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Air pollution dispersion model

Air quality dispersion model
Air quality models are used to predict ground level concentrations down point of
sources. The object of a model is to relate mathematically the effects of source
emissions on ground level concentrations, and to establish that permissible levels
are, or are not, being exceeded. Models have been developed to meet these
objectives for a variety of pollutants and time circumstances.
Models may be described according to the chemical reactions involved. So-called
nonreactive models are applied to pollutants such as CO and SO2 because of the
simple manner in which their chemical reactions can be represented. Reactive
models address complex multiple-species chemical mechanism common to
atmospheric photochemistry and apply to pollutants such as NO, NO2, and O3.
Models can be described as simple or advanced based on the assumptions used and
the degree of sophisticated with which the important variables are treated.
Advanced models have been developed for such problems as photochemical
pollution, dispersion in complex terrain, long-range transport, and point sources
over flat terrain. The most widely used models for predicting the impact of relative
unreactive gases, such as SO2, released from smokestacks are based on Gaussian
diffusion.
In Gaussian models, the spread of a plume in vertical horizontal directions is
assumed to occur by simple diffusion along the direction of the mean wind. The
maximum ground level concentration is calculated by means of the following
Equation.

Table 1 : Key to stability classes

Wind speed 10m
Day
Night
(m/sec)
Incoming solar radiation
Thinly Overcast
Strong Moderate Slight
>4/8 Cloud <3/8Cloud
<2
A
A-B
B
E
F
2-3
A-B
B
C
D
E
3-5
B
B-C
C
D
D
<6
C
D
D
D
D
ground level concentration at some distance x
Where Cx
=
downwind (g/m3)

Q
u
H

=
=
=

y
e

=
=

average emission rate (g/sec)

mean wind speed (m/sec)
effective stack height (m)
standard deviation of wind direction in the
horizontal (m)
standard deviation of wind direction in the vertical
(m)
off-centerline distance (m)
natural log equal to 2.71828

The parameters y and z describe horizontal and vertical dispersion characteristics

of a plume at various distances downwind of a source as function of different
atmospheric stability conditions. Values are determined from the graphs found n
the figure.
The effective stack height H is equal to the physical stack height (h) plus the height
of the plume (plume rises, h) determined from where the plume bends over.
Plume rises must be calculated from model equations before the effective stack
height can be calculated.
For purposes of illustration, let us determine the ground level concentration (Cx) at
some downwind distance (x). For the following conditions let us calculate the
ground level concentrations at 10 km directly downwind.
A power plant burning 9 tons of 2.5% sulfur coal/hr emits SO2 at a rate of 113
g/sec. The effective stack height is 100 m, and the wind speed is 3 m/sec. It is 1
hour before sunrise, and the sky is clear. Since the off centerline distance (Y) in
this case is equal to O, the following equation reduces to:

From table 1, the atmospheric stability classes for the condition described is F. It
represent a nighttime condition with <37.5% cloud cover. The horizontal
dispersion coefficient y for a downtime distance of 5 km for atmospheric stability
class F is approximately 90 m (figure 1); the vertical dispersion coefficient z is
approximately 20 m (figure 2)

Therefore :

The ground level concentration of SO2 from this source would be approximately 44
g/m3 under the conditions given.
Although the use of air quality models is the subject of considerable controversy,
there's a general agreement that there a few alternatives to the use of models,
particulately to make decisions on an action which is know in advance to pose
potential environmental problem. The debate arises as to which models should be
used, and the interpretation of models results. The underlying question such in
debates is how well, or how accurately, does the model predict concentrations
under the specific circumstances, since model accuracy may vary from 30% to a
factor of 2 or more? If a model is conservative , i.e., it over-predicts ground level
concentrations, a source may be required to install costly control equipment
unnecessarily. Less conservative models may under-predict concentrations and
thus violations of air quality standards may occur. The uncertainty associated with
input variables, such as wind data, and source emission data. Such data are usually
estimated and not well documented.

Source: Air Quality 2nd edition, Thad Goddish

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Plume Types

http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IITDelhi/Environmental%20Air%20Pollution/air%20pollution%20%28Civil%29/Module-4/1.htm

MODULE IV

Learning Objectives
To make the student aware of dispersion phenomenon of air pollutants covering diffusion and
advection, meteorological components, stability of atmosphere and corresponding plume
shapes.

THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS - A Philosophical Perspective

Transport and diffusion from source to receptor

Air Pollutant Cycle

Dispersion

General mean air motion

Turbulent velocity fluctuationsTurbulent velocity fluctuations
Diffusion due to concentration gradients from plumes
Aerodynamic characteristics of pollution
Particles

- Size
- Shape
- Weight

Not always completely understood

Two types:
Atmospheric heating

- Causes natural convection currents --- discussed

- Thermal eddies

Mechanical turbulence

- Results from shear wind effects

- Result from air movement over the earths surface, influenced by location of
buildings and relative roughness of terrain.

Lapse Rate

Important characteristic of atmosphere is ability to resist vertical motion: stability

Affects ability to disperse pollutants
When small volume of air is displaced upward
- Encounters lower pressure
- Expands to lower temperature
- Assume no heat transfers to surrounding atmosphere
- Called adiabatic expansion

Adiabatic Expansion

To determine the change in temp. w/ elevation due to adiabatic expansion

.
- Atmosphere considered a stationary column of air in a gravitational field
- Gas is a dry ideal gas
- Ignoring friction and inertial effects
( dT/dz)adiabatic perfect gas = - (g M/ Cp)

T = temperature
z = vertical distance
g = acceleration due to gravity
M = molecular weight of air
Cp = heat capacity of the gas at constant pressure

Adiabatic Expansion
( dT/dz)adiabatic perfect gas = -0.0098C/m or
( dT/dz)adiabatic perfect gas = -5.4F/ft
Change in Temp. with change in height

Lapse rate

Lapse rate is the negative of temperature gradient

Dry adiabatic lapse rate =

Metric:
Metric:
G = - 1C/100m or
SI:
G = - 5.4F/1000ft

Important is ability to resist vertical motion: stability.

Comparison of G to actual environment lapse rate indicates stability of atmosphere.
Degree of stability is a measure of the ability of the atmosphere to disperse pollutants.

Atmospheric Stability

Affects dispersion of pollutants

Temperature/elevation relationship principal determinant of atmospheric stability
Stable
- Little vertical mixing
- Pollutants emitted near surface tend to stay there
- Environmental lapse rate is same as the dry adiabatic lapse rate
4 common scenarios

Stability Classes

Developed for use in dispersion models

Developed for use in dispersion models
Stability classified into 6 classes (A F)
A: strongly unstable
B: moderately unstable
C: slightly unstable
D: neutral
E: slightly stable
F: moderately stable

Vertical Temperature Profiles

Environmental lapse rate (ELR)

Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)
If,

ELR > DALR =sub adiabatic

condition, atmosphere is
stable.
ELR >> DALR= Inversion
conditions. Very stable
atmosphere.
ELR= DALR= atmosphere is
neutral.
ELR< DALR = super
adiabatic condition,
atmosphere is unstable.

Shapes of plumes depends upon atmospheric

stability conditions.

Mixing Height of atmosphere

The height of the base of the inversion layer from ground surface.

MORNING AND AFTERNOON MIXING DEPTH CALCULATIONS

General Characteristics of Stack Plumes

Dispersion of pollutants
Wind carries pollution downstream from source
Atmospheric turbulence -- causes pollutants to
fluctuate from mainstream in vertical and crosswind directions
Mechanical & atmospheric heating both present at same time but in varying ratios
Affect plume dispersion differently

Plume Types

Plume types are important because they help us understand under what conditions there
will be higher concentrations of contaminants at ground level.

Looping Plume

High degree of convective turbulence

Superadiabatic lapse rate -- strong

instabilities

Associated with clear daytime

conditions accompanied by strong
solar heating & light winds

High probability of high

concentrations sporadically at ground
level close to stack.

Occurs in unstable atmospheric

conditions.

Coning Plume

Stable with small-scale turbulence

Associated with overcast moderate to

strong winds

Roughly 10 cone

Pollutants travel fairly long distances

before reaching ground level in
significant amounts

Occurs in neutral atmospheric

conditions

Fanning Plume

Occurs under large negative lapse rate

Strong inversion at a considerable

distance above the stack

Extremely stable atmosphere

Little turbulence

If plume density is similar to air,

travels downwind at approximately
same elevation

Lofting Plume

Favorable in the sense that fewer

impacts at ground level.

Pollutants go up into environment.

They are created when atmospheric

conditions are unstable above the
plume and stable below.

Fumigation

Most dangerous plume: contaminants

are all coming down to ground level.

They are created when atmospheric

conditions are stable above the plume
and unstable below.

This happens most often after the

daylight sun has warmed the
atmosphere, which turns a night time
fanning plume into fumigation for
about a half an hour.

References

USEPA, 2007. Online literature from www.epa.gov

Meteorology and Air Quality Modeling Support for Measurement Projects
http://files.harc.edu/Sites/TERC/About/Events/
Other200503/MeteorologyAndAirQuality.pdf
Rao, M.N. and Rao, H. V. N., 1993. Air Pollution, Tata Mc-Graw Hill,
New Delhi.
Murty, B. P., 2004. Environmental Meteorology, I.K. International Pvt.
Ltd., New Delhi.
Nevers, N.D. 2000. Air Pollution Control Engineering, Second Edition,
Pub., McGraw Hill, New York.
Cheremisinoff, N.P., 2002. Handbook of Air Pollution Prevention and
Control, Pub., Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier Science, USA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution_dispersion_terminology

The types of air pollutant emission sources are commonly characterized as either point, line, area
or volume sources:

Point source A point source is a single, identifiable source of air pollutant emissions
(for example, the emissions from a combustion furnace flue gas stack). Point sources are
also characterized as being either elevated or at ground-level. A point source has no
geometric dimensions.

Line sources A line source is one-dimensional source of air pollutant emissions (for
example, the emissions from the vehicular traffic on a roadway).

Area source An area source is a two-dimensional source of diffuse air pollutant

emissions (for example, the emissions from a forest fire, a landfill or the evaporated
vapors from a large spill of volatile liquid).

Volume source A volume source is a three-dimensional source of diffuse air pollutant

emissions. Essentially, it is an area source with a third (height) dimension (for example,
the fugitive gaseous emissions from piping flanges, valves and other equipment at
various heights within industrial facilities such as oil refineries and petrochemical plants).
Another example would be the emissions from an automobile paint shop with multiple
roof vents or multiple open windows.

Other air pollutant emission source characterizations are:

Sources may be characterized as either stationary or mobile. Flue gas stacks are
examples of stationary sources and busses are examples of mobile sources.

Sources may be characterized as either urban or rural because urban areas constitute a
so-called heat island and the heat rising from an urban area causes the atmosphere above
an urban area to be more turbulent than the atmosphere above a rural area.

Sources may be characterized by their elevation relative to the ground as either surface
or ground-level, near surface or elevated sources.

Sources may also be characterized by their time duration:

o puff or intermittent: short term sources (for example, many accidental emission
releases are short term puffs)
o continuous: a long term source (for example, most flue gas stack emissions are
continuous)

http://www.nptelvideos.com/video.php?id=1928
Lecture Series on Environmental Air Pollution by Prof. Mukesh Sharma , Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Kanpur. For more details on NPTEL visit nptel.iitm.ac.in - Environmental Air Pollution Video Lectures,
Environmental Air Pollution Course Videos, Civil Engineering Video Lectures, NPTEL Video Lectures, IIT
Video Lectures, NPTEL Civil Engineering Videos, IIT Civil Engineering Video Courses