Chapter 5

Dispersion Models
5.1 Dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere
5.2 Models
5.3 Gaussian Dispersion Model
5.4 Effective stack height
5.5 Area and line sources
Introduction
Connection between Source and
Atmosphere
Emissions of pollutants from sources
Air quality in the atmosphere
Emission Air Quality (Imission)

Connection: MODELS
Very wide variety of models
What is MODEL?
A mathematical relation (equation or a set
of equations) to estimate some
parameter(s) (i.e. Outputs) by using some
other set of parameter(s) (i.e. Inputs)
MODEL
Y
j
= f(X
i
)
Input(s), X
i
Output(s), Y
j
MODELS
Deterministic Models
Initially KNOWN relationship between inputs
and outputs
Box Models (Simple Box Model, Eulerian
Box Model, Lagrangian Box Model)
Receptor Models
Dispersion Models


MODELS
Stochastic Models
Initially UNKNOWN relationship between
inputs and outputs
Mathematical approximations such as
polynomial equations, neural networks,
fuzzy networks etc
General Structure of Air Pollution Models
Air Quality Model
Output:
Concentration Distribution
Input 1:
Emissions
Input 2:
Meteorology
Input 3:
Atmospheric
Chemistry
Input 4:
Surface Properties
Detailed Structure of Atmospheric Chemical
Transport Models
Parameters in Models
Source Parameters (Emission Characteristics)
Emission rates of pollutants (mass/time)
Physical location of source
Temperature of gas release
Plume Rise
Meteorology
Atmospheric temp.
Atmospheric stability (needed for Dipersion
coefficients)
Wind velocity
Atmospheric Chemistry
Chemical Reaction in the atm.
Depositions (wet or dry)
Surface Parameters
Surface geometry, roughness, seas, urban or rural areas etc

Scope of this Chapter
Dispersion Models
GAUSSIAN DISPERSION MODEL
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)
A Mass Balance on the basis of a specific
pollutant In a Control Volume

Accumulation Rate (mass/time)=
+ All Flows In
All Flows Out
+ Formation Rate
- Destruction Rate
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)
Inputs
Outputs
Diffusion
Advection
(by wind)
Two main transportation mechanisms are involved:
1. Diffusion on molecular basis in all directions (i.e.in x, y and z directions)
2. Transportation by wind in only wind direction (i.e. in x direction)
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)
Molecular diffusion

(Ficks Law)

N
x
: Mass diffusion flowrate of gas pollutant in x
direction (mass/time)
D
x
: Diffusivity (turbulent mixing coefficient) in x
direction (area/time)
C : Concentration (mass / volume)
A : Cross-sectional area (A=dydz) in the
direction of transportation (i.e. x direction)
A
x
C D
N
x
x
(

c
c
=
) (
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)

c
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
dz dy dx
dz dy dx
z
C D
z
dz dy dx
y
C D
y
dz dy dx
x
C D
x
dz dz dy dx w C
z
dy dz dy dx v C
y
dx dz dy dx u C
x
dz dy dx C
t
i
i z
i y
i x
i i i i
u +
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
c
c

c
c

c
c
=
c
c
Ci : concentration of pollutant i, g/m
3
u : mean convective velocity in x-direction (wind velocity), m/sec
d
y
: mean convective velocity in y-direction, m/sec
d
z
: mean convective velocity in y-direction, m/sec
D
x
: mass diffusivity in x-direction, m
2
/sec
D
y
: mass diffusivity in y-direction, m
2
/sec
D
z
: mass diffusivity in z-direction, m
2
/sec
: pollutant removal or accumulation rate, g/sec
c
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
i
i z
i y
i x
i i i i
z
C D
z y
C D
y x
C D
x
w C
z
v C
y
u C
x
C
t
u +
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
c
c

c
c

c
c
=
c
c
Dividing both sides by control volume: dxdydz
Assuming mass diffusivities are constant due to continuity principle, that is:
0 =
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
z
w
y
v
x
u
Theory Behind Gaussian Dispersion Model
(GDM)
Last equation becomes

Basic dispersion equation:




We need to evaluate Gaussian Dispersion
mechanism to further go on:

i
i
z
i
y
i
x
i i i i
z
C
D
y
C
D
x
C
D
z
C
w
y
C
v
x
C
u
t
C
u +
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

c
c

c
c
=
c
c
2
2
2
2
2
2
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
in 2D
Average wind
direction
Point source
2 hr average
10 min average
Instantaneous plume
Average plume axis
Average concentration
Plume cross-section
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
in 3D
In order to obtain Gaussian Model, we need to simplify
the Basic dispersion Equation:
Assumptions:
Pollutant emission rate (Qi) from the source is constant:


Wind velocity in y and z directions is zero
Wind velocity in x direction is constant
Advective transportation is dominant over diffusion in x
direction

Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
0 =
c
c
t
C
i
2
2
x
C
D
x
C
u
i
x
i
c
c
>>
c
c
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
Pollutant accumulation or removal is zero:
=0
With all these assumptions Basic Eqn:



Becomes a second order differential eqn:
i
i
z
i
y
i
x
i i i i
z
C
D
y
C
D
x
C
D
z
C
w
y
C
v
x
C
u
t
C
u +
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

c
c

c
c
=
c
c
2
2
2
2
2
2


dispersion
i
z
i
y
convection
i
z
C
D
y
C
D
x
C
u
2
2
2
2
c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
Solution:



K is an indefinite integration constant
To find K: we need to determine the integration limits
depending upon the dispersion geometry.
In the plume: we have

(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

x
u
D
z
D
y
x K C
z y
4
exp
2 2
1
} }
= dz dy C u Q
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
Integration limits for a ground source
y: -infinity to +infinity;
z: 0 to +infinity


Result:


K is:


dz dy
x
u
D
z
D
y
x u K Q
z y
)

(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
} }
+ +

4
exp
2 2
0
1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 / 1 2 / 1
2 / 1 2 / 1
2 / 1 2 / 1
1
2 2
y x y x
D D K
u
x
u
x
D D x u K Q t
t t
=
(
(

|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

( ) ( )
2 / 1 2 / 1
2
y x
D D
Q
K
t
=
Gaussian Dispersion Mechanism
Inserting into main eqn:



By definition; we have the following relations between diffusion and
dispersion coefficients:


Inserting them into main eqn,we have
Gauss Dispersion Eqn for ground level source:






( ) ( )

)

(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
x
u
D
z
D
y
D D x
Q
z y x C
z y
y x
4
exp
2
) , , (
2 2
2 / 1 2 / 1
t
u
x D
y
y
2
2
= o
u
x D
z
z
2
2
= o

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
2
2
2
2
2
1
exp ) , , (
z y z y
z y
u
Q
y z x C
o o o o t
Concepts about GDM
Ground Level Source
Point Source
(elevation=0)
Duplicating Plume
(lower part is reflected from ground)

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
2
2
2
2
2
1
exp ) 0 , , , (
z y z y
z y
u
Q
y z x C
o o o o t
Concepts about GDM
Stack Dip Downwash




f

Stack dipdownwash is neglected
Otherwise Reduced Stack height
5 . 1 >
u
V
s
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = 5 . 1 2
'
s
s
s s
u
V
d h h
Concepts about GDM
Plume Orientation
Concepts about GDM
Elevated source
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2
2
2
) (
exp
2
exp
2
) , , , (
z y z y
H z y
u
Q
H z y x C
o o o o t
Concepts about GDM
Ground Reflection
)
`

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
) (
exp
2
) (
exp
2
exp
2
) , , , (
z z y z y
H z H z y
u
Q
H z y x C
o o o o o t
Concepts about GDM
Ground Reflection
(Vertical Concentration profile)

Concepts about GDM
Ground Reflection
(Horizontal concentration change)

C
max
and its location (x
max
) is important
Most General Form of GDM
Terms in GDM
)
`

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
) (
exp
2
) (
exp
2
exp
2
) , , , (
z z y z y
H z H z y
u
Q
H z y x C
o o o o o t
C(x,y,z,H) Position of Receptor and Source
Plume dispersion in the centerline
Plume dispersion in y direction
Plume dispersion ib the z d,rect,on
Effect of ground reflection in the z
direction
z y
u
Q
o o t 2
|
|
.
|

\
|

2
2
2
exp
y
y
o
|
|
.
|

\
|

2
2
2
) (
exp
z
H z
o
|
|
.
|

\
| +

2
2
2
) (
exp
z
H z
o
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
Plume Shapes depending on
Stability
How to use GDM?
)
`

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
) (
exp
2
) (
exp
2
exp
2
) , , , (
z z y z y
H z H z y
u
Q
H z y x C
o o o o o t
1. Need to know proper orientations of both Source and Receptor:
Source at (0,0,H) and Receptor at (x,y,z) C(x,y,z;H)

2. Pollutant Emission Rate from source:
Q (mass of pollutant/time) NOT Volume flowrate of Stackgas

3. Atmospheric Stability Category (A, B, C. etc.)

4. Wind velocity at stack height : u

5. Dispersion Coefficients :
y
and
z

6. Effective Stack height: H = h
s
+ h Calculation of Plume rise (h )

7. THEN USE GDM C(x,y,z;H) =.

Source-to-Receptor Orientation
A source is emitting pollutant stack gas
from its stack of 100m. Define the location
of a ground level receptor site 5 km North
(N) of the source if the wind blows from
SouthWest (SW) direction.
Draw the geographical orientation of
source and receptor and calculate x, y
and z coordinates for GDM.
Solution:
Distance x = (5 km) Cos 45
Wind direction
X direction
Source
(Q) Located at (0,0,0)
H = 100 m + (Plume Rise)
Receptor
(C)
Distance y = (5 km) sin 45
Given distance
: 5 km
z = 0
(ground level source)
Receptor-to-Source Orientation
A park area is located in 10 km west (W)
of a thermal power plant having 200m tall
stack. Determine the geographical
positions of receptor and source points if
the wind blows from East-NorthEast (ENE)
direction.
Draw the geographical orientation of
source and receptor and calculate x, y
and z coordinates for GDM
Solution
Wind direction
Park area
(Receptor)
Thermal Power Plant
(Source)
H =200 m + (Plume Rise)
X direction
x distance
x = (10 km) Cos 22.5
y distance
y = (10 km) Sin 22.5
Given distance:
10 km
z = 0
(for ground level receptor)
Dispersion Coefficients:
y
,
z
As plume goes away from source, dispersion increases in both y and z
directions
As x increases
y
and
z
icrease depending upon stability
Dispersion Coefficients:
y
,
z
First developed graphical representations

y
z
Dispersion Coefficients:
y
,
z
Mathematical simulations for Disp. Coeffs.

Calculation of Plume Rise (h)
Calculation of Plume Rise (h)
Calculation of Plume Rise (h)
Calculation of Plume Rise (h)
Calculation of Plume Rise (h)
Parameters in Briggs Equations

EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE
0 1 2 3 4 5
0
200
400
600
800
x ( km)
C
Graphical representation of concentration versus x distance
Ground Level Max Concentration
and Location
Turners Graphical Solution
A Graph for
Cu/Q versus x
max


Max Concentration depends on:
Stability category
Effective stack height
GRAPH
Analytical Solution for C
max
valid for all stability categories
Analytical Solution for C
max
valid only for Slightly stable and Neutral conditions