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Air Pollution

The document discusses air pollution, its sources, effects, and classifications, including primary and secondary pollutants. It explains the Air Quality Index (AQI), its purpose, categories, and the pollutants considered for AQI. Additionally, it covers meteorological factors affecting air pollution dispersion, turbulence, and air pollution control devices.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views11 pages

Air Pollution

The document discusses air pollution, its sources, effects, and classifications, including primary and secondary pollutants. It explains the Air Quality Index (AQI), its purpose, categories, and the pollutants considered for AQI. Additionally, it covers meteorological factors affecting air pollution dispersion, turbulence, and air pollution control devices.

Uploaded by

kv14thapril
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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**Air Pollution**: air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor

environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural
characteristics of the atmosphere. It also explains the sources, effects, and
classification of air pollutants.

- **Meteorology and Topography**: the meteorological elements and the topography


of a region affects the transport and dispersion of air pollutants. It introduces
concepts such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, lapse rate, stability,
and turbulence.

- **Air Pollution Control Devices**: The various devices and methods for
controlling particulate and gaseous emissions from different sources.

(air pollution is the contamination of the indoor and the outdoor environment by
any chemical, physical or biological event which alters the natural characteristics
of the atmosphere.)

-------->>>>>>

**AQI**

AQI stands for Air Quality Index, which is a measure of how polluted the air is in
a given location.
A short note on AQI is:

**Definition: AQI is an overall scheme that transforms individual air pollutant


levels into a single number, which is a simple and lucid description of air quality
for the citizens.

**Purpose: AQI relates to health impacts and citizens can avoid the unnecessary
exposure to air pollutants; AQI indicates compliance with National Air Quality
Standards; AQI prompts local authorities to take quick actions to improve air
quality; AQI guides policy makers to take broad decisions; and AQI encourages
citizens to participate in air quality management

**Pollutants: AQI considers eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, O3, CO, SO2, NH3,
and Pb Each pollutant has a different concentration range and averaging time for
calculating AQI.

**Categories: AQI has six categories based on the breakpoint concentrations of the
pollutants *Good (0-50)(dark green), *Satisfactory (51-100) (light green),
*Moderate (101-200) (yellow), *Poor (201-300) (orange), *Very Poor (301-400) (light
red), and *Severe (401-500) (dark red). Each category has a different color code
and health implication.

-------->>>>>>
Air pollutants can be classified into two categories:

- **Primary air pollutants** - Materials that when released pose health risks in
their unmodified forms or those emitted directly from identifiable sources.
Examples are carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter,
etc.

- **Secondary air pollutants** - Primary pollutants interact with one another in


presence of sunlight, or natural gases to produce new, harmful compounds. Examples
are ozone, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, etc.

-------->>>>>>
**Pollutants considered for AQI and Air Quality Standards**

-The pollutants considered for AQI and Air Quality Standards are:

**Particulate Matter(PM)** :

[*PM10 : Particulate matter of less than 10 micrometers in diameter. It can cause


respiratory problems and reduce visibility.
*PM2.5* : Particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. It is more
harmful than PM10 as it can penetrate deeper into the lungs and bloodstream.]

**NO2**: Nitrogen dioxide, a gas produced from burning fuels. It can cause lung
diseases and smog formation.

**O3**: Ozone, a gas formed by the reaction of sunlight with nitrogen oxides and
volatile organic compounds. It can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and
damage crops and vegetation.

**CO**: Carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas produced by incomplete


combustion of carbon-based fuels. It can reduce the oxygen supply to the body and
affect the nervous system.

**SO2**: Sulfur dioxide, a gas produced from burning sulfur-containing fuels and
industrial processes. It can cause acid rain and respiratory problems.

**NH3**: Ammonia, a gas emitted from agricultural activities and some industrial
processes. It can contribute to the formation of fine particulate matter and affect
the pH of rainwater.

**Pb**: Lead, a heavy metal that can be emitted from some industrial sources and
vehicles using leaded gasoline. It can affect the nervous system, especially in
children.

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Review : Slide 7
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**Primary air pollutant components**:

The primary air pollutant components include suspended particulate matter (SPM),
which is a complex mixture of air borne particles that differ in size, origin and
chemical composition. classification of SPM by particle size as follows:

- **PM10** - Particulate Matter of less than 10 millionths of a metre (10


micrometres or 10mm) in diameter. These particles are not visible to the naked eye.
[They are coarse and are inhalable]

- **PM2.5** - Particulate Matter of less than 2.5 millionths of a metre (2.5mm) in


diameter. These particles are a subset of PM10 and can penetrate deeper into the
lungs. [They are fine and can get into lungs]

- **PM1.0** - Particulate Matter of less than 1.0 millionths of a metre (1.0mm) in


diameter. These particles are a subset of PM2.5 and can enter the bloodstream.[They
are ultrafine and can even enter our bloodstream]
What are the different types of primary air pollutant components?
*The primary air pollutant components are :

- **Suspended particulate matter (SPM)**: A complex mixture of solid and liquid


particles that differ in size, origin, and chemical composition. It can cause
respiratory problems and reduce visibility.

- **Carbon monoxide (CO)**: A colorless, odorless gas produced by the incomplete


combustion of carbon-based fuels. It lowers the amount of oxygen that enters the
blood and can impair brain function and cause death.

- **Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)**: Gases that are released mainly from air-


conditioning systems and refrigeration. They deplete the ozone layer that protects
the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.

- **Carbon dioxide (CO2)**: The principal greenhouse gas emitted as a result of


human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. It contributes to global
warming and climate change.

- **Nitrogen oxides (NOx)**: Gases that are produced from burning fuels at high
temperatures. They can cause smog, acid rain, and respiratory diseases.

- **Sulfur dioxide (SO2)**: A gas produced from burning fuels that contain sulfur.
It is also a major contributor to smog and acid rain. It can damage the lungs and
aggravate asthma.

-------->>>>>>
**Meteorology**

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere. It is concerned with the description of


the transport of pollutants from source to receptor and the effects of
meteorological elements on the distribution/dispersion of the air pollutants in the
atmosphere.

-------->>>>>>
**Meterological Parameters**

*Primary meteorological parameters*: These are the meteorological elements that


have the most direct and significant effects on the turbulence level of atmosphere,
which ultimately impact the distribution/dispersion of the air pollutants in the
atmosphere. Examples of primary parameters are wind speed, wind direction,
temperature, atmospheric stability and mixing height.

*Secondary meteorological parameters*: They are the factors that affect the primary
parameters, such as humidity, solar radiation, precipitation, atmospheric pressure,
topography, etc.

-------->>>>>>
[Dispersion, Turbulence and Wind Roses]

**Dispersion**: The process of spreading or diluting air pollutants in the


atmosphere due to the effects of wind, turbulence, and other factors. Dispersion
depends on the climatic conditions such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and
topography.
**Turbulence**: The irregular and chaotic motion of air that causes mixing and
eddies. Turbulence can be caused by mechanical forces such as wind blowing over
obstacles, or by thermal forces such as heating of the air near the ground.
Turbulence affects the transport and diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere.

**Wind roses**: Wind roses are the Graphical tools that show the frequency and
direction of winds at a given location over a period of time. Wind roses can help
to assess the potential impact of air pollution sources and the suitability of air
quality monitoring sites. Wind roses can also show the wind speed and other
parameters.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Dispersion:

Dispersion is the phenomenon of spreading of pollutants in the atmosphere due to


various factors such as wind, turbulence, temperature, and pressure.

It depends on the climatic conditions and the stability of the atmosphere, which
can be classified as stable, unstable, or neutral.

Dispersion can be enhanced by mechanical or thermal turbulence, which create eddies


and increase the mixing of pollutants with the surrounding air.

Dispersion can be reduced by stable conditions, which suppress the vertical


movement of pollutants and create a layer of dust on the surface of the earth.

Dispersion can be modeled by mathematical equations that relate the concentration


of pollutants at a given point to the source characteristics, meteorological
parameters, and topography.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Turbulence:

Turbulence is the irregular air motion caused by *mechanical* or *thermal* forces.

Mechanical turbulence: The gusty and eddy-like air motion caused by wind blowing
over the ground or other obstacles.

Thermal turbulence: The rising and sinking air motion caused by surface heating and
temperature differences in the lower atmosphere.

Effects of turbulence: Turbulence affects the transport and dispersion of air


pollutants by increasing the mixing of air parcels and enhancing the contact
between pollutants and the surrounding air.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Wind roses:

Wind roses are the Graphical tools that show how wind speed and direction are
typically distributed at a given location.

Wind roses have spokes that represent the frequency of winds blowing from a
particular direction. The length of each spoke is proportional to the frequency,
and the spokes are often color-coded to show different wind speed ranges.

Wind roses can be used to analyze the climatic conditions, the dispersion of air
pollutants, the suitability of wind energy, and the design of buildings and
structures.
-------->>>>>>
**What is Thermal Turbulence?

Thermal turbulence is a type of atmospheric turbulence caused by surface heating


and instability.

It occurs when the air near the ground is warmer than the air above it, creating
bubbles of warm air that rise and mix with the cooler air.

Thermal turbulence increases with the intensity of surface heating and the degree
of instability, and shows diurnal changes. It is most pronounced in the early
afternoon and minimum at night.

Thermal turbulence affects the dispersion of air pollutants by enhancing the


vertical mixing and dilution of pollutants in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

-------->>>>>>
**What is lapse rate ? Explain its types.

Lapse rate is the rate of decrease of temperature with altitude. There are three
types of lapse rates: environmental, dry adiabatic, and wet adiabatic:

*Environmental lapse rate (ELR)*: The actual measured decrease in air temperature
with an increase in altitude. It is usually around 6.5°C / 1000 m.

*Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)*: The theoretical rate of cooling of air with no
moisture in it over an increase in altitude. This rate is 9.8°C / 1000 m.

*Wet adiabatic lapse rate (WALR)*: A theoretical reduction in temperature with


elevation in saturated air. It is much less than the DALR, and usually around 5.6°C
/ 1000 m.

**The stability of the atmosphere depends on the comparison of the ELR and the DALR
or WALR.
->If the ELR is less than the DALR or WALR, the atmosphere is stable.
->If the ELR is greater than the DALR or WALR, the atmosphere is unstable.
->If the ELR is equal to the DALR or WALR, the atmosphere is neutral.

-------->>>>>>
**Why is WALR less than DALR?

The reason why the wet adiabatic lapse rate (WALR) is less than the dry adiabatic
lapse rate (DALR) is:

*Condensation and heat release* - As pollutants rise, temperature decreases due to


expansion and partial pressure becomes equal to atmospheric pressure which causes
condensation due to saturation. Condensation leads to liberation of heat equivalent
to latent heat of condensation, hence the rate of decrease of temperature will be
less.

*Lower density of moist air* - Moist air is less dense than dry air, so it rises
faster and cools less than dry air. This also reduces the rate of decrease of
temperature.

-------->>>>>>
What are the conditions on which the stability of atmosphere is dependent upon?

->The stability of the atmosphere is dependent on the environmental lapse rate


(ELR) compared to the process lapse rate (PLR). Three conditions can occur:

Stable (ELR < PLR): Pollutants will tend to sink and be suppressed.
Unstable (ELR > PLR): Pollutants will tend to rise and disperse.
Neutral (ELR = PLR): Pollutants will neither rise nor sink.

-------->>>>>>
Review : Slide 24,25,26
-------->>>>>>

-------->>>>>>
**Air pollution control devices (APCDs)**

Air pollution control devices (APCDs) are equipment or systems that are used to
reduce the emission of harmful pollutants from various sources, such as industrial
processes, power plants, vehicles, and household combustion. APCDs can be
classified into two main categories: particulate control and gaseous control.

Particulate control devices aim to capture or remove solid or liquid particles from
the exhaust gas stream. Some of the common types of particulate control devices
are:

*Gravitational settling chambers*: These are simple devices that use gravity to
separate large and heavy particles from the gas stream. The gas enters a chamber
with a large cross-sectional area at a low velocity, allowing the particles to
settle down and collect at the bottom. These devices are usually used as pre-
cleaners for removing coarse dust from high-volume gas streams.

*Cyclones*: These are devices that use centrifugal force to separate particles from
the gas stream. The gas enters tangentially at a high speed and forms a spiral flow
inside a cylindrical or conical chamber. The particles are forced to the wall by
the centrifugal force and slide down to the bottom outlet, while the clean gas
exits from the top. Cyclones are efficient in removing large and medium-sized
particles, but not very effective for small particles.

*Fabric collectors*: These are devices that use filtration to separate particles
from the gas stream. The gas passes through fabric bags or cartridges that act as
filters, trapping the particles on the surface or within the pores of the fabric.
The fabric can be made of various materials, such as cotton, synthetic, or glass-
fiber, and can have different shapes, such as tubes or envelopes. The collected
particles are removed periodically by shaking, rapping, or reverse air flow. Fabric
collectors are one of the most efficient and cost-effective types of particulate
control devices, and can achieve a collection efficiency of more than 99% for very
fine particles.

*Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs)*: These are devices that use electrostatic


forces to separate particles from the gas stream. The gas passes through a high-
voltage electric field generated by electrodes, where the particles are charged by
ionization or induction. The charged particles are then attracted to the opposite-
charged electrodes and adhere to them. The collected particles are removed by
rapping or water sprays. ESPs are also very efficient and can handle large gas
volumes and high temperatures, but they have high capital costs and require high
voltage power supply.

Gaseous control devices aim to capture or remove gaseous pollutants from the
exhaust gas stream. Some of the common types of gaseous control devices are:

*Absorption*: This is a process where the gaseous pollutant is transferred from the
gas phase to the liquid phase by contacting the gas with a liquid solvent that can
dissolve or react with the pollutant. The solvent can be water or an aqueous
solution of chemicals, such as acids, bases, or salts. The gas and the liquid can
be contacted in various ways, such as spray towers, packed towers, plate towers, or
venturi scrubbers. The absorption efficiency depends on the solubility,
concentration, and contact time of the pollutant and the solvent. The solvent can
be regenerated or disposed of after the absorption process.

*Condensation*: This is a process where the gaseous pollutant is converted to the


liquid or solid phase by cooling the gas below the dew point or freezing point of
the pollutant. The cooling can be achieved by heat exchange, refrigeration, or
compression. The condensation efficiency depends on the vapor pressure,
temperature, and pressure of the pollutant and the gas6. The condensed pollutant
can be recovered or disposed of after the condensation process.

*Adsorption*: This is a process where the gaseous pollutant is adhered to the


surface of a solid material by physical or chemical forces. The solid material is
called the adsorbent, and can be activated carbon, silica gel, alumina, or
zeolite7. The gas and the adsorbent can be contacted in various ways, such as fixed
beds, moving beds, or fluidized beds. The adsorption efficiency depends on the
surface area, pore size, and affinity of the adsorbent and the pollutant. The
adsorbent can be regenerated or disposed of after the adsorption process.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Gravitational Setting Chambers:

*Definition: Gravitational Settling Chambers are devices that use gravity to


separate dust particles from exhaust gases.

*Working Principle: The gas velocity is reduced by expanding the cross-sectional


area of the chamber, allowing the heavier particles to settle down and be collected
in a hopper.

*Types: There are different types of settling chambers, such as simple expansion
chamber, multi-tray settling chamber, and baffle chamber, depending on the shape
and arrangement of the plates or baffles.

*Applications and Limitations: Settling chambers are used as precleaners for


removing dry dust from various industrial processes. They are simple, cheap, and
require low maintenance, but they have low collection efficiency for small
particles (<50 µm) and high space requirements.

-------->>>>>>
Review : Slide 31,32,33
-------->>>>>>

**Write a short note on cyclones:

Cyclones are devices that use centrifugal force to separate dust particles from
exhaust gases.

They consist of a hollow vertical tower with one or more inlet pipes and an outlet
pipe at the top. The gas-particle mixture enters tangentially and creates a spiral
flow.

The particles are forced towards the wall and spiral downwards to the bottom
outlet, while the clean gas escapes from the top outlet.
Cyclones are efficient in removing large particles (>25 µm) but not very effective
for small particles (<10 µm)2. They are used as precleaners or in combination with
other particulate control devices.

Cyclones have low capital and operating costs, no moving parts, and can operate at
high temperatures and pressures. However, they have high pressure drop, low
collection efficiency for fine particles, and cannot handle sticky or corrosive
materials.

-------->>>>>>
**What are the industrial applications of cyclones?

Some of the industrial applications of cyclones are:

*Precleaning* - Cyclones are used in many applications for precleaning before


sending the gas stream to precipitators or filters. This reduces the load on the
downstream devices and improves their efficiency.

*Recovery and recycling*- Cyclones can recover and recycle solid particles such as
food products or catalysts that are entrained in the gas stream. This can save
valuable materials and reduce waste.

*Metallurgical industries*- Cyclones are used as a first stage for control of


particulate matter emissions from roasters, kilns and furnaces. These processes
generate large amounts of dust that can be removed by cyclones.

*Spray drying* - Cyclones are used after spray drying operations in food industry
to collect the dried product and separate it from the exhaust air.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Fabric Collectors/Bag filters/bag house:

*Definition*: Fabric collectors use filtration to separate dust particulates from


dusty gases. They are one of the most efficient and cost effective types of dust
collectors available.

*Working Principle*: Dust-laden gases enter the baghouse and pass through fabric
bags that act as filters. The bags can be of woven or felted cotton, synthetic, or
glass-fiber material. The dust cake formed on the surfaces of the bags enhances the
collection efficiency.

*Types*: There are three common types of baghouses based on the cleaning method:
mechanical shaker, reverse air, and reverse jet.

*Applications*: Fabric collectors are widely used for controlling particulate


emissions from various industrial processes such as cement and lime kilns,
furnaces, milling operations, power drying processes, etc. They can also remove
hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on Electrostatic Precipitators:

Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) are devices that use electrostatic forces to


separate dust particles from exhaust gases.

Working Principle : ESPs have high-voltage electrodes that ionize the gas molecules
and charge the dust particles. The charged particles are then attracted to
oppositely charged electrodes and collected.

Types: ESPs can be classified by the shape of the electrodes (tubular or parallel
plate), the direction of the gas flow (reverse or straight), the polarity of the
corona (negative or positive), and the number of stages (single or double).

Advantages and Disadvantages: ESPs have high collection efficiencies, low pressure
drops, and can handle large gas volumes and high temperatures.

However, they also have high capital costs, cannot control gaseous emissions, are
not very flexible, and require a lot of space.

-------->>>>>>
**Explain the working principle of ESP?

*Corona Generation*: A high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes,


creating a corona discharge around them. This ionizes the gas molecules in the
vicinity, producing positive and negative ions and free electrons.

*Particle Charging*: The negative ions travel towards the positive electrodes
(collection electrodes), and attach to the dust particles in the gas stream, giving
them a negative charge.

*Particle Collection*: The charged particles are attracted to the oppositely


charged electrodes and form a layer on their surface.

*Removal of Particles*: The particles are removed from the electrodes by rapping or
wet removal methods.

-------->>>>>>
**What are the advantages and disadvantages of ESP?

*Advantages* :
*High efficiency of removal of particles/pollutants - ESPs can achieve a collection
efficiency of more than 99% for very fine particulates, even for those with low
solubility or high resistivity.

*Collection of dry and wet pollutants - ESPs can be used for both dry and wet
impurities, such as ash, cement, resin, oil, tar, acid, or SO2.

*Low operating costs - ESPs have low energy consumption and maintenance costs, and
can handle large gas volumes and heavy dust loads at low pressure drops.

*Disadvantages*:

*High capital costs - ESPs have a high initial capital cost, which makes them
prohibitive for small-scale industries. They also require large space and a
reliable electric power system.

*Not flexible once installed - ESPs do not offer the flexibility of operation or
adjustment to changes in operating conditions. They also cannot be used to collect
gaseous pollutants or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

*Take up a lot of space - ESPs have a large footprint and need sufficient clearance
for installation and maintenance. They also produce a large amount of solid waste
that needs to be disposed of properly.

-------->>>>>>
**Collection Efficiency of ESP**

The collection efficiency of ESP is the fraction of particles that are removed from
the gas stream by the electrostatic precipitator.
It is mathematically expressed by the *Deutsch-Andersen Equation*, which is:
η=1−e^{(−Vpm×Ac)/Q}
where,

η is the fractional collection efficiency


Vpm is the particle migration velocity
Ac is the area of the collection electrode
Q is the volumetric flow rate of gas

This equation is based on some assumptions, such as: *neglecting the repulsion
effect , *uniform gas velocity, *field charging of particles, and *no hindered
settling effect.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a short note on wet scrubbers:

*Definition* :Wet Scrubbers are the devices that use liquid to remove dust and
gaseous pollutants from exhaust gases

*Mechanisms*: Wet scrubbers can operate by gravity settling, centrifugal forces,


electrostatic forces, filtration, or scrubbing

*Types*: The most popular devices are spray towers, plate type wet scrubbers, paced
columns as well as venturi scrubbers.

*Applications*: Wet scrubbers are used for controlling particulate matter


(especially *PM2.5 and *PM10), inorganic fumes, vapors, and gases (such as chromic
acid, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, chlorides, fluorides, and SO2), and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs).

*Advantages and Disadvantages*

*Advantages*: Wet scrubbers have high collection efficiencies, low pressure drops,
and can handle high temperatures and corrosive gases.

*Disadvantages*: They have high capital and operating costs, They also produce
wastewater and sludge, and may not be effective for some pollutants.

-------->>>>>>
**Write a shortnote on plate type scrubber and spray tower:

*Plate type scrubber*: A device that uses one or more plates to contact gas and
liquid for removing gaseous pollutants or particulates. The gas passes through
openings in each plate and mixes with the liquid flowing over the plate. The mass
transfer or particle removal occurs due to the gas-liquid contact. The advantages
of this type of scrubber are high removal efficiency, low pressure drop, and low
liquid consumption.

*Spray tower*: A device that uses spray nozzles to atomize liquid droplets and
inject them into a chamber where they contact the gas stream. The gaseous
pollutants or particulates are absorbed or captured by the liquid droplets. The
advantages of this type of scrubber are low pressure drop, high liquid consumption,
and applicability to the removal of gases with high liquid solubility.
-------->>>>>>
Review : Slide 57,58,59,60
-------->>>>>>

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