Environmental aspects of district heating/cogeneration in the twin cities

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:7121142

McLain, H A; Secora, D N; Sharp, R D; Kornegay, F C; Myers, M L; Churnetski, E C

A study was made to assess some of the environmental impacts that might be expected to occur as the result of building a 2600 MW(t) city-wide district heating/cogeneration system in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The study focused on urban air quality impacts, power plant cooling water impacts, and disposal of solid wastes from a new cogeneration plant. Estimates were made of the SO/sub 2/ and particulate emission rates and local concentrations without and with the district heating/cogeneration system. A methodology employing fuel use data was developed to estimate emission rates from sources not included in the National Emission Data System. Predictions were made on an annual average basis and 24 h average basis for five winter days and one late summer day. With the development of the district heating/cogeneration system, the total SO/sub 2/ emission rate could decrease (up to 3%) or increase (up to 11%) depending on the retrofitted power plant load factors. In all cases there would be reductions (up to 30%) in the predicted SO/sub 2/ concentrations in the urban area due to central facilities replacing many small heating units. The particulate total emission rates and concentrations were both predicted to be slightly reduced. Changes in the trace element concentrations and deposition rates were predicted to be very small. Retrofitting existing power plants to cogeneration operation has generally positive impacts since these plants use once-through cooling. Much of the heat normally discharged into the Mississippi River would be diverted to the district heating system, thus greatly reducing the quantities of river water having temperatures above ambient. Solid wastes produced by the new cogeneration plant would be primarily ash and FGD wastes, and it is believed that they could be disposed in an environmentally safe manner.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 7121142
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-9013; ON: DE84012036
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320603* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Public Utilities-- (1980-)
AIR QUALITY
CHALCOGENIDES
COGENERATION
DEUS
DISTRICT HEATING
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HEATING
MANAGEMENT
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RETROFITTING
SOLID WASTES
STEAM GENERATION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER QUALITY