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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Plume dispersion and monitor network design Rowat, David Whitborne

Abstract

Steady-state Gaussian binomial equations are widely used for predicting the dispersion and ground-level concentrations of pollutants emitted from stacks. The equations do not account for varying emissions and meteorological conditions. A pseudo-steady-state model was therefore developed by introducing a propagation time factor into the Gaussian equations. The model was subsequently used to simulate pollutant dispersion in regions with up to four different stacks and with different meteorological conditions. Optimum sites for monitoring ground-level concentrations were selected by maximizing the frequency of measurable concentrations or identifying locations of maximum concentrations. The selection was performed by means of a FORTRAN computer program which can be readily modified to meet different requirements. The program also calculates the conversion rate, i.e. the frequency of time for which the monitors acquires sufficient data to enable determination of pollutant emission rates from the stacks. The program was tested for fifteen different idealized situations and it was also applied to a practical monitor siting problem. The program performed satisfactorily and the results of the various test cases are reported.

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