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 teaching unit provides the student with basic knowledge about 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 in the context of energy transition. Fuel properties and associated risks are presented, with a focus on monitoring networks. The 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

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Describe and compare the main technologies for the production of electricity, heat, and freshwater from both conventional and renewable energy sources.

Analyze the energetic, environmental, and operational characteristics of fossil fuels and alternative energy carriers, assessing their suitability for different applications.

Assess the environmental impact of energy conversion systems, with particular emphasis on atmospheric emissions and decarbonization potential.

Select and evaluate appropriate emission control and mitigation technologies for combustion-based energy systems, performing basic sizing and performance calculations.

Evaluate and compare decarbonization strategies for energy systems considering technical, environmental, and regulatory aspects.

Interpret and discuss the principles, objectives, and application procedures of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permitting frameworks.

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, Fundamental of Energy Systems, Capacity vs Generation. Effects of RES diffusion on the electrical system. Exercise on Different power plant Efficiency and Global Environmental impact

Lecture 2 – Fuels and their properties

Fuel higher and lower fuel calorific value vs energy density; Gaseous, liquid and solid fuel properties, Alternative Fuels (Biofuels, Hydrogen, Methanol, Ammonia).

Lecture 3 – Fuel Storage and Transportation

Nature and classification of dangerous materials, Volatile Organic Compounds, Dust- Particulate Matter, pollutant impact and Air Quality.

Storage and handling Emissions to air, Dispersiveness classes of solid bulk material, Alternative Fuel Storage and handling

Lecture 4 – Air Pollution – Traditional Power Plants Primary Techniques to avoid local 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 – Flue Gas treatment, Secondary Techniques to abate local 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 on abatement system sizing. DeSOx: Wet lime/limestone scrubbers, Seawater scrubber, Spray dry scrubber/absorber, Duct Sorbent Injection.

Lecture 6 – CO2 Emission from power generation and Carbon Capture Technologies

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. Exercise: Estimation of the impacts of the integration of a CCS retrofit.

Lecture 7 – 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 8 – Fresh Water Production

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

Lecture 9- Energy Mix Exercise

Presentation of the final Energy Mix exercise provide the student a way to summarize the major topics seen during the course: the analysis based on country specific energy production mix.

Seminar – 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.

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

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

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. Presentation of the results of the Energy Mix exercise.

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