Design of Experiments of hidden resources in the tailing pond – a case study for thermal power plant in Slovakia

Abstract

Thermal energy is the second most important source in Slovakia after electricity, which represents almost 13.6 % of total energy production. In one of the Slovak thermal power plant Vojany (EVO) occurs by coal combustion as an undesirable slag ash mixture deposited on the tailing pond. By using environmentally sound technologies it is necessary to ensure adequate management of this waste, security and long-term stability of tailing pond. The aim of the paper is to formulate conclusions from the composition structure of EVO tailing pond and then its use. Authors realized as the main method the Design of Experiments, where the research was to investigate boreholes based on diagonal and cross-section. From the results obtained there was found that volume of tailing pond is 5,164,800 m3. In this volume there is 1,045,319 m3 of a low ash, which represents cca 20%, which can be repeatedly reused in coincineration with black coal. The development of combustion technology suggests that in the near future it will be possible to use the whole volume of the examined tailing pond for co-incineration, thus reclaiming of the tailing pond basin in an environmental manner.