Determination of PM10 and deposited dust dispersion on the settlement areas from Aksa Göynük coal (lignite) fueled thermal power plant

Abstract

With the growing population and rapidly developing industrialization in Turkey, energy demand is also increasing. The majority of the energy is produced using imported products, which increase the current account deficit in Turkey. The use of coal from domestic sources are encouraged for economic reasons. One of the coal (lignite) fueled thermal power plants established for this purpose is operating in the province of Bolu Göynük. In order to determine the environmental effect of the plant on the settlement areas in the area, air quality monitoring studies have been conducted. In the study, the periodic PM10 and deposited dust parameters have been monitored monthly at four points between 2013 and 2019, including before and after installation of the plant. As a result of the study; the mean PM10 measurement were obtained as 36.48 ± 0.73; 37.61 ± 0.75; 42.70 ± 0.85 and 38.72 ± 0.77 μg/m3 for four points. Meanwhile, the mean values of the deposited dust were found as 70.81 ± 2.12; 35.55 ± 1.07; 79.50 ± 2.39 and 29.38 ± 0.88 mg/m2/day. Despite the providing current limit values of the dust parameter for power plant where the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) filter and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems are applied, it is observed that the dust emissions from activities such as coal extraction, crushing, sieving and ash storage in the area show different cases depending on meteorological conditions.