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Large amounts of fly ash are produced mainly by which type of power plant or power station?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Coal Combustion Power Plant

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question is from environmental science and energy production. Fly ash is a well known industrial waste and air pollutant. It is important to know which energy technology produces large amounts of fly ash so that its environmental impacts and control methods can be understood.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Fly ash is a fine powder containing mineral matter from fuel.
  • The options list four types of power plants: hydroelectric, coal combustion, nuclear, and tidal.
  • We assume standard definitions of each plant type.


Concept / Approach:
Fly ash is formed when coal is burned in thermal power plants. The non combustible mineral content in coal becomes ash, and the fine part carried away with flue gases is called fly ash. Hydroelectric, nuclear, and tidal power plants do not burn coal and therefore do not produce fly ash in large quantities. So the correct answer will be the coal based thermal power plant.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Understand that fly ash results from incomplete or complete combustion of coal in boilers, where mineral impurities become ash particles. Step 2: Consider hydroelectric power stations. They use flowing or falling water to drive turbines and generate electricity without burning fuel, so they do not produce fly ash. Step 3: Consider coal combustion power plants, also called coal based thermal power plants. They burn large quantities of coal, and the flue gas leaving the boiler carries fine ash particles, which are the main source of fly ash. Step 4: Consider nuclear power plants. These plants use nuclear fission to generate heat and do not burn coal, so they do not emit fly ash. Step 5: Consider tidal power plants. They use the movement of tides to generate power, again without coal combustion, so no fly ash is produced. Step 6: Therefore, coal combustion power plants are the major source of fly ash.


Verification / Alternative check:
Environmental reports and discussions on air pollution often mention coal based power plants as leading sources of fly ash emissions. They also describe electrostatic precipitators and other devices used in these plants to capture fly ash before gases are released from the chimney. This consistent association confirms that coal combustion power plants are the correct answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Hydroelectric Power Station is wrong because electricity there is generated from water flow, not coal burning.
  • Nuclear Power Plant is wrong because its primary fuel is uranium or similar materials, not coal, so it does not create fly ash.
  • Tidal Power Plant is wrong because it harnesses tidal energy and does not involve combustion of solid fuels.


Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse different pollutants and assume that all large power plants produce similar wastes. It is important to connect specific pollutants with the processes that create them. Fly ash is directly linked to coal combustion. Remembering this link helps to quickly choose the coal based thermal power plant as the correct option.


Final Answer:
Coal Combustion Power Plant

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