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DLP/BOE-II/ 1- 01092001
CHAPTER - 22
Boiler Pollution Control

1. Introduction:
Undesirable contamination of environment is termed Pollution. In all industrial
processes, there are some byproducts that possess any commercial value and are armful
to humans and/or cattle beyond a certain concentration. When such byproducts are
disposed freely in the environment Pollution is caused. Uncontrolled disposal, into
environment, of these byproducts constitutes Pollution of Air and Water. In early times
adverse effects of such Pollution were not known. Hence it was taken for granted that
Pollution is a necessary evil associated with industrialization. However, as more and
more knowledge is being gathered and Pollutants and their effects are being studied and
recorded, scientific norms for making disposal of polluting byproducts are evolving.
Norms are being established about the degree of pollution that can be tolerated by
everyone harmlessly. Rules and Regulations have been made in almost all countries for
this purpose. In India too there are Acts of Law and Rules & Regulations for control of
Pollution. Certain standards have also been laid down for most potential forms of
Pollution nuisance. Failure to comply constitutes a breach of the law with the possibility
of fines or even injunctions restricting production.
In the following have been discussed the sources of pollution associated with boilers and
the steps to abate them.
Persons engaged in the design operation and maintenance of industrial plant should aim
at not only meeting the emission norms but also minimizing the nuisance.
Boilers can cause Pollution of Atmosphere through emissions, Water through effluents
and Noise. Sources of such pollution are shown in diagram below.

2. Atmospheric Pollution

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Atmospheric pollution can be caused by a) Dark smoke, b) Ash particles as Suspended
Matters or Particulate, c) Oxides of Sulphur, d) Acidic smut emission from oil fired
boilers, e) Oxides of nitrogen and f) CO as described below.
2.1 Dark smoke:
Dark smoke causes blackening of buildings and by excluding sunlight it is detrimental to
health and adversely affects the growing of crops.
It is due to the presence of particles of carbonaceous matter because of bad combustion,
inefficient maintenance and cleaning of heating surfaces, faulty design and installation of
firing equipments, overloading of plants, insufficient air supply, improper draught, air
leakages from the brickwork and other openings and inadequate size of stack. With
modern plant and skilled operators it can be avoided considerably.
The colour of smoke is measured by comparing it with a Ringlemann chart.
2.2 Ash particles or Particulates:
In pulverised coal firing 85% ash appear as fly ash and in others it is 25%. The term fly
ash is used when fine ash and slag particles are carried over to the exit end of the plant.
Cleaning and washing coal is considered as one of the means to reduce pollution.
Flyash from the combustion process is collected using one of four major technologies:
a. electrostatic precipitator (ESP),
b. fabric filters (or baghouse),
c. mechanical collectors and
d. wet scrubbers.
With todays removal requirements in excess of 99.9%, modern ESPs and fabric filters
dominate fly ash collection. Mechanical collectors are still used for specialty applications
as a preliminary collection device, especially where fly ash recycle is part of the
combustion process, but they are almost always followed by an ESP or fabric filter for
final particulate control. Wet scrubbers are no longer used for primary particulate
collection because of their high energy requirements for the desired removal efficiencies.
In addition to efficient grit collection the use of high stacks distributes the residual ash
over a wide area. The dust can travel over a distance of 70 miles in a light wind from a
300 ft. stack.
2.3 Oxides of Sulphur:
Sulphur in the fuel burns off to liberate SO 2 which forms SO3 in the final stage of flame
burning when there is an exigency of atomic oxygen. SO 3 is also produced from SO 2 on
the surface of the superheater deposits that act as a catalyst at elevated temperatures. SO 3
reacts with the atmospheric moisture to form an aerosol of sulphuric acid which rains
down as acid rain.
Historically, SOx pollution has been controlled by either dispersion or reduction.
Dispersion involves the utilization of a tall stack, which enables the release of pollutants
high above the ground and over any surrounding buildings, mountains, or hills, in order
to limit ground level SOx emissions. Today, dispersion alone is not enough to meet more
stringent SOx emission requirements; reduction methods must also be employed.

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Methods of SOx reduction include switching to low sulfur fuel, desulphurizing the fuel,
and utilizing a flue gas desulphurization (FGD) system. Fuel desulphurization, which
primarily applies to coal, involves removing sulfur from the fuel prior to burning. Flue
gas desulphurization involves the utilization of scrubbers to remove SOx emissions from
the flue gases.
Flue gas desulphurization systems are classified as either non-regenerable or regenerable.
Non-regenerable FGD systems, the most common type, result in a waste product that
requires proper disposal. Regenerable FGD converts the waste by-product into a
marketable product, such as sulfur or sulfuric acid. SOx emission reductions of 90-95%
can be achieved through FGD. Fuel desulphurization and FGD are primarily used for
reducing SOx emissions for large utility boilers. Generally the technology cannot be cost
justified on industrial boilers.
For users of industrial boilers, utilizing low sulfur fuels is the most cost effective method
of SOx reduction. Because SOx emissions primarily depend on the sulfur content of the
fuel, burning fuels containing a minimal amount of sulfur (distillate oil) can achieve SOx
reductions, without the need to install and maintain expensive equipment.
2.4 Acidic smuts from oil fired boilers
The burning of high sulphur content fuel oil can give appreciable quantities of sulphuric
acid which together wilt particles of unburnt carbon can cause acidic soot to fall in an
area of about 1 mile radius. These smuts are very destructive to car finishes, clothing,
etc., although the total quantity is very low compared with coal burning.
Improved boiler operating technique and the use of chemical additives to limit sulphuric
acid formation has reduced the extent of the problem.
2.5 Oxides of nitrogen (NOX):
Oxides of nitrogen are produced by combustion of fuels. Nitrogen dioxide is a highly
dangerous air pollutant. NO + NO2 are produced in the high-temperature zones of the
flame. NOX may undergo a photochemical reaction with the hydrocarbons in the
atmosphere in the presence of sunlight to release some toxic substances in the air.
The concentration of NOX in combustion gases largely depends on the combustion
technique in the furnace. Since the bulk of NO X produced in the combustion process
comes from chemical reaction between aerial nitrogen and oxygen in the high
temperature combustion zone (above 1600oC), the chief means of limiting NOX
generation is to lower the temperature in the combustion zone.
2.5.1 NOx control technologies:
NOx controls can be classified into two types: post combustion methods and combustion
control techniques. Post combustion methods address NOx emissions after formation
while combustion control techniques prevent the formation of NOx during the
combustion process. Post combustion methods tend to be more expensive than
combustion control techniques and generally are not used on boilers with inputs of less
than 100 MMBtu/hr. Following is a list of different NOx control methods.
Post combustion control methods include:
Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction
Selective Catalytic Reduction

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Combustion control techniques include:
Low Excess Air Firing
Low Nitrogen Fuel Oil
Burner Modifications
Water/Steam Injection
Flue Gas Recirculation

Each method results in a different degree of NOx control. For example, when firing
natural gas, low excess air firing typically reduces NOx by 10%, flue gas recirculation by
75%, and selective catalytic reduction by 90%
2.5.1.1 Post combustion control methods:
Selective Non-catalytic Reduction
Selective non-catalytic reduction involves the injection of a NOx reducing agent, such as
ammonia or urea, into the boiler exhaust gases at a temperature of approximately 1400-
1600 F. The ammonia or urea breaks down the NOx in the exhaust gases into water and
atmospheric nitrogen. Selective non-catalytic reduction reduces NOx up to 70%.
However, the technology is extremely difficult to apply to industrial boilers that modulate
or cycle frequently. This is because the ammonia (or urea) must be injected in the flue
gases at a specific flue gas temperature. And, in industrial boilers that modulate or cycle
frequently, the location of the exhaust gases at the specified temperature is constantly
changing. Thus, it is not feasible to apply selective non-catalytic reduction to industrial
boilers that have high turndown capabilities and modulate or cycle frequently.
Selective Catalytic Reduction
Selective catalytic reduction involves the injection of ammonia in the boiler exhaust
gases in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst allows the ammonia to reduce NOx levels
at lower exhaust temperatures than selective non-catalytic reduction. Unlike selective
non-catalytic reduction, where the exhaust gases must be approximately 1400-1600 F,
selective catalytic reduction can be utilized where exhaust gasses are between 500 F and
1200 F, depending on the catalyst used. Selective catalytic reduction can result in NOx
reductions up to 90%. However, it is costly to use and can rarely be cost justified on
boilers with inputs less than 100 MMBtu/hr.
2.5.1.2 Choosing the best NOx technology for the job:
What effect does NOx control technology ultimately have on a boiler's performance?
Certain NOx controls can worsen boiler performance while other controls can
appreciably improve performance. Aspects of the boiler performance that could be
affected include turndown, capacity, efficiency, excess air, and CO emissions.
Failure to take into account all of the boiler operating parameters can lead to increased
operating and maintenance costs, loss of efficiency, elevated CO levels, and shortening of
the boiler's life.
The following section discusses each of the operating parameters of a boiler and how
they are related to NOx control technologies.
Turndown:
Choosing a low NOx technology that sacrifices turndown can have many adverse effects
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on the boiler. When selecting NOx controls, the boiler should have a turndown capability
of at least 4:1 or more, in order to reduce operating costs and the number of on/off cycles.
A boiler utilizing a standard burner with a 4:1 turndown can cycle as frequently as 12
times per hour or 288 times a day because the boiler must begin to cycle at inputs below
25% capacity.
With each cycle, pre- and post-purge air flow removes heat from the boiler and sends it
out the stack. The energy loss can be reduced by using a high turndown burner (10:1),
which keeps the boiler on even at low firing rates.
Every time the boiler cycles off, before it comes back on, it must go through a specific
start-up sequence for safety assurance. It takes between one to two minutes to get the
boiler back on line. If there is a sudden load demand, the response cannot be accelerated.
Keeping the boiler on line assures a quick response to load changes.
Frequent cycling also deteriorates the boiler components. The need for maintenance
increases, the chance of component failure increases, and boiler downtime increases. So,
when selecting NOx control, always consider the burners turndown capability.
Capacity:
When selecting the best NOx control, capacity and turndown should be considered
together because some NOx control technologies require boiler derating in order to
achieve guaranteed NOx reductions. For example, flame shaping (primarily enlarging the
flame to produce a lower flame temperature - thus lower NOx levels) can require boiler
derating, because the shaped flame could impinge on the furnace walls at higher firing
rates.
However, the boiler's capacity requirement is typically determined by the maximum load
in the steam/hot water system. Therefore, the boiler may be oversized for the typical load
conditions that may occur. If the boiler is oversized, its ability to handle minimum loads
without cycling is limited. Therefore, when selecting the most appropriate NOx control,
capacity and turndown should be considered together for proper boiler selection and to
meet overall system load requirements.
Efficiency:
Some low NOx controls reduce emissions by lowering flame temperature, particularly in
boilers with inputs less than 100 MMBtu/hr. Reducing the flame temperature decreases
the radiant heat transfer from the flame and could lower boiler efficiency. The efficiency
loss due to the lower flame temperatures can be partially offset by utilizing external
components, such as an economizer. Or, the offset technique can be inherent in the NOx
design.
One technology that offsets the efficiency loss due to lower flame temperatures in a
firetube boiler is flue gas recirculation. Although the loss of radiant heat transfer could
result in an efficiency loss, the recirculated flue gases increase the mass flow through the
boiler - thus the convective heat transfer in the tube passes increases. The increase in
convective heat transfer compensates for losses in radiant heat transfer, with no net
efficiency loss. When considering NOx control technology, remember, it is not necessary
to sacrifice efficiency for NOx reductions. Excess Air A boiler's excess air supply
provides for safe operation above stoichiometric conditions. A typical burner is usually
set up with 10-20% excess air (2-4% O2). NOx controls that require higher excess air
levels can result in fuel being used to heat the air rather than transferring it to usable

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energy. Thus, increased stack losses and reduced boiler efficiency occur. NOx controls
that require reduced excess air levels can result in an oxygen deficient flame and
increased levels of carbon monoxide or unburned hydrocarbons. It is best to select a NOx
control technology that has little effect on excess air.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emissions:
High flame temperatures and intimate air/fuel mixing are essential for low CO emissions.
Some NOx control technologies used on industrial and commercial boilers reduce NOx
levels by lowering flame temperatures by modifying air/fuel mixing patterns. The lower
flame temperature and decreased mixing intensity can result in higher CO levels.
An induced flue gas recirculation package can lower NOx levels by reducing flame
temperature without increasing CO levels. CO levels remain constant or are lowered
because the flue gas is introduced into the flame in early stages of combustion and the air
fuel mixing is intensified. Intensified mixing offsets the decrease in flame temperature
and results in CO levels that are lower than achieved without FGR. But, the level of CO
depends on the burner design. Not all flue gas recirculation applications result in lower
CO levels.
Total Performance:
Selecting the best low NOx control package should be made with total boiler
performance in mind. Consider the application. Investigate all of the characteristics of the
control technology and the effects of the technology on the boiler's performance. A NOx
control technology that results in the greatest NOx reduction is not necessarily the best
for the application or the best for high turndown, adequate capacity, high efficiency,
sufficient excess air, or lower CO. The newer low NOx technologies provide NOx
reductions without affecting total boiler performance.
2.6 Carbon monoxide:
Carbon monoxide is a pollutant that is readily absorbed in the body and can impair the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the hemoglobin. Impairment of the body's hemoglobin
results in less oxygen to the brain, heart, and tissues. Even short-term over exposure to
carbon monoxide can be critical, or fatal, to people with heart and lung diseases. It may
also cause headaches and dizziness in healthy people.
During combustion, carbon in the fuel oxidizes through a series of reactions to form
carbon dioxide (CO2). However, 100 percent conversion of carbon to CO2 is rarely
achieved in practice and some carbon only oxidizes to the intermediate step, carbon
monoxide.
Older boilers generally have higher levels of CO than new equipment because CO has
only recently become a concern and older burners were not designed to achieve low CO
levels. In today's equipment, high levels of carbon monoxide emissions primarily result
from incomplete combustion due to poor burner design or firing conditions (for example,
an improper air-to-fuel ratio) or possibly a leaky furnace. Through proper burner
maintenance, inspections, operation, or by upgrading equipment or utilizing an oxygen
control package, the formation of carbon monoxide can be controlled at an acceptable
level.
3. Water pollution:

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Large boilers in thermal power station and of process industries contribute to water
pollution by way of discharging into the water basin the:
a. boiler blowdown
b. SO2-scrubber waste
c. Cooling waters that mainly causes thermal pollution
d. Waste waters from waste treatment plants and demineralising units
e. Waste waters contaminated with petroleum products
f. Waste waters from hydraulic ash-disposal system.
These discharged waste waters carry a rich load of harmful impurities, viz heavier metal
cations, organic substances and coarse-dispersed solids besides dissolved salts. The toxic
substances added to the water basin from boiler plants may adversely affect the
hydrobionts-all living organisms inhabiting the water basin. At higher concentrations they
will simply perish while at lower concentrations they may suffer from reduced
metabolism and growth rate, abnormal change in mutagenesis and reproductive capacity.
The load of impurities discharged into water basins can be decreased in two ways:
1. by purifying the waste waters
2. by reducing the quantitative discharge of impurities from particular technological
process.
3.1 Boiler blowdown: This waste stream results from periodic purging of the impurities that
become concentrated in steam boiler systems. These pollutants include metals such as
copper, iron and nickel, as well as chemicals added to prevent scaling and corrosion of
steam generator components.
3.2 Thermal pollution: The heat released by cooling water (open-circuit) from the turbine
condensers of super thermal power stations is enormous. This creates a high zone of
elevated temperature in the water basin, reduces its dissolved oxygen thereby impairs the
growth and development of aquatic life. The zone of elevated temperature in a water
basin can be reduced by allowing the inflow of hot discharge water into the basin
through:
a. open type spillways with
i. transverse and side weir bulkheads
ii. distributing grill
b. submerged jet-type spillways
3.3 Waste waters from water treatment plants and DM units: Waste water of water
treatment plants (WTP) contains slime, coarse dispersed solid, organic substances,
magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and salts of iron and aluminum. The
composition and concentration of various impurities in waste water depends on the
quality of raw water and the methods adopted for water treatment. In DM-unit,
regeneration of H-cation exchanger and OH-anion exchanger is done by using H2SO4 and
NAOH solutions and as a consequence, the disposed waste becomes respectively acidic
and alkaline in nature.

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Purification: The waste water of WTP and discharge from DM-unit may be disposed as
follows:
a. transferring the waste water into the hydraulic ash handling system of coal
fired boiler units
b. neutralizing the waste water (pH>9) of WTP with acid wastes of the DM-unit.
c. Subjecting the waste to slime separation, i.e. slime dewatering in drum type
vacuum filters and recycling the clarified water for washing of mechanical
filters.
Reducing waste water discharge of WTP and DM-units: The amount of impurities
discharged into the water basin by waste waters from the WTP and DM-unit can be
diminished by adopting techniques that will minimise the use of reagents and water for
water treatment and regeneration purposes.
The quantity of water used for regeneration of mechanical filters can be drastically cut
down by increasing the filtering capacity of mechanical filters. By using expanded clay
instead of quartz sand in mechanical filters it is possible to use less water for regeneration
by a factor 2.5-3.5.
The flowrate of wastes from the DM-unit can be effectively reduced by adopting the
process of:
a. continuous ion exchange
b. stepwise counter-current ion-exchange
c. thermal regeneration (instead of chemical regeneration) of ion exchanges.
The colloidal impurities of waste water can be precipitated down by electrocoagulator
using either Fe or Al anodes.
Stripping waste water of its dissolved salts can be effectively accomplished by a physical
process known as reverse osmosis. In this process, the waste water with dissolved salts is
forced through a semi-permeable membrane at a pressure, exceeding the osmotic pressure
of the solution. The membrane allows only water and a small fraction of salts as ions to
pass with the effect that the filtrate contains an appreciably smaller quantum of dissolved
impurities. Reverse osmosis technique has drastically cut down the consumption of
reagents used for water treatment with the effect that the concentration of impurities in
discharged waste waters sharply declines.
The line up of reverse osmosis plant upstream of DM-units can slash down the discharge
of salt solution by 50% and the cost of desalted water by 25%.
Desalination of waste waters can be successfully carried out by another technique known
as electrodialysis. The apparatus consists of an assembly of parallel cation and anion
exchange membranes flanked by a stainless steel cathode and platinum coated steel
anode. Electrodialysis substantially reduces the use of reagents for the waste water
treatment and consequently the amount of salt discharged to waste waters is also
diminished.
3.4 Waste waters contaminated with petroleum products: The petroleum products like
lube oils, fuel oils, kerosene. etc. find their way to the water basin in an emulsified,
colloidal or dissolved state. They are particularly dangerous for water basins. The

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maximum allowable concentration of petroleum products in the water basin is 0.5 mg/kg
of water. They form films on the water surface, inhibit the natural aeration of water and
thereby inflict serious harm to aquatic life.
Purification: The oil contaminated waste water is charged to oil traps that separate out
efficiently the course oil particles of size 80-100 m or more. The clarified water is then
fed into the flotator where finer oil particles are separated from water at a high rate under
pressure flotation. The purified water is then filtered through a mechanical filter. The
former consists of double layer packing of quartz sand and anthracite. The carbon filter
consists of bed of activated carbon to adsorb oily suspensions. The final effluent water of
this plant is 95% free from oil.
3.5 Waste water of hydraulic ash disposal system: In a hydraulic ash disposal system
water is allowed to act upon the ash, a part of which dissolves and the rest forms a pulp
(suspension) which is pumped to ash settling ponds where the course impurities settle
down and the clarified water can either be discharged directly into a water basin or
recycled for reuse.
The composition and concentration of impurities transferred from ash to water depends
largely upon the chemical composition of ash which may vary appreciably.
SiO3: 10-70%; Al2O3: 10-40%; Fe2O3: 2-30%; CaO: 2-70%; MgO: 0-10%;
K2O + Na2O: 0-10%.
It may also contain traces amount of compounds of vanadium, germanium, arsenic,
mercury, beryllium and fluorine.
Decontamination of ash disposal water: The high flowrate and high concentration of
impurities in the waste water of a hydraulic ash disposal system prevent purification of
the entire bulk of the ash disposal system. What can be achieved is decontamination of
toxic impurities to a safe level and the principal processes involved are as follows:
1. Precipitation as well as co-precipitation of impurities
2. Sorption of impurities
3. Oxidation reduction followed by precipitation.
Removal of impurities by forming sparingly soluble precipitates or by adsorption on the
surface of the solid phase separated in the water mass during the course of the chemical
treatment of ash disposal water is the most popular one
3.6 Zero liquid discharge:
Utilities are looking for waste water treatment techniques to retrieve almost entire gamut
of their effluents as a high quality distillate for reuse and to convert the contaminants of
waste steam into manageable solid wastes for disposal. The most popular among these
techniques is the ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE (ZLD) system that can recover 90-99%
of the waste water as a high quality distillate suitable for reuse in the boiler makeup or
the cooling tower while simultaneously producing a clean salt for byproduct sale with
only a minor volume of contaminants.

4.0 Pollution Control Acts In India

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Environmental Laws

1. The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

2. The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
3. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
4. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;

I. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:

The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 provides for the prevention
and control of water pollution and the maintaining or re-storing of wholesomeness of
water. Under the scheme of the Act, the relevant provisions, casting obligations on
persons may be referred under sections - 24, 25/26 and 31 of the Act.
Section - 24, prohibits on the use of stream or well for the disposal of polluting matters,
which is in excess of the standards laid down by the Board. In other words, people are
under obligation to observe the standards laid down by the Board, in the matter of use of
stream or well by way of disposal of the polluting matters, determined in accordance with
the Board's Standard.
Section - 25/26, restricts establishment or use of new or existing outlets or discharge
without prior consent from the Board. In other words, person are under obligation to
apply for consent, before they are taking steps to establish any industry or are bringing
into use any new outlet or are continuing with the existing Outlet for the discharge of
sewage or trade effluent.
Section - 31, cast obligation on any industry, operation or process to furnish information
to the Sate Board, including other agencies, about accidental discharge of any poisonous
matter into a stream or well or sewer on land. Failure to carry out the aforesaid
obligations attracts penal provisions under sections 43, 44 and 42 respectively.

II. The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977:

The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 provides for the levy and
collection of Cess on water consumed by persons carrying on specified industry and by
local authorities, with a view to augmenting the resource of Central and State Board's for
the prevention and Control of water pollution, constituted under the Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The relevant provisions casting obligation under this
Act may be referred under sections 3,4 and 5.
Section - 3 casts liability on every person carrying on any specified industry under
Schedule I of the Act, and also on every authority to pay a Cess for the purpose of the
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and utilization of water there
under.
Section - 4, requires every person carrying on any specified industry and every local
authority to affix meters of prescribed standard, so as to measure the quantity of water
consumed by them.
Section - 5, requires the said persons to furnish returns in the prescribed format, showing
the quantity of water consumed in the previous month.

Failure to carry out the obligations and liability, as aforesaid, attracts the penal provision
under section 14 of the Act.

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III. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1981:

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 provides for the prevention,
control and abatement of air pollution.
The liability/obligations imposed on the concerned persons under the scheme of this Act
may be referred under the provisions of sections 21,22 and 23.
Section - 21, similar to the provision under section 25/26 of the Water Act, 1974, puts
obligation by way of restriction on any person on the establishment or operation of any
industrial plant in an air pollution control area, without obtaining prior consent from the
concerned Board.
Section - 22 is also comparable to section 24 of the Water Act, 1974. It requires any
person carrying on any industrial plant to allow discharge or emission only within the
prescribed standard.
Section - 23 is also comparable to section 31 of the Water Act, 1974, where under any
person, carrying on an industrial plant, shall furnish information to the State Board or
other agencies, in case due to any accident or other unforeseen act or event emission has
occurred in excess of the standards laid down by the Board.
In the event of failure to carry out ones obligations or liabilities, as aforesaid, penal
provision under Section - 37 of the Act is attracted.
IV. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
It provides for the protection and improvement of environment and the matters connected
therewith. This legislative piece was brought into existence by the Parliament, as
Umbrella Act, which intended to cover all the specific and general provisions left by the
earlier enactments.
The instant Act, being broader in approach, has broader catch also in creating liabilities
and obligations on the Nation. The obligations created under this Act may be broadly
referred under sections 7,8,and 9.
Section - 7 puts obligation on every person carrying on any industry or operation to allow
emission or discharge only within the standards prescribed by the Central Government.
Section - 8 requires any person handling hazardous substance to handle them in
accordance with such procedure and safe - guards as has been prescribed by the Central
Government by the following Rules . These Rules, further break obligations and
liabilities on certain persons to carry out, as discussed below separately :-

(A.) The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989:

These rules apply to hazardous wastes, as specified in its Schedule but shall not apply to
discharge or emissions covered under the the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981; shall
not apply to wastes arising out of the operation from ships, beyond 5 Kilometers in the
sea; and shall also not apply to Radio-Active Wastes covered under the Atomic Energy
Act, 1962.
These rule create liability on all such persons, who are handling or causing to be handled
hazardous wastes specified in its schedule.
Rule - 4 creates responsibilities on the occupiers, who generate hazardous waste listed in
column - II of the schedule in quantities equal to or exceeding the limit given in column -
III of the said Schedule, to take all proper steps during handling and disposal of such
waste without creating any adverse effect.

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He is also required to give specified information by the State Board to the operator of a
facility intending to get his hazardous Waste treated.
Under Rule 5, every occupier generating hazardous wastes and having facility for
collection, treatment, storage and disposal of such wastes, is required to obtain
authorization for handling such hazardous wastes from State Pollution Control Board.
Similarly, any person, who intends to or is operating a facility for the collection,
reception, treatment, transport, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, shall have to
obtain authorization from the State Board.
Under Rule 10, the occupier or the operator of a facility shall be under obligation to
report immediately to the state Board about any accident occurring at the facility or on a
hazardous wastes site.

Water Pollution:

THERMAL POWER PLANTS

Maximum limiting concentration milligram per
Parameters liter
(Except for pH and temperature)
1. CONDENSER COOLING WATERS ( ONCE THROUGH COOLING
SYSTEM )
pH 6.5 to 8.5

Not more than 50 C higher than the intake water

Temperature
temperature.

Free available chlorine 0.5

II. BOILER
BLOWDOWNS
Suspended Solids 100
Oil & Grease 10
Copper ( total ) 1.0
Iron ( total ) 1.0
III. COOLING TOWER
BLOW DOWN
Free available chlorine 0.5
Zinc 1.0
Chromium ( Total ) 0.2
Phosphate 5.0
IV. ASH POND
EFFLUENT
PH 6.5 - 8.5
Suspended Solids 100

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TUTORIAL FOR SECOND CLASS BOILER ENGINEERS PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
DLP/BOE-II/ 1- 01092001
Oil and grease 20

Standards prescribed for emissions of Air Pollutants under Air

(Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

1. (a) STACK EMISSION STANDARDS FOR BOILER PLANTS

Steam Required particular matter
Generating
Capacity A B
Area upto 5 Km from the periphery of other than "A"
class I and class II Town
less than 2 800 mg/NM3 1200 mg/NM3
ton/ht
2 ton to 10 500 mg/NM3 1000 mg/NM3
ton/hr
above 15 150 mg/NM3 150 mg/NM3
ton/hr
All emissions normalized to 12% carbon dioxide
(1)) STANDARDS FOR STACK HEIGHT FOR BOILER PLANTS
Steam Generating Capacity Stack Heights
1 More than 2 ton/hr. 9 meters or 2.5 times the height of
neighboring building whichever is more

2.more than 2 ton/hr to5 ton/hr. 12 meters

3.more than 5 ton/hr to10 ton/hr. 15 meters
4.more than 10 ton/hr to15 ton/hr. 18 meters
5.more than 15 ton/hr to 20 ton/hr. 21meters
6.more than 20 ton/hr to 25 ton/hr. 24 meters
7.more than 25 ton/hr to 30 ton/hr. 27 meters
8.more than 30 ton/hr 30 meters or using the formula H = 14
(Q)0.3
where Q So2 emission in kg/hr.
For higher KVA rating, stack height H (in meter ) shall be worked out according
to the formula H=h+0.2 Where h=height of the building in meters where the
generator set is installed. For the industries which install the facilities for removal
of particulate or gaseous emissions to adhere to the limits pre- scribed, the stack
height can be relaxed as under: b) H= 14 (Q)0.3 where Qg is the gaseous
emissions in kg/hr. c) H=74 (Qp is the quantity of particular matter in tonnes /hr
minimum stack height in all cases shall be 9 meters or as calculated from
relevant formula whichever is more.
2. STACK EMISSION STANDARD FOR FURNACES

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 INDIABOILER DOT COM
TUTORIAL FOR SECOND CLASS BOILER ENGINEERS PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
DLP/BOE-II/ 1- 01092001
1) cupola Furnace Capacity of the furnace
Particular matter i) Less than 3 tonnes /hr=450 mg/NM3
ii) 3 tons /hr and above = 150 mg/NM3
2) Are Furnace
Particular matter All sizes = 150 mg/NM3
3) Induction Furnace
Particular matter All sizes = 150 mg/NM3
4) Reheating (Reverberatory
Furnace
Particular matter All sizes = 150 mg/NM3

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TUTORIAL FOR SECOND CLASS BOILER ENGINEERS PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
DLP/BOE-II/ 1- 01092001

3. EMISSION STANDARDS FOR THERMAL POWER PLANT

A) STANDARDS FOR PARTICULAR MATTER EMISSIONS
i) Less than 210 150 mg/NM3 350mg/NM3
MW
ii)210 MW & 150 mg/NM3 350mg/NM3
above
B) STANDARDS FOR SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS
i) So2 when emitted shall not exceed
600 ng/i
of energy produced
ii) Control through stack Height
Boiler size Stack Height
Less than 210 MW H=14 (Q)0.3
210 MW to less than 500 MW 220 meters
500 MW and more 275 meters
Where Q = SO2 , emission in kg/hr.
H = Stack height in meters.

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TUTORIAL FOR SECOND CLASS BOILER ENGINEERS PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
DLP/BOE-II/ 1- 01092001

Examples from Examination

Q.1 What are the elements in flue gases which pollute the atmosphere? How they can be
controlled?

Q.2 What are the measures for controlling the air pollution? (8.8.1989)

Q.3 Enumerate objectionable ingredients in flue gases with respect to air pollution control.
(11.10.95)

Q.4 What causes heavy black smoke when fuel oil is burnt? (9.2.1988)

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