao Location: Misamis Oriental
Operator: STEAG State Power Inc Configuration: 2 X 116 MW
Operation: 2006 Fuel: bituminous coal
Boiler supplier: Kawasaki T/G supplier: Toshiba
EPC: Kawasaki, Commonwealth Engineers Co Quick Facts: This plant at the Phivdec Industrial Estate near Cagayan de Oro City was approved by NPC and PSALM in Sep 2003. The lead financing was by Taiwans State Investment Trust which has an 11% stake in the project with STEAG taking an 89% stake. The project dates to 1996 when a 25yr PPA was signed. This was formalized in Oct 2001 and in Apr 2002, Kawasaki was awarded the EPC contract for the plant, which burns Indonesian coal. Construction started in
Jan 2004 and the plant cost $305mn. Financial close was in Dec 2003 with a group of lenders including JBIC, Nippon Export and Insurance
Corp,and Germanys KfW, Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank, and Dresdner Bank.
Photograph courtesy of STEAG
Posted 13 Jan 2007
* No data available yet as to fly ash emissions. Necessary investigation should be done soonest.
* Another area for investigation is the temperature rise in sea water. The plant is not using cooling tower and the cooling water is
drawn directly from the sea disposed back to the sea.
STEAM FROM
TURBINE
CONDENSATE
TO BOILER
CONDENSER
HE
AT
RE
JE
CT
ED
BY
ST
EA
M
=
HE
AT
AB
SO
RB
ED
BY
CO
OL
ING
WA
TE
R
TI
TE HEAT REJECTED
TO THE
ENVIRONMENT
(THE SEA WATER)
Power Supply Situation in Mindanao
--Will there be a power crisis
in 2010 or 2015?
Table 1
The peak demand for the whole of Mindanao in 2006 & 2007 Grid 2007 2006 % change
Luzon 6,643 6,466 2.74
Visayas 1,102 1,066 3.38
Mindanao 1,241 1,228 1.06
Table 2 MINDANAO POWER SUPPLY CAPACITY AS OF April 2008
Capacity in MW
INSTALLED* DEPENDABLE**
DIESEL 594.29 477.94
GEOTHERMAL 108.48 99.50
HYDRO 997.65 902.39
COAL THERMAL 232.00 201.25
1932.42 1681.08
Year 2015: Power Demand = 1,241X(1.03)8 = 1,572MW
To determine the year when the power shortage may be experience
n = ln(1,681.08/1,241)/ln(1.03) = 10.3 In Year 2018, the peak demand will be approximately equal to the dependable power
supply in Mindanao Grid. Except if a mining company will be operated sooner.
Precautionary Principle
We should not proceed whenever
there is no certainty for HEALTH
and ENVIRONMENT
BETTER BE SAFE THAN
SORRY!
Excerpt from the Political Hotsheet 4/22/2009 Posted by Brian Montopoli
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. , an environment lawyer, says, There is nothing radical about protecting water and air for our children, he said, adding that it is a false choice to either protect the economy or the environment. Our children are going to pay for our JOYRIDE.
We are great people- natural geniuses in our love of Mother Earth. After all, we live in the richest and most beautiful country on earth. However, some of our so-called leaders had distracted our focus to the false expense of the real wealth of life that lies in our land, our air, our waters and in our hearts
Quoted by: ANTONIO OPOSA
Oposa Wins Environmental Law Award
Philippine Daily Inquirer
15 April 2009
Wind Energy
The best wind resource areas, principally good (utilityscale) to excellent (rural scale), in Southern Mindanao are the higher terrain areas east of Davao Gulf, along the mountains that separate Davao del Sur from southern Cotabato, west of Sarangani Bay, and west of Isulan. Two locations, Sharp Peak and Saddle Peak, in Davao del Sur, are classified as having an excellent wind resource
Sources:
PEDP Sustainable Energy Development Program
USAID & USDOE
This beautiful forest will remain as is even w/o CO2 supply from Coal-Fired Power Plant
Thank You For Opposing the Establishment &
Operation of a Coal-Fired Power Plant!
Let us defend NATURE & HUMANITY