Cleaner Production Based on Sustainable Development in Chinese Power Plants

Abstract

China's future energy requirement is expected to be predominantly fulfilled by coal from power plants. Therefore, reduction of environmental pollution and improved efficiency of energy utilization are critical and can be achieved through cleaner production (CP) practices. This study examined CP practices in power plants by qualitative and quantitative analyses using the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant in Jilin, China as an example. The quantitative evaluation demonstrated that proportions within the energy consumption index and the resource consumption index rapidly increased after CP implementation, whereas the qualitative evaluation indicated that the plant was clearly affected by the substantial improvement of the CP management index. The comprehensive evaluation index increased from 82.4 to 94.4 when the plant performed CP, which was an increase of 14.6%. CP can improve the level of sustainable development and help improve the grades attained by power plant enterprises. In this study, improvement countermeasures and primary CP practices are proposed for the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant, and results can be used as a reference for similar enterprises.

Introduction

Cleaner production (CP) practices have been updated and enriched over time and have developed into mainstream practices for international environmental protection (Wang et al., 2005). The “Law of the People's Republic of China on Promotion of CP” was promulgated and amended, and it marks an important milestone for CP practices (Wang et al., 2014). Thermal power plants are the foundation of the national economy and social development in China; therefore, implementation of CP can achieve environmental and economic benefits, and it promotes the development of environmental protection and the optimization of resource allocation (Chai, 2014; Zhang et al., 2014). As the primary method of promoting CP, CP audits can promote the progress of production technology, achieve energy savings, and reduce energy consumption (Shang, 2014). Consequently, the improvement of the CP level has promoted sustainable development (Harald and Stefan, 2014). Sustainable development is defined as sustainable growth in the protection of natural resources based on the economic outlook and ecological harmony between humans and nature, as well as the fair distribution of social values in the present and in the future. Sustainable development is an important concept for the survival and development of human society and includes ecological, economic, and social sustainability.

In foreign countries, the application of CP is widespread in the petroleum industry (Yan et al., 2008), the coal industry (Dobes, 2013), and even in the field of education (Baas et al., 2000). However, CP policies are primarily related to regulatory and economical aspects. Examples of these regulations include rising discharges, reports on organizational environments, emission permits of CP audit reports, and compulsory training of business leaders. Regarding the economical aspect, measures include soft loans, grants, discharges returned due to a CP audit, improvement in the resource prices, and generous government subsidies, as well as clean production of gold and tariff preferences for clean technology imports. In terms of CP, there is no key requirement because the difference in the levels of technical development among the countries is relatively large, and the improvement of technical levels is restricted by many factors.

In China, CP involves adopting measures that primarily include improving production, using clean energy and raw materials, utilizing advanced technology and equipment, and reforming management. CP also involves stopping pollution at the source, improving resource utilization, and reducing or avoiding the generation of pollutants or emissions resulting from the production of services and products. The goal of CP is to reduce or eliminate harm to human health and the environment (CDLP, 2012). The Chinese government ensures the enactment of CP policies by not only drafting effective laws but also adopting appropriate economic means, and the government encourages enterprises to improve their advanced technology to promote CP practices.

For the study of CP, developing countries focus on the major industries to reduce pollutant emissions by implementing CP (Dan et al., 2013), especially ceramics, foundry, and pharmaceutical companies, which produce a large quantity of pollutants (Fore and Mbohwa, 2010; Jolanta et al., 2011; Huang et al., 2013). However, the scope of the study on CP in developed countries is more extensive than in the developing countries and includes the foods, vehicles, and chemical commodities, among others; the scope focuses on the product life cycle assessment (Li et al., 2012; Daniele et al., 2014; Dedy and Thomas, 2014; Harald and Stefan, 2014; Johannes et al., 2014). Currently, the study on CP in the power industry is focused on the increasing energy use in China; however, research is lacking on energy savings and environmental protection, therefore requiring additional focus in these areas.

China has various energy sources; currently, these sources are dominated by coal-fired plants, and coal content represents approximately 70% of China's energy production according to the China Electricity Council statistics. Over recent years, Chinese coal-fired power levels have continued to represent a high proportion of Chinese energy consumption (Prospect, 2013). Chinese coal resources are approximately 234.4 t per capita, which is lower than the global per capita consumption of 312.7 t (Coal, 2013). Therefore, it is of important strategic significance to promote the development of China's economy and energy industry by implementing CP in coal-fired power plants. CP is an ideal strategy to promote the sustainable development of businesses (Dobes, 2013). CP is the best method to achieve sustainable development within coal-fired power plants. To implement clean production, it is important to improve an enterprise's competitive environment by improving their economic efficiency (Zeng et al., 2010). CP promotes health and safety, as well as economic, social, and environmental benefits. Thus, CP is an important approach for achieving sustainable development (Silvia et al., 2010; Karla et al., 2011; Slobodan et al., 2012).

The three primary theories of CP are based on ecological principles, systems theory, systems engineering theory, and mass conservation principles. The theory of CP can be subdivided into the environmental resources value theory, environmental carrying capacity theory, waste and resource theory, and optimization theory, thus providing CP with a complete theoretical framework. We conducted CP audits with the objectives of saving energy, reducing consumption, reducing pollutant emissions, and increasing efficiency to ultimately improve the level of sustainable development of enterprises. Currently, due to the overall low level of CP implementation in China (Hong and Li, 2013), studies on CP in the power industry not only improve the level of CP in China, but also reduce the destruction of the ozone layer (Ryerson et al., 2001) and promote the full utilization of waste (Pavlas et al., 2011), among other significant results. Implementation of clean production in thermal power plants and reduction of the air pollution effects on human health can promote sustainable development (Knox et al., 2013).

Using the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant in Jilin, China as an example, this study analyses and discusses the use of CP in a thermal power plant setting from the perspective of sustainable development. Based on the analysis of coal properties, and by adopting the combined method of survey and analysis of documents, along with the company's features under the Chinese CP policy, the goal of this study was to determine a suitable CP evaluation index for the power plant. Based on the CP evaluation in the power plant, solutions to the problems in the CP of the power plant were proposed to achieve energy savings, reduce energy consumption, reduce pollution, increase efficiency, and improve the market competitiveness of this industry. The results provide a reference for similar enterprises to develop CP practices, improve the CP of the Chinese power plants, and promote the sustainable development of the power industry.

Materials and Methods

Materials

The Changshan Thermal Power Plant of the China Datang Corporation is a useful example with practical significance. The plant primarily undertakes tasks related to power supply, system peak regulation and peak voltage, and it is located in the midwest region of the Jilin Province. This plant also supplies heat to the adjacent Changshan fertilizer plant. This thermal power plant is a large, 45-year-old enterprise that has integrated energy generation with heat generation, and after a five-phase expansion, it now assists in the construction of large units and shuts down small units to avoid a unit optimization problem, which is typical of Chinese electric power enterprises.

The Changshan Thermal Power Plant uses Huolinhe brown coal, which has the following characteristics: high water content, high volatility, low calorific value, and susceptibility to weathering, fragmentation, and spontaneous combustion. The properties of the raw coal are presented in Table 1 (Li et al., 2010; Jirí et al., 2012).

Table 1.

Various Properties of the Raw Sample Analysis

Proximate analysis/%, ad			Ultimate analysis/%, ad					Q_{gr, v,d}/(MJ/kg)
M	A	V	C	H	O	N	S
12.39	18.15	29.32	53.87	3.52	15.61	1.04	1.42	22.99
Chemical composition of ashes/%
SiO₂	AL₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	CaO	MgO	SO₃	K₂O	Na₂O	TiO₂	P₂O₅
49.19	21.85	11.73	8.04	1.79	2.20	1.23	1.04	1.43	0.28
Ash fusion temperature/°C
	DT		ST		HT		FT
	1233		1296		1323		1380

ad, Total, air dry basis; DT, deformation temperature; ST, soft temperature; HT, hemispherical temperature; FT, flow temperature; %, percent of weight.

From Table 1, we can determine the composition and nature of the raw material, the brown coal, which has high percentages of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S). To increase the utilization ratio of coal and to decrease the content of harmful ingredients, the raw material must be upgraded and transformed.

Methods

Methods in this study are primarily based on literature research, observations, concept analyses, and comparative studies. We obtained our information through field investigations and data collection. We conducted this evaluation and research through calculations and contrastive analyses of various CP indices before and after the plant implemented CP practices to promote the sustainable development of electric power.

Determination of the CP evaluation index

According to the characteristics of the plant, “The Cleaner Production Evaluation Index System of Thermal Industry (trial implementation)” (TRCNDRC, 2007) and “The Verification Guide of Thermal Enterprises Cleaner Production” (CEPP, 2012) issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which primarily include qualitative and quantitative evaluations, were determined to be the most effective evaluation indices. The specified indices are shown in Tables 2 and 3. Yang Shengchun (Yang, 2011) adopted a multilevel fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of the CP of thermal plants. This method offers a comprehensive systematic evaluation of CP processes in thermal enterprises. While this method has a high level of accuracy, the calculations are complicated, and the level of applicability is low. Therefore, this project adopts the following industry index system.

Table 2.

Items, Their Weights, and Datum Values of Thermal Enterprises, as Well as the Quantitative Evaluation Index

First-class index	Weight	Second-class index	Unit	Scores	Evaluation datum value
Index of energy consumption	35	The power supply from coal consumption without heat supply	kgce/kWh	15	0.380
		Annual average thermoelectric ratio	%	20	50
Index of resource consumption	25	Per unit power generation from water consumption		10
		Circulating cooling units	kg/kWh		3.84
		Repeated utilization ratio of industrial water	%	10	35
		Loss ratio of the entire plant, steam water	%	5	1.5
Index of comprehensive utilization	15	Comprehensive utilization ratio of fly ash	%	10	60
		Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum utilization ratio	%	5	100
Index of pollutant emission	25	Fume emission quantity per unit of power generation	g/kWh	5	1.8
		Sulfur dioxide emission per unit of power generation	g/kWh	10	6.5
		Wastewater discharge amount per unit of power generation	kg/kWh	5	1.0
		Factory boundary noise	dB(A)	5	≤60

Table 3.

Items and Scores of the Qualitative Evaluation Index of Thermal Enterprises

First-class index	Scores	Second-class index	Scores
(1) Conforms to national and trade guidelines and supports the development of cleaner production technology	45	Shuts down small units that do not conform to national industrial policies	10
		Modification accomplished for two hundred thousand units and three hundred thousand units of steam turbine flow passage	5
		Uses oil-saving ignition technology	5
		Pump and fan capacity matching and variable speed reform	5
		Has optimal operations monitoring devices	5
		Performs SO₂ treatment	5
		Adopts low NOx combustion mode	5
		Wastewater treatment and reuse	5
(2) Cleaner production management	30	Implements fuel balance, heat balance, power balance, and water balance tests	15
		Implements coal quality source control	5
		Implements overall cleaner production verification	10
(3) Conforms to established environmental management systems and implements environmental protection regulations	25	Establishes environmental management systems and passes certification	5
		Performance level of three simultaneous construction projects for environmental protection	5
		Performance level of construction projects for an environmental impact assessment system	5
		Completes old pollution source processing projects on deadline	5
		Control of total pollutant emissions	5

Calculation method of the quantitative CP index

According to the technical standards of “The Cleaner Production Evaluation Index System of Thermal Industry (trial implementation),” a quantitative evaluation index can be generated for coal consumption for power supply, thermoelectric ratios, and water consumption per unit power generation. Calculations were performed based on Table 4, and the quantitative evaluation can be observed in Table 2.

Table 4.

Calculation Methods of the Quantitative Evaluation Index

Serial number	Index	Computing formulae	Unit
1	Power supply standard, coal consumption	Standard coal weight of power generation/supply power	Kgec/kwh
2	Thermoelectric ratio	The plant's total quantity of heat/total quantity of heat from the generation and heat used×100%	%
3	Per unit power generation, water consumption	Enterprise's annual fresh water consumption/annual power generation	kg/kwh
4	Repeated utilization ratio of water	Repeated utilization water quantity/(complementary fresh water quantity+repeated utilization water quantity)×100%	%
5	Comprehensive utilization ratio of fly ash	Annual utilized quantity of fly ash/annual fly ash output×100%	%
6	Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum utilization ratio	Annual utilized quantity of desulfurization gypsum/annual desulfurization gypsum output×100%	%
7	Fume emission quantity per unit of power generation	Annual fume emission quantity/annual power generation	g/kWh
8	Sulfur dioxide emission per unit of power generation	Annual sulfur dioxide emission/annual power generation	g/kWh
9	Wastewater discharge amount per unit of power generation	Annual wastewater discharge amount/annual power generation	kg/kWh

Grading calculation method of the CP evaluation index

(1) Grading of the quantitative evaluation index

The grading of the quantitative evaluation index of the enterprise's CP is based on data from various second-class indices obtained in the evaluating year.

Positive index computing formula: \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} \begin{align*}S_i = \frac { S_ { xi } } { S_ { oi } } \tag {2 - 1 } \end{align*} \end{document}

Reverse index computing formula: \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} \begin{align*}S_i = \frac { S_ { oi } } { S_ { xi } } \tag { 2 - 2 } \end{align*} \end{document}

In the formula:

S_i—single assessment index of the uncertain item “i”;

S_xi—actual value of the uncertain item “i”;

S_oi—datum value of the uncertain item “i.”

The computing formula of the total scores: \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} \begin{align*}P_{1} = \mathop \sum \limits_{i = 1}^n S_i \cdot K_i \tag{2 - 3}\end{align*} \end{document}

In the formula:

P₁—graded total scores of the quantitative evaluation;

n—total second-class index items involved in grading the quantitative evaluation:

S_i—single assessment index of the uncertain item “i”; and

K_i—weight of the uncertain item “i.”

(2) Grading of qualitative evaluation index

The computing formula of the total scores: \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} \begin{align*}P_2 = \mathop \sum \limits_{i = 1}^n F_i \tag{2 - 4}\end{align*} \end{document}

In the formula:

P₂—total graded scores of the qualitative evaluation of the second-class index;

F_i—item “i” of the scores of the second-class index from the qualitative evaluation index system; and

n—total second-class index items involved in grading the qualitative evaluation.

(3) Grading of the comprehensive evaluation index

Comprehensive evaluation index computing formula: \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} \begin{align*}P = 0.7 P_1 + 0.3 P_2 \tag{2 - 5}\end{align*} \end{document}

In the formula:

P—comprehensive evaluation index of the enterprise's CP;

P₁—total scores of the second-class evaluation index from the quantitative evaluation index; and

P₂—total scores of second-class evaluation index from the qualitative evaluation index.

(4) Evaluation of the thermal industry's CP level

This evaluation is based on the enterprise's comprehensive evaluation index, which determines the enterprise's CP level (Table 5).

Table 5.

Comprehensive Evaluation Index of Different Levels of Thermal Industry's Cleaner Production Enterprises

Grades of cleaner production enterprises	Cleaner production comprehensive evaluation index
Cleaner production advanced enterprises	p≥95
Cleaner production enterprises	80≤p<95

Results and Discussion

The purpose of conducting an evaluation of CP in a thermal plant is to discover the areas that do not conform to the requirements of CP and to propose solutions to achieve the following objectives: increase resource utilization, reduce and avoid pollution, and protect and improve the environment (TRCNDRC, 2007; Guo et al., 2008). In addition, by strengthening environmental management, another objective of this study is to improve the level of clean production and to achieve an energy-saving emissions reduction effect (Hicks and Dietmar, 2007). According to the evaluation results before and after performing the verification of CP, we can determine the effects of CP. Based on the actual conditions of this thermal plant, we can propose reasonable suggestions regarding the following aspects to realize sustainable development by the power plant: pollution control technology, as well as energy-saving and emission-reducing technology and management.

Primary problem existing in CP in the Datang Changshan thermal power plant

Through this investigation, we identified the common problems of this plant, primarily including SO₂ treatment insufficiency, large NOx emissions, a low comprehensive utilization ratio of fly ash, a low thermoelectric ratio, and a high loss ratio of steam water.

In addition to these common problems, the survey found that the thermal power plants also experience problems in terms of key technology, primarily including the following: (1) large sulfur dioxide emissions per unit of power generation; (2) large per-unit power generation of water consumption; (3) large amounts of coal consumption for power supply; (4) large amounts of wastewater discharge per unit of power generation; (5) low recycle ratio of wastewater; and (6) a large fume emissions quantity per unit of power generation.

Evaluation of the effects that occurred before and after implementing CP

We analyzed the conditions of this power plant and formulated a set of CP policies that may enable this factory to effectively implement the previously described national energy-saving policy and achieve sustainable development.

These policies primarily include building 660 MW supercritical coal-fired power units at a set capacity and shutting down the backward small-capacity units, using advanced environmental technologies, such as Electrostatic Precipitation Technologies and wet limestone–gypsum desulfurization techniques, reducing pollutant emissions and taking corresponding measures within the management of the plant. Experience proves that an evaluation of these practices should be based on quantitative and qualitative evaluations, emphasizing the importance of the former while also paying attention to the latter (Alan and Rene, 2007). The results of the quantitative evaluation of the Changshan Power Plant before and after implementing CP are shown in Table 6, and the results of the qualitative evaluation are shown in Table 7.

Table 6.

Results of Quantitative Evaluation of the Changshan Power Plant Before and After Implementation of Cleaner Production

First-class index	Second-class index	Weight scores	Evaluation results (before implementing cleaner production)	Evaluation results (after implementing cleaner production)	Increased ratio
Index of energy consumption	The power supply from coal consumption without heat supply	15	12	14.2	14.7
	Annual average thermoelectric ratio	20	15.5	18	12.5
Index of resource consumption	Per unit power generation from water consumption	10	8.1	9.5	14
	Repeated utilization ratio of industrial water	10	8.2	9.6	14
	Loss ratio of the entire plant, steam water	5	3.7	3.8	2
Index of comprehensive utilization	Comprehensive utilization ratio of fly ash	10	7.7	9.4	17
	Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum utilization ratio	5	4.1	4.6	10
Index of pollutant emission	Fume emission quantity per unit of power generation	5	4.3	4.5	4
	Sulfur dioxide emission per unit of power generation	10	8.5	9.7	12
	Wastewater discharge amount per unit of power generation	5	4.2	4.5	6
	Factory boundary noise	5	5.0	5.0	0
Total		100	81.3	92.8	——

Percentage rate of increase is the evaluation value of the difference and the weight score.

Table 7.

Results of Qualitative Evaluation of the Changshan Power Plant Before and After Implementing Cleaner Production

First-class index	Second-class index	Scores	Evaluation results (before implementing cleaner production)	Evaluation results (after implementing cleaner production)	Increased ratio
Conformance to implementing national and trade focus and support of the development of cleaner production technology	Shuts down small units that do not conform to national industrial policies	10	10	10	0
	Modification accomplished of two hundred thousand units and three hundred thousand units of steam turbine flow passage	5	5	5	0
	Uses oil-saving ignition technology	5	5	5	0
	Pump and fan capacity matching and variable speed reform	5	5	5	0
	Has perfect operating monitoring devices	5	5	5	0
	Performs SO₂ treatment	5	3	4	20
	Adopts low NOx combustion mode	5	3	4	20
	Wastewater treatment and reuse	5	4	5	10
Cleaner production management	Performs fuel balance, heat balance, power balance, and water balance tests	15	15	15	0
	Performs coal quality source control	5	5	5	0
	Performs overall cleaner production verification	10	0	5	100
Conformance to establishing environmental management systems and implementing environmental protection regulations	Establishes environmental management systems and passes certification	5	5	5	0
	Performance level of three simultaneous construction projects for environmental protection	5	5	5	0
	Performance level of construction projects for an environmental impact assessment system	5	5	5	0
	Completes old pollution source processing projects by the deadline	5	5	5	0
	Control of total pollutant emissions	5	5	5	0
Total		100	85	98	——

Percentage rate of increase is the evaluation value of the difference and the weight score.

As shown in the energy consumption indices in Table 6, the power supply from coal consumption during the time without heat supply greatly improved after the implementation of CP, and this improvement is related to the strengthening of the energy consumption management. The annual average thermoelectric ratio improved 12.5% after implementing CP practices. The primary reason for this change is that the plant supplied heat to the adjacent Changshan fertilizer plant and to nearby residents. Until this shift, the plant supplied heat to most of the nearby residents and enterprises, covering nearly the entire town of Changshan. It can be observed from the energy consumption index that considerable improvements can be performed. The annual average thermoelectric ratio suggests that plants should consider supplying heat to neighboring regions to improve the thermoelectric ratios and to reduce the small boiler pollution emissions, ultimately achieving economic and environmental benefits.

As shown in Table 6, the per-unit power generation from water consumption and the repeated utilization ratio of industrial water greatly improved after implementing CP, which is related to strengthening energy-saving management and increasing technical levels. However, an effect on the loss ratio of the plant's steam water was not obvious after implementing CP. The primary reason for this lack of change is that the pipeline is old, and general reform work was not accomplished in this short timeframe. When the work is complete, this ratio will be reduced by strengthening the flow and pressure monitoring work. There is substantial improvement of the resource consumption index that can be achieved, which should include strengthening these systems.

The comprehensive utilization index in Table 6 improved by several degrees after implementing CP. The primary improvements included the increase in the comprehensive utilization ratio of fly ash and the improvement of the desulfurization (FGD) gypsum utilization ratio through technical reform and strengthening management. In particular, the fly ash utilization ratio can be improved by uniting with a cement plant, a concrete company, and road construction units.

According to the pollutant emission index, the plant's factory boundary noise measurement meets requirements. The fume emission quantity per unit of power generation, the sulfur dioxide emission per unit of power generation and wastewater discharge amount per unit of power generation were reduced in several aspects after implementing CP. The sulfur dioxide emission per unit of power generation had the highest reduction, which is the result of technical reform and the strengthening of management. The adoption of advanced desulfurization technology and deducting technology is also required. Improving the wastewater utilization ratio is also an efficient approach to reducing the wastewater discharge amount per unit of power generation.

As shown in Table 7, the plant's conformance to establishing environmental management systems and implementing environmental protection regulations is satisfactory. The plant performed well in establishing environmental management systems and passing certification requirements, in establishing three simultaneous construction projects for environmental protection, in completing projects for the processing of old pollution sources by the deadline, and in controlling the total pollutant emission. Through CP, the plant performed well in performing fuel balance, heat balance, power balance, and water balance tests, as well as coal quality source controls and overall CP verification. Regarding conformance to the implementation of a national and trade focus on the support and development of CP technologies, the firm performed well in the aspects of shutting down small units that do not conform to national industrial policies, the modification of two hundred thousand units and nearly three hundred thousand units of steam turbine flow passage, using oil-saving ignition technology, pump and fan capacity matching, and variable-speed reform with perfect operating monitoring devices. However, in performing SO₂ treatment, adopting low NOx combustion modes, and in wastewater treatment and reuse, the plant did perform satisfactorily, however, strengthening these areas is required.

In conclusion, the plant's comprehensive evaluation index score was 81.3×0.7+85×0.3=82.4 before implementing CP, whereas the score after implementing CP was 92.8×0.7+98×0.3=94.4. The score improved 12.0 points. The plant has realized the transformation from only meeting the standards of CP enterprises to approaching the advanced standards of CP enterprises, which it will reach if the plant continues to improve. By implementing CP, the plant could reduce the consumption of resources and energy, improve the level of comprehensive utilization, reduce pollutant emissions, and enhance the management level. Implementation of CP policies is also beneficial to the enterprises because the country's policies encourage businesses to focus on these practices. By examining the implementation of CP at this plant, this study analyzes the shortcomings in terms of CP and proposes specific solutions, thereby increasing the level of CP at the plant. The plant achieves economic efficiency, environmental protection, and social benefits and contributes to achieving the sustainable development of the power plant.

Datang thermal power plant's primary methods of CP and specific improvement measures

The primary method of achieving CP

Recently, CP technologies in thermal power plants have developed rapidly (Zhou and Wu, 2006; Xu and Lin, 2007). Currently, CP has been effectively implemented in thermal power plants in China and abroad, whereas new technologies and methods are constantly being developed by power plants (Wang, 2010). The plants implement pollution prevention throughout the production process, reduce pollutants from the source, change waste into wealth, and increase resource utilization through the implementation of CP (Mi, 2007; Jirí et al., 2012). To accelerate the development of China's CP, a gradual implementation of the CP audit system could be adopted (Hong and Li, 2013). The primary approaches to the implementation of CP and, ultimately, to the realization of sustainable development in the Changshan Thermal Power Plant are as follows:

(1) Energy-saving reduction of emissions as the primary focus

The focus of energy conservation is to save energy and reduce pollutant emissions by improving production equipment and conditions. While there are many methods of achieving energy conservation, the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant could adopt the following specific methods: (i) reduce coal consumption; (ii) reduce water consumption and improve the rate of water reuse; (iii) improve wastewater treatment measures; and (iv) utilize fly ash in classifications and use slag waste.

(2) Improving pollution control technology

By improving pollution control technology, the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant should adopt CP technology to reach the following goals: (i) the reform of combustion technology; (ii) the development of desulfurization and denitration technology; and (iii) the development of composite dust removal technology.

(3) Establishing and perfecting the management system

Thermal power plants should establish and improve the CP management system to ensure that CP practices are performed consistently. The following specific measures could be adopted when collaborating with the Datang Changshan Thermal Power Plant: (i) establish and improve the CP organization; (ii) adopt the audit results into daily management; (iii) establish and improve the CP incentive mechanism; (iv) expend CP funding sources; and (v) develop continuous CP planning.

Concrete improvement measures of CP

According to the CP evaluation results at the Datang Thermal Power Plant, the following specific improvements should be implemented to advance the plant's CP level.

(1) Strengthening conservation, recycling, and waste reduction

The plant could strengthen its energy conservation to further reduce water consumption per power generation unit, and it could increase its heating range and improve its average power ratio. The plant could also strengthen inspection and monitoring and reduce the loss rate of steam. The plant should reduce wastewater discharge and attempt to achieve 100% recycling when possible; it should also improve the comprehensive utilization of fly ash by collaborating with building material companies, construction companies, and construction units.

(2) Strengthening technological innovation, improving the utilization rate, and reducing pollution emissions

The plant should strengthen boiler technological innovation and reduce coal consumption, improve the industrial water recycling rate by technological innovation, strengthen technical improvements and enhance the utilization of gypsum, modify its efficient dust removal technology and reduce soot emissions. Simultaneously, the plant should improve the levels of desulfurization technology and reduce SO₂ emissions, strengthen technical improvements, adopt methods of reducing nitrogen oxide combustion, and perform comprehensive governance of SO₂ to reduce its damage to the surrounding environment.

(3) Conducting comprehensive clean production audits and strengthening management

The plant should increase scientific and technological innovation by investing in suitable funding and performing scientific and technological innovation. The plant should also establish rewards and penalties and constantly improve the management level to obtain maximum benefits.

Conclusions

To promote the sustainable development of the electric power industry, we conducted research examining CP in the Changshan Thermal Power Plant. The primary conclusions of this analysis are as follows:

(1) Many common indices of the power plant CP were found through CP verification. These items included the results of SO₂ governance, emissions of NOx, comprehensive utilization of fly ash, the heat-to-electric ratio, and the loss of steam, among others. Simultaneously, many key indices of power plant CP were observed, such as the consumption of water per unit of electricity, emissions of SO₂ per unit of electricity, coal consumption without a heating period, wastewater and smoke emissions per unit of electricity, and the utilization ratio of wastewater, among others. According to the quantitative CP evaluation, the indices increased regarding energy emission, resource consumption, utilization, and pollutant emission. The consumption index of the nonheating supply coal showed the highest rate of increase.

(2) The results of the CP qualitative evaluation show that the conditions under which the comprehensive CP audit is conducted can compensate for loopholes in management and can cause the ratio of performing sulfur dioxide governance to increase, the ratio of using low NOx combustion to increase, and the ratio of improving sewage treatment and reuse to increase.

(3) The comprehensive evaluation index increased by 14.6% after adopting CP in the Changshan Thermal Power Plant, revealing that it is an important method to improve the grades of CP enterprises.

(4) The Changshan Thermal Power Plant is a large enterprise that integrates energy generation with heating and requires industrial upgrading. Therefore, this power plant is representative of other plants in China, and its successful experience can provide a reference for similar enterprises to develop CP practices.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Scientific Development Program of the Jilin Province (No. 20130102039JC) and the Key Scientific Research Programs of the Jilin Province (No. 20140204041SF). The project was also supported by the Jilin Province Environmental Protection Bureau (No. 2014-14) and the Planning Project of Philosophy and Social Science of Jilin Province (No. 1305024).

Author Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.

References

Alan

H.G.

, and Berkel

R.V.

(2007). Assessment of cleaner production uptake: Method development and trial with small businesses in Western Australia. J. Clean. Prod., 15, 787.

Baas

L.W.

, Huisingh

, and Hafkamp

W.A.

(2000). Four years of experience with Erasmus University's “International Off-Campus PhD programme on cleaner production, cleaner products, industrial ecology and sustainability.”. J. Clean. Prod., 8, 425.

CDLP. (2012). China's Cleaner Production Promotion Law. Beijing: China Democracy and Law Press.

CEPP. (2012). The Guidelines for Cleaner Production Audit in Fossil Fired Power Enterprises. Beijing: China Electric Power Press.

Chai

(2014). Application and Discussion of Cleaner Production Audit in Coal-fired Power Plant. Environmental Science Survey., 33, 49.

Dan

Z.G.

, Yu

X.L.

, Yin

, Bai

Y.Y.

, Song

D.N.

, and Duan

(2013). An analysis of the original driving forces behind the promotion of compulsory cleaner production assessment in key enterprises of China. J. Clean. Prod., 46, 8.

Daniele

, Fabrizio

, Esmeralda

, Ivano

, Luca

, and Fabrizio

(2014). Life Cycle Assessment comparison of two ways for acrylonitrile production: The SOHIO process and an alternative route using propane. J. Clean. Prod., 69, 17.

Dedy

, and Thomas

(2014). Strategic niche management from a business perspective: Taking cleaner vehicle technologies from prototype to series production. J. Clean. Prod., 74, 17.

Dobes

(2013). New tool for promotion of energy management and cleaner production on no cure, no pay basis. J. Clean. Prod., 39, 255.

10.

Fore

, and Mbohwa

C.T.

(2010). Cleaner production for environmental conscious manufacturing in the foundry industry. J. Eng. Des. Technol., 8, 314.

11.

Guo

, Wan

J.Q.

, Ma

Y.W.

, Wang

, and Deng

J.F.

(2008). Application of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation in cleaner production assessment of paint industry. Sci. Technol. Chem. Ind., 16, 12.

12.

Harald

, Stefan

(2014). Determinants of a sustainable new product development. J. Clean. Prod., 69, 1.

13.

Hicks

, and Dietmar

(2007). Improving cleaner production through the application of environmental management tools in China. J. Clean. Prod., 15, 395.

14.

Hong

J.L.

, and Li

X.Z.

(2013). Speeding up cleaner production in China through the improvement of cleaner production audit. J. Clean. Prod., 40, 129.

15.

Huang

, Luo

J.W.

, and Xia

(2013). Application of cleaner production as an important sustainable strategy in the ceramic tile plant — a case study in Guangzhou, China. J. Clean. Prod., 43, 113.

16.

Jirí

J.K.

, Petar

S.V.

, and Donald

H.R.

(2012). cleaner production advances in process monitoring and optimisation. J. Clean. Prod., 34, 1.

17.

Johannes

, Sarah

, and André

(2014). Cleaner chlorine production using oxygen depolarized cathodes? A life cycle assessment. J. Clean. Prod., 80, 46.

18.

Jolanta

, Jolita

, and Jurate

(2011). Application of cleaner technologies in milk processing industry to improve the environmental efficiency. Clean. Techn. Environ. Policy., 13, 195.

19.

Karla

R.A.

, Rafael

M.E.

, Craig

, and Ken

(2011). Primary prevention for worker health and safety: Cleaner production and toxics use reduction in Massachusetts. J. Clean., 19, 488.

20.

Knox

, Mykhaylova

, Evans

G.J.

, Lee

C.J.

, Karney

, and Brook

J.R.

(2013). The expanding scope of air pollution monitoring can facilitate sustainable development. Sci. Total Environ., 448, 189.

21.

F.H.

, Huang

J.J.

, Fang

Y.T.

, and Wang

(2012). Effect of the Melting Characteristics of Huolinhe Lignite ash. Coal Conversion., 33, 9.

22.

Z.D.

, Zhang

S.S.

, Zhang

, and Wei

(2012). Evaluation of cleaner production audit in pharmaceutical production industry: Case study of the pharmaceutical plant in Dalian, P. R. China. Clean. Techn. Environ. Policy., 14, 1037.

23.

J.H.

(2007). Summarization of policy regulations and policy planning for energy and electricity saving in electric power industry in China. Electrical Equip., 7, 4.

24.

Pavlas

, Touš

, Klimek

, and Bébar

(2011). Waste incineration with production of clean and reliable energy. Clean. Techn. Environ. Policy., 13, 595.

25.

Ryerson

T.B.

, Trainer

, Holloway

J.S.

, Parrish

D.D.

, Huey

L.G.

, Sueper

D.T.

, Frost

G.J.

, Donnelly

S.G.

, Schauffler

, Atlas

E.L.

, Kuster

W.C.

, Goldan

P.D.

, Hübler

, Meagher

J.F.

, and Fehsenfeld

F.C.

(2001). Observations of Ozone Formation in Power Plant Plumes and Implications for Ozone Control. Science., 292, 719.

26.

Shang

G.X.

(2014). Practice on clean production audit for heat power plant. Environ. Sustainable Dev., 3, 90.

27.

Silvia

H.B.

, Cecìlia

M.A.

, Biagio

F.G.

, and Donald

(2010). The roles of cleaner production in the sustainable development of modern societies: An introduction to this special issue. J. Clean. Prod., 18, 1.

28.

Slobodan

M.S.

, Zoltan

Z.Z.

, and Dunja

S.S.

(2012). Sustainable development, clean technology and knowledge from industry. Therm. Sci., 16, S131–S139.

29.

TRCNDRC. (2007). Clean production evaluation index system of thermal power plant (for Trial Implementation). Dev. Reform Comm. PRC. Available at: www.docin.com/p-21326061.html

30.

Wang

C.Y.

, Pei

, and Mao

H.H.

(2005). Primary analysis on sustainable development of thermal power plants based on cleaner production. Electric Power Constr., 26, 56–58.

31.

Wang

(2010). Study on Application of Cleaner Production Technology in Power Plant. North China Electric Power., 4, 1.

32.

Wang

, Wu

, and Dong

F.C.

(2014). Analysis on present situation of clean production audit in China. Environ. Sustainable Dev., 3, 92.

33.

W.Q.

, and Lin

X.Y.

(2007). Many measures for generator units consumption reduction taken in Wujiang second power generation company. Power Demand Side Manage., 5, 44.

34.

Yan

H.Y.

, Yu

J.N.

, Fan

, Shi

, and Bao

X.J.

(2008). A scenario-based clean gasoline production strategy for China National Petroleum Corporation. Pet. Sci., 5, 285.

35.

Yang

S.C.

(2011). Application of multi-level fussy comprehensive evaluation in cleaner production of thermal power plants. J. Hefei Univ. Technol., 34, 1408.

36.

Zeng

S.X.

, Meng

X.H.

, Yin

H.T.

, Tam

C.M.

, and Sun

(2010). Impact of cleaner production on business performance. J. Clean. Prod., 18, 975.

37.

Zgdl/zyfb/200805/t20080515_104003. (2013). Coal 2008. Available at: www.sp.com.cn. (accessed September 20, 2013).

38.

Zgdl/zgdlgk/200805/t20080515_103949. (2013). Prospect of Electric Power Development in 2020. Available at: www.sp.com.cn. (accessed September 20, 2013).

39.

Zhang

S.J.

, Yu

H.B.

, Geng

L.J.

, and Wang

Q.N.

(2014). Cleaner production practice of thermal power industry. Environ. Eng., 3, 139.

40.

Zhou

, and Wu

Z.W.

(2006). Energy conservation measures of the thermal power plant. Power Demand Side Manage., 9, 37.