A STUDY ON CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS IN VISAKHAPATNAM

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1 A STUDY ON CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY AND CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS IN VISAKHAPATNAM Seshagiri Rao Boddu 1,S.Naga Prasanth 2 and Prof. S.Balaprasad 3 1 Assistant Professor, Dept of Civil Engineering, Dadi Institute of engineering & Technology, Anakapalle, India 2 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, PVP Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Vijayawada 3 Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India Abstract-The industrial revolution brought many changes that include exponential increase in demand for energy across the world. Out of India s total primary energy supply, coal contributes 39.5 percent, petroleum contributes 24.5 percent, and natural gas contributes 6.9 percentages. Among all the GHG S CO 2 is the prime one responsible for the climate change at global scale. Hence, the present study aimed at estimating the carbon dioxide emissions due to existing power consumption of the study area and the power production based on combustion of fossil flues. The present study address the estimation of power consumption of the study area of conventional energy based on Visakhapatnam city and CO 2 emissions due to the production of power by conventional thermal power plants. The average energy consumption of the study area of Visakhapatnam city is MWh per month. The production of this amount of energy from coal based thermal power plants require an average amount of tonnes of coal per month and the average amount of CO 2 emissions from coal fuelled power plants is tonnes per month. To generate the energy required for Visakhapatnam city from natural gas based thermal power plants, the total average amount of natural gas required is ML per month and their CO 2 emissions is estimated as tonnes per month. The petroleum based thermal power plants need barrels per month to generate same amount of energy of Visakhapatnam city and tonnes per month of CO 2 releases into atmosphere. Coal based thermal power plants emits highest amount of CO 2 which is around twice than the CO 2 emissions from natural gas based thermal power plants. The adaptation of non-conventional energy sources such as solar/wind energy that can generate the energy which is required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city results saving of at least tonnes per month of CO 2 emissions. Keywords- GHG s, Visakhapatnam, Coal, Natural gas, Petroleum, CO 2. I. INTRODUCTION An increase in the levels of GHGs could lead to greater warming of the atmosphere which, in turn, could have major impact on the world's climate, leading to accelerated climate change. Water vapour, Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased from 280 ppm to 379 ppm, 715 ppb to 1774 ppb and 270 ppb to 319 ppb respectively, between pre-industrial period and 2005 (IPCC,2007). The projected sea level rise by the end of this century is likely to be 0.18 to 0.59 meters. THE OBJECTIVES In view of the present scenario on climate change and its adoptability the present study was taken up with the following objectives To study the Green House Gases (GHG) emission due to the power consumption and production from thermal power plants and supplied for to meet the demand of a region in Visakhapatnam. To study the alternative means for the reductions of GHGs gases due to the emissions of thermal power plants because of the power consumption of Visakhapatnam city. DOI: /IJMTER FJ9E0 108

2 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) To implementation of alternative methods to reduce the GHGs emissions and to control the impact on climate an extent where the harm caused is minimized. To estimate and present the GHG s emissions, Impact on Climate change and comparison to power production to understand the underlying complexities in the Visakhapatnam city. Figure.1 Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission by Sectors (Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009) II. LITERATURE REVIEW Shindell, D.T. and Faluvegi, G. (2009) stated that coal fired power plants influence climate via both the emissions of long-lived carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and short-lived ozone and aerosol precursors. It is of the opinion that the reduction in coal based thermal power plants reduces the climate change and Greenhouse gas and its direct and indirect impact on environment. Shiv Pratap et. al., (2006) it is well known that coal is the major fossil fuel used in industrial units and power plants for power generation in India. It was stated the researchers that carbon dioxide emitted as a product of combustion of coal (fossil fuels) is currently responsible for over 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Granovskii, et. al., (2000) described renewable technologies in place of fossil fuel to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. When electricity from renewable sources replaces electricity from natural gas, the cost of greenhouse gas emissions abatement is about four times less than if hydrogen from renewable sources replaces hydrogen produced from natural gas. III. METHODOLOGY In the Present study the Non-Conventional and Conventional energy sources of one of the green house gas CO 2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions strategy and comparing in a selected area are calculated by the values obtained from different energy sources. They are Non-Conventional and non- renewable sources. When fossil fuels are burnt they produce the gas carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse gas because it traps heat from the sun, much like the glass in a greenhouse, preventing it from escaping out of the Earth s atmosphere into space. Greenhouse gases are found naturally in the atmosphere and they are essential for keeping the Earth warm. However, through the activities of humans, mainly as a result of burning fossil fuels, the amount of these gases in the atmosphere is increasing. As a result, global warming is occurring as the temperature of the Earth All rights Reserved 109

3 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) STUDY AREA Visakhapatnam is a port city on the southeast coast of India, is a booming industrial city on the east coast of India. APEPDCL is responsible for undertaking distribution and bulk supply of power in the operation circles of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts and 20 Divisions of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam city is the study area of this thesis work. EPDCL divided the city into 3 zones for the distribution of power supply. Taking the power distribution data of selected city or area from authorised distribution company like EPDCL, CPDCL. The total given power load (in MU) is converted into Mwh by using multiplication factor and number of hours. Coal based thermal power plants The amount of coal needed for unit power will be arrived using the standards from U.S. Energy Information Administration (U.S.EIA,2000). The CO 2 emissions from coal based are calculate as fallows. CO 2 Emission from coal combustion Commercial coal has a carbon content of at least 70%.Coal with a heating value of 6.67kWh per kilogram as quoted above has a carbon content of roughly 80% which is C + O 2 CO 2 Carbon combines with oxygen in the atmosphere during combustion, producing carbon dioxide, with an atomic weight of (12+16*2 = 44kg/kmol). The CO 2 released to atmosphere for each kilogram of incinerated coal is 2.93kgs of CO 2 emissions will come from one kilogram coal combustion. For generating total power the coal used is calculated, from burning of this amount of coal the CO 2 emissions are calculated for the study area. Natural Gas based thermal power plants The amount of Natural gas needed for unit power will be arrived using the standards from U.S.EIA, For every day the power consumed by the study area is obtained from the data collected in the study zone. The amount of natural gas required for that power generation to meet the demand is calculated. Using the amount of unit power generated from natural gas. CO 2 emissions from CNG based thermal power plants based on Power With reference to the publication US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) 2010, CO 2 emissions rate is taken for unit power generation. Calculate the total power consumed by that area and amount of CO 2 emissions based on emissions per unit power for the entire area. The CO 2 emissions are calculated based on above methodology. Petroleum based thermal power plants The amount of petroleum used for that power generation to meet the demand is calculated, using the amount of unit power generated from petroleum (U.S.EIA, 2000). CO 2 emissions from petroleum based thermal power plants based on Power If the power generated from petroleum based power plants the emissions rate is 1672 lbs CO 2 /Mwh( kgs CO 2 /Mwh). With reference to the publication of US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) 2010, CO 2 emissions rate are taken for unit power All rights Reserved 110

4 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) Calculate the total power consumed by that area and amount of CO 2 emissions based on emissions per unit power for the study area. The CO 2 emissions are calculated based on above methodology. Solar Energy Solar energy is the most readily available and open source of energy since ancient times. It is estimated that solar energy equivalent to over 15,000 times the world's annual commercial energy consumption reaches the earth every year. Visakhapatnam receives solar energy in the county of 5 to 7 kwh/m 2 for 300 to 330 days in a year. This energy is enough to set up 20 MW solar power plants per square kilometre land area. It was found that there is no CO 2 emission from solar power plants during power production. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The energy received by the EPDCL is basically through hydel and thermal power plants. The burning of these fossils fuels results in CO 2 emissions which is one of the major GHGs. The monthly power consumption of the study area of Visakhapatnam is presented in Table NO.1 and the power consumption is varying because of lack of power production and supply. Table No.1 Total power consumption of the study area of Visakhapatnam Month Power Consumption (Mwh/Month) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS FROM COAL BASED POWER PRODUCTION The amount of fuel used to generate electricity depends on the efficiency or heat rate of the generator (or power plant) and the heat content of the fuel. Two formulas generally used for calculating the amount of fuel used to generate a unit of electricity are: Amount of fuel used to generate one kilowatt-hour(kwh) Coal = 1.03 pounds (U.S.EIA, 2000) Amount of coal used to generate one kilowatt-hour power (U.S.EIA, 2000) = Kgs Amount of Coal used to generate one Mwh power = kgs Amount of Coal required to meet the demand of the study area = tonnes. CO 2 emissions from Coal When coal is burned, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and mercury compounds are released. The burning of 1kg of coal produces about 2.93 kgs of CO 2 Total CO 2 emission based on amount of coal required of Visakhapatnam city per month = All rights Reserved 111

5 Tonnes International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) Amount of Coal Required in Tonnes Amount of CO2 emissions in tonnes per Mwh Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 Figure.2: Coal consumption and CO 2 emissions trends ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CO 2 EMISSIONS FROM NATURAL GAS BASED POWER PRODUCTION The amount of fuel used to generate electricity depends on the efficiency rate of the power plant. Amount of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used to generate one kwh power (US.EIA,2000) Amount of CNG required to meet the demand of the study area Of the Visakhapatnam = 7.708MMcm/day =1000cubic feet CO 2 emissions from Natural Gas When gas is burned, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and mercury compounds are released. The normal emission rates gas-fired generation are 1135 lbs/mwh of carbon dioxides (US EPA,2010). Table No.2 Total estimated Natural Gas required to produce the power required for study area of Visakhapatnam city and CO 2 emissions of Natural gas fuelled plants. Month Amount of Natural Gas Required in MMcm to meet produce the required amount of power Amount of CO 2 emissions in tonnes (study area) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun All rights Reserved 112

6 Tonnes MMcm International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) Amount of CO2 emissions in tonnes per Mwh Amount of Natural Gas Required in MMcm/Mwh Jan-12 Mar-12 May-12 Figure.3: Natural Gas consumption and CO 2 emissions trends Based on the study the above figure-3 represents the amount of Natural gas required to produce the energy required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city and the amount of CO 2 emissions. ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS FROM PETROLEUM BASED POWER PRODUCTION The amount of petroleum used to generate electricity depends on the efficiency rate of the power plant. Two formulas for calculating the amount of fuel used to generate a unit of electricity: Amount of fuel used per kwh =Heat rate (in Btu per Kwh)/ fuel heat content(in Btu per physical unit) kwh generated per unit of fuel used = fuel heat content (in Btu per physical unit)/ Heat rate (in Btu per kwh) Amount of petroleum used to generate one kwh power (U.S.EIA, 2000) = Barrel Amount of petroleum required to meet the demand of the study area = Barrels CO 2 emissions from petroleum based thermal power plants When petroleum is burned, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx) compounds are released. The normal emission rates petroleum-fired generation are 1672 lbs/mwh of carbon dioxides (US EPA,2010). According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA,2010), For Petroleum fired units average specific CO 2 emissions = 1672 lbs/mwh Amount of CO 2 emissions from to meet the demand of power consumption of the study are = tonnes Table No.4 Total petroleum required to produce the power required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city and CO 2 emissions of petroleum fuelled plants. Month Amount of Petroleum required in barrel to meet produce the required amount of power Amount of CO 2 emissions in tonnes (study area) Jan Feb Mar Apr All rights Reserved 113

7 Barrels Tonnes International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER) May Jun Amount of Petroleum Required in barrel Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 Figure 4: Petroleum consumption and CO 2 emissions trends Based on the study figure-4 represents the amount of petroleum required to produce the energy required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city and the amount of CO 2 emissions. V. CONCLUSIONS The present study aims at estimation of reduction of CO 2, which is one of the major GHGs emissions by selecting an area of Visakhapatnam. The Power consumption of the study area of Visakhapatnam city was obtained using the data the fuel requirement and resulting amount of CO 2 emissions from thermal power plants are calculated. The data pertaining the study area is collected from Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd (EPDCL) and the same is presented. EPDCL divided the city into three zones for the distribution of power and the energy consumption of each zone was estimated as 82Mwh per day. The average Energy consumption of the study area of Visakhapatnam city is Mwh per month. The following conclusions can be drawn from the study. Production of this amount of energy (excluding transmission and distribution losses) from coal based thermal power plants, requires an average amount of coal of tonnes per month. It was found that the average CO 2 emissions from coal fuelled thermal power plants is tonnes per month. The results shown that the total average amount of natural gas required to generate the energy required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city from natural gas based thermal power plants, is obtained as MMcm per month. Utilisation of this amount of gas will results in emitting an average CO 2 of tonnes per month. Based on the study, it was found that the petroleum based thermal power plants need barrels of petroleum per month, to generate the energy required to meet the energy demand of the study area of Visakhapatnam city. Burning this amount of petroleum releases tonnes per month of CO 2 into the atmosphere. The adaptation of non-conventional energy sources such as solar/wind energy that can generate the energy which is required for the study area of Visakhapatnam city results saving of at least tonnes per month of CO 2 emissions. Based on the study it can be concluded that the natural gas based thermal power plant emits the least amount of CO 2 into the atmosphere. Coal based thermal power plants emits highest amount of CO 2 which is around twice than the CO 2 emissions from natural gas based thermal power plants. REFERENCES [1] Annika, C and Kanyama (1998). Climate change and dietary choices-how can emissions of greenhouse gases from food consumption be reduced Food Policy, Vol. 23, No. 3/4, pp , Elsevier Science Ltd. [2] Chandra, B (2010). Challenge of the new balance a study of the six most emissions intensive sectors to determine India s low carbon growth options by centre for science and environment All rights Reserved 114

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