Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment of Coke Oven Battery and Modelling of Nitrogen Oxides and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from a Thermal Power Plant

Abstract

1.Hazards are the prime cause of occupational health, safety and environmental problems. Identification of hazards and assessment of risk associated with them is an important practise to reduce accidents and production breakdowns. Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) is a process of identifying the hazards and segregating them by characterizing their probability and severity which helps evaluating possible consequences. The conventional process for conducting HIRA is limited to hazards which can cause harm to the people. In 21st century the developed technology has resulted in transparent administration and stringent regulations which bought great importance to environment, property and reputation. The four factors are equally important so an integrated methodology is developed to cover hazards which may cause damage to property, environment and reputation along with people. The hazards identified in this process will be more accurate resulting a safer and productive work place.

Coke Oven Battery- 6 Complex of Rourkela Steel Plant deals with hazardous operations which are resulted as high risk area in past 2 years. The purpose of this project is to develop a new methodology for Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and use it for identifying and analysing the risks in the complex. The Battery complex is dived in to 5 departments Coal Handling, Battery Proper, Heating, Coke Dry Cooling Plant, Coke Handling and using the developed process all possible activities in the above departments are analysed and control measures for various health, safety and environmental risks are suggested.

2.Air pollution is the most important environmental concern associated with any Coal Fired Power plants in India. Coal is the prime fuel in the energy sector and it accounts for 70% of electrical power in India and continues to play a major role. Coal combustion emits huge amounts of harmful gases into environment and is also responsible for health problems and global climate change. Prediction of pollutant concentrations in the plant vicinity is essential to have an impact assessment of the power plant over the environment surrounding it.

In the view of this, current project work focuses on air dispersion modelling of pollutants namely Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) released from a stack of selected power plant using coal as fuel. The results obtained from the modelling are used to determine the affected areas in the plant surroundings. In the current project air dispersion modelling is done using the software AERMOD.