Air quality impacts of a coal-fired power plant in the Upper Cook Inlet of Alaska

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5886858· OSTI ID:5886858

McNaughton, D. J.

Air quality impacts for a proposed 500-MWe power plant in the Upper Cook Inlet are analyzed using screening-level models as a means to study coal development in Alaska. Simulation cases were run that examined impacts of controls on sulfur dioxide emissions. Results indicated that the highest concentrations of sulfur dioxide occur for the uncontrolled case whereas lower plume rise causes maximum concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and total suspended particulates when sulfur dioxide emissions controls reduce plume rise. Plume interactions with terrain result in maximum plant impacts and indicate a sensitivity of results to plant location. Analysis of visibility degradation and sulfate formation indicated small plant impacts on the Cook Inlet. The generic plant simulated at Beluga would be in compliance with federal and state standards when sulfur dioxide emissions are controlled but would exceed prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) increments for sulfur dioxide if emissions are not controlled, which would indicate, when model conservatism is considered, a need for further studies if sulfur dioxide emissions were not controlled. Impacts for a plant significantly different from the generic plant in design and location would require additional study.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 5886858
• Report Number(s): PNL-RAP-38
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA COMPILATION
DATA FORMS
DIAGRAMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PLANTS
PLUMES
POWER PLANTS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TABLES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
VELOCITY
WIND