Chemical Engineering 357 Professors Allen and Durrenberger Gaussian Plume Modeling By the end of today’s lecture you should: Understand the form of the Gaussian equation used for plume modeling and simplifying assumptions Understand the types of sources that can be simulated with the Gaussian equation Understand the atmospheric stability classification scheme and use it to determine diffusion coefficients used in Gaussian modeling Understand how the wind speed varies with height and how to adjust it. Understand how to determine plume rise from point sources Outline: L I. sia Iv. Vv. Vi. VIL Gaussian plume equation and assumptions Source types — point, area, volume Emissions and stack parameters Stability Classification Scheme Determination of diffusion coefficients Wind speed Plume riseI. Gaussian plume equation and assumptions. A. History of use of Gaussian plume equation: 1. 1918 2. 1960’s 3. 1970’s Farly Texts “Meteorology and Atomic Energy” — 1968 “Plume Rise”, Briggs 1971 VY “Workbook of Atmospheric Dispersion Estimates”, Turner 1969 B. Gaussian plume equation The most general form of the Gaussian dispersion equation is: xbeevenad = mE exp a - fer]: ~fis| qw y z 2For ground level concentrations at z = 0 equation 1 simplifies to 2 2 xlxsy.OuH) = oO exp [- >] ew [- \ Myer 26, 20," . Q) Using the Gauccian plume equation, the ground level concentration x (in micrograms per cubic meter) at the point (x,y) may be written as oe yVT or, Hye xO a mayor 0°. [= (5) ] exp [ () ] where: Q is the source emission rate, grams per second U 1s the average wind speed at stack height, meters per second %}» oz are the standard deviations of the concentration distributions in the crosswind and vertical directions respectively, meters H is the effective stack height, which is the sum of stack height and plume rise, meters x 1s the distance downwind Trom the stack, meters y is the crosswind distance from the plume centerline, meters z is the vertical distance from ground level, meters