Technique for analyzing sulfur dioxide concentrations from multiple randomly-varying sources

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5099217

Witten, A J; Kornegay, F C; Long, Jr, E C; Molyneux, J E; Tevepaugh, J A

A technique for realistic prediction of violations of air quality standards from multiple emission sources is presented. The method allows the sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) emission rates to vary randomly and thus incorporates the emissions variability that does occur as a result of the variability in the sulfur content of coal and the general variability in power plant operations. A modified version of the RAM model is utilized as the basic dispersion model in this technique. The RAM results are statistically analyzed using a cumulative distribution function for the source strengths to predict the potential for violations of predetermined air quality standards. Using representative plant input characteristics, actual meteorological data, and estimates of sulfur content in the coal used by 30 sources, probabilities of no, one, and more than one excursion of varying levels of SO/sub 2/ increase are calculated. The effectiveness of emission control strategies in reducing the probability of SO/sub 2/ violations is also examined. Regulatory acceptance of this technique would allow a regulatory agency to examine objectively the potential air quality impacts of a proposed action, and the effectiveness of varying levels of pollution control to be examined and would allow a plant operator to choose the preferred combination of sulfur content mean and variability along with the necessary level of sulfur control to comply with air quality regulations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5099217
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-8439; ON: DE82020490
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
STANDARDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES