EU project to help power plants meet NOx emissions requirements
Partners from four EU Member States are working together to provide the operators of Europe's coal fired power plants with the best possible advice on how to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, as laid down in new EU legislation. EU directives to come into force in 2008 will make it illegal for NOx emissions to exceed 500mg per cubic metre. Two basic forms of technology are available for reducing emissions, and the CAFENOx project, coordinated by Jacques Blondin from SNET in France, aims to help the industry weigh up the costs and benefits of each. 'Primary DeNOx solutions relate to the modification of the combustion process, such as introducing air into the combustion chamber, whereas secondary solutions include exclusively chemical modifications outside the combustion chamber, such as a catalytic reaction,' explained Mr Blondin. The dilemma for the coal fired power plant industry is that while secondary solutions are more effective, they are also more expensive. Primary solutions are capable of reducing NOx emissions by between 30 and 60 per cent, which would enable units to just meet the regulatory requirements as they will stand until 2015. Secondary solutions are able to reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 per cent, limiting NOx to less than 200 mg per cubic metre, which is compatible with the stricter regulations that will be imposed after 2015. Implementing secondary solutions could, however, cost more than 30 million euro for each unit. SNET is to carry out combustion trials, using a simple primary solution, before the end of 2003. An artificial reduction zone will be created in the lower part of the combustion chamber, and an oxidising section will be constructed in the upper section, just below the super heater. 'Through this study I expect to demonstrate that for the next five years it will be possible to significantly reduce NOx through the implementation of primary solutions and to delay investment in secondary solutions, considering that investment in secondary DeNOx solutions may be reduced if primary solutions are successful,' said Mr Blondin. The CAFENOx project will also have the effect of revealing the scale of the problem in Europe. Data from 2001 indicated that around 700 units may be affected by the incoming legislation, but this list is now likely to be out of date. Mr Blondin is very disappointed that he has, as yet, had very little contact with individual coal fired power plants. He and his colleagues are eager for individual contacts to begin, so that the team can learn about the different paths that they intend to take, and to initiate discussions on the best technical solutions to be introduced over the next ten years. With the workload of the consortium ranging from research into the numbers of units to be affected to technical trials and the drafting of a mathematical model, every partner (from Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands) has a distinct and important role to play. 'International cooperation through the CAFENOx project should be fruitful and efficient,' said Mr Blondin. The results of the project will be presented at a public seminar in Greece at the beginning of 2005.
Kraje
France