Integrated hydro- and wind power generation: a game changer towards environmental flow in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin?

Many renewable resources for the generation of electricity, such as hydropower and wind power, are dependent on climatic factors. Reservoirs have been created to overcome the stochastic nature of river flows and to make water supply more reliable. However, reservoirs are affecting the ecological status of river ecosystems, e.g., by modifying the flow regime, triggering discussions regarding the discharge of reservoirs. In Brazil’s northeast region, the installed capacity for wind power generation has increased substantially in recent years. Setting up a modeling system for simulating wind power and hydropower generation in this study, it is analyzed whether wind power generation, peaking in the dry season, can help to achieve a more environmentally oriented flow regime in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin. Simulated higher discharges from reservoirs during the rainy season and lower discharges during the dry season, representing a more natural flow regime, will reduce hydropower generation in the dry season. Under recent conditions, the resulting gap in electricity generation can only be partially covered by wind power. A large share needs to be generated by thermal power plants or be imported from other regions in Brazil. The planned future increase in installed wind power capacity can change this picture; the demand for electricity generated by thermal power plants and imported will decrease. Adopting an integrated approach for hydropower and wind power generation, the flow regime in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin can be modified to improve the ecological status of the river system.     

我国火电行业NOX排放因子的样本容量确定方法

目前核算火电行业氮氧化物排放量相对合适的方法是排放因子法,为确定我国火电机组氮氧化物排放因子,需大规模对我国现有运行火电机组进行全面实测。由于我国火电机组数量较大,装机规模等级差别较明显,影响NOX排放的因素复杂,所以在NOX排放因子研究过程中,如何科学确定样本数量及样本范围很重要。准确确定火电机组样本容量是研究火电行业NOX排放因子的前提,需采用抽样的数学统计方法。采用分层抽样方法,考虑样本容量约束条件,主要包括：经费约束、装机规模等级约束、末端治理技术（控氮措施）约束、燃料种类约束和机组区域分布约束,在约束条件下将统计学计算得到的样本容量进行调整和优化,最终得到我国火电行业NOX排放因子样本容量为208台     

Concentrating solar power in a sustainable future electricity mix

The capacity of a concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) plant can be considered flexible and firm, just like that of a conventional steam cycle power station. Periods without sunshine can be bridged by thermal energy storage or fuel, enabling a CSP plant to deliver power on demand at any time. To this technical quality is added the economic quality of electricity costs that will be stable for a lifetime because they are mainly composed of capital costs, spare parts and personnel. CSP is competitive with power from fuel oil and moving to break even in costs with natural gas by around 2020 and steam coal by around 2025. Carbon dioxide emissions of 10–40 tons/GWh, land use of 250–550 m²/GWh and water consumption of 250 m³/GWh (using dry cooling) compare favorably with other energy sources. Environmental benefits, the technical imperative of firm and at the same time flexible power supply, and the economic targets of affordability and cost stability are the main reasons for a significant role for CSP in a sustainable future electricity mix. Two case studies show the different roles CSP can play north and south of the Mediterranean Sea, in one case importing CSP to Germany for flexible power and in the second case using CSP in Jordan to provide firm and at the same time renewable power capacity for the quickly growing electricity demand.     

Regulation of nuclear radiation exposures in India

India has a long-term program of wide spread applications of nuclear radiations and radioactive sources for peaceful applications in medicine, industry, agriculture and research and is already having several thousand places in the country where such sources are being routinely used. These places are mostly outside the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) installations. DAE supplies such sources. The most important application of nuclear energy in DAE is in electricity generation through nuclear power plants. Fourteen such plants are operating and many new plants are at various stages of construction. In view of the above mentioned wide spread applications, Indian parliament through an Act, called Atomic Energy Act, 1964 created an autonomous body called Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) with comprehensive authority and powers. This Board issues codes, guides, manuals, etc., to regulate such installations so as to ensure safe use of such sources and personnel engaged in such installations and environment receives radiation exposures within the upper bounds prescribed by them. Periodic reports are submitted to AERB to demonstrate compliance of its directives. Health, Safety and Environment Group of Bhabha Atomic Research Centres, Mumbai carries out necessary surveillance and monitoring of all installations of the DAE on a routine basis and also periodic inspections of other installations using radiation sources. Some of the nuclear fuel cycle plants like nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing involve large radioactive source inventories and have potential of accidental release of radioactivity into the environment, an Environmental Surveillance Laboratory (ESL) is set up at each such site much before the facility goes into operation. These ESL's collect baseline data and monitor the environment throughout the life of the facilities including the decommissioning stage. The data is provided to AERB and is available to members of the public. In addition, a multi-tier system of AERB permissions is in place to ensure that all aspects of safety have been considered before permission to operate is granted. The stages where permission of AERB is essential are site selection, design data, and several stages during construction and operation. The details required by AERB include provision for treatment and storage of radioactive waste, de-commissioning procedures and provision of costs. In addition to AERB, nuclear power plants have to comply with the requirements of Ministry of Environment and Forests and get their clearance. This is given on the basis of Environmental Impact Assessment Report which should satisfy the authorities that no ecological damage will be caused and the facility will not have adverse effect on the environment. In addition, the State Pollution Control Board where the facility is to be located has to permit the site of the plant for its proposed discharges into the environment. It is largely due to the above comprehensive regulatory controls that none of the plants in India had any accident during the last 34 decades of operation. The type of measurements carried out by the ESL's and results from a few typical ESL's will be presented.     

Economical sensitivity analysis of rice husk utilization in a 300 kW<Subscript>el</Subscript> Micro Thermal Power Plant

Production of rice husks in Rio Grande do Sul State, which is the major rice production state in Brazil, needs to be adequately managed to diminish environmental impacts. A Micro Thermal Power Plant (MTP), which is a compact and small-scale biomass thermal power plant technology, can be used in electricity generation in thermal power plants with a power capacity up to 800 kW_el. This paper presents a feasibility analysis of a 300 kW_el MTP that is fuelled by rice husks using two different scenarios: the autoproduction (Case 1) and the independent production (Case 2) of electricity. Both scenarios were found to be unfeasible. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the variables that affect feasibility, such as the electricity commercialization price, the value of certified emission reductions and the financial interest rates. According to sensitivity analysis, small-scale thermal power plants could have feasibility if they received incentives through government programmes, such as through the exemption of equipment taxes and/or the reduction or elimination of the financial interest rate.     

控制中国燃煤发电污染的构想

控制中国燃煤发电污染的思路是,从中国主要大中型燃煤发电厂的容量和其用煤数据出发,考察中国燃煤发电的SO_2排放情况。结合对发电新技术开发评价研究的投资数据,估计为达到不同环境控制标准所需要的投资费用。设想通过征收电价附加费的办法积累燃煤电站的技术改造和采用新技术重建的资金。考虑研究开发和示范这些新技术所需要的时间,在估计累积这笔资全的时间为15年的假设下,附加费的变动范围(取决于不同技术组合的选择)大约为每度电增加0.005～0.01元。本方案的可行之处在于,为改善环境对电费所做的轻微提价,中国的全社会是可以接受的。而且这一方案又同时给出发展和应用新技术所需要的时间,它允许中国在多数燃煤发电技术上可以开展具有自己特点的研究开发工作。这些新技术在解决中国燃煤电站的改造和重建的同时,必然也会走向更广阔的世界市场。     

Estimated heavy metal emissions to the atmosphere due to projected changes in the Brazilian energy generation matrix

An estimate of heavy metals emissions to the atmosphere due to the projected changes in the Brazilian energy generation fuel matrix is presented. Present use of fossil fuel combustion for energy production is projected to increase from the present 14.5% to 29.6% of the total energy generation in Brazil in 2005. Most of this increase will be based on coal- and natural-gas-burning plants. The changes will result in an increase of about 100% in the average emissions (in tons year⁻¹) of As (9.4 to 17.7), Cr (7.0 to 16.6) and Hg (2.4 to 4.1), 50% of Cd (1.2 to 1.8), and 20% of Ni (101 to 123) and Pb (23.3 to 29.9). Although relatively small for most heavy metals when compared to other industrial sources, the changes in the energy matrix will be particularly important for Hg, reaching a maximum emission of 12 tons (t) year⁻¹, representing 15% of the total emissions of Hg to the atmosphere in Brazil. The use of Brazilian coals and the location of most coal-burning plants in a relatively small region in the south of the country strongly suggest that monitoring programs should be implemented during the building of the new plants. At a regional level the expected increase in Hg emissions to the atmosphere due to coal burning in Brazil, although small relative to North America and Europe, will equal the total amount estimated for South and Central America.     

Enhancing viability of biofuel-based decentralized power projects for rural electrification in India

Decentralized power generation, using locally available biofuels from non-edible oilseeds, is an option for rural electrification in many developing countries. However, due to prevailing high price of non-edible oilseeds, such as Jatropha curcas, the cost of electricity generation is very high. This paper provides detailed financial analysis of straight vegetable oil (SVO)-based decentralized power project and proposes an innovative model for enhancing their financial viability. While for implementing agency operational cost recovery is the key for viability, affordable tariff is crucial for end-users. The paper attempts to estimate minimum desired price of electricity from the stakeholders' (producer and users) perspective using data gathered from selected operational SVO-based power generation projects in India. Analysis carried out in this paper indicates that operating the decentralized power plant at higher capacity utilization factor, by introduction of productive load, and differentiated tariffs for commercial and domestic consumers may not alone be sufficient to achieve the financial viability. The paper proposes an innovative integrated model of using biogas, obtained from the by-product de-oiled cake of non-edible oilseeds, as a feedstock for power generation, instead of using the SVO in engines. This reduces the fuel cost of power generation, thereby helping to bring down the tariff within the paying capacity of rural consumers. The main produce, viz. extracted non-edible oil, which was otherwise used as fuel for generating power, can be sold in local market for earning revenue, thereby enhancing the project’s economic viability. This paper sets forth the proposed integrated model as a viable biofuel-based decentralized power project for sustainable rural development in areas with adequate availability of oilseeds.     

Vanadium,recent advancements and research prospects: A review

Metal pollution is an important issue worldwide, with various documented cases of metal toxicity in mining areas, industries, coal power plants and agriculture sector. Heavy metal polluted soils pose severe problems to plants, water resources, environment and nutrition. Among all non-essential metals, vanadium (V) is becoming a serious matter of discussion for the scientists who deals with heavy metals. Due to its mobility from soil to plants, it causes adverse effects to human beings. This review article illustrates briefly about V, its role and shows the progress about V research so far done globally in the light of the previous work which may assist in inter-disciplinary studies to evaluate the ecological importance of V toxicity.     

Biogas plants efficiency in purifying Indian sago factory waste water with wide C/N ratios: strategies for process water reuse

Cassava tubers produced under hot, dry and monsoon governed climate in the Salem region, Tamil Nadu, South India, consume together with the about 1000 starch extracting industries daily, 9 millions of litres of groundwater which have to be pumped from a depth of 80 m below ground level. Because of water shortage, adjacent fields are irrigated with organically highly enriched sago factories wastewater and the land becomes unproductive. One-third of the wastewater is presently channelled through a few installed biogas plants with a purification efficiency, biological oxygen demand, of only around 30%. Microbiologically and chemically analysed in- and effluents of biogas plants exhibited nutrient contents sufficient to maintain a rice crop and significantly higher population densities of fermenting bacteria and methanogenic archaea, despite C/N ratio of about 250. CO₂ and CH₄ emissions from aerobic and anaerobic incubated sago factory biogas plants in- and effluents indicated that the present purification efficiency of 30% can be further enhanced. This investigation has given clues for designing a purification system that connects the already installed biogas plants with a well-aerated, hydro-cultured, constructed wetland and a Stirling motor device for electric power gains and heat distillation, for enabling reuse of process water and saving groundwater.     

Contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector: the case of Mauritius

The aim of this paper was to present the contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector. Mauritius is taken as a case study. Sugar cane was introduced in Mauritius during the seventeenth century and production of sugar started around 60 years later. Since then, the cane industry has been one of the economic pillars of the country. Bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane, is used as fuel in cogeneration power plants to produce process heat and electricity. This process heat and the generated electricity are used by an annexed sugar mills for the production of sugar, while the remaining electricity is exported to the national grid. In fact, Mauritius is a pioneer in the field of bagasse-based cogeneration power plant; the first bagasse-based cogeneration power plant that was commissioned in the world was in Mauritius in 1957. The contribution of the cane industry in the electricity sector has been vital for the economic development of Mauritius and also in terms of mitigating carbon dioxide emissions by displacing fossil fuels in electricity generation, as bagasse is classified as a renewable source. Data obtained from Statistics Mauritius on electricity production for the past 45 years were analysed, and carbon dioxide emissions were calculated based on international norms. It is estimated that savings on heavy fuel oil importation were by 1.5 million tons of oil—representing a value of 2.9 billion dollars—thus avoiding 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This figure can be further increased if molasses, a by-product of sugar cane juice, is used to produce bio-ethanol to be used as fuel in vehicles.     

Analysis of the energy demand of the Chilean mining industry and its coverage with solar thermal technologies

The mining industry represents more than half of Chile’s foreign exchange earnings and its increasing expansion will demand a continuous development of its energy supplies. Mostly, all the mines in Chile are located in the desert regions, having a large surface with one of the highest solar radiations levels and clearest skies in the world. Covering the mining industry’s energy demand with solar energy is thus an obvious and promising approach. In this paper, the implementation of solar thermal heating is studied in every mining process and the solar thermal electricity generation for the entire mine demand is considered as well. The work concludes that the installation of flat plate collectors to heat water for mine processes, especially for electrowinning, is strongly recommended. Additionally, the installation of solar thermal power plants can satisfy the mining electricity demand.     

火电燃料消费过程对资源环境的影响评估

我国以化石能源为主要燃料的火电生产导致了严重的资源枯竭和环境污染问题,定量评估火电燃料消费对资源环境的影响是区域可持续发展研究的重要内容。在估算火电燃料燃烧及运输、生产过程中排放的主要大气污染物的基础上,利用成分法计算相应的生态足迹,定量评估火电燃料消费过程对资源环境的影响。结果表明：我国1 kW〖DK〗·h火电的燃料消费过程中排放的CO2、CH4、NOx、SO2、烟尘分别为107 kg、993×10-3 kg、646×10-3 kg、260×10-3 kg、202×10-2 kg;全国火电燃料消费占用的生态足迹由2000年的50 67444万hm2,增加到2007年的123 84208万hm2,年均增长1362％;CO2和NOx的生态足迹平均比重高达836％,是影响资源环境的主要因子,SO2、烟尘与CH4三者合计仅164%,对资源环境的冲击相对较小     

低碳压力下中国核电产业发展及铀资源保障分析

发展核电是减轻我国当前碳排放压力的现实选择。通过分析世界和中国核电发展的历程、技术水平和规模，结果显示：尽管我国在20世纪70年代就开始发展核电，但是我国核电装机容量和发电总量仅占我国电力总装机容量和发电量的1.1%和1.9%，与发达国家仍有很大差距；在技术水平上，发达国家已经开始研发第三、第四代核反应堆，而我国正在运行和多数拟建核电站都是压水堆技术为主的二代核电技术；在空间分布上，尽管我国很多省份都有需求，但我国核电站主要集中于沿海经济发达、能源短缺地区；从铀资源基础来看，我国仍属于贫铀国。鉴于世界铀资源分布和供给十分不均衡的状况，要保障我国核电产业持续发展不仅要加大国内资源的勘探开发，同时还需加紧拓展海外市场、建立资源储备和发展快堆技术等     

Enhancement of population doses due to production of electricity from brown coal in Poland

Changes in natural radioactivity as a result of the operations of three Polish brown-coal-fired power plants have been assessed via calculations based on the results of radio-spectrometric measurements of coal and fly ash, information on local climatic conditions and data on atmospheric releases from the plants. Calculations were performed using a computer code derived from solution of the Pasquille equation. Transfer coefficients and conversion factors of absorbed radioactivity to effective dose equivalent (EDE) were selected using literature data. Values for EDE due to inhalation, ingestion and external gamma radiation from radionuclides deposited on the ground were calculated for the population inhabiting the most polllated area and also for the whole population. The individual maximum EDE for the most ‘radioactive’ power plant was estimated at 10·4 μSv y⁻¹. This EDE is less than 1% of the total natural radiation burden of 2 mSv y⁻¹. EDE estimates for the vicinities of the other two power plants are 0·5 and 4·2 μSv y⁻¹. The collective EDE resulting from the production of electrical energy from brown coal was calculated to be 104 man-Sv y⁻¹, i.e. 14 man-Sv per GW-year. It is concluded that some of the brown-coal-fired power plants in Poland should improve their fly ash control and that the manner in which existing transfer coefficients are reported in the literature does not lead to unequivocal results when applied to EDE calculations.     

核电与核废物管理

核能是一种能量密度大、稳定性好、燃料运输量小、综合经济效益好的能源。世界各国核电在总发电量中的比例逐年上升,1992年达17％,而我国仅占0.1％。在目前我国电力短缺的条件下,发展核电、提高核电在总电量中的比例,不失为我国发展能源工业的一个战略目标。在发展核电过程中,要重视核废物的处理和处置,以保证人类健康和环境免遭放射性的污染。     

The stabilization of sewage sludge by pulverized fuel ash and related materials

In Hong Kong, with the implementation of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Strategy (SSDS), there will be a substantial increase in the generation of sewage sludge. An alternative method using pulverized fuel ash (PFA) generated from a local coal fire power station and lime to stabilize the sludge for potential beneficial uses is studied. The effects of the stabilizing agents on the leaching of heavy metals and pasturing of coliform are studied. The results show that PFA together with a small percentage of lime addition has the potential to reduce heavy metal leaching and reduce the total coliform content of the stabilized sewage sludge.     

三峡工程的发电效能与湖北省电力工业结构调整

分析了湖北省电力工业存在的主要问题,一是电力结构不合理;二是调峰容量严重不足;三是重开发轻节能;四是电价偏高,市场需求回落。三峡电站建成投产后,大大改善全省电网运行条件和电能质量,有利于全国陪送大电力系统的形成和发展,获得联网效益,但是将进上步加剧湖北电网季节性电能偏多的矛盾,而且三峡电站上网电价将起诉意识答省电力价格。最后提出湖北省电力工业结构调整４条对策：１．优化电源结构;２．电网建设与电源建     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in ambient air of NW Greece and in particulate emissions

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bound to total suspended particles (TSP) were determined in the area of Eordea basin, NW Greece, where intensive coal burning for electricity production takes place. The concentrations of PCBs exhibited high variability although within the range reported for urban industrialized areas. The presence of PCBs in fly ash generated from coal burning as well as in particulate emissions from vehicles, domestic heating, burning of refuses and biomass was also examined. The particles emitted from vehicles and central heating exhibited the higher content of PCBs, whereas fly ash the lower. The pattern of PCBs in TSP as well as in particulate emissions was discussed.     

金沙江流域(云南部分)生态潜力及其变化

植被景观要素的生态潜力能够反映某区域内生态功能的综合潜力,研究植被景观要素的生态潜力可望为该区域的生态保护工作提供参考。金沙江流域是我国西部的生态脆弱区,因此选择本流域的云南省部分地区进行植被景观要素的生态潜力与变化研究。首先,对流域内各植被类型进行生态潜力的分级与打分;然后,采用1996与2006年的TM遥感数据,制作了流域内的两期植被分类图,并在此基础上,借助ArcGIS软件绘制了生态潜力图;最后,根据流域内10年期间的植被类型变化面积,计算出流域内生态潜力的变化量。分析得出,流域内生态潜力变化最大的为中、东部地区,而该地区正是人口分布比较集中的地区。研究成果一方面可望加强人们认识流域内植被的生态功能和保护价值,以及植被的发展和破坏趋势;另一方面为流域内植被的恢复方向和重点提供可靠的依据.