TITLE:
Estimates and Spatial Distribution of Emissions from Sugar Cane Bagasse Fired Thermal Power Plants in Brazil
AUTHORS:
Ana Beatriz Kawashima, Marcos Vinícius Bueno de Morais, Leila Droprinchinski Martins, Viviana Urbina, Sameh Adib Abou Rafee, Maurício Nonato Capucim, Jorge Alberto Martins
KEYWORDS:
Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, Air Pollution, Stationary Sources, Sugarcane Bagasse
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.3 No.6,
August
25,
2015
ABSTRACT: Sugar cane bagasse is one of the largest
fuels used for electricity generation in Brazil and its usage has continuously
increased to supply the energy demand. This paper presents emission inventory
based on power plants burning sugar cane bagasse. The inventory involves the
spatial distribution and the estimated flows for the following major
pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate material (PM), carbon dioxide
(CO2) and total organic carbon (TOC). A total of 384 power plants were
inventoried, representing a generated power of 9.9 GW, about 26% of the energy
produced by thermal power plants sector. The plants are concentrated in two
main poles: one of them in S?o Paulo State and nearby areas and the other one
in coast of Brazilian Northeast. The limits proposed by the AP-42 Regulations
of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the emission factors were
applied. Additional emission factors identified in the scientific literature
were also included in the analysis in order to assess the uncertainties
associated to the estimative. The estimated emissions showed values in the
range 16.0 - 20.5 Gg?year?1 for NOx, 18.0 - 267.0 Gg?year?1 for MP and 20.5 - 26.7
Tg?year?1 for CO2. The contribution of TOC showed a minor contribution around
10 - 20 Mg?year?1. PM showed to be the most representative pollutant emitted by
the thermal plants burning sugar cane bagasse, but with a large range of
uncertainty. There is a high level of uncertainty associated to the preparation
of cane as well as the use of collectors to control particulate emissions. The
adequate control over all stages could reduce the bagasse ash content in 90% or
more.