Stationary Source Surveillance for Large Air Quality Control Regions in Nonurban Areas

Increased energy processing activity in the north has resulted in a demand for measured data on plume dispersion that is relevant to this particular region. The north was, therefore, selected for study in a comprehensive government/Industry research program. The objective of these studies was to assess the behaviour of plumes in various geographic areas In Canada. The program utilizes airborne and automobile-mounted probes to determine SO₂ and temperature profiles within stock-emitted plumes as well as meteorological data on local atmospheric structure. The data are then analyzed numerically to obtain plume axis elevations and standard deviations of spread and these results are compared to accepted predictive methods. Good agreement with the analysis of Briggs was observed for predicting the location of the plume axis In neutral conditions; some deviations were noted in stable conditions. Values of the measured product ( σay-σ;z) were generally larger than those of Pasquill, particularly for those values close to the source. A difference between the measured values of (σ;y-σ;z) in fall and winter was observed in stable conditions.     

The Behavior of Buoyant Merging Plumes in The Rocky Mountain Foothills

Natural gas often contains high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide which must be removed before the gas can be transmitted by pipeline. Sour gas plants extract the sulfur, by converting it to elemental sulfur through a modified Claus process. The sulfur recovery is 93% for small plants (10–100 tonnes of sulfur per day) to 99% for large plants (1000–4000 tonnes of sulfur per day). The unrecovered sulfur is Incinerated giving rise to relatively small emissions of SO₂ characterized by high buoyancy and low momentum.

Using a unique aerial probing methodology, plume dispersion studies were conducted on two plants located fn the foothills of southwestern Alberta, Canada. These studies were generally conducted under neutral conditions and with westerly air flows typical of Chinook conditions. Notable variations of the plume dispersion parameters from accepted predictive values were found, indicating that such values cannot be used with confidence to estimate plume rise and dispersion in the mountain foothills.     

Atmospheric Tracer Techniques and Gas Transport in the Primary Aluminum Industry

The results of 35 Individual SF₆ tracer tests conducted in Norway during 1978 demonstrate the applicability of tracer techniques to the study of a wide variety of pollutant transport problems found in the primary aluminum industry. Tracer methods were employed to determine the efficiency of the pollutant control system over a single reduction cell under a variety of operating conditions. Two tests conducted during normal operation gave efficiencies equal to 100 ±19% and 79 ± 12%, while a test performed during the occurrence of an anode effect yielded an efficiency equal to 66 ± 22%.

Tracer investigations of flow in the wake of a smelter hall indicated that between 1 % and 11 % of secondary, roof-top emissions can become entrained in the recirculation cavity and reenter the hall through the ventilation fresh air supply. These reentry rates were observed for release heights as high as 8 m above the existing roof exhaust duct. Tracer dispersion data collected within 20 building heights of the smelter agreed very well with extrapolations of McEIroy- Pooler dispersion curves for an urban area. Dispersion curves determined from a previous wind tunnel study of flow downwind of an isolated building underestimated dispersion downwind of the vs.melter complex.

The total fluoride mass flow rate measured downwind of a smelter during wet, foggy conditions indicated that wet removal rates of fluorides are in the range 3.2 × 10^?4/s to 6.4 × 10^?4/s. Simulation of the source with several tracer point releases and simultaneous measurement of fluoride and tracer ground-level concentrations downwind of the smelter eliminated the need for measurements of vertical profiles of wind speed and fluoride concentration during the experiment.     

A wind tunnel study of dense gas dispersion in a stable boundary layer over a rough surface

Measurements of the vertical entrainment velocity into two-dimensional dense gas plumes over fully rough surfaces were carried out as part of a co-operative research programme with wind tunnel facilities in the USA. This paper presents results obtained for stable boundary layer conditions in the EnFlo wind tunnel at the University of Surrey; a companion paper treats the neutral boundary layer case. Mean velocity and temperature, turbulent normal and shear tresses, temperature fluctuations and heat fluxes were measured and used to demonstrate that a moderately stable atmospheric boundary layer had been successfully simulated in the tunnel. Entrainment velocities, W_E, were then deduced from the streamwise development of the concentration field, non-dimensionalised with respect to the friction velocity in the undisturbed flow, u^*, and correlated with the plume Richardson number, Ri^*. Higher non-dimensional entrainment speeds, W_E/u^*, were observed for Ri^*>5 in the stable boundary layer than in the neutral boundary layer, the difference growing with increasing Richardson number. Emission velocity ratios, W₀/u^*, were however larger in the stable experiments, and exceeded one at about Ri^*=18. Entrainment in the stable boundary layer appeared therefore to be more sensitive to emission velocity ratio than in the neutral case. Entrainment behaviour for Ri^*⩽5 followed that found in the neutral boundary layer. In this regime, use of the neutral boundary layer entrainment speed correlation is unlikely to lead to the over-prediction of plume dilution rates in moderately stable boundary layers.     

Unsteady characteristics of the dispersion process in the vicinity of a pig barn. Wind tunnel experiments and comparison with field data

Two complementary methods, field experiments and physical modelling in a wind tunnel, have been used to investigate the dispersion of tracer-gas released from the ventilation system of a pig barn, under near-neutral stability conditions. In both cases, concentration fluctuations were measured and the deduced statistical results were compared. The choice of data processing applied to the time series of concentration was motivated by special issues in the assessment of odour annoyances: “where, how often, how long and how strong does it smell?” These features were described by the mean concentration distribution, the intermittency factor, the persistence and the 90-percentile. The good agreement between field and wind tunnel data confirmed the ability to replicate in wind tunnel the unsteady properties of a dispersion process, if the unsteady turbulent behaviour of the atmospheric boundary layer was properly modelled.A parametrical study of the influence on the dispersion process of the ratio between the exhaust velocity from the stack and the wind speed was then performed in wind tunnel. The fundamental outcome was that the near-field dispersion process under neutral stability conditions, despite the strong influence of the building wake, was for the most part driven by the meandering behaviour of the plume and not so much by the diffusion process.This study was also focused on the influence of the averaging time on the statistical results. The scatter generated by using dimensionless averaging times 200<T_a^*<400 (used during field experiments) instead of T_a^*→∞ (averaging time to ensure reproducible statistic results) was quantified in the wind tunnel. A degree of representativity of the results obtained from short-term samples, compared to fully converged statistical results was therefore assessed.     

Evaluation of the reactive and optics model of emissions (ROME)

The reactive and optics model of emissions (ROME) is a reactive plume visibility model that simulates the potential atmospheric impacts of stack emissions. We present here an evaluation of the ability of ROME to simulate several plume physical and chemical variables, using an experimental data base that consists of a total of 40 case studies from four field programs. The evaluation variables include plume height, horizontal width, NO_x and SO₂ maximum concentrations, NO₂/NO_x concentration ratio at the plume centerline, and plume-to-sky radiance ratios. Three algorithms used to simulate plume dispersion in ROME were compared: (1) the empirical Pasquill–Gifford–Turner (PGT) scheme, (2) a first-order closure (FOC) algorithm and (3) a second-order closure (SOC) algorithm that simulates the instantaneous plume dimensions.The plume height results show a correlation of 0.82 between simulated and measured values and a gross error that is 13% of the mean measured value. For plume horizontal dispersion, the second-order closure algorithm produces a moderate correlation (0.54) and a small bias (5% of the mean measured value) in comparison with the field data. Although the PGT scheme also demonstrates moderate correlation with the measurements, it produces a negative bias by significantly underestimating plume horizontal dispersion. The first-order closure algorithm overestimates plume width and shows the least correlation (with the measurements) of the three dispersion algorithms.For the NYSEG data set where coordinated measurements of stack emissions, meteorology at plume height and plume characteristics were available, the SOC algorithm provides better correlations for NO_x concentrations, NO₂/NO_x ratios and plume visibility than the FOC and PGT algorithms. For plume visibility, the SOC algorithm shows a correlation of 0.96 at 405 nm, the wavelength where the plume was visible, and it simulates no visible plume at the other wavelengths (550 and 700 nm).A comparison of ROME simulations with those of the plume visibility model PLUVUE II shows that ROME, with the SOC algorithm, performs better for all variables.     

Comparison of concentration/flux ratios measured with a backscatter Lidar and with a chemical tracer

A series of backscatter Lidar measurements were made around a bio-waste power station at Eye in Suffolk over a period of 10 days in May 1999. These measurements were supplemented with bag samples of SF₆ tracer, analysed on site using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Despite problems with contamination, a detection limit of 20 ppt was eventually achieved and this permitted useful plume measurements from a release rate of 1–2 l min⁻¹. Concentration/flux ratios were estimated from the Lidar measurements using an integral technique. Of the Lidar runs obtained, 24 were coincident with a tracer release. After allowing for the background of both aerosol and tracer, it was apparent that the independent calibrations of concentration/flux ratio from Lidar or tracer agreed with each other to within 20–60%. This permits the Lidar scans to be used to estimate peak near-ground concentrations, though because of various technical difficulties (poor alignment, background sources of aerosol, or an inconvenient wind direction) this cannot always be achieved. Besides giving confidence in the Lidar calibration, the tracer measurements were valuable in permitting aerosol from the stack to be distinguished from aerosol from fugitive sources. Meteorological parameters were logged simultaneously with the dispersion measurements. These parameters included conventional means of wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity and insolation, and also micrometeorological measurements of turbulence and of turbulent fluxes. The Lidar was used to estimate wind speed and direction at plume height and the boundary layer depth and cloud-base where possible. Source emission characteristics were also logged.     

Modeling of Potential Power Plant Plume Impacts on Dallas-Fort Worth Visibility

ABSTRACT

During wintertime, haze episodes occur in the Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) urban area. Such episodes are characterized by substantial light scattering by particles and relatively low absorption, leading to so-called “white haze.” The objective of this work was to assess whether reductions in the emissions of SO₂ from specific coal-fired power plants located over 100 km from DFW could lead to a discernible change in the DFW white haze. To that end, the transport, dispersion, deposition, and chemistry of the plume of a major power plant were simulated using a reactive plume model (ROME). The realism of the plume model simulations was tested by comparing model calculations of plume concentrations with aircraft data of SF₆ tracer concentrations and ozone concentrations. A second-order closure dispersion algorithm was shown to perform better than a first-order closure algorithm and the empirical Pasquill-Gifford-Turner algorithm. For plume impact assessment, three actual scenarios were simulated, two with clear-sky conditions and one with the presence of fog prior to the haze. The largest amount of sulfate formation was obtained for the fog episode. Therefore, a hypothetical scenario was constructed using the meteorological conditions of the fog episode with input data values adjusted to be more conducive to sulfate formation. The results of the simulations suggest that reductions in the power plant emissions lead to less than proportional reductions in sulfate concentrations in DFW for the fog scenario. Calculations of the associated effects on light scattering using Mie theory suggest that reduction in total (plume + ambient) light extinction of less than 13% would be obtained with a 44% reduction in emissions of SO₂ from the modeled power plant.     

A wind tunnel study of dense gas dispersion in a neutral boundary layer over a rough surface

Measurements of the vertical entrainment velocity into two-dimensional dense gas plumes over fully rough surfaces were carried out as part of a co-operative research programme with wind tunnel facilities in the USA. This paper presents results obtained for neutral boundary layer conditions in the EnFlo wind tunnel at the University of Surrey; a companion paper treats the stable boundary layer case. Entrainment velocities, W_E, were deduced from the streamwise development of the concentration field, non-dimensionalised with respect to the friction velocity in the undisturbed flow, u^*, and correlated with the plume Richardson number, Ri^*. Results for Richardson numbers in the range Ri^*<15 were found to be well fitted by the empirical expression: W_E/u^*=0.65/(1+0.2Ri^*). Flow visualisation studies showed layered plume structures with a sharp upper interface at higher Richardson numbers and in this regime turbulent motion below the interface became progressively more intermittent as Ri^* increased. Measured turbulence levels collapsed within such high Richardson number plumes and flow and dispersion were significantly affected by molecular processes. Up-welling above the source was observed when the emission speed exceeded the approach flow friction velocity, though there was no clear evidence that this affected plume behaviour away from the immediate vicinity of the source.     

The Evolution of Particles in the Plume from a Large Coal-Fired Boiler with Flue Gas Desulfurization

ABSTRACT

Airborne measurements were made of gaseous and particulate species in the plume of a large coal-fired power plant after flue gas desulfurization (FGD) controls were installed. These measurements were compared with measurements made before the controls were installed. The light scattering and number and volume distributions of plume excess particles were determined by nephelometry and optical particle counting techniques. The plume impact based on optical techniques was much lower than that observed in earlier measurements. Indeed, plume excess volumes as a function of particle size were of the same magnitude as the variability of the background volume distribution. In situ excess plume scattering actually decreased with distance from the source, in contrast to pre-FGD conditions. The upper limit for the dry rate of SO₂-to-SO₄ ^2- conversion was estimated from plume excess volume measurements to be about 4% lir¹. This is slightly greater than the upper limit, 3.5% lir¹, estimated by earlier researchers, but the same as that estimated using the present technique with the earlier data. The cross-plume profile of volume suggests SO₂-to-SO₄ ^2- conversion is highest at the plume edges. The greatest benefit of SO₂ reduction on plume excess volume and visibility appears to occur far downwind of the source.     

Modelling plume rise and dispersion from pool fires

This paper describes an investigation into the behaviour of smoke plumes from pool fires, and the subsequent generation of empirical models to predict plume rise and dispersion from such a combustion source. Synchronous video records of plumes were taken from a series of small-scale (0.06–0.25m²) outdoor methanol/toluene pool fire experiments, and used to produce sets of images from which plume dimensions could be derived. Three models were used as a basis for the multiple regression analysis of the data set, in order to produce new equations for improved prediction. Actual plume observations from a large (20.7 m×14.2 m) aviation fuel pool fire were also used to test the predictions. The two theoretically based models were found to give a better representation of plume rise and dispersion than the empirical model based on measurements of small-scale fires. It is concluded that theoretical models tested on small-scale fires (heat output ≈70 kW) can be used to predict plume behaviour from much larger combustion sources (heat output ≈70 MW) under near neutral atmospheric conditions.     

A comparison of operational Lagrangian particle and adaptive puff models for plume dispersion forecasting

Transport and dispersion of pollutants in the lower atmosphere are predicted by using both a Lagrangian particle model (LPM) and an adaptive puff model (APM2) coupled to the same mesoscale meteorological prediction model PMETEO. LPM and APM2 apply the same numerical solutions for plume rise; but, for advection and plume growth, LPM uses a stochastic surrogate to the pollutant conservation equation, and APM2 applies interpolated winds and standard deviations from the meteorological model, using a step-wise Gaussian approach. The results of both models in forecasting the SO₂ ground level concentration (glc) around the 1400 MWe coal-fired As Pontes Power Plant are compared under unstable conditions. In addition, meteorological and SO₂ glc numerical results are compared to field measurements provided by 17 fully automated SO₂ glc remote stations, nine meteorological towers and one Remtech PA-3 SODAR, from a meteorological and air quality monitoring network located 30 km around the power plant.     

Concentration field and turbulent fluxes during the mixing of two buoyant plumes

In this work an experimental study of mixing of two identical plumes, carried out in a turbulent neutral boundary layer generated in a wind tunnel, is presented. Measurements have been performed with fast flame ionisation detectors (FFIDs) and a two-component Laser-Doppler Anemometer system. Results allow the study of both the average and the fluctuating concentration field, including the turbulent vertical and longitudinal mass fluxes, in single plumes and during the interaction of two identical plumes. This information gives insight into the details of the mixing phase of the two plumes. Results of trajectories and additional rise (due to plume interactions) have been compared with previous measurements carried out in laminar cross-flows, showing similar behaviour. Concentration distributions in plume cross-sections in turbulent cross-flows differ from those measured in laminar cross-flows. Average vertical and longitudinal velocity measurements into the plume core show the strength of the shielding effect of the upwind plume and some details of interaction between the counter-rotating vortex pairs (CVPs). For large values of the alignment angle φ, between the line joining the stacks and the cross-flow, an average negative vertical velocity is measured in the middle of the plume even if its centre of mass is rising. This downward velocity is induced by the slow interaction of the CVPs and generates a vertical stretching of the plume and negative rise enhancement. Vertical turbulent fluxes change sign on the plume centreline and are of opposite sign with respect to the longitudinal turbulent fluxes. Results indicate a good linearity between vertical turbulent fluxes and concentration gradients, with different proportionality for the top and bottom parts of the plume (especially in the near field) indicating that dispersion could be described by a gradient-transfer model.     

Monte Carlo simulation of nitrogen oxides dispersion from a vehicular exhaust plume and its sensitivity studies

The pollutant dispersion behavior from the vehicular exhaust plume has a direct impact on human health, particularly to the drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, people working nearby and vehicle passengers. A two-dimensional pollutant dispersion numerical model was developed based on the joint-scalar probability density function (PDF) approach coupled with a k–ε turbulence model to simulate the initial dispersion process of nitrogen oxides, temperature and flow velocity distributions from a vehicular exhaust plume. A Monte Carlo algorithm was used to solve the PDF transport equations in order to obtain the dispersion distribution of nitrogen oxides concentration. The model was then validated by a series of sensitivity experimental studies in order to assess the effects of vehicular exhaust tailpipe velocities, wind speeds and chemistry on the initial dispersion of NO and NO₂ mass concentrations from the vehicular exhaust plume. The results show that the mass concentrations of nitrogen oxides decrease along the centerline of the vehicular exhaust plume in the downstream distance. The dispersion process can be enhanced when the vehicular exhaust tailpipe velocity is much larger than the wind speed. The oxidation reaction of NO plays an important role when the wind speed is large and the vehicular exhaust exit velocity is small, which leads to chemical reduction of NO, and the formation and accumulation of NO₂ in the exhaust plume. It is also found that the effect of vehicular exhaust-induced turbulence in the vicinity of the exhaust tailpipe exit is more dominant than the effect of wind turbulence, while the wind turbulence gradually shows a significant role for the dispersion of nitrogen oxides along with the development of exhaust plume. The range of dispersion of nitrogen oxides in the radial direction is increased along with the development of vehicular exhaust plume.     

The dispersion of the Buncefield oil fire plume: An extreme accident without air quality consequences

The dispersion of pollutants from the huge Buncefield oil depot fire that occurred on 11 December 2005 is simulated using a regional Eulerian chemistry-transport model. We analyse the transport and mixing of the fire plume. We show that the hot plume never reached the ground. Instead, it pierced the thin wintertime boundary layer and was injected into the free troposphere at higher altitudes. This is in agreement with data from many air quality stations. This high injection was fortunate because the fine aerosol particles (PM₁₀) mass column generated by the fire smoke exceeded that of ordinary pollution by an order of magnitude. Our regional chemistry-transport modelling is able to predict the early development of the plume dispersion, as shown by a qualitative comparison between simulated PM₁₀ columns and a satellite image obtained by the EOS-TERRA-MODIS sensor.If the accident had occurred in summer when boundary layers are much deeper and convective, a severe degradation in air quality due to PM₁₀ could have occurred, as shown by a sensitivity simulation assuming a similar fire during one of the hottest days of August 2003. The modelled impact of the fire on regional and European air quality levels strongly depends on the altitude reached by the buoyant plume, as shown by a set of sensitivity simulations with variable injection heights. However, in all cases we found that the fire only affected surface aerosol concentrations without increasing photochemical pollution.     

meteorological program for limiting power plant stack emission

This paper is directed to those individuals concerned with preserving the local air quality in areas affected by power plant operations. A meteorological forecast and field measurement program has been developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority for limiting stack emissions at the Paradise Steam Plant to preserve the air quality during adverse atmospheric dispersion conditions. Meteorological and plume dispersion criteria, developed from analysis of prior experience, govern the program. The criteria values are designed for limiting surface sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations below an established threshold level.

Daily forecasts of vertical wind and temperature distribution, maximum surface temperature, and sky condition are issued each afternoon by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service, Knoxville, Tennessee. Through use of power plant computer facilities, the forecast data are processed to determine quantitative criteria values. If the values indicate that the threshold level may be exceeded, an Air Pollution Control Notice (APCN) is issued that afternoon for the period 0900–1400 CST the following day, which is the expected period of maximum SO₂, surface concentrations. The APCN specifies the allowable SO₂ emission rate, in terms of megawatt load generation, which should prevent surface SO₂ concentrations from exceeding the established threshold level. Confirmation or cancellation of the APCN is made the following morning, based on plant-site meteorological field measurements taken at 0700–0730 CST. If confirmed, plant load generation is reduced to the designated level by 0900 CST and is continued no later than 1400 CST during the expected period of maximum SO2 surface concentrations.

The APCN conditions identified with the newer and larger TV A power plants with high stacks are associated with one principal regional weather pattern—a large surface high-pressure system, with weak-to-moderate anticyclonic circulation and pronounced stability throughout the lowest few thousand meters. With the limited mixing layer, or sometimes referred to as trapping- or capping-type dispersion associated with this weather condition, relatively high surface concentrations may persist 2–5 hours between 0900–1400 CST.     

Dry Removal of Gaseous Fluorine Pollutants

The conservation equations governing buoyant plume rise are solved for the case of non-uniform wind conditions. A power law is selected to represent the actual wind profile. Analytical solutions are presented both for uniformly stable and neutral atmospheric conditions. These solutions are shown to be of the same form as those obtained in the simpler uniform case but with the plume rise now depending explicitly on the wind speed shear. A sensitivity analysis of the effects on plume rise of typical variation in wind shear and entrainment reveals that the two quantities have an almost equal effect therefore justifying the use of the present model. To simplify computations a “uniform wind” is introduced such that when used in conjunction with Briggs' equations the results become consistent with those of the present theory.     

An Inversion Algorithm for Determining Area-Source Emissions from Downwind Concentration Measurements

Measuring emissions from nonuniform area sources, such as waste repository sites, has been a difficult problem. A simple but reliable method is not available. An objective method of inverting downwind concentration measurements, utilizing an assumed form of atmospheric dispersion to reconstruct total emission rate and distribution, is described in this study. The Gaussian dispersion model is compared to a more realistic model based on K-theory and similarity expressions. A sensitivity analysis is presented indicating the atmospheric conditions under which a successful application of the method could be anticipated. Field releases of sulfur hexaf luoride (SF₆) from a simulated area source in flat terrain were conducted to check the method,ability to reconstruct source distribution, and total emission rate. The sensitivity analysis and the field study confirm that a few ground-level concentration measurements and a simple determination of the atmospheric dispersion characteristics are sufficient, under neutral to stable conditions, to obtain the total emission rate accurately. Reconstruction of the spatial pattern of the source is possible by utilizing concentration information from samplers located on two separate ground-level receptor lines, if a shift in the wind direction occurs and if it can be assumed that the total emission rate is time invariant. A method of cross-checking the accuracy of the reconstruction, using a simultaneous tracer release, is presented.     

Effect of biomass burning and regional background aerosols on CCN activity derived from airborne in-situ measurements

Airborne in-situ measurements were analyzed to investigate the effects of biomass burning and regional background aerosols on cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity in the Pacific Dust Experiment (PACDEX) during April and May 2007. Airmass trajectories with both horizontal and vertical motions were provided to identify the aerosol sources. In the biomass burning cases, the elevated aerosol layers were clearly observed at dry conditions because of the convection of airmass in the source region. The relative aging of aerosols was supported by the ratios of BC to particles with size ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 μm (N_0.1–1.0) and BC to carbon monoxide. Compared to aerosols in the precedent plume of biomass burning, aged particles in the latter plume were more activated to CCN at 0.4% (CCN_0.4%) than 0.1% supersaturation (CCN_0.1%) due to aerosols chemical modification during the aging process. On the other hand, significant difference of CCN_0.4% and CCN_0.1% at regional background aerosols over the Pacific Ocean was due to the activated particles below 1 μm in diameter. Although higher concentrations of aged particles were observed over the eastern Pacific Ocean, activated aerosols to cloud droplet was comparatively similar in the western Pacific Ocean because of the similar concentrations of N_0.1–1.0 in both cases.