Air Quality Modelling

Er. Aalisha Goel

 Air Quality Models
Air quality models are used to study atmospheric boundary
layer(i.e part of troposphere closest to ground) and especially to
determine concentration of pollutants in air.

•Air quality models are used to assess the air quality over a
certain period of time (e.g. one year) or to map real time
measurement data from a telemetric network.

•Forecast models in contrast are used to make predictions about

air quality and are supported by, amongnst other equations from
fluid dyanamics, chemical reactions, neural networks etc.
 What is air quality model ?
A mathematical relationship between emissions and air quality
that incorporates the transport, dispersion and transformation of
compounds emitted into the air.

System approach to air quality model

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Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model
Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model
The Diffusion Equation and the
Gaussian Plume Model
The mass rate of diffusion Nx of a gaseous species in the
x-direction at some cross-sectional area A is given by the
expression

Nx = -A ∂(DxC)/ ∂x
Nx is mass transfer per unit time
( )
Dx is mass diffusivity in X direction, area/time
C is concentration in mass per unit volume
A is cross sectional area in X direction

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Development of Gaussian Plume
Model

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 Where; x = along- wind coordinate measured in wind direction from the source
y = cross-wind coordinate direction
z = vertical coordinate measured from the ground
C(x,y,z) = mean concentration of diffusing substance at a point (x,y,z) [kg/m3]
Dy,Dz = mass diffusivity in the direction of the y- and z- axes [m2/s]
U = mean wind velocity along the x-axis [m/s]

Time rate of change and advection of the cloud by the mean wind

Turbulent diffusion of material relative to the center of the pollutant

cloud.( the cloud will expand over time due to these terms.)

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 The rate of transfer of pollutant through any vertical plane
downwind from the source is a constant in steady state, and this
constant must equal the emission rate of the source, Q.

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 After integrating,

Where Q is the strength of the emission source, mass

emitted per unit time

Gaussian parameters

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 Where;
c( x, y, z ) = mean concentration of diffusing substance at a point ( x, y, z ) [kg/m3]
x = downwind distance [m],
y = crosswind distance [m],
z = vertical distance above ground [m],
Q = contaminant emission rate [mass/s],
σx = lateral dispersion coefficient function [m],
σy = vertical dispersion coefficient function [m],
U = mean wind velocity in downwind direction [m/s],
H = effective stack height [m].

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 Gaussian Dispersion Equation
Ground level concentration( when Z = 0 )
2
Q  y  H 
2

c(z0)  exp  0.5   exp 0.5  

 u y z  
 y  z 
If the emission source is at ground level with no
effective plume rise then
 2 
 2
z
Cx, y, z  
Q 1 y 
exp  
 y  zu    2

2

2  y z 
The point of maximum concentration occur along plume centre line.

 H
2
Q
c(z0,y0)  exp 0.5  
2uy z z 
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 CARAVAY’S
METHOD

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 Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model – Effective Stack Height

H  h  H
where
H = Effective stack height (m)
h = height of physical stack (m)
ΔH = plume rise (m)
 Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model – Effective Stack Height
• Holland’s formula
   Ts  Ta  
1.5   2.6810 P
vs
H  2
d 

u    T a  
where vs = stack velocity (m/s)
d = stack diameter (m)
u = wind speed (m)
P = pressure (kPa)
Ts = stack temperature (ºK)
Ta= air temperature (ºK)
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 Advantages of Gaussian model
 Produce results that match closely with experimental data
 Simple in their mathematics
 Quicker than numerical models
 Do not require super computers

 Disadvantages of Gaussian model

 Not suitable if the pollutant is reactive in nature

 Unable to predict concentrations beyond radius of approximately

20 Km

 For greater distances, wind variations, mixing depths and

temporal variations become predominant
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 Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model – Effective Stack Height
• Holland’s formula
   Ts  Ta  
1.5   2.6810 P
vs
H  2
d 

u    T a  
where vs = stack velocity (m/s)
d = stack diameter (m)
u = wind speed (m)
P = pressure (kPa)
Ts = stack temperature (ºK)
Ta= air temperature (ºK)
 Point Source Gaussian Plume
Model – Stability Categories

A Extremely Unstable D Neutral

B Moderately Unstable E Slightly Stable
C Slightly Unstable F Moderately Stable
 Example
• A stack in an urban area is emitting 80 g/s
of NO. It has an effective stack height of
100 m. The wind speed is 4 m/s at 10 m.
It is a clear summer day with the sun
nearly overhead. Estimate the ground
level concentration at a) 2 km downwind
on the centerline and b) 2 km downwind,
0.1 km off the centerline.
 Example
1. Determine stability class
Assume wind speed is 4 km at ground
surface. Description suggests strong
solar radiation.
Stability class B
 Example
3. Determine σyand σz
σy = 290
σz = 220

220
290
 Example
4. Determine concentration using Eq
a. x = 2000, y = 0

 1 0    1  100 2 
2
80
C(2000,0)  exp    exp   
 (290)(220)(5.6)  2  290    2  220  

C(2000,0)  6.43105 g/m3  64.3 μg/m3

 Example

b. x = 2000, y = 0.1 km = 100 m

80  1  100 2   1  100 2 
C(2000,100)  exp    exp   
 (290)(220)(5.6)  2  290    2  220  

C(2000,0)  6.06 105 g/m3  60.6 μg/m3