Clean coal - Technology

Enel's policy regarding clean coal technologies is based on three main guidelines which allow a drastic emission reduction

An adequate and safe fuel management

Coal handling and storage takes place in fully enclosed, depressurized and automated structures that avoid any external dust dispersion.
The coal, which is shipped to the plant by ship, is removed from the hold through an enclosed conveyor belt that conveys it directly to dome-covered deposits, completely sealed and where there is no dust dispersion. The combustion ashes that are extracted by filter sleeves are then placed in silos and subsequenlty transferred - again with an automated sealed system - into ship holds, to be taken where they are going to be used. All this ash is used again as raw material in cement production and as inert material in concrete production.

Improved boiler efficiency

The Ultra Supercritical (USC) technology that is used to pulverize coal causes steam temperature to rise over 600°C and the pressure up to 320 bar. Process parameters are made to reach the technical limits allowed by available technologies, so that the resulting improved efficiency will also bring about significant fuel and emission saving with the same energy production.

Marked reduction of polluting emissions

Next generation bag filters that are used allow a highly efficient particulate removal - around 99.9% matter, thus stopping environmental dust dispersion.
New highly-efficient catalytic flue-gases denitrification systems, based on a chemical reaction between NOx, ammonia and oxygen with "selective catalysers", are used to abate nitric oxides (NOx). This process ensures an 85% reduction efficiency. Advanced desulphurization systems, based on limestone and gypsum, are used to abate sulphur oxides(SOx, with a 95% efficiency.