Updated Gaussian plume model for tall stacks

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1984.10465816· OSTI ID:6306227

Weil, J C; Brower, R P

A Gaussian plume model, PPSP, is described and evaluated which incorporates stability and dispersion parameters and plume rise formulas based on contemporary understanding of the planetary boundary layer. The model improvements over older Gaussian models such as CRSTER focus on daytime convective conditions, which is when tall stacks usually yield their highest ground level concentrations. A major model advancement is the use of u/w/sub */ the stability parameter during daytime rather than the Turner criteria. Here, u is the mean wind speed in the boundary layer, and w is the convective velocity scale, which depends on the cube root of the surface heat flux and boundary layer depth. Other model improvements include: (1) incorporation of Briggs' dispersion parameters for elevated sources instead of the Pasquill-Gifford curves for ground sources, (2) use of Briggs' 1975 plume rise formulas, which address convectively generated turbulence, rather than his pre-1975 formulas, which do not, and (3) adoption of Briggs' 1980 criteria for plume penetration of elevated stable layers instead of the simple all or none approach of the CRSTER model. Evaluation of the PPSP model with an extensive set of ground level SO/sub 2/ measurements downwind of power plant stacks shows that it performs much better that the CRSTER model. 38 references, 6 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Martin Marietta Corp., Baltimore, MD
• OSTI ID: 6306227
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 34:8; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIFFUSION
LAYERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUMES
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
STACKS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
VARIATIONS