Title: A mixed-integer non-linear programming model for CO2 emission reduction in the power generation sector

Authors: M. Ba-Shammakh, A. Elkamel, P. Douglas, E. Croiset

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada

Abstract: Electricity generation is considered to be one of the main contributing sources to the air pollution problem. It is, therefore, important to develop and implement effective control strategies to prevent the expected abrupt increase in emissions from this sector. Any control strategy must be suitable for local implementation and must also be economically viable. The main objective of this paper is to present optimisation models that can be used to determine the most cost effective strategy or combination of strategies to reduce CO2 emissions to a specific level. Optimisation results for an existing network of power plants show that it may be possible to reduce CO2 emissions by increasing power plant efficiency through a variety of adjustments in the plants. These include fuel balancing, fuel switching, and the implementation of improvement technologies to existing power plants to increase their thermal efficiency.

Keywords: air pollution; electricity generation; carbon dioxide; emissions reduction; nonlinear programming models; power plant efficiency; power generation; pollution prevention; environmental pollution; fuel balancing; fuel switching; thermal efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.012806

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.29 No.1/2/3, pp.254 - 273

Published online: 15 Mar 2007 *

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