Pollutant Emission and Energy Consumption Analysis of Environmental Protection Facilities in Ultra-Low Emission Coal-Fired Power Units

Abstract

A total of 30 coal-fired power units in China were assessed with regard to the effects of ultra-low emission retrofitting on pollutant emission and on the consumption of both energy and materials of environmental protection facilities. SO2, NOx, and dust emission were compared, together with the energy and material usage of desulfurization and selective catalytic reduction denitrification facilities before and after retrofitting. Following retrofitting, the average SO2, NOx, and dust emission performance were 0.042, 0.1, and 0.004 g/(kW·h), respectively, all of which are much lower than the current averages of coal-fired units in the United States. The average station service power consumption rate of desulfurization facilities increased from 1.12 to 1.29% following retrofitting, while limestone usage increased from 112.6 to 155.5 kg/(104 kW·h) and liquid ammonia consumption increased from 4.1 to 4.31 kg/(104 kW·h).