Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP

Serbian thermal power plants (TPPs) produce siliceous fly ash from lignite in the quantity of approximately 6 million tons per year. The potential market for the use of fly ash is operational, but for the time being, only used by cement producers. Fly ash radioactivity could be one of the m...

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Main Authors: Kisić Dragica M., Miletić Saša R., Radonjić Vladimir D., Radanović Sanja B., Filipovic Jelena Z., Gržetić Ivan A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of Chemical Engineers of Serbia 2013-01-01
Series:Hemijska Industrija
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0367-598X/2013/0367-598X1200120K.pdf
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author Kisić Dragica M.
Miletić Saša R.
Radonjić Vladimir D.
Radanović Sanja B.
Filipovic Jelena Z.
Gržetić Ivan A.
author_facet Kisić Dragica M.
Miletić Saša R.
Radonjić Vladimir D.
Radanović Sanja B.
Filipovic Jelena Z.
Gržetić Ivan A.
author_sort Kisić Dragica M.
collection DOAJ
description Serbian thermal power plants (TPPs) produce siliceous fly ash from lignite in the quantity of approximately 6 million tons per year. The potential market for the use of fly ash is operational, but for the time being, only used by cement producers. Fly ash radioactivity could be one of the major points of concern when larger use of fly ash is planned, particularly in the Serbian construction industry. Radioactivity measurements have been conducted regularly for decades. This paper presents the results of a ten-year fly ash radioactivity measurements at the Nikola Tesla B TPP located in Obrenovac. In addition, the paper compares the natural radionuclides coal content data combusted by the Nikola Tesla B TPP boilers coming from the Kolubara Basin and ash created during coal combustion. Fly ash created in the Nikola Tesla TPPs boilers is characterised by the increased concentration of the natural radionuclides content compared to coal. This is the so-called technologically enhanced natural radioactivity (Technologically Enhanced Occurring Radioactive Material - TENORM) of industrial waste, whereas the average specific activities: 232Th in coal amount to 25.2 Bq/kg, and in fly ash and coal 84.2 Bq/kg and 238U 38.3 Bq/kg, respectively. Following the obtained natural radionuclides content results it may be concluded that the Nikola Tesla B TPP ash may be disposed into the environment. Ash may be used also in the construction industry (civil engineering). In building construction applications, ash share as the additive to other building materials depends from its physical and chemical characteristics, as well as from the radionuclides activity: 266Ra, 232Th and 40K. Unlike the thermal power plants regularly (once a year) testing the specific natural radionuclides activity in the combusted coal and boiler fly ash, Electric Power Industry of Serbia has not performed large-scale investigations of the natural radionuclides content in coal within the Kolubara Mining Basin. Natural radionuclides content in fly ash is compared to the combusted coal some 3 - 4 times higher and may present a limitation for applying ash in the construction industry. In view of the above, and considering the construction industry interests in using the Nikola Tesla B TPP ash, regular investigations of the natural radionuclides content in ash created in the thermal power plants should be carried out, together with the Kolubara Mining Basin coal combusted by the Nikola Tesla B TPP and other PE EPS thermal power plants. The current Kolubara Mining Basin coal characteristics investigation programme should be supplemented by the natural radionuclides content of the uranium (238U, 226Ra) and thorium series (232Th) and potassium 40 (40K).
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spelling doaj.art-4059a6e00b3540ef992d62bd4f76c9a22022-12-21T19:09:39ZengAssociation of Chemical Engineers of SerbiaHemijska Industrija0367-598X2217-74262013-01-0167572973810.2298/HEMIND121016120K0367-598X1200120KNatural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPPKisić Dragica M.0Miletić Saša R.1Radonjić Vladimir D.2Radanović Sanja B.3Filipovic Jelena Z.4Gržetić Ivan A.5Public Enterprise Electric Power Industry of Serbia, SerbiaPublic Enterprise Electric Power Industry of Serbia, SerbiaPublic Enterprise Electric Power Industry of Serbia, SerbiaKolubara Mining Basin, SerbiaVinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, BelgradeFaculty of Chemistry, BelgradeSerbian thermal power plants (TPPs) produce siliceous fly ash from lignite in the quantity of approximately 6 million tons per year. The potential market for the use of fly ash is operational, but for the time being, only used by cement producers. Fly ash radioactivity could be one of the major points of concern when larger use of fly ash is planned, particularly in the Serbian construction industry. Radioactivity measurements have been conducted regularly for decades. This paper presents the results of a ten-year fly ash radioactivity measurements at the Nikola Tesla B TPP located in Obrenovac. In addition, the paper compares the natural radionuclides coal content data combusted by the Nikola Tesla B TPP boilers coming from the Kolubara Basin and ash created during coal combustion. Fly ash created in the Nikola Tesla TPPs boilers is characterised by the increased concentration of the natural radionuclides content compared to coal. This is the so-called technologically enhanced natural radioactivity (Technologically Enhanced Occurring Radioactive Material - TENORM) of industrial waste, whereas the average specific activities: 232Th in coal amount to 25.2 Bq/kg, and in fly ash and coal 84.2 Bq/kg and 238U 38.3 Bq/kg, respectively. Following the obtained natural radionuclides content results it may be concluded that the Nikola Tesla B TPP ash may be disposed into the environment. Ash may be used also in the construction industry (civil engineering). In building construction applications, ash share as the additive to other building materials depends from its physical and chemical characteristics, as well as from the radionuclides activity: 266Ra, 232Th and 40K. Unlike the thermal power plants regularly (once a year) testing the specific natural radionuclides activity in the combusted coal and boiler fly ash, Electric Power Industry of Serbia has not performed large-scale investigations of the natural radionuclides content in coal within the Kolubara Mining Basin. Natural radionuclides content in fly ash is compared to the combusted coal some 3 - 4 times higher and may present a limitation for applying ash in the construction industry. In view of the above, and considering the construction industry interests in using the Nikola Tesla B TPP ash, regular investigations of the natural radionuclides content in ash created in the thermal power plants should be carried out, together with the Kolubara Mining Basin coal combusted by the Nikola Tesla B TPP and other PE EPS thermal power plants. The current Kolubara Mining Basin coal characteristics investigation programme should be supplemented by the natural radionuclides content of the uranium (238U, 226Ra) and thorium series (232Th) and potassium 40 (40K).http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0367-598X/2013/0367-598X1200120K.pdfSerbian power plantsfly ashradioactivity measurementsnatural radionuclides238U232Th266Raconstruction industry
spellingShingle Kisić Dragica M.
Miletić Saša R.
Radonjić Vladimir D.
Radanović Sanja B.
Filipovic Jelena Z.
Gržetić Ivan A.
Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
Hemijska Industrija
Serbian power plants
fly ash
radioactivity measurements
natural radionuclides
238U
232Th
266Ra
construction industry
title Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
title_full Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
title_fullStr Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
title_full_unstemmed Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
title_short Natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the Nikola Tesla B TPP
title_sort natural radioactivity of coal and fly ash at the nikola tesla b tpp
topic Serbian power plants
fly ash
radioactivity measurements
natural radionuclides
238U
232Th
266Ra
construction industry
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0367-598X/2013/0367-598X1200120K.pdf
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