Potential air quality impact of geothermal power production in the Imperial Valley
A regional assessment of the potential impact on air quality of developing the Imperial Valley's geothermal resources for power production is presented. A network of six stations was installed to characterize the air quality and atmospheric transport properties of the valley before development. These measured the ambient air concentrations of H/sub 2/S, SO/sub 2/, O/sub 3/, NO, NO/sub x/, CO/sub 2/, Hg, Rn, and particulates. Wind velocity and the directional variability of the winds were also measured to determine atmospheric stability. The geothermal fluids were analyzed chemically to estimate potential emission rates of H/sub 2/S, NH/sub 3/, CO/sub 2/, CH/sub 4/, Hg, and Rn from future power plants. Using these data and advanced air quality modeling led to the prediction of the potential valley-wide impact of a 3000 MW development scenario. The impact analysis reveals that H/sub 2/S is the principal gaseous pollutant of concern due to its noxious odor and the potential release rate. The ambient H/sub 2/S concentrations that would result from generating 3000 MW without emission controls exceed the California air quality standard (30 ppb) at least 1% of the time for an area in the northern part of the valley that is roughly 1500 km/sup 2/ in size. This compares with current ambient air concentrations that exceed the standard much less than 0.1% of the time. The population center most impacted is Calipatria, where the standard could be exceeded almost 10% of the time. In addition, the odor of H/sub 2/S will be noticeable at least 1% of the time for most of the valley if the 3000 MW are placed on-line without abatement systems.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5861695
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-52797
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
AIR QUALITY
AMMONIA
CARBON DIOXIDE
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MERCURY
METHANE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OZONE
RADON
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ALKANES
CALIFORNIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLUIDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
RARE GASES
RESOURCES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WESTERN REGION
Geothermal Legacy
150600* - Geothermal Energy- Environmental Aspects