Operational validation of Gaussian plume models at a plains site. Final report
As part of the Operational Validation Phase of the EPRI Plume Model Validation and Development (PMV and D) Project, three standard Gaussian air quality models have been evaluated by comparing predicted power plant impacts with ground-level measurements. The data used for model evaluation were collected over flat terrain near the Kincaid Generating Station during 1980 and 1981. The models were run in a hands-off mode in accordance with model documentation and were evaluated using onsite and NWS meteorological inputs. Model predictions were compared with 5000 hours of SO/sub 2/ measurements at 28 fixed stations and 300 hours of SF/sub 6/ tracer measurements collected using a movable array of 200 samplers. The models evaluated were CEQM (equivalent to EPA's CRSTER model), TEM (developed by Texas Air Control Board), and MSDM (developed by Lawrence Livermore Laboratory). Results showed a number of characteristics common to all three models including: predictions of magnitude and location of short-term ground-level concentrations are subject to large uncertainties and predicted frequency distributions of concentration values show departures from the observed distribution. The models showed differences in peak concentration values (regardless of time or location). For peak 1-hour values, CEQM overpredicted the two highest values by up to 70% and predicted the fifth highest tracer and SO/sub 2/ values within 20%; TEM underpredicted values by 20 to 30%, and MSDM overpredicted values by as much as a factor of 10. CEQM and TEM predicted similar peak values for 3 and 24-hour periods. Both models underpredicted by 10 to 40% for 3-hour values and by 50% for 24-hour values. No model correctly estimated the dependence of peak concentration values on distance or atmospheric stability. 31 references, 29 figures, 59 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Systems Applications, Inc., San Rafael, CA (USA); TRC Environmental Consultants, Inc., East Hartford, CT (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5178480
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-EA-3076; ON: DE84920223
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COMPUTER CODES
C CODES
M CODES
T CODES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
VALIDATION
PLUMES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
DIFFUSION
SULFUR FLUORIDES
EVALUATED DATA
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GAUSS FUNCTION
ILLINOIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FUNCTIONS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)