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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CONTROL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

TABLE OF CONTENT

2401: Power Plant Emissions

2402: Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems - FGD

2403: NOx Reduction Systems

2404: Treatment of Liquid Effluents

2405: Particulate Removal and Solid Waste

2406: Handling Hazardous Materials

2407: Burning Waste

2401: Power Plant Emissions

The objective of this videotape, the first in the "Environmental Protection Control" series, is to provide an overview of the environmental problem, and so set the stage for future videotapes on specific types of pollution control equipment. In this tape, power plant emissions (gaseous, liquid and solid) their source, and their individual effects on the environment are discussed. Environmental standards are introduced, including as discussion on emission limits for certain pollutants. Upon completion of this videotape and associated workbook, the participant should be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • The main applications for diesel power generators emergency stand-by generators, power supply to remote areas.
  • The need for environmental protection
  • The significance of power plant pollutants
  • The pollutant streams; gaseous, liquid, and solid
  • Identifying individual pollutants in each stream
  • Formation of the following gases and their effect upon the environment; SOx, NOx , CO2, CO, and hydrocarbons
  • The effect of particulates on the environment
  • The effect of heavy metal toxics in the flue gas
  • The effect of burning different fuels on gaseous emissions
  • Sources of liquid effluent pollutants from plant cycle
  • Pollution from open drain system
  • Pollution from storm water run off
  • Groundwater contamination
  • Specific effects on different contaminants i.e. suspended solids, dissolved solids, nutrients, bio-degradable organics, heavy metals, toxic organic compounds, oils, greases, acidity, high temperature
  • Sources of solid waste in the power plant
  • Bottom ash, fly ash, particulates and toxics
  • Dried sludge from the FGD effluent
  • Dried sludge from the water pre-treatment plant effluent
  • Dried sludge from the water post-treatment plant effluent
  • Recovery and use of solid waste
  • Solid waste disposal: sanitary landfill
  • Power plant garbage
  • Problems associated with burning garbage
  • The need for awareness of hazardous materials
  • The nature of environmental regulations and agencies
  • EPA legislation
  • nvironmental permits for new construction
  • The need for continuous control of emissions during operation
  • Monitoring, enforcement, and penalties for infringement
  • Typical emissions standards for SOx, NOx, particulates, and toxics
  • Typical limits set on contaminants in liquid effluents, i.e. dissolved oxygen, PH, toxic, suspended solids, bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD), residual chlorine, oil and greases
  • Clean air credits from new large power plants can compensate for older plants
  • Effect of emission limits on load dispatching

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2402: Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems - FGD

The objective of this videotape is to discuss the features of different types of FGD systems. Considerable attention is given to typical wet limestone systems, but other systems are also introduced and the main features discussed. Upon completion of the videotape and workbook exercises, the participant will be able to understand and apply the following:

  • Alkali reagents for SO2 removal
  • Lime and limestone, reaction with SO2
  • Wet and dry applications
  • Essential areas: - reagent preparation, SO2 absorption, waste disposal
  • Limestone handling, reclaim, and preparation
  • Weighers, conveyers, crushers, pulverizers, dust collectors, wet filters
  • Hydroclone classifiers
  • Slurry concentration throughout process
  • Protection against limestone slurry abrasion i.e. construction materials
  • Prevention of scaling and plugging; agitation
  • Absorber tower layout
  • Operation of counterflow absorption tower, flue gas flow, spray flow, reagent recycle
  • Sprays, trays, separators, mist eliminators pH control, addition of reagent
  • Recycle tanks, make-up, density, dilution
  • Calcium deposits, natural oxidation to calcium sulfate, sulfur additive
  • Washing of nozzles, separators, mist eliminators Wash slurry system
  • Pre-quenching incoming gas
  • Instrumentation and controls for the absorber system
  • Waste slurry collection and thickening
  • Thickener overflow, supernate system
  • Underflow density, sludge
  • Filter dryer operation, rotary and horizontal
  • Stabilizing waste; landfill
  • Forced oxidation, post and in-sitiu
  • Gypsum recovery
  • Advanced wet limestone FGD systems
  • Regenerative systems
  • Dry sorbent injection
  • Spray dryers

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2403: NOx Reduction Systems

The objective of this videotape is to present the different types of NOx control devices, which are installed on modern boilers and gas turbines. The tape demonstrates techniques applied to the combustion process to reduce NOx formation, plus methods used to reduce NOx from the flue gas. Upon completion of the videotape and workbook exercises, the participant should be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • The effects of NOx emissions
  • Factors effecting the formation of thermal NOx and fuel NOx
  • Typical NOx baseline values for coal fired, oil fired and gas fired boilers
  • Typical regulatory limits for NOx emissions
  • Reduction of NOx by control of the combustion process
  • The effect of excess air on NOx formation
  • Negative effects of low excess air firing
  • Equalizing fuel and air distribution by use of:
      1.a compartmentalized windbox
      2.separate fuel and air controls for each individual burner
  • Fuel biasing to help reduce NOx formation
  • Air staging through over-fire air (OFA)
  • Gas recirculation through the windbox to reduce combustion flame temperature
  • The use of oil-water emulsion in order to reduce flame temperature
  • Low NOx burners; fuel staging and air staging
  • The use of boundary air to protect water walls against flame impingement
  • The effect of tangential firing on NOx formation
  • Typical corner fired burners
  • NOx reduction by fuel rich, air rich, and offset air zones
  • Typical low NOx circular burners
  • Air staging through concentric secondary air ports
  • Low NOx recirculation burners
  • The application of fuel reburn to provide a reduction zone and cause diassociation of NOx already formed
  • The meaning of "Stoichiometric" values
  • Downstream removal of NOx from flue gas
  • Characteristics of selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR)
  • Improvements affected by the addition of a catalyst, i.e. selective catalytic reduction (SCR)
  • Factors affecting the life of the catalyst
  • Typical ammonia injection system
  • The effect of ammonia slip
  • Alternate locations for the catalyst reactor tower
  • Control of flue gas temperature in the SCR process
  • Gas turbine NOx control systems
  • Steam and water injection - advantages and disadvantages
  • Low NOx burners for gas turbines
  • Flame temperature dilution by excess air
  • Pre-mixing of fuel and combustion air
  • Multiple burner installations
  • The application of SCR systems to gas turbine installations

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2404: Treatment of Liquid Effluents

The objective of this videotape is to demonstrate the different types of WASTE EFFLUENT TREATMENT EQUIPMENT installed in a typical modern power plant. The nature of contaminant from different waste streams is examined, including their effects on the environment. Also discussed are typical regulatory limits imposed on effluent discharges. Upon completion of this videotape and associated workbook, the participant should be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • The need for regulatory limits on contaminants in power plant waste streams
  • The nature of contaminants in power plant waste streams: suspended solids, dissolved solids, heavy metals, primary pollutants, oil and grease, chlorine residual, and pH value
  • Typical values of Mg/L (ppm) limits on contaminants from power plants
  • The significance of suspended solids and dissolved solids
  • The effect of hardness in water
  • Site specific limits on TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
  • Typical Power Plant waste streams and associated contaminants
  • Wastewater treatment end products:
      1.clean effluent discharge
      2.solid waste for disposal
  • Sedimentation, settling ponds and basins
  • Requirement for lining to prevent leaching into groundwater
  • Filtration, gravity filter, pressure filters, backwashing
  • Clarifiers, flocculation
  • Water softening
  • Precipitation of heavy metals by pH adjustment
  • Oil and grease removal, flotation tanks
  • pH neutralization
  • Sludge handling, thickeners
  • Dewatering equipment
  • The effect of biodegradable material (organic compounds) in water, BOD and COD
  • Oxygen depletion, aerobic and anaerobic conditions
  • Treatment for organics in water including: lagoons, trickling filters, rotating biological
  • contractor, and activated sludge system
  • Sludge treatment; digesters
  • Removal of dissolved salts (chlorides and sulfates) by evaporation, demineralization and membrane separation
  • Brine concentration by drying

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2405: Particulate Removal and Solid Waste

The objective of this videotape is to present the different methods of collection and disposal of solid waste from thermal power stations. Various types of particulate removal equipment are studied, including the characteristics of fly ash and particulate matter. Also discussed and demonstrated are environmental regulations related to landfill sites. The subject of refuse disposal is also examined. After completion of this tape and associated workbook, the participant should be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • The nature of particulate matter
  • The effect of particulates released to the environmental
  • Environmental restrictions on release of particulates, i.e. typical max limit = 0.1lb per million BTU
  • The function and characteristics of the mechanical dust collector (cyclone)
  • The limitations of the mechanical dust collector, i.e. removal of particulates down to 5 microns diameter
  • The function and characteristics of the wet scrubber for removing particulates
  • The venturi type scrubber
  • Function and characteristics of the electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
  • Removal efficiency of the ESP (above 99%)
  • The effect of dust build-up on the collector plates - sparking
  • Arrangements for rapping collector plates and electrodes
  • Loss of collection efficiency due to re-entertainment of dust particles into the flue gas stream
  • The effect of changes in electrical resistivity of the dust particles
  • The effect of higher flue gas temperature on resistivity
  • Adjustment of resistivity by gas injection, i.e. ammonia, sodium, and sulfur trioxide
  • The need for continuous removal of dust from the ESP dust hoppers (prevents bridging of the plates)
  • The function and characteristics of the fabric filter
  • Advantages of the fabric filter
  • Different methods of cleaning the filter bags i.e. shaking, reverse flow, and pulse jet
  • Comparison of pressure drop across the different types of particulate removal equipment
  • The make-up of power plant solid waste, i.e. removed contaminants
  • Typical landfill arrangements
  • Environmental regulations governing the siting, construction, monitoring and control of certified landfill sites
  • Leachate drainage systems
  • Venting of gases from landfill
  • Ash disposal ponds
  • Disposal of FGD sludge
  • Commercial applications for solid waste
  • Typical content of power plant refuse
  • Municipal refuse
  • Disposal of refuse, i.e. landfill or incineration
  • Preparation of refuse for landfill

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2406: Handling Hazardous Materials

The objective of this videotape is to draw attention to the dangers, rules and regulations associated with handling hazardous materials in and around the power plant. This includes hazardous wastes and other materials used in the power plant operation and maintenance processes, which may present a potential environmental danger or be a hazard to the health of personnel. Upon completion of the videotape and workbook exercises, the participant will be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • Classification of hazardous materials
  • Identification symbols
  • Mandatory labeling of containers
  • Labeling tanks and pipework containing hazardous substances
  • Mandatory "Material Safety Data Sheets" (MSDS)
  • Information contained on MSDS
  • Personnel health hazards associated with specific materials used in power plants
  • Ingestion, inhalation, or adsorption of harmful substances
  • Hazardous water treatment chemicals, e.g. acids, caustic, phosphate, hydrazine, chromate, sulfate dust
  • Hazards associated with coal, ash, natural gas
  • Protective clothing
  • Respiratory protection
  • Common sense protective measures
  • Procedures for handling asbestos, paints, solvents, PCBs, lubricants, CFCs ammonia
  • Abrasive blasting - precautions
  • Precautions required for lead paint removal
  • Preparation for handling large spills
  • Response team training drills
  • Response team equipment

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2407: Burning Waste

he objective of this videotape is to present the different techniques applied for burning waste products, including municipal waste. Attention is given to the treatment of ash and contaminants in the flue gas, such as particulate matter (including heavy metals) and traces of toxic gases. Upon completion of this videotape and associated workbook, the participant will be able to understand and apply the following concepts:

  • The potential for environmental pollution from hazardous materials produced by burning waste, such as:
      1.particulate matter containing metals and chlorides
      2.ash, containing metals and chlorides
      3.traces of toxic gases
  • Applications of steam energy derived from waste burning, i.e. district heating, power generation, co-generation
  • Types of waste material burned in "waste to energy" schemes, i.e. wood, rubber, refuse, off-gas, black liquor
  • Comparison of heat content of fossil fuels and typical waste fuels
  • Problems encountered in burning waste material
  • Mass burn system - typical installation
  • Excess air requirements
  • Ash removal and handling
  • Different types of grate and their applications
  • RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) - process
  • A typical RDF boiler installation
  • Flue gas treatment - spray dryers, ESP, fabric filter
  • Co-firing with fossil fuel
  • Applications of fluidized bed combustion
  • Acidic gas removal in a fluid bed
  • CFB - Circulating Fluidized Bed
  • Particulate removal using a hot cyclone