Atit Chaowanaporn. Capability analysis of a modified screening model used for initial air quality impact assessment. Master's Degree(Environmental Technology ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Capability analysis of a modified screening model used for initial air quality impact assessment
Abstract:
Currently SCREEN3 is the most preferred regulatory screening model for the purpose of
air quality impact assessment, this being due to its ability in assessing impacts in simple and complex
terrain, handling of building downwash and cavity effects. However, it has some limitations as
follows: calculation is limited for a single emission stack, at 1-hr. average, and one nearby building
(downwash case). To be able to perform predictions for multiple emission stacks merged parameter
and summation concept have been used. Conversion factors are given for converting 1-hr.
concentration to the needed ones (i.e. 3-hr., 8-hr., 24-hr., and annual averages etc.) These practices
cause inconvenience and some degree of over-estimation of the predicted results.
Thus, to alleviate the limitations, modifications were made to the SCREEN3 by replacing
SCREEN3 models program by ISC3 models program. Due to this, the modified SCREEN3 model
(MSM) operates by using the built-in preset of 54-worst case meteorological conditions of the
SCREEN3 but governed by the ISC3 program.
This study has the main objective of illustrating that MSM can perform the screening
function better than the SCREEN3. That is, in every condition the predicted concentrations generated
by the MSM shall be lower than the SCREEN3 but still higher than the assumed reference
concentrations predicted by the ISC3.
The investigation was conducted by assigning the SCREEN3, MSM, and ISC3 to
perform the prediction of maximum ground level concentrations under the preset conditions created
from the combinations of concerned variables which were: number of stacks (1 to 5 stacks), terrain
types (simple, elevated), nearby building (1 to 2 buildings), and averaging times (1-, 8-, 24-hr avg.)
The ISC3 were run by using 5-full-consecutive years of the assumed near-site
meteorological conditions. Therefore, 5-maximum concentrations were obtained and implied as
reference value for comparison in each experiment.
The modeling results revealed two hypotheses: (1) maximum ground-level
concentrations predicted by the MSM are less than the SCREEN3 predictions but higher than the ISC3
predictions, and (2) the MSM has more efficiency than SCREEN3. These are both acceptable under all
conditions except in the case of the single emission stack, 2 nearby buildings, both simple and elevated
terrain, the 1-hr., 8-hr. averaging maximum concentration predicted by MSM might somewhat lower
than the reference concentrations predicted by the ISC3.
The conclusion can be drawn that the MSM is more effective and more convenient for
the purpose of screening. However, in the case of multiple nearby building with a single emission
stack, the applications for prediction 1-hr. and 8-hr. averaging concentrations should be avoid or must
be done very carefully