OVERVIEW

The teaching unit covers the management of power and fresh water generation from renewable sources and large combustion plants, and their interaction with the environment. The Best Available Technologies to reduce local and global pollutant emissions during combustion are analyzed based on the European IPCC legislation considering also the associated environmental risk, and thus the permitting process. Primary and secondary techniques for their containment are then presented, as well as simplified methods for their estimation for anthropogenic and natural phenomena, in addition to an assessment of the expected impact of the energy transition

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module covers the topics related to the management of the processes for Electricity generation from traditional and Renewable Energy Sources and their interaction with the Environment on a local and global scale will be presented in the contest of energy transition. Fuel properties and associated risks are presented, with a focus on monitoring networks. Combustion process and its environmental impact will be investigated and the Best Available Technology to reduce pollutant emissions in Large Combustion Plant, LCP, will be analyzed also on the base of the European IPCC BrEF Documents.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student should be familiar with the main methods of generating electricity, heat and fresh water, from renewable and traditional sources.

The student must be familiar with the characteristics of fossil and alternative fuels, from an energy and environmental impact point of view.

The student must be able to assess the intensity of emissions related to combustion plants, to choose the most appropriate abatement strategies and to carry out their basic sizing.

The student must be able to evaluate the impact in terms of decarbonisation of the processes obtainable with the different strategies presented

The student must know the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, and IPPC Permit (Integrated Environmental Authorization) process.

PREREQUISITES

none

TEACHING METHODS

Theoretical lessons and practical examples

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Lecture 1 – National and International Energy Outlook

Course introduction, Primary Energy Sources, Energy Consumption and final use, Renewables and Non-renewable Sources, Basics of Energy Systems, Capacity vs Generation. Exercise on Different power plant Efficiency and Environmental impact

Lecture 2 – Fuels and their properties

Fuel higher and lower fuel calorific value vs Fuel density; Gaseous, liquid and solid fuel properties, Biofuels, Hydrogen.

Lecture 3 – Fuel Storage and Transportation

Nature and classification of dangerous materials, Volatile Organic Compounds, Dust- Particulate Matter, Air Quality, Storage and handling Emissions to air, Dispersiveness classes of solid bulk material

Lecture 4 – Air Pollution – Traditional Power Plants Primary Techniques to reduce emissions

Ambient air quality EU Directives, Impact by sector to air pollutants, Chemistry of combustion, Effect of Equivalence ratio, Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides, Organic Compound, Particulate Matter, Combustion Process, pollutant prevention in internal and external combustion systems. Emissions from LCP, Pollutant measurement and correction.

Lecture 5 – EU Energy Policies and their effects on National production mix

EU energy policies, Evolution of energy production mix in Italy and Renewable energy Sources (RES) influence, Incentivizing instruments for RES and costs, Effects of RES diffusion on the electrical system.

Lecture 6 – Flue Gas treatment, Secondary Techniques to reduce emissions

Dust Collectors: Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), Bag of Fabric Filters, Centrifugal precipitation, Wet Scrubbers; Exercise. DeNOx: selective catalytic reduction (SCR), selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR); Exercise. DeSOx: Wet lime/limestone scrubbers, Seawater scrubber, Spray dry scrubber/absorber, Duct Sorbent Injection.

Lecture 7 – CO2 Emission from power generation and Carbon Capture Technology

Global Warming, CO2 emission by sector, the Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, Emissions trading system (ETS), 2030/2050 EU climate strategies and targets. CO2 capture methodology: Precombustion, Oxy Combustion, Post Combustion Capture. Absorption vs Adsorption, Pressure swing adsorption, membrane. Cost of Capture, CO2 Storage, CO2 reuse.

Lecture 8 – IPPC, Integrated Pollutant Prevention & Control

Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, IPPC Permit (Integrated Environmental Authorization), Monitoring plan and control obligations. Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

Lecture 9 – Dam management for flood prevention, a case study

The Hydroelectric Group of Terni, Integrated system, Remote control of power plants and dams, Flooding event analysis, Management and Refurbishment.

Lecture 10 – Fresh Water Production

Thermal and Electrical driven technologies. Specific Energy Consumption definition, Hybrid Desalination Technique

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Materiale del corso disponibile su Aulaweb  (https://www.aulaweb.unige.it)

IPCC, Reference Document on Best Available Techniques on Large Combustion Plant

Air quality in Europe —2022 EEA Report

AP-42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, US Environmental Protection Agency

EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2019

IRENA_World_Energy_Transitions_Outlook_2022

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11921/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral Exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of depth of each topic will be given during the lessons. The oral exam will mainly focus on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess whether the student has achieved an adequate level of knowledge.

Students with learning disorders ("disturbi specifici di apprendimento", DSA) will be allowed to use specific modalities and supports that will be determined on a case-by-case basis in agreement with the delegate of the Engineering courses in the Committee for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities

FURTHER INFORMATION

None