Research Of Electrical Coal Supply Chain's Waste Gas Emissions Based On Coal Life Cycle

Electricity coal supply chain plays an important role in national economic development, but waste gas emissions in electricity coal supply chain have a broad impact on the natural environment and human society from coal mining to coal-fired power plant. However, the research of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is still in its infancy now, up to now there has not been any report about quantitative research of waste gas emissions'environmental impact in electricity coal supply chain. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the environmental impact of waste gas emissions in electricity coal supply chain systematically, scientifically, and quantitatively.The goal of this study is to find out the source and amount of waste gas emissions in electricity coal supply chain, establish the environmental burden in electricity coal supply chain, detect the critical factor which causes significant environmental impact, and then identify the key control direction and reduce environmental pollution in electricity coal supply chain.The paper at first reviewed the research of electricity coal's waste gas emissions. Then, life cycle inventory model and life cycle assessment of electricity coal based on China status were established from coal mining, coal transportation, and coal burning. Finally the measures were analyzed about how to reduce waste gas emissions'environmental impact in electricity coal supply chain from supply chain management perspective.The results and conclusion as follow:(1) In terms of total waste gas emissions in electricity coal supply chain, CO2 is emitted in the greatest quantity, accounting for 98-99 wt% of the total waste gas emissions. The vast majority of the CO2, greater than 93%, is emitted from the power plant when the coal is combusted. (2) Other than CO2, the main waste gas is CH4, SO2 and so on. CH4 is mainly emitted from Coal Bed Methane (CBM), so the option is to consider capturing some of the CH4 from underground mines for an alternative use. SO2 is mainly emitted from power plant when the coal is combusted. (3) The environmental burden of coal burning subsystem is greatest, followed by the coal mining subsystem, and finally the coal transportation subsystem. Improving the coal-burning efficiency of coal-fired power plant in electricity coal supply chain is the most effective way to reduce the environmental impact of waste gas emissions. (4) Of the three subsystems examined (coal mining, coal transportation, and coal burning), transportation requires the fewest resources and has the lowest waste gas emissions. However, the energy consumption for this subsystem is significant (excluding the mine mouth case), and transportation distance is found to have a substantial effect on the oil consumption and non-coal energy consumption. (5) In electricity coal supply chain, the biggest environmental impact of waste gas emissions is GWP, followed by EP, AP, POCP and ODP, and regional impact is greater than the global impact.The model and methodology established in this paper could be used for environmental impact assessment of waste gas emissions in electricity coal supply chain and sensitivity analysis in China, and it could supply reference and example for similar researches. The data information on life cycle inventory, impact assessment and sensitivity analysis could supply theory and data reference for waste gas emissions control in electricity coal supply chain.There are 33 figures,50 tables, and 67 references in the paper.