Air

 Pollution  :  L  5

01/11/2017
Some  Useful  Concepts:

• Maximum  mixing  height/  depth  ?  

• Ventilation  coefficient  ?

• Wind-­‐rose  diagram  ?
Atmospheric Stability and Mixing Depth
• The amount of air available to dilute pollutants is related
to the wind speed and to the extent to which emissions
can rise into the atmosphere.
• An estimate of this (dilution process) can be obtained by
determining “maximum mixing depth”
Estimation of Maximum mixing depth and
ventilation coefficient

• Following the logic presented earlier,

the maximum mixing depth can be Ambient temp.
estimated by plotting maximum profile
surface temperature and drawing a
line parallel to the dry adiabatic lapse

Z
rate from the point of maximum
surface temperature to the point at MMD
which the line intersects the ambient
or natural temperature profile (usually
of early morning or night) Tmax
T
Ventilation Coefficient (m2/s) = MMD (m) * Avg wind speed within mixing depth
(m/s)
This parameter is used as an indicator of the atmosphere’s dispersive
capability
If ventilation coefficient< 6000 m2/s, air pollution potential is considered to be
high.
Wind-­rose  diagram  
 Maximum  Ground  Level  Concentration
Under  moderately  stable  to  near  neutral  conditions,
σ y = k1σ z
The  ground  level  concentration  at  the  center  line  is
Q ⎡ H 2 ⎤
C (x,0,0) = 2
exp⎢− 2 ⎥
πk1σ z u ⎣ 2σ z ⎦
The  maximum  occurs  at
H
dC / dσ z = 0 ⇒ σz =
2
Once  σz is  determined,  x  can  be  known  and  subsequently   C.
Q Q
C (x,0,0) = exp[− 1] = 0.1171
πσ y σ z u σ yσ zu
 Discussion….
• 1.  In  the  Holland's  formula  for  finding  the  
plume  rise,  there  is  a  direct  proportionality  of  
Plume  rise  with  the  stack  diameter.  But  this  is  
against  the  intuitive  reasoning  that  we  gave  in  
class.  If  the  stack  diameter  decreases,  the  exit  
velocity  of  the  gases  increase  and  hence  the  
Plume  rise  must  increase.  
• Why  the  formula  suggest  the  opposite  thing?
• 2.  In  the  case  of  perfect  absorption,  which  
formula  should  be  used.  Is  it  the  one  where  
only  the  (z-­‐H)^2  term  appears  in  the  
exponent.  

• Also,  should  we  always  consider  perfect  

reflection  in  case  there  is  nothing  specified  
about  the  type  surface?
 Wark & Warner, “Air Pollution: Its Origin & Control”

Q ⎡ y 2 ⎤ ⎧⎪ ⎡ (z − H )2 ⎤ ⎡ (z + H )2 ⎤ ⎫⎪
C ( x, y , z ) = exp⎢− 2 ⎥ ⎨exp⎢− 2 ⎥ + exp⎢− 2 ⎥ ⎬
2πσ y σ z u ⎢⎣ 2σ y ⎥⎦ ⎪⎩ ⎣ 2σ z ⎦ ⎣ 2σ z ⎦ ⎪⎭
 Point Source at Elevation H

• Assumes no interference or limitation to

dispersion in any direction

x0 andd z0 are location

l i off centerline
li off plume
l
y0 taken as base of the stack
z0 is H
Q = emission strength of source (mass/time) – g/s
u = average wind speed thru the plume – m/s
C = concentration – g/m3 (Notice this is not ppm)
y and z are horizontal and vertical standard deviations in meters
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Point Source at Elevation H with Reflection
Point Source at Elevation H without Reflection

• 3 terms
– gives concentration on the centerline of the plume
– gives concentration as you move in the sideways direction ( y
direction), direction doesn’t matter because ( y)2 gives a positive
value
– gives concentration as you move in the vertical direction ( z
doesn’tt matter because ( (z – H))2 gives a
direction) direction doesn
direction),
positive value
• Concentrations are symmetric about y-axis and z-axis
• Same concentration at (z-H) = 10 m as (z-H) =10 10 m
• Close to ground symmetry is disturbed
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Effect  of  Inversion
 Virtual Source Also Used to Model Reflection
Off of the Top of the Mixed Layer

Virtual Source Also Used to Model Reflection

Off of the Top of the Mixed Layer

Eventually
well-mixed

(added to direct plume concentration)

Eventually
well-mixed

(added to direct plume concentration)

Plume Reflection off of the top of the mixed layer

wind

Plume Reflection off of the top of the mixed layer

zi

wind
• 3.  Why  Gaussian  dispersion  model  is  only  
limited  to  finding  concentration  of  pollutants  
beyond  X  =  50  m?  
• 4.  In  the  example  that  we  did  in  class  for  the  
Briggs  method,  the  final  condition  that  
whether  x  >  xf is  not  included.  The  desired  
location(x)  for  concentration  measurement  is  
not  specified.  
• Is  the  information  insufficient  in  the  question?
• 5.  Logical  explanation  of  why  the  stability  
decreased  with  the  wind  in  the  table  that  we  
had  in  the  slides??
 Line Sources
• Imagine that a line source, such as a
highway,
g y, consists of an infinite number of
point sources
• The roadway can be broken into finite
elements, each representing a point source,
and contributions from each element are
summed to predict net concentration

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 Line Sources
• When wind direction is normal to line of emission
• Ground
G d llevell concentration
i ddownwind
i d

C( 0) = ___ 2q
C(x,0) ( 0 5H2)
2 ___ exp(-0.5H
(2Π)0.5 z u z
2

q = source strength per unit distance (g/s * m)

Concentration should be uniform in the y-direction at

ag
given x
 Line Sources
• For ground level (H = 0), could also use breathing
height 1

C(x 0) = ___ 2q ___ exp(

C(x,0) 0 5H2)
exp(-0.5H
(2Π)0.5 z u z
2
 Instantaneous Release of a Puff
• Pollutant released quickly
• E l i
Explosion
• Accidental spill
• Release time << transport time
• Also based on Gaussian distribution
function

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Instantaneous  Release  of  a  Puff
Instantaneous Release of a Puff
• Equation
q 4-41 to p
predict maximum g
ground level
Maximum   Ground  Level  Concentration
concentration

Cmax = _____2Qp____
(2Π)3/2 x y z

Receptor downwind would see a gradual increase in

concentration
t ti until
til center
t off puff
ff passed
d andd then
th
concentration would decrease
Assume x = y
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 Figure Puff Example
4-9 and Table 4-7
A tanker spill on the freeway releases 400
400,000
000 grams of chlorine
chlorine.
What exposure will vehicles directly behind the tanker (downwind)
receive if x =100 m? Assume very stable conditions.
From Table 4-7,

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 Puff Example
A tanker spill on the freeway releases 400
400,000
000 grams of chlorine
chlorine.
What exposure will vehicles directly behind the tanker (downwind)
receive if x =100 m? Assume very stable conditions.

From Table 4-7, y= 0.02(100m)0.89 = 1.21

F
From T
Table
bl 4-7,
47 = 0
0.05(100m)
05(100 ) 0 61 = 0.83
0.61 0 83
z

Cmax = _____2Qp____ = ____2(400000 g)_____ = 42,181 g/m3

(2Π)3/2 x y z (2Π)3/2(1.21)(1.21)(0.83)

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