Pairin Vijitjaroenmuang. Simulation of dispersion of air pollutant over non-planar topography using 3-dimensional generalized coordinate system. Master's Degree(Chemical Engineering). Chulalongkorn University. Office of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2001.
Simulation of dispersion of air pollutant over non-planar topography using 3-dimensional generalized coordinate system
Abstract:
In the present research, the air pollutant dispersion model utilizes a 3-dimensional generalized coordinate system combined with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique to predict air pollutant dispersion over non-planar terrain. The suitability of the model is check by comparison with the analytical solution of a transport phenomena model for flat terrain and with wind-tunnel experiments over non-planar terrain carried out by R. Ohba, et.al. (1990). The present model is more suitable for predicting air pollutant dispersion over a wide area rather than the region near a source. Compared with wind tunnel experiments, the model is more suitable to predict the downwind concentration on the front slope of a hill than its back slope and is more accurate when the terrain has less steep difference in height. Next computer experiments are carried out to investigate the effect of five typical factors, i.e. the wind direction, wind speed, horizontal and vertical dispersion coefficients and the exponent of the power law on the predicted 45-min. average concentration of SF6 dispersed over an isolated hill modeled after Steptoe Butte hill, Washington State. The simulation results shows that the wind direction, wind speed and horizontal and vertical dispersion coefficients have significant effect on the predicted average concentration at a majority of the receptors selected. However, the exponent of the power law has a significant effect only at certain receptors. Finally, the model is employed to predict the average PM₁₀ concentration under various wind directions, wind speeds and vertical dispersion coefficients at various receptors located in the stone processing zone in Saraburi Province. The prediction results shows that a more stable atmospheric condition, as reflected in a decrease in the vertical dispersion coefficient, increases the predicted average PM₁₀ concentration at all receptors. The predicted average PM₁₀ concentration changes significant at a majority of the receptors when the wind direction changes because of the prevalent calm wind condition (≤2m/s). In addition, the effect of the emission rate factor is investigated. It is found that the emission factor produces a proportional effect on the observed average PM₁₀ concentration.