Energy and the Problem of Waste Heat

Gert Slopianka of Germany gave a presentation on energy and the problem of waste heat from industry processes.  It is mainly used for heating and cooling application on site or nearby (e.g. district heating systems which involves high investment in pipelines, maintenance etc., and for which there are high losses due to long distances).  Latent heat storage offers certain advantages.    However, a new technology called “transheat” combines the advantages of district heating systems with latent heat storage without the known disadvantages.  It can be collected at power and production plants and can be shipped where it can be economically used.

Gert’s presentation can now be found on the ECCE web-site http://www.eccenet.org selecting the menu option “News” and then “Technical Briefings”

Sustainable Construction in Finland

Jyrki Kainänen of Finland presented an outline of government action.  Finland concentrates quite a lot on energy actions; 40% of primary energy is used by the CREC sector.  Industrial actions include research and development programmes by research industries, heating and ventilation associations and federations and associations such as RIL.  RIL is organising its second seminar on Integrated Lifetime Engineering of Building and Civil Infrastructures in December 2003.  Jyrki Kainänen extended an invitation to Gert Slopianka of Germany to attend the conference to present best practices in applying life-cycle management.  Web: www.ril.fi/ILCDES 2003  E-mail: Kaisa.venalainen@ril.fi

Motorways and Sustainable Development

Georges Pilot of France reminded members that motorways have been strongly criticised as they upset the landscape.  There is air and water pollution.   Now one knows how to treat run-off of water.  Sound emissions are now being handled in a better manner.  There is now considerable use of waste (slag, clinker) in road construction.  A decree (“Circulaire”) was imposed in France in 1996 on environment and landscape in roads projects.  Three main points:         

           1. to apply to all road networks (with/with-out concessions)

            2. impose sustainable development on road construction

          3. E.I.A. - quality of studies, objectivity, dialogue with the public, transparency of choices.

Motorway design: “Virtual” design permits better landscape protection.  Importance is placed on groundwater protection - river flow and flood protection, mathematical models of ground water disturbance.  The software to study noise disturbance is now working.

Companies involved in construction of motorways drew up 21 commitments for sustainable development: these included carrying out advance analysis of effects of motorways on the environment, use of performance indicators, client behaviour, toll prices, partnerships and the role and training of employees.

Georges’ presentation is published on the ECCE web-site http://www.eccenet.org -  select the menu option “News” and then “Technical Briefings”

Contribution of the material industry to sustainable development

 Ms.  Marina Romay from Oficemer, the Association of Spanish Cement Manufacturers emphasised the industry’s commitment to make growth compatible with environmental protection.  There has been considerable reduction in energy consumption in recent decades but industry can make a contribution to society by improved waste management.  There are three phases in preparation of raw material; other materials are now used in the intermediate phase to get cement.  The use of organic wastes as an alternative fuel is quite new in Spain.  In 2001 the sector recycled 3.7 mt. of mineral wastes, avoiding dumping of an amount that would fill 10 stadia.  The use of wastes and industrial by-products as secondary fuels contributes to reducing emissions. As a sectoral commitment to the Kyoto Protocol there is a reduction in global emissions.  Agreements between Government and Industry already exist in France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.

Burning of gases is carried out at nearly 2000°C since clinker burning must reach 1450°C.  Organic compounds are destroyed in the kiln.  This method is selected by some countries as the safest way of destroying PCBs and dioxins.

Following this presentation, Olvai Tupamaeki expressed his regret that amendments in European legislation on energy are not good for industry or for sustainable development.

Ms. Romay’s presentation is published on the ECCE web-site http://www.eccenet.org -  select the menu option “News” and then “Technical Briefings”

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF MINING WASTE IN NORTHERN CYPRUS

Professor Tahir Celek of the Cyprus Council of Civil Engineers gave a presentation on the damage caused by mining waste over a 20 km²  area in the northern foothills and coastal plain of the Troodos Mountains in NorthWest Cyprus some 40 miles west of Nicosia.  Copper has been mined in the Troodos Mountains and in the Lefka for Millennia.  A Cyprus Mines Corporation was formed in 1916 and production of pyretic copper ore started shortly after the end of World War I.  In the 1930s CMC started to explore gold and silver and in the late 1930s, fine pyrite concentrates were produced, derived from its copper ore tailing.  From 1962 ores were produced by open pits. 

Before 1970 mining wastes were discharged directly into the sea at Xeros, later pipes were built to carry tailing material 2km out to sea and a pyrite pond was constructed on a tributary to the Xeros River, receiving acidic water from the processing facility.  CMC abandoned the Xeros plant and all its mines in 1974.  The consequent acid drainage seriously contaminates soil, air, ground water and sea.  Snow melt and rainfall cause surface water run-off.  Sulphate minerals react with oxygen and water to produce iron and copper metallic ions, sulphate ions and hydrogen ions.  According to the Environment Society of Lefka, 100,000 tons of toxic materials flow into the sea.   The mining damage from the area is considered a threat to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Lefka water storage reservoir was constructed without consideration of the potential impact of mining waste in the vicinity and therefore became contaminated in a very short time.

At the end of his presentation Tahir Celek invited ECCE members to share their knowledge of best practice in resolving such problems.

Tahir’s fully illustrated presentation of the EU-funded study on the effects of mining waste appears on the ECCE web-site http://www.eccenet.org -   menu option “News” and then “Technical Briefings”.