07-Air Quality Engineering

Air Quality Engineering
Engr. Elisa G. Eleazar

School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences
ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 1

Outline
Module 07: AIR QUALITY ENGINEERING Learning Outcomes
Atmospheric Structure 1. Describe and explain the structure of the atmosphere
Meteorology and Air Transport 2. Explain meteorology and transport
3. Explain the output of atmospheric dispersion models
Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling 4. Describe air pollution
Air Pollution 5. Differentiate the air pollutants
Air Pollutants 6. Explain the sources, effects and remediation practices for
the air pollution episodes
Air Pollution Episodes 7. Differentiate the air pollution control devices
Air Pollution Control Devices

Atmospheric Structure
Composition of Air
The pollutants emitted into the atmosphere must

travel through the atmosphere to reach people,
animals, plants, or things to have an effect.
Wind is the means of transport of pollutants.

Atmospheric Structure
TROPOSPHERE
turbulent layer due to surface heating and
cooling processes from the rising and setting sun
STRATOSPHERE
layer with very little mixing

Meteorology and Air Transport
FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Air Mass
• volume of air defined by its temperature and water vapor content
• covers many hundreds or thousands of miles and adapts to the characteristics of the surface below them
Nomenclature
1: Moisture Properties
c continental (dry)
m maritime (moist)
2: Source Region
T Tropical
P Polar
A Arctic / Antarctic
M Monsoon
E Equatorial

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Air Mass Movement Front

• wind and jet streams push the air masses • boundary between air masses
• carries its characteristic moisture and temperature
• can move into regions quickly

• steeper than other types
• often produce tall cumulonimbus
clounds and precipitation
• likely to produce brief, heavy
storms
• after the storm: air is cooler and
often very clear

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
• moves more slowly than cold fronts

• moves gradually up and over a mass
of denser and colder air
• moisture condenses all along the
sloping front, producing cloud-
covered skies
• high cirrus clouds  high stratus
clouds  lower stratus clouds
• brings many hours of steady rain or
snow
• after: air is warmer

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
• occurs when air masses first meet or

when a cold or warm front stops
moving
• the boundary between the air
masses stays in the same location
• the air in each mass can still move
sideways along the front or upward,
which may produce clouds

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Pressure Systems
High Pressure System
• air sinks slowly down
• as the air nears the ground, it spreads out
toward areas of lower pressure, warming up
• water droplets evaporate so clouds often
disappear
• generally brings clear skies and calm air or

gentle breezes

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Pressure Systems
Low Pressure System
• develops wherever there is a center of low
pressure
• forms where the ends of warm and cold
fronts meet
• causes very stormy weather

FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Local Transport
In the morning, the sun heat up the land surface

more quickly, resulting in a sea breeze, the movement
of air from the sea to land.
In the evening, the land cools more quickly and

results in the surface air moving from land to sea, the
land breeze.

ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY
tendency of the air to resist vertical movement
Lapse Rate rate of change of temperature with altitude
warming or cooling independent of prevailing atmospheric

Dry Adiabatic Lapse temperatures
Rate 1℃
Γ=
100 m
warming or cooling influenced by the evaporation and

Wet Adiabatic condensation of water
Lapse Rate 0.6 ℃
Γ~
100 m

Prevailing Lapse Rate actual temperature – elevation measurements
Superadiabatic Lapse Rate

1℃
Γ>
100 m
• enhanced mixing, resulting in enhanced
dispersion of pollutants and lowered pollutant
consideration
• unstable atmosphere

Prevailing Lapse Rate actual temperature – elevation measurements
Subadiabatic Lapse Rate

1℃
Γ<
100 m
• limited vertical mixing
• stable atmosphere

Thermal Inversion
• extreme subadiabatic conditions
• a cool layer of air gets trapped below a layer of warm air and is unable to
rise
Subsidence Inversion
• due to the movement of a large warm air
mass over cooler air
Radiation Inversion
• caused by the radiation of heat to the
atmosphere from the earth’s surface

ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY AND PLUME TYPE
Looping Fanning
• occurs in highly unstable conditions • occurs in very stable conditions (inversion)
• a rapid turnover of air causes turbulence • prevents vertical motion of the plume, but horizontal
• usually favorable for dispersion of air pollutant motion is not prevented

Coning Lofting
• occurs under neutral conditions where atmospheric • release of air pollutants occurs just above the inversion
conditions are slightly stable • the air above the inversion is unstable
• stack height is above the elevation of the inversion

Meteorology and Air TransportMovement
Fumigation
• air pollutants are released just before the inversion layer
• air below the plume is unstable
• ground-level receptors can be exposed to high levels of
pollutants

SP1. A stack 100 m tall emits a plume at 20 C. The prevailing lapse rates are shown in the following figure. How high will
the plume rise assuming perfect adiabatic conditions?
• The prevailing lapse rate is subadiabatic to 200 m and an

inversion exists above 200 m.
• The parcel is surrounded by air at 18.6 C (colder air) so the
parcel will rise and cool at the adiabatic lapse rate.
• At around 220 m, the surrounding air is at the same temperature
as the parcel of air, so it ceases to rise.

Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling
DISPERSION MODELING
• Estimation of concentrations downwind a source is useful for air

pollution management.
• Modeling is necessary for predicting impacts of control technologies.
Dispersion Models
• based on the observation that air pollution
emissions are carried horizontally with the average
wind flow, but also spread and dilute in the
vertical and horizontal directions due to turbulent
eddies, buoyancy in the vertical direction and
other fluctuations in wind direction
Factors Affecting Dispersion
• emission characteristics
• nature of pollutant
• meteorological conditions
• terrain and anthropogenic structures
GAUSSIAN DISPERSION MODELS
Assumptions
• plume spread results primarily because by molecular diffusion
• horizontal and vertical pollutant concentrations in the plume
are normally distributed
𝑆 𝑦2 𝑧−𝐻 2
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp −
2𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧2
• C time-averaged concentration of pollutant

• x downwind coordinate concentration directly at the centerline of the plume
• y crosswind coordinate
• z vertical coordinate adjusts the concentration as you move in the y direction
• h height of source adjusts the concentration as you move in the z direction
• S continuous pollutant emission rate from the source
• H plume effective release height

due to buoyancy and momentum
𝑣𝑑 −3
𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑎
∆ℎ = 1.5 + 2.58 𝑥 10 𝑃 𝑑
𝑢 𝑇𝑎
• v exit velocity of gas

• d stack inner diameter
• Ts stack gas exit temperature
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp − •
2𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧2 Ta ambient temperature
• P ambient pressure
• C time-averaged concentration of pollutant
• x downwind coordinate
• y crosswind coordinate
• z vertical coordinate
• h height of source
• S continuous pollutant emission rate from the source • u wind speed
• H plume effective release height •  dispersion coefficients

Model Parameters
Wind Speed 𝑝
𝐻
𝑢 = 𝑢0
𝑧0
• u0 measured wind speed
• z0 reference height
• p exponent
Dispersion Coefficients
• Briggs equations
• Charts

Model Parameters

Other Forms
Basic Equation Limiting Assumptions
2 2
𝑆 𝑦 𝑧−𝐻 • S is constant over the time period modeled.
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp − • The wind speed is constant in time and with elevation.
2𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧2
• There is no pollutant reaction or deposition.
Ground Reflection Equation
Notes
𝑧−𝐻 2 • adds back the mass of pollutant that
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp − + exp − would have been mathematically
2𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧2 2𝜎𝑧2
dispersed onto the ground
At ground level Notes
𝑆 𝑦2 𝐻2 • focuses on the concentration of an air pollutant at ground level
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp − 2
𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧 because this is where exposure of humans and crops would take place
Vertical dispersion when plume concentration is highest

𝐻
𝜎𝑧 =
2
SP2. A manufacturing process emits 2.4 g of SO2 every minute. The stack height is 15 m and there is zero plume rise.
Assume the wind speed is 3 m/s and the horizontal dispersion coefficient is 25 m and the vertical dispersion
coefficient is 15 m for this situation. What is the concentration of the air pollutant 0.5 km downwind of the release
along the centerline?
𝑆 𝑦2 𝐻2
𝐶 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = exp − 2 exp − 2
𝜋𝑢𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 2𝜎𝑦 2𝜎𝑧
𝑔
2.4 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∗ 160
𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑠 0𝑚 2 15 𝑚 2
𝐶 500,0,0 = exp − exp −
𝜋∗3𝑚
𝑠
∗ 25 𝑚 ∗ 15 𝑚 2 ∗ 25 𝑚 2
2 15 𝑚 2
𝐶 500,0,0 = 6.86 𝑥 10−6 𝑚𝑔3

Air Pollution
any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the air that can harmfully affect the health,
survival or activities of humans or other living organisms
• premature death
• decreased lung function
• increased susceptibility to respiratory infections
• aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
• increased frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms
• IQ loss and impacts on learning, memory and behavior

Air Pollutants
CLASSIFICATIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS
Based on Source
Primary Secondary
• emitted directly into the • formed by chemical reactions
atmosphere in the atmosphere
Based on Primary Source

Stationary Mobile Fugitive
Based on Physical State

Particulates Gaseous

Air Pollutants
PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTANTS
Fume: solid particle (frequently a metallic oxide) formed by the

condensation of vapors by sublimation, distillation,
calcination or chemical processes
Spray: liquid particle formed by the atomization of a parent liquid

Dust: solid particle entrained by process gases directly from the material
being handled (coal, ash, cement), or a direct offspring of a parent
material (sawdust) or entrained materials in mechanical
operations (sand from sandblasting)
Mist: entrained liquid particle formed by the condensation of a vapor or
a chemical reaction

Air Pollutants
GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS
Pollutant Properties Significance

Sulfur dioxide colorless, highly soluble in water damage to property, health and vegetation
Sulfur trioxide soluble in water highly corrosive
Hydrogen sulfide rotten egg odor (low conc); odorless (high conc) highly toxic
Nitrous oxide colorless inert; not produced in combustion
Nitric oxide colorless oxidizes to NO2
Nitrogen dioxide brown to orange gas major component of photochemical smog
Carbon monoxide colorless and odorless toxic
Carbon dioxide colorless and odorless greenhouse gas
Ozone highly reactive damage to vegetation and property
Hydrocarbons emitted from automobiles
Methane combustible, odorless greenhouse gas
Chlorofluorocarbons nonreactive, excellent thermal properties deplete ozone in the upper atmosphere

Air Pollutants
CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS
Carbon monoxide Sulfur oxides Nitrogen oxides

colorless and odorless colorless, soluble in water colorless; brown to dark orange
from incomplete combustion of fuels highly corrosive imparts brownish haze
absorbed easily into blood precursor to acid rain forms O3 and HNO3

Air Pollutants
CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS
Lead Ozone Particulate Matter

from industrial sources highly reactive less than 2.5 / 10 microns
affects the nervous system Photochemical smog respiratory problems

Air Pollutants
SP2. During a 2 week-long major air pollution episode in London in 1952, it is estimated that 25,000 tonnes of coal that
had an average sulfur content of about 4% were burned per week. The mixing depth (height of the inversion layer or
cap over the city that prevented the pollutants from escaping) was about 150 m over an area of 1200 km2. If initially,
there was no SO2 in the atmosphere, what is the expected SO2 concentration at the end of two weeks?
R SO2 Accumulated = R SO2 in − R SO2 out + R SO2 produced − R SO2 consumed
tonnes coal 4 tonnes S 1 Mmol S 1 Mmol SO2 64 tonnes SO2

SO2 Accumulated = 25,000 ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ 2 wk
wk 100 tonnes coal 32 tonnes S 1 Mmol S Mmol SO2
SO2 Accumulated = 4,000 tonnes
4,000 Mg ∗ 1,000,000
Mg
g
SO2 Concentration = 2
150 m ∗ 1200 km2 ∗ 1,000,000
1 km 2
m
SO2 Concentration = 0.022 mg3

Air Pollution Episodes
CLIMATE CHANGE
Consider the earth receiving energy from the sun;

𝐵 = 𝑆𝜋𝑅2 • B rate at which solar energy strikes earth, W
• S solar constant, 1370 W/m2
• R earth’s radius, m
Amount of energy absorbed by the earth;

𝐴 = 𝑆𝜋𝑅2 (1 − 𝛼)
• A energy absorbed by the earth, W
The earth reflects some of the energy back to space;
𝐹 = 𝑆𝜋𝑅2 𝛼 • F energy reflected back into space, W

•  albedo (fraction of energy reflected), 31%

CLIMATE CHANGE
The energy radiated is proportional to its surface area and absolute temperature;
𝐸 = 𝜎𝐴𝑇 4 • E energy radiated back to space
• T absolute temperature, K
•  Stefan-Boltzmann constant, 5.67 X 10-8 W/m2K4
Assuming constant earth temperature and perfect radiation;

𝐸 = 𝜎𝜋𝑅2 𝑇𝑒4 • Te earth’s average temperature, K
Energy balance; 1
𝑆 1−𝛼 4
𝐴=𝐸 𝑇𝑒 =
4𝜎
𝑆𝜋𝑅2 1 − 𝛼 = 𝜎𝜋𝑅2 𝑇𝑒4 1
1370 1 − 0.31 4
𝑇𝑒 =
4 5.67 𝑥 10−8
𝑇𝑒 = 254 𝐾 = −19 ℃
Greenhouse Effect
CLIMATE CHANGE
Incoming
solar radiation
Outgoing radiation

CLIMATE CHANGE

CLIMATE CHANGE

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
Ozone Destruction (Anthropogenic)

𝐶𝐹2 𝐶𝑙2 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝐶𝐹2 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐶𝑙 ∙
Ozone Creation Ozone Destruction (Natural) 𝐶𝑙 ∙ +𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂 ∙ + 𝑂2
𝑂2 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝑂 ∙ + 𝑂 ∙ 𝑂3 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝑂2 + 𝑂 ∙ 𝐶𝑙𝑂 ∙ +𝑂 ∙ → 𝐶𝑙 ∙ + 𝑂2
𝑂2 + 𝑂 ∙→ 𝑂3

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

ACID RAIN
ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡
𝑆 + 𝑂2 𝑆𝑂2
𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
𝑆𝑂2 + 𝑂 𝑆𝑂3
𝑆𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4
𝑁2 + 𝑂2 → 2𝑁𝑂
𝑁𝑂 + 𝑂3 → 𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂2
𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 2𝐻𝑁𝑂3 + 𝑂2

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
𝑁𝑂2 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝑁𝑂 + 𝑂 𝑂 + 𝐻𝐶 → 𝐻𝐶𝑂 ∙ 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 ∙ + 𝑁𝑂 → 𝐻𝐶𝑂2 ∙ + 𝑁𝑂2
𝑂 + 𝑂2 → 𝑂3 𝐻𝐶𝑂 ∙ + 𝑂2 → 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 ∙ 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 ∙ + 𝑂2 → 𝐻𝐶𝑂2 ∙ + 𝑂3
𝑂3 + 𝑁𝑂 → 𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂2 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 ∙ + 𝐻𝐶 → 𝐴𝑙𝑑𝑒ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑒𝑠, 𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠, 𝑒𝑡𝑐. 𝐻𝐶𝑂𝑥 ∙ + 𝑁𝑂2 → 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑦𝑙 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
• sources are different from ambient air pollution • rarely monitored
• linger longer • limited enforcement
Pollutant Source/s
Carbon monoxide Stoves, furnaces
Formaldehyde Carpets, plywood finishes
Particulate matter Materials processing
VOCs Sovents, personal care products
Radon Diffusion from soil
Ozone Photocopiers, printers
Biological agents Mold, fungi, pets
Asbestos Insulation, tiles, fireproofing
Tobacco smoke Cigarettes, cigars


CONTROL OF PARTICULATES
Settling Chamber
• used to remove particles with sizes Bag / Fabric Filter
greater than 50 microns • operates like a vacuum cleaner
• particles settle under gravitational • sensitive to high temperature and
force Cyclone humidity
• popular, economical and effective
means of controlling particulates

CONTROL OF PARTICULATES
Spray Tower / Scrubber Electrostatic Precipitator

• used to remove large particles • widely-used in power plants
• produces a visible plume and
wastewater

CONTROL OF GASEOUS POLLUTANTS
Wet Scrubber Incineration
Adsorption

Outline
Module 07: AIR QUALITY ENGINEERING Learning Outcomes
Atmospheric Structure 1. Describe and explain the structure of the atmosphere
Meteorology and Air Transport 2. Explain meteorology and transport
3. Explain the output of atmospheric dispersion models
Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling 4. Describe air pollution
Air Pollution 5. Differentiate the air pollutants
Air Pollutants 6. Explain the sources, effects and remediation practices for
the air pollution episodes
Air Pollution Episodes 7. Differentiate the air pollution control devices

Air Quality Engineering
Engr. Elisa G. Eleazar

School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences

07-Air Quality Engineering

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Air Quality Engineering

Engr. Elisa G. Eleazar

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 1

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2

The pollutants emitted into the atmosphere must

Wind is the means of transport of pollutants.

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 3

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 4

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 5

Air Mass Movement Front

• can move into regions quickly

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 6

• moves more slowly than cold fronts

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 7

• occurs when air masses first meet or

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 8

• generally brings clear skies and calm air or

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 9

• causes very stormy weather

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 10

In the morning, the sun heat up the land surface

In the evening, the land cools more quickly and

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 11

Lapse Rate rate of change of temperature with altitude

warming or cooling independent of prevailing atmospheric

warming or cooling influenced by the evaporation and

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 12

Prevailing Lapse Rate actual temperature – elevation measurements

Superadiabatic Lapse Rate

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 13

Prevailing Lapse Rate actual temperature – elevation measurements

Subadiabatic Lapse Rate

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 14

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 15

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 16

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 17

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 18

• The prevailing lapse rate is subadiabatic to 200 m and an

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 19

• Estimation of concentrations downwind a source is useful for air

• Modeling is necessary for predicting impacts of control technologies.

• C time-averaged concentration of pollutant

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 21

due to buoyancy and momentum

• v exit velocity of gas

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 22

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 23

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 24

Vertical dispersion when plume concentration is highest

𝐶 500,0,0 = 6.86 𝑥 10−6 𝑚𝑔3

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 26

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 27

Based on Primary Source

Based on Physical State

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 28

Fume: solid particle (frequently a metallic oxide) formed by the

Spray: liquid particle formed by the atomization of a parent liquid

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 29

Pollutant Properties Significance

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 30

Carbon monoxide Sulfur oxides Nitrogen oxides

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 31

Lead Ozone Particulate Matter

ENV111: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 32