Handling and Utilisation of Fly Ash from Thermal Power Plants

Abstract

Electric power in India mainly depends on coal-fired power plants. Commonly, Indian coal comprises ash in the range of 30–45%. In order to sustain India’s economic growth, the country total coal demand is forecasted to more than double by 2030. Increasingly huge quantities of fly and bottom ash are produced in the country, thus leading to the necessity to duly plan safe and clean ways to handle, use, and dispose of the combustion by-products. Thermal power plant design nowadays must duly consider apprehensions related to water shortage, environmental guidelines, sustainable management and disposal of ash, along with growing consciousness pertaining to overall cost and power plant efficiency. The current paper discusses the problems associated with fly ash and its handling and mitigation measures. Fly ash generated while burning of coal in thermal power plants can be utilised for several favourable uses like manufacturing of cement, road construction, road embankment and development of ceramics or fertiliser.