Techniques to reduce emissions from Thermal Power Plants

Sulphur dioxide (SOx) emissions:

There are various techniques for reducing emissions of SO2 during the combustion of fuels used for generating electricity. These techniques are many and varied but include, inter alia:

• use of low sulphur fuels;
• in-furnace sulphur control via the injection of a sorbent, such as calcium oxide or calcium carbonate, during the combustion process;
• flue gas desulphurisation (FGD); and
• fuel gas desulphurisation.

Oxides of nitrogen  emissions: 

Like SO2, there are various techniques for reducing emissions of NOx during the combustion of fuels used for generating electricity. For example:

• advanced (dry) combustion systems;
• injection of DeNOx water;
• low NOx burners;
• flue gas recirculation;
• reburn;
• selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR); and
• selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Particulates Matters

Particulate emissions are generally controlled using one of two main techniques:

• electrostatic precipitators; or
• bag filters.