ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Life Cycle Assessment for Enhanced Efficiency of Small Power Plants by Reducing Air Input Temperature
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Excellence Centre of Eco-Energy (ECEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Submission date: 2017-08-09
Final revision date: 2017-10-09
Acceptance date: 2017-10-09
Online publication date: 2018-03-05
Publication date: 2018-03-30
Corresponding author
Harnpon Phungrassami
Excellence Centre of Eco-Energy (ECEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering,, Thammasat University, 12121 Pathumthani, Thailand
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(4):1781-1793
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ABSTRACT
This research aimed to study the relevant work relating to environmental evaluation associated with
global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and human toxicity from the 120 MW combined-cycle
cogeneration power plant through use of a life cycle assessment. The functional units of study were one
kWh of electricity and one ton of steam production. The system boundary of this study comprised unit
processes related to a gas turbine power plant and thermal power plant using natural gas. Input data
including natural gas and demineralized water in the gas turbine process, while oxygen scavenger
chemicals such as neutralizing amine and phosphate were included in the steam turbine process. We
found that global warming potential and acidification potential came primarily from gas combustion
during the production process, while transportation posted a minor contribution, while eutrophication
potential and human toxicity caused by NaOCl was 10%. The feasible ways to reduce environmental
impacts included cooling down the air temperature prior to being fed to the compressor using the
evaporative method and the fogging method. The results found that the fogging method was proven
to reduce global warming potential more significantly than the other method. On the other hand, the
evaporative method was more effective in terms of acidification, eutrophication, and human toxicity
reduction.