Title: A multi-criteria decision approach for choosing and ranking SO₂ emission reduction measures for a network of power stations

Authors: S.A. Al-Gharib, A. Elkamel, C.G.J. Baker

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait

Abstract: During recent years, it has become evident that power plants are a major source of pollution that causes changes in the chemistry and physics of the environment. In this paper, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to develop a strategy for reducing sulphur dioxide emissions from a network of power plants in Kuwait by at least two-thirds. Along with NO_x, sulphur dioxide is known to be a chemical precursor of acid rain and urban smog. A variety of SO₂ reduction alternatives and sub-alternatives were explored. These were grouped into the following categories: new refinery design to provide low sulphur fuel, fuel substitution, flue gas desulphurisation, and energy conservation. The proposed model enabled various selection criteria to be evaluated and different pollution control options to be ranked.

Keywords: analytical hierarchy process; AHP; air pollution; pollution control; acid rain; power plants; flue gas desulphurisation; energy conservation; sulpur dioxide; emissions reduction; multicriteria decision making; MCDM; Kuwait; urban smog; low sulphur fuel; fuel substitution.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2007.013583

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.196 - 225

Published online: 08 May 2007 *

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