Emissions in the combustion of coal and coal-processing wastes

Abstract

Power stations based on traditional hydrocarbon fuels—in particular, coal—are characterized by considerable atmospheric emissions. In the light of the annual increase in coal consumption and the ongoing environmental deterioration, significant decrease in atmospheric emissions per unit mass of coal consumed must be regarded as a high priority. In the present work, SO₂, CO₂, CO, NO, and NO₂ emissions from power plants around the world are analyzed. The emissions formed in the combustion of traditional types of Russian coal and their processing wastes (filter cakes) are compared. The benefits of using coal–water slurry containing coal-processing wastes at power plants are outlined.