The CO2 chokehold: Can we clear the sky in coal country?

Tons of CO2, dangerous dust, sulphur and oxychloride emissions are set be cut every year thanks to a new power plant in north-east China being fitted with state-of-the-art Alfa Laval technology.

DATE 2024-01-12

Situated deep in China's coal country, the provincial capital of Taiyuan has been dubbed 'The City of Haze' due to its high level of air pollution. Steel and coal-power plants dot the city's outskirts, and residents light coal-fired boilers each winter to ward off the often frigid northern Chinese winter.

But now the city of Taiyuan is trying to clean up its air.

In a major move to reduce air particulates, the power supplier Taiyuan Heating Power Company has partnered with Alfa Laval to make improvements to the Taiyuan Taigu Central Heating Project, one of the world's largest central heating facilities. To improve efficiency of the plant and reduce emissions, 90 large-scale Alfa Laval plate heat exchangers will be installed.

Why Alfa Laval?

Alfa Laval was chosen as a technology supplier to the project in large part for its heat exchangers' high efficiency, despite the demanding operational environment, with high temperatures and high pressure. The technology must perform well despite narrow temperature differences and maintain a high Number of Transfer Units (NTUs), ensuring high energy efficiency and optimized investment returns.

The installation is just one of a myriad of projects now underway in China to reduce air pollution in the country after decades of coal-fueled economic growth. This year, the city of Taiyuan is replacing coal-burning household heating equipment with electric and natural gas heaters and has acted to control exhaust and dust from cars and trucks.

So, what will the effect of the Taiyuan central heating project be? Alfa Laval's plate heat exchangers are set to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Taiyuan by about 2,5 million tonnes, cut sulphur dioxide by app. 4000 tonnes, oxychloride by 1000 tonnes and reduce dust emissions by 2000 tonnes. The reduction in pollutants is aimed at turning Taiyuan into a greener, more liveable city.

Read Here customer magazine No 36

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set the vision humanity needs to work towards, now it's up to businesses like ours to take us there. Read how we and our customers make a difference.

Here No 36 clickable version

Here No 36 download version

Are you curious?

At Alfa Laval, we always go that extra mile to overcome the toughest challenges. Our driving force is to accelerate success for our customers, people and planet. You can only do that by having dedicated people with a curious mind. Curiosity is the spark behind great ideas. And great ideas drive progress.

In our Career section you find opportunities for curious minds to have a lasting impact on some of the planet’s most urgent problems.

Advancing better. With Alfa Laval.

Alfa Laval career information

Follow us on  Follow Alfa Laval on Facebook  Follow Alfa Laval on LinkedIn

Alfa Laval doprinosi Globalnim ciljevima

Ujedinjene nacije usvojile su 17 ciljeva održivog razvoja za 2030. godinu, poznatih kao Globalni ciljevi (eng. Global Goals), koje su svetski lideri obećali da ostvare. Sada je na kompanijama kao što smo mi da to postignemo.

Saznajte kako osnovne poslovne aktivnosti Alfa Lavala doprinose Globalnim ciljevima

 

 

PRODUCT - Benefits of an Alfa Laval plate heat exchanger

Alfa Laval Industrial Line

  • High energy efficiency
  • Flexible – configurable for broad range of applications
  • Ensures optimal performance in specific applications base on specific needs
  • Easy to install
  • High serviceability

Alfa Laval Industrial Line

FACTS - China's fight against air pollution

Several decades of economic growth have led to high pollution levels in many Chinese cities.

In 2014, the Chinese government declared a war on pollution and has taken tougher action on polluting business.

In 2017, China saw a 23% jump in its environmental protection and energy efficiency budget, bringing it to $3,7bn. More than half of the budget is earmarked the projects to improve quality.