Lethabo Power Station Dust Fallout Monitoring Network
Project Details:
Client: ESKOM
Discipline: Environmental and Scientific Studies
Category: Energy
Location: Vereeniging, Free State
Key project Details: Dust Monitoring of the Lethabo Powerstation, report writing and monitoring as per the issued licenses for ambient and atmospheric licenses.
Thero Services has taken on a pivotal role in South Africa's Environmental landscape through their appointment by ESKOM for Environmental services: Dust Monitoring in Lethabo Power station in the Vaal in Free State.
The Tswana word “Lethabo” was aptly chosen as the power station's name: it means “good living, happiness” and reflects the substantial contribution Eskom is making to enable South Africa to reach high standards in industrial, commercial, and social life. Lethabo Power Station is situated in the northern Free State at an altitude of 1 460 m, Lethabo lies approximately 10 km south of Vereeniging and 25 km east of Sasolburg. Construction of Lethabo Power Station started in 1980. The station comprises of six 618MW Production Units. A Production Unit consists of one boiler, a turbine, and a generator. Power is produced at 20kV and at 13.5kA and sent to a step-up transformer where the voltage is increased to 275kV for efficient transmission. The first set of Lethabo Power Station's six generating units went into commercial operation in December 1985. The last of the generating sets were commissioned in December 1990. A unique aspect of Lethabo is the unusually low grade and quality of coal that is burnt in the power generation process. Its proximity to the heart of the Vaal Triangle enables. Lethabo Power Station to feed energy into Eskom's 275 kV transmission network for distribution to its customers.
Fugitive emissions are one of the factors that contribute to climate change. Much work remains to be done for better evaluation and reduction of fugitive emissions. The available information suggests that the extraction and, to a lesser extent the processing and transportation, of fossil fuels, is the main source of fugitive emissions. Dust fallout is a major problem arising from various mining, industrial, construction and even farming activities. Dust fallout can have an impact on health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Dust fallout monitoring is a cost-effective method to measure the amount of dust being deposited on the ground and provide information to determine the effectiveness of control strategies. Dust fallout monitoring can take place over a short or long period.
Long term monitoring will give a good indication of dust fallout patterns during different seasons and operational conditions and assist management to make informed decisions to reduce dust fallout.