Permitted emissions of major air pollutants from coal-fired power plants in China based on best available control technology

Highlights

We proposed the SO₂ and NO_x emission performance standards for coal-fired power plants based on the best available control technology.

The CFPGUs’ SO₂ emission performance reference values should be 0.34 g/kWh for active units in general areas and 0.13 g/kWh for newly built units and active units in key areas.

The CFPGUs’ NO_x emission performance standard reference values should be 0.35 g/kWh for active units in general areas and 0.175 g/kWh for new units and active units in key areas.

Abstract

Based on the activity level and technical information of coal-fired power-generating units (CFPGU) obtained in China from 2011 to 2015, we, 1) analyzed the time and spatial distribution of SO₂ and NO_x emission performance of CFPGUs in China; 2) studied the impact of installed capacity, sulfur content of coal combustion, and unit operation starting time on CFPGUs’ pollutant emission performance; and 3) proposed the SO₂ and NO_x emission performance standards for coal-fired power plants based on the best available control technology. Our results show that: 1) the larger the capacity of a CFPGU, the higher the control level and the faster the improvement; 2) the CFPGUs in the developed eastern regions had significantly lower SO₂ and NO_x emission performance values than those in other provinces due to better economic and technological development and higher environmental management levels; 3) the SO₂ and NO_x emission performance of the Chinese thermal power industry was significantly affected by the single-unit capacity, coal sulfur content, and unit operation starting time; and 4) based on the achievability analysis of best available pollution control technology, we believe that the CFPGUs’ SO₂ emission performance reference values should be 0.34 g/kWh for active units in general areas, 0.8 g/kWh for active units in high-sulfur coal areas, and 0.13 g/kWh for newly built units and active units in key areas. In addition, the NO_x emission performance reference values should be 0.35 g/kWh for active units in general areas and 0.175 g/kWh for new units and active units in key areas.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Coal-fired power-generating units (CFPGU) / Emission performance / Best available control technology

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Plan (No. 2016YFC0208400).

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