Atmospheric Air Pollutant Dispersion

Estimate air pollutant concentrations downwind of emission point sources. Downwind Air Pollution Concentrations Are a function of:
Atmospheric Stability Air Temperature Lapse Rates Atmospheric Air Inversions Atmospheric Mixing Height Dispersion from Point Emission Sources Dispersion Coefficients

In CEE490/ENVH 461 class we will Primarily use EPA SCREEN software

Atmospheric Air Vertical Stability

Dry Adiabatic Temp T 9.76 K o 5.4Fo = = = = Lapse Rate Altitude Z 1000 meters 1000 ft

Adiabatic vertical air movement causes a change in pressure and temperature:

dT/dz = g/Cp = d (dry adiabatic lapse rate) d = 9.8 K/km

--Stable lapse rate: < d

Unstable lapse rate: > d

Atmospheric Stability
Characterized by vertical temperature gradients (Lapse Rates)
Dry adiabatic lapse rate () = 0.976 oC/100 m ~ 1 oC/100 m International standard lapse rate = 0.0066 oC/m
Does the air temperature lapse rate have anything to do with air quality? Yes, because it is related to amount of vertical mixing of emitted air pollutants.

 First Law of Thermodynamics

dq = dh dP = C p dT
Barometric Equation

= 0 for adiabatic expansion

dP

1 C p dT = dP = gdZ dT g = dZ Cp
Lapse Rate

dP = g dZ

Air Temperature Lapse Rates

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate
100 m

batic adia Sub

Elevation (m)

Sup erad iaba tic

T
Temperature (oC)

In ve rs io n

Stability Conditions
Adiabatic lapse rate Actual Air Temperature lapse rate

Diurnal Cycle of Surface Heating /Cooling

z
Subsidence inversion MIDDAY

1 km

Mixing depth NIGHT 0

MORNING

NIGHT

MORNING AFTERNOON

Actual Temperature Sounding

Superadiabatic Lapse Rates (Unstable air)

Temperature decreases are greater than -10o C/1000 meters

Occur on sunny days Characterized by intense vertical mixing Excellent dispersion conditions

Atmospheric Stability Superadiabatic Strong Lapse Rate Unstable Conditions

Neutral Air Temp Lapse Rates

Temperature decrease with altitude is similar to the adiabatic lapse rate Results from: Cloudy conditions Elevated wind speeds Day/night transitions Describes OK dispersion conditions

Isothermal Lapse Rates (Weakly Stable)

Characterized by no temperature change with height Atmosphere is somewhat stable Dispersion conditions are moderate

Atmospheric Stability Subadiabatic Weak Lapse Rate Stable Conditions

 2 major types of inversion: Subsidence: descent of a layer of air within a high pressure air mass (descending air increases pressure & temp.) Radiation: thermal radiation at night from the earths surface into the clear night sky

Radiation Inversion

Inverted Air Temp Lapse Rates (Strongly Stable)

Characterized by increasing air temperature with height
Does it occur during the day or at night? (Both) Is it associated with high or low air pressure systems? (High) Does it improve or deteriorate air quality? (deteriorate)

Inversion

www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd/Inversions.htm www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/air/weather.htm

 Inversion: Air Temperature increases with altitude

http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd/pages/Inversion-Art-(web).jpg

Radiation Inversions
Result from radiational cooling of the ground Occur on cloudless nights and clear sky nocturnal Are intensified in valleys (heavier cooled air descends to valley floor) Cause air pollutants to be trapped (poor vertical transport)

www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd /Inversions.htm

What happens to inversion when sun rises?

Radiation Inversions
Inversion Breaks up after sunrise Breakup results in elevated ground level concentrations Breakup described as a fumigation
Red Line is Air Temperature Blue Line is adiabatic air temp lapse

Radiation Inversions
Elevated inversions are formed over urban areas
Due to heat island effect

Subsidence Inversion
Associated with atmospheric high-pressure systems Inversion layer is formed aloft due to subsiding air Persists for days

Subsidence Inversion
Migrating high-pressure systems: contribute to the hazy summer conditions Semi-permanent marine high-pressure systems
Results in a large number of sunny calm days Inversion layer closest to the ground on continental side Responsible for air stagnation over Southern California

www.oceansatlas.org/.../datard.htm

 Advective - warm air flows over a cold surface

Mixing Height = Height of air that is mixed and where dispersion occurs

What is the Mixing Height in a radiational inversion? When does the max MH occur during a day? Min MH? Which season has the max MH? Min MH? Why does Phoenix have a larger MH than New Orleans? Why is agricultural burning allowed only during daytime?

Air Pollutant Dispersion from Point Sources

Plume rise affects dispersion and transport Affects maximum ground level concentrations Affects distance to maximum ground level conc.

Lapse Rates and Atmospheric Stability Weak Lapse Condition (Coning) Wind

Z = altitude T = Temp = adiabatic lapse rate

Stack Plume: Coning

Strong wind, no turbulence What is the stability class? (dashed line is adiabatic lapse rate) C Is there good vertical mixing? OK On sunny or cloudy days? Partly cloudy Good for dispersing pollutants? OK

Lapse Rates and Atmospheric Stability Inversion Condition (Fanning) Wind

Stack Plume: Fanning

http://www.med.usf.edu/~npoor/4

What is the stability class? (solid line is actual air temperature with altitude air temp lapse rate)

What is the top view of the plume?

Stack Plume: Fumigation

Why cant the pollutants be dispersed upward? Plume trapped by inversion above stack height. Does it happen during the day or night? Morning

Lapse Rates and Atmospheric Stability Inversion Below, Lapse Aloft (Lofting) Wind

Stack Plume: Lofting

Why cant the pollutants be dispersed downward? What time of the day or night does this happen? Evening night as radiation inversion forms

Lapse Rates and Atmospheric Stability Weak Lapse Below, Inversion Aloft (Trapping)

Wind

Stack Plume: Trapping

What weather conditions cause plume trapping? Radiation inversion at ground level, subsidence inversion at higher altitude (evening night)

Stack Plume: Looping

Strong turbulence

http://www.med.usf.edu/~npoor/3

Is it at stable or unstable condition? Unstable High or low wind speed? Low wind speed. Does it happen during the day or night? Day Is it good for dispersing pollutants? Yes

Dilution of Pollutants in the Atmosphere Air movement can dilute and remove pollutants (removal by absorption and deposition by snow, rain, & to surfaces) Pollutant dilution is variable, from quite good to quite poor, according to the wind velocity and the air stability (lapse rate).

Characteristics of Dispersion Models

The accuracy of air pollutant dispersion models varies according to the complexity of the terrain and the availability of historic meteorological data. The acceptability of the results of dispersion models varies with the experience and viewpoint of the modeler, the regulator and the intervener.

Air Quality Modeling

Gaussian Dispersion Model
EPA Air Quality Models (SCREEN TSCREEN,ISC, AERMOD, etc.) are computer software with equation parameters that include pollutant emission rate Q (gms/sec), stack height (meters), stack inside diameter at exit, stack gas temp, stack gas exit velocity (m/s) ambient air temp, receptor height (m), topography, etc. and calculate the downwind air pollutant concentrations. The EPA dispersion software models are used to: 1. Evaluate compliance with NAAQS & prevention of significant air quality deterioration (PSD required for permit to construct) 2. Find pollutant emission reductions required. 3. Review permit to construct applications.

Is the Air Quality OK?

What is the level of my exposure to these emissions? Is my family safe? Where is a safe location with regards to air quality? How about the adverse impact on the environment (plants, animals, buildings)? How to predict the impact of air pollutant emissions resulting from population growth? Where is the cleanest air; in city center, in rural area? Note: Children health (respiratory effects) has been correlated to the distance from their home to nearest highway or busy street (diesel engine emissions)

When are model applications required for regulatory purposes? SCREEN3, TSCREEN, ISC (Industrial Source Complex), AERMOD AERMOD stands for American Meteorological Society

Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model

Formally Proposed as replacement for ISC in 2000 Adopted as Preferred Model November 9, 2005

Regulatory Application of Models

PSD: Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality in relatively clean areas (e.g. National Parks, Wilderness Areas, Indian Reservations) SIP: State Implementation Plan revisions for existing sources and for New Source Reviews (NSR)

Classifications of Air Quality Models

Developed for a number of air pollutant types and time periods Short-term models for a few hours to a few days; worst case episode conditions Long-term models to predict seasonal or annual average concentrations; health effects due to exposure Classified by
Non-reactive models pollutants such as SO2 and CO Reactive models pollutants such as O3, NO2, etc.

Air Quality Models

Classified by coordinate system used
Grid-based
Region divided into an array of cells Used to determine compliance with NAAQS

Trajectory
Follow plume as it moves downwind

Classified by sophistication level

Screening: simple estimation use preset, worstcase meteorological conditions to provide conservative estimates.

Refined: more detailed treatment of physical and

chemical atmospheric processes; require more detailed and precise meteorological and topographical input data.

http://www.epa.gov/scram001/i mages/smokestacks.jpg

US EPA Air Quality Models

Screening models available at: www.epa.gov/scram001/tt22.htm#screen Preferred models available at: http://www.epa.gov/scram001/tt22.htm#rec
A single model found to outperform others
Selected on the basis of other factors such as past use, public familiarity, cost or resource requirements and availability No further evaluation of a preferred model is required

Gaussian Dispersion Models

Most widely used Based on the assumption plume spread results primarily by diffusion horizontal & vertical pollutant concentrations in the plume have double Gaussian distribution)
z Q u H y x

Gaussian Model Assumptions

Gaussian dispersion modeling based on a number of assumptions including Source pollutant emission rate = constant (Steady-state) Constant Wind speed, wind direction, and atmospheric stability class Pollutant Mass transfer primarily due to bulk air motion in the x-direction No pollutant chemical transformations occur Wind speeds are >1 m/sec. Limited to predicting concentrations > 50 m downwind

Gaussian Dispersion Model

Characteristics of Pollutant Plume

Horizontal (y) and vertical (z) dispersion, is caused by eddies and random shifts of wind direction. Key parameters are: Physical stack height (h) Plume rise (h) Effective stack height (H) Wind speed (ux)

Plume Dispersion Coordinate System

The Gaussian Model

C = C(x, y, z, stability)
1 y 2 1 ( z H ) 2 1 ( z + H ) 2 exp C= + exp exp 2 2 2 2 y z 2 z 2 y 2 z Q

y and z depend on the atmospheric conditions Atmospheric stability classifications are defined in terms of surface wind speed, incoming solar radiation and cloud cover

Gaussian Dispersion Equation

2 2 ( 1 y Q zH) + exp C ( x, y , z ) = 2 2 2 y z u 2 z y

y & z = f(downwind distance x & atmos stability) Q = pollutant emission rate (grams/sec) H = effective stack height (meters) = stack height + plume rise u = wind speed (m/sec) y = horizontal crosswind dispersion coefficient (meters) z = vertical dispersion coefficient (meters)

Plume Dispersion Equations

General Equation Plume with Reflection for Plume Height H
2 y 2 ( z H )2 ( z + H ) exp 2 2 + exp 2 2 2 2 exp y z z

Q C ( x , y , z; H ) = 2u y z

Ground Level Concentration Plume at Height H

y2 H 2 exp exp C ( x, y ,0; H ) = 2 2 u y z 2 y 2 z Q

Ground Level Center Line Conc (y = 0) Plume Height H

H 2 exp C ( x,0,0; H ) = 2 u y z 2 z Q
Ground Level Center Line Ground Point Source (y = 0, H = 0)

C ( x,0,0;0) =

u y z

Gaussian Dispersion Equation

If the emission source is at ground level with no effective plume rise then

1 y 2 z 2 Q exp 2 + 2 C ( x, y , z ) = 2 y z u z y

Plume Rise
H is the sum of the physical stack height and plume rise.

H = h plume rise + hactual stack

Key to Stability Categories

Atmospheric Stability Classes

Horizontal Dispersion Coefficient y

Vertical Dispersion Coefficient z

Maximum Downwind Ground-Level Concentration (Cmax)

Pollutants require time (and distance) to reach the ground.

Cmax decreases as effective plume height H increases. Distance to Cmax increases as H increases.

Maximum Concentration (Cmax) and Distance to Cmax (xmax)

Maximum Ground Level Concentration

y = k1 z
Under moderately stable to near neutral conditions,

The ground level concentration at the center line is

H2 exp 2 C ( x,0,0 ) = 2 k1 z u 2 z Q
The maximum occurs at

dC / d z = 0

Once z is determined, x can be known and subsequently C.

H z = 2

Q Q C ( x,0,0) = exp[ 1] = 0.1171 y z u y zu

Plume Rise
H is the sum of the physical stack height and plume rise.

H = hplumerise + hactualstack

Pollutant Plume Rise

Plume rises from stack exit.

Plume Rise
Buoyant plume: Initial buoyancy >> initial momentum Forced plume: Initial buoyancy ~ initial momentum Jet: Initial buoyancy << initial momentum

For neutral and unstable atmospheric conditions, buoyant rise can be calculated by
h plume rise h plume rise 21.425F 0.75 = (F < 55 m 4 / s 3 ) u 38.71F 0.6 = (F > 55 m 4 / s 3 ) u

Vs: Stack exit velocity, m/s where buoyancy flux is d: top inside stack diameter, m Ts: stack gas temperature, K 2 F = gVs d (Ts Ta ) / 4TS Ta: ambient temperature, K g: gravity, 9.8 m/s2

Carson and Moses: vertical momentum & thermal buoyancy, based on 615 observations involving 26 stacks.

h plume rise h plume rise h plume rise

& C p (Ts Ta ) Qh = m
P &= m Vs 4 RTs

Qh Vs d = 3.47 + 5.15 u u Qh Vs d = 0.35 + 2.64 u u Qh Vs d = 1.04 + 2.24 u u

(unstable) (neutral) (stable)

(heat emission rate, kJ/s) (stack gas mass flow rate. kg/s)

d 2

Wark & Warner, Air Pollution: Its Origin & Control

2 y 2 (z + H )2 Q (z H ) + C ( x, y , z ) = exp 2 exp exp 2 2 2 y z u 2 2 2 y z z

Plume is Reflected when it touches ground surface.

Ground level concentration

y2 H2 Q C= exp 2 exp 2 y z u 2 z 2 y

Dispersion of SO2 from Stack

An industrial boiler is burning at 12 tons of 2.5% sulfur coal/hr with an emission rate of 151 g/s. The following exist : H = 120 m, u = 2 m/s, y = 0. It is one hour before sunrise, and the sky is clear. Find the downwind ground level SO2 concentration at x =2 km, y = 0, and z = 0. Stability class = y = z = C(x=2 km, y=0, z=0) =

y2 H2 Q C= exp 2 exp 2 y zu 2 z 2 y

Dispersion of Ground Level Air Pollutant Emissions Air pollutant emissions are from a ground level source with H = 0, u = 4 m/s, Q = 100 g/s, and the stability class = B, what is downwind concentration at x = 200 m, y = 0, and z = 0?
At 200 m:

y = z = C(x=200 m, y=0, z=0) =

Plume Rise and Max Conc

Calculate H using plume rise equations for an 80 m high stack (h) with a stack diameter = 4 m, stack gas velocity = 14 m/s, stack gas temperature = 90o C (363 K), ambient temperature = 25 oC (298 K), 10 meter high wind speed u at 10 m = 4m/s, and stability class = B. Find the Max Ground Level air pollutant concentration & its (location downwind distance x).

F= h plume rise = H= z = y = Cmax =

Residents around the Rock Cement Plant are complaining that its emission are in violation and the ground level concentrations exceed the air quality standards. The plant has its facility within 0.2 km diameter fence. Its effective stack height is 50 m. You are a government agency environmental engineer. Where are you going to locate your air quality monitors? Why?

Complex Horizontal, Vertical, and Temporal Wind Structure Winds aloft have no continuous measurements

Meteorology

In most of cases terrain is not flat terrain topographic complexity

Complex horizontal, vertical, and temporal dispersion

Plume Air Pollutant Building Downwash

Building Downwash

Building Downwash

Building Downwash Short Stack

Building Downwash Taller Stack (Not GEP)

Building Downwash Tallest Stack

HGEP = 2.5 HBldg Prior to 1979

HGEP = HBldg + 1.5 L

Cavity and Wakes

Cavity and Far Wake

Cavity

Building Downwash for 2 Identical Stack Emissions at Different Locations

Building Cavity

The stack on the left is located on top of a building and this structure affects the wind-flow which, in turn, affects the plume trajectory, pulling it down into the cavity zone (near wake) behind the building. The stack on the right is located far enough downwind of the building to be unaffected by the cavity (near wake) effects and is only affected by the air flow in the far wake.

Cavity

Building Downwash

Cavity and Wakes

ZR Cavity XR

ZR

2YR 2YR

Aerodynamic Wake
Region where local air velocities are different from the free stream values Streamline Separation at an object
Eddy Recirculation (generally lower velocity region) Turbulent Shear Region (generally higher velocity)

Reattachment of Streamlines Near Wake (Cavity)

Usually on the lee side of the object.

Far Wake
Effect of another object on the separated streamlines

Estimation of Wake/Cavity Boundary

Effect of Building geometry

Two Points of Concern

Dispersion of Air Pollutant Plume in the presence of Buildings
What happens to the plume from an existing stack and existing buildings?

Design of Stacks in the Presence of Building

What are the design guidelines if a new emission source is being proposed in an area full of buildings?

Good Engineering Practice GEP Analysis HGEP = good engineering practice height HGEP = H + 1.5 L
H = height of adjacent or nearby structure L = lesser dimension height or proj. width 5L = region of influence

The structure with the greatest influence is then used in the model to evaluate wake effects and downwash.

Good Engineering Practice Stack Height

1985 Regulations GEP Stack height greater of the following - a) 65 m from the base of the stack - b) HGEP = 2.5 H
for stacks in existence before Jan, 1979.

For All Other Stacks: Where H is the height of the nearest building and L = lesser dimension height or projected building width

HGEP = H + 1.5 L

GEP stack height

Building downwash can occur when HStack = HS < Hb + 1.5L HStack = Height of Stack Hb = Height of Building L = lesser of Hb or PBW PBW = Maximum Projected Building Width Screen models will do this calculation when the building downwash option is used. If HS > Hb + 1.5L, then building downwash will not be shown in SCREEN results

Getting Started Screen 3

Convert all lengths and distances to meters Convert temperatures to degrees Kelvin Identify building contributions to air dispersion (stack emissions) Screen 3 should be run in regulatory default mode
Note that SCREEN3 differs from TSCREEN (SCREEN3 can select atmospheric stability classes or run Full Meteorology, will not calculate concentrations at other averaging times, etc.)

Information Required to run Screen Models for Point Source

Emission rate (g/s) Stack Height (m) Shortest distance to property line Stack velocity (or volumetric airflow SCREEN3) Stack gas temperature (oK) Stack Inside Diameter Building Height, Length, Width

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

Emission rate (g/s) .01 g/s Stack Height 15.24m Building Height 6.096m Shortest Distance to property line 91.44m Stack airflow in acfm 20,000 acfm Stack gas temperature 294.3 K Stack inside diameter 1.143m Building dimensions 30.48m L, 30.48m W, 10.67m H

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

Note that this is the output from SCREEN3 software (not TSCREEN)

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

SCREEN Example Stack emissions

The most conservative scenario gives a maximum 1-hr concentration of 2.595 ug/m3 at a distance of 91 meters

Flare Emissions Elevated point source

Screen Model for Flare Source

Emission Rate Flare Stack Height Total Heat Release Rate Shortest Distance to property line Influential Building Dimensions

SCREEN Example Flare emissions

SCREEN Example Flare emissions

SCREEN Example Flare emissions

SCREEN Example Flare emissions

Screen Model for Area Source

Emission Rate Source Release Height Larger Side Length of Rectangular Area Smaller Side Length of Rectangular Area Shortest Distance to property line

SCREEN Example Area Source

SCREEN Example Flare emissions

Screen Model for Volume Source

Emission Rate Source Release Height Initial Lateral Dimension Initial Vertical Dimension Shortest Distance to Property Line

Volume Source
Source Release Height is the center of the Volume Source: If the Source is from a building, the release height is set equal to one half of the building height. Volume sources are modeled as a square in Screen3. If the source is not square, the width should be set to the minimum length.

Volume Source Initial Lateral Dimension (y0)

Single Volume Source y0 = length of side divided by 4.3 Line Source composed of several volume sources y0 = length of side divided by 2.15 Line Source composed of separated volume sources y0 = center to center distance divided by 2.15

Volume Source Initial Vertical Dimension (z0)

Surface-Based Source z0 = vertical dimension of source divided by 2.15 Elevated Source on or adjacent to a building z0 = building height divided by 2.15 Elevated Source not on or adjacent to a building z0 = vertical dimension of source divided by 4.3

Example Volume Source

Volume Source from a Building

Vertical Dimension is height of building divided by 2.15 Release Height is of Building Height

Lateral Dimension is minimum length of building divided by 4.3

SCREEN Example Volume Source

SCREEN Example Volume Source

Initial Lateral Dimension obtained by taking building length of 30.48m divided by 4.3 Using a building as the volume source, so the initial vertical dimension is the height of the building divided by 2.15

SCREEN Example Volume Source

SCREEN Example Volume Source

Screen model results

Screen model results are all maximum 1-hr concentrations (except for complex terrain and if SCREEN is run inside of TSCREEN can obtain concentrations in other averaging times).