Ingolstadt – a clean performance

E.ON Kraftwerke consistently focuses on technologies that effectively help the environment. For wherever fossil fuel energy sources, such as heavy fuel oil, are used substances classified as air pollutants are generated. Most prominent among these are nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and dust.

We only allow out what is fit to be out

This applies to our flue gas emissions as well as to our cooling water. The water is used in the power plant for cooling before it is fed back into the Danube River. The test results are all documented in our laboratories and submitted to the appropriate authorities on a regular basis. Similar proceedings are in place with regard to the flue gases that leave our plant via the flues. Our flue gas purification measures are cost-intensive and comparable to those of a chemical plant. At our plant we do our utmost to ensure that power generation and environmental protection work together, using state-of–the-art burners and firing technology. As our highly effective flue gas purification plant proves, environmental protection ranks high on our priority list.

Furthermore, with the upgrade of the turbine control system in blocks 3 and 4 we will be reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced in our plants by 2,000 tons per year in the near future. This equals roughly the fuel consumption of 1,000 German mid-range cars. At the 2007 overhaul, apart from the upgrade of our control system, the clean gas ducts as well as the shared chimney of blocks 3 and 4 were given a special plastic coating which prevents the discharge of corrosive particles along with the flue gas.

How flue gas purification works

First of all, the actual flue gas goes through a process of denitrogenation in the DeNox by mixing the flue gases with ammonia and air and then passing them through a catalyst. This generates nitrogen oxide and steam. This is followed by the negative charging of the dust particles in the electric filter and their separation from the flue gas. The third stop is the DESOX plant where the sulfur dioxide contained in the flue gas reacts with liquidized powdered limestone and oxygen and turns into gypsum. The gypsum is then used in the construction industry as a building material.
The flue gas purification plant in Ingolstadt achieves a pollutant decrease of up to 80 percent (dust), over 80 percent (nitrogen oxides) and more than 95 percent (sulfur dioxide).