Evaluation of radionuclide contamination of soil, coal ash and zeolitic materials from Figueira Thermoelectric Power Plant

Neutron activation analysis and gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine 238U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Pb, 232Th and 40K contents in feed pulverized coal, bottom ash, fly ash from cyclone and baghouse filters, zeolites synthesized from the ashes and two different soil samples. All the samples used in the study was collected at Figueira thermoelectric power plant, located in the city of Figueira, Paraná State, which coal presents a significant amount of uranium concentration. The natural radionuclide concentrations in pulverized coal were 4216 Bq kg–1 for 238U, 180 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, 27 Bq kg–1 for 228Ra, 28 Bq kg–1 for 232Th and 192 Bq kg–1 for 40K.The ashes fraction presented concentrations ranging from 683.5 to 1479 Bq kg–1 for 238U, from 484 to 1086 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, from 291 to 1891 Bq kg–1 for 210Pb, from 67 to 111 Bq kg–1for 228Ra, from 80 to 87 Bq kg–1 for 232Th and from 489 to 718 Bq kg–1 for 40K. Similar ranges were observed for zeolites. The activity concentration of 238U was higher than worldwide average concentration for all samples. The concentration of the uranium series found in the ashes were lower than the values observed in similar studies carried out 10 years ago and under the limit adopted by the Brazilian guideline (CNEN-NN-4.01). Nevertheless, the concentrations of this specific area are higher than others coal mines and thermoelectric power plants in and out of Brazil, so it is advisable to evaluate the environmental impact of the installation.

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Use of portable environmental sensors in the monitoring of the thermoelectric power plants operation

Revista Ibero-Americana de Ciências Ambientais ◽

10.6008/cbpc2179-6858.2020.006.0016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 178-201

Author(s):

Joaci Dos Santos Cerqueira ◽

Helder Neves de Albuquerque ◽

Mário Luiz Farias Cavalcanti ◽

Francisco De Assis Salviano de Sousa

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Power Plant ◽

Thermoelectric Power ◽

Power Plants ◽

Dew Point ◽

Environmental Sensors ◽

Point Temperature ◽

Dew Point Temperature ◽

Thermoelectric Power Plants ◽

Thermoelectric Power Plant

Thermoelectric power plants can directly cause environmental impacts with respect to emissions of atmospheric gases caused by combustion for operation, being the main agents: unburned hydrocarbons, carbon oxides, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and material particulate. Thus, this research aimed to measure and compare the instantaneous levels of the chemical compounds CO2, CO, SO2, noise, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperature, wind speed and luminescence in two peri-urban areas of the surrounding a thermoelectric power plant in the interior of Paraíba, Brazil. To this end, data were collected using environmental sensors (a Garmin Gpsmap 62sc GPS camera 5mp; a Canon powershot SX60HS 16.1MP LCD 3.0 semi-professional digital camera, 65x optical zoom; an ITMCO2-600 meter for measuring CO2 and CO; one ITMP-600 multifunctional meter for AVG/MAX/MIN/DIF measurement, temperature measurement, humidity measurement, sound level measurement, luminescence measurement and wind speed measurement; and a GasAlert Extreme SO2 Gas detector to measure concentrations of sulfur in the environment), from October 2015 to March 2017, during daytime, between 7:00am to 9:00am, with weekly frequency, with instantaneous sampling measurements being collected at the collection points, near the thermoelectric power plant (Area 1) and close to the BR/104 highway (Area 2). The results showed that the records through the environmental sensors were not significant among the areas surveyed regarding the values of CO, CO2, SO2, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperature and luminescence. Regarding the wind speed, the two areas showed little variation. The noise levels in Area 1, on the other hand, during the operation of the thermoelectric power plant in its fullness, there was an increase above the permitted level, according to current Brazilian regulations, causing damage to the health of the inhabitants of its surroundings, in addition to harming the fauna of the surrounding area. around, mainly, the birds that are driven away by the noise, and, consequently, reducing the diversity of the avifauna surrounding the Thermoelectric. Thus, the use of environmental sensors to monitor the air quality of this area is very important, thus serving as a comparative support for future studies, as well as establishing the genesis for an environmental database in this metropolitan region of Campina Grande/PB, Brazil.

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Wet, Dry, and Hybrid Heat Rejection System Impacts on the Economic Performance of a Thermoelectric Power Plant Subjected to Varying Degrees of Water Constraint

Volume 2: Simple and Combined Cycles; Advanced Energy Systems and Renewables (Wind, Solar and Geothermal); Energy Water Nexus; Thermal Hydraulics and CFD; Nuclear Plant Design, Licensing and Construction; Performance Testing and Performance Test Codes; Student Paper Competition ◽

10.1115/power2014-32051 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas P. Carter ◽

James W. Furlong ◽

Sean P. Bushart ◽

Jessica Shi

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Thermoelectric Power ◽

Hybrid System ◽

Power Plants ◽

Cooling Tower ◽

Power Production ◽

Heat Rejection ◽

Water Constraint ◽

Interactive Dynamic ◽

Thermoelectric Power Plant

The reduction of water consumption and use is emerging as a top priority for all types of thermoelectric power plants. In the United States, thermoelectric power production accounts for approximately 41% of freshwater withdrawals [1] and 3% of overall fresh water consumption. [2] On the basis of responses to a 2011 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Request for Information [3], the feasibility study [4,5,6,7] of a Thermosyphon Cooler Hybrid System (TCHS) [8], proposed by Johnson Controls, was funded under EPRI’s Technology Innovation (TI) Water-Conservation Program. The objective of this project was to further develop the TCHS design concept for larger scale power plant applications and then perform a thorough technical and economic feasibility evaluation of the TSC Hybrid System and compare it to a variety of other competitive heat rejection systems. The Thermosyphon Cooler Hybrid System reduces power plant cooling tower evaporative water loss by pre-cooling the condenser loop water through a dry cooling process employing an energy efficient, naturally recirculating refrigerant loop. This paper details the results of a detailed feasibility study that was conducted to compare the cost and performance of the TCHS to a number of other potential wet, dry, and hybrid thermoelectric power plant heat rejection systems operating under varying degrees of water constraint. Installed system cost estimates were developed for the base all wet cooling tower systems, TCHS’s of varying sizes, air-cooled condenser (ACC) hybrid systems of varying sizes, and all dry ACC systems. Optimized all wet cooling tower and all dry ACC system configurations were developed for five different climatic locations. A comprehensive power plant simulation program that evaluated the fuel and water requirements of the power plants equipped with the different heat rejection systems across the weather conditions associated with all 8,760 hours of a typical meteorological year was developed and then an extensive array of simulations were run each location. The summary data were organized in a separate interactive dynamic system comparison summary program to allow users to gain further insight into the relationships between the various heat rejection systems and the sensitivity of the results to changes in key input assumptions. This paper details the data presented in the interactive dynamic system comparison summary program. This program displays the key metrics of the Annual Net Cost of Power Production, the Annual Net Power Plant Profit, the Annual Operating Profit, and the Internal Rate of Return as a function of the Percent Annual Water Savings Required for the various heat rejection systems at each of the five studied climatic locations studied. Key results and conclusions are presented.

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Pollution Impact of the Grozavesti Thermoelectric Power Plant on the Urban Agglomeration Bucharest

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.2.6105 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 350-353

Author(s):

Cristina Mihaela Balaceanu ◽

Mihaela Andreea Mitiu ◽

Maria Iuliana Marcus ◽

Mariana Mincu

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Power Plant ◽

Thermoelectric Power ◽

Power Plants ◽

Thermal Power ◽

Gaussian Model ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Botanical Garden ◽

Urban Agglomeration ◽

Thermoelectric Power Plant

The purpose of this paper is the experimental analysis of the thermoelectric power plant Grozavesti impact on Bucharest urban agglomeration for year 2015. Experimental research is done for the NOx and SO2 pollutant for all seasons. The thermoelectric power plant Grozavesti is located near the Botanical Garden. Data provided by the industrial source are processed and constitute the input for the determination of the NOx and SO2 concentrations by using the OML (Operational Local Model) air quality dispersion Gaussian model. The results from modelling shows that the highest NOx and SO2 concentrations occur in the winter and autumn periods, due to unfavorable meteorological dispersion conditions and due to the operation of thermal power plant Grozavesti in the cold seasons. Thermoelectric power plants Grozavesti, operate on natural gas, because power plant have been refurbished. Generally, the results show that the industrial power plant represent the main contributions for pollution when the NOx and SO2 are exceed the limit value, according to Law 104/2011- ambient air quality, and this affect vegetation and human health.

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