Strategies for reduced pollution caused gaseous emission from coal fired power stations in Australia

For the improvement of Australian and world environment the Australian Government has already set a target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, not controlled by the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances, to 1988 levels by the year 2000 and to further reduce those emissions by 20% by the year 2005. The need to control the emission of pollution gases is an issue of major economic, social and political consequence. In particular the use of coal in power generation contributes greatly to pollution gases, mainly carbon dioxide, in addition to nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, which influence our environment and health. The need to reduce these emissions is therefore very strong; hence the strategy by which these reductions can be effected should be carefully assessed in order to avoid severe impact on our environment and economy. The objective of this study is to attempt to put forward short term strategies relating to current power plants, which will help restrain pollution gaseous emissions. With respect to this aspect, four subprograms are discussed. These are coal cleaning technology with emphasis to coal combustion; improvement of combustion with emphasis to reduce SO2 and NOx emissions and treatment of flue gas. In addition the study will also examine long term strategies relating to new power generation design. Obviously the latter must provide higher overall cycle efficiency and generate lower emissions. Here the characteristics of advanced coal-fired power generation technologies such as fluidised bed combustion technology, integrated gasification combined cycle technology and coal gasification fuel cell technology will be examined.