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22 views3 pages

Adobe Scan 30-Aug-2024

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am8327456
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18.6.5. Lapse Rates and Dispersion of Air Pollutants.

We have pointed
out in the previous article that- the diffusion of pollutants into the
environment is governed by the environmental lapse rate as well as the
adiabatic lapse rate. By comparing these two lapse rates, it is possible to
predict to some extent, as to what will happen to gases emitted from a source ;
the emitted gases being known asaplume, andtheir source of origin as astack.
Typical types of environmental conditions, characterised by different
relative positions of environmental lapse rate and adiabatic lapse rate lines,
which are generally encountered in the lower atmosphere (less than 300 n
above theground) are shown in Fig. 18.6 (a) to (g). The manner in which the
emitted plume behavesunder each of these seven conditions are also shown in
these figures, and explained below :
(a) Looping plume. Looping plume (Fig. 18.6 (a)] has a wavy character
and occurs in super-adiabatic environment ; which produces highly unstable
atmosphere, because of rapid mixing. During the high degree of turbulence,
the dispersion of plume would be rapid, yet higher concentrations near the
ground may occur due to turbulence, before the dispersion is finally
completed. Hence, in areas where environment is generally super-adiabatic,
higher stacks may be needed to prevent premature contact of pollutants with
ENGINEERING OF AIR POLLUTION, ITS CONTROL, AND MONITORING 657

the ground. Such conditions will then ensure a very good dispersion of
pollutants ; but automobile exhausts cannot be dispersed well, because they
are released at lower levels.
(6) Neutral plume. Neutral plume is the upward vertical rise of the plume
from the stack, as shown in Fig. 18.6 (b), which occurs when the
environmental lapse rate is equal to or very near to the adiabatic lapse rat
The upward lifting of the plume will continue till it reaches an air of density
similar to that of the plume itself.

Superadiabatic

T
(a) Looping plume (b) Neutral plume
N

T
T
(c) Coning plume (a) Fanning plume
Z
N
A

U T
(e) Lofting plume (f)Fumigating plume

(g) Trapping plume


Fig. 18.6. Different types of plume behaviours.
(e) Coning plume. The neutral plume tends to cone as shown in Fig. 18.6
lc), when the wind velocity is greater than 32 km/hr, and when cloud cover
blocks the solar radiation by day and terrestrial radiation by night.
658 SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND AIRPOLLUTION ENGINEERINQ

Coning plume also occurs under subadiabatic conditions (ie., when


environmental lapse rate is less than the adiabatic lapse rate). Under sUch
conditions, the environment is slightly stable, and there is a limited vertioal
mixing, thereby increasing the probability of air pollution in the aren
plume dispersion is known as coning, because the plume makes a co.ne like
shape about the plume line, as shown in F1g. 18.6 (c).
(d) Fanning plume. Under extreme inversion conditions, caused by
negative environmental lapse rate, from the ground and upto a considerable
height,extending even above the top of the stack, the emission will spread
only horizontally, as it cannot lift due to extremely stable environment, In
such a case, there willbe no vertical mixing, and the plume will simply extend
horizontally over large distances, as shown in Fig. 18.6 (d). Such a plume
pattern is called a funning plume.
In areas, where such conditions are caused by radiation inversions, high
rise stacks,rising higher than the usual inversion layer, may be adopted. But,
in areas, where subsidence inversions are of frequent occurrence, even such a
step is not practical and economical, because subsidence inversions usually
extend to much greater heights.
(e) Lofting plume. When there exists a strong super adiabatic lapse rate
above a surface inversion, then the plume is said to be lofting'. Such a plume
has minimum downward mixing, as its downward motion is prevented by
inversion, but the upward mixing will be quite turbulent and rapid. The
dispersion of pollutants will therefore, be rapid, and no concentrations will
touch the ground. Hence, this would be the most idealcase for dispersion of
emissions.
(OFumigating plume. When an inversion layer occurs at a short distance
above the top of the stack, and super adiabatic conditions prevail below the
stack, then the plume is said to be fumigating (Fig. 18.6 ). In such a case, the
pollutants cannot escape above the top of the stack because of inversion layer,
and they will be brought down near the ground due to turbulence in the region
above the ground and below the inversion, caused by strong lapse rate. This
represents quite a bad case of atmospheric conditions for dispersion.
(g) Trapping plume. When inversion layers exist above the emission
source, as well as below the source, then naturally, the emitted plume will
neither go up, nor willit go down, and would remain confined between the two
inversions, as shown in Fig. 18.6(g). Such a plume is called a trapping plume,
and is considered a bad condition for dispersion, as the
above a certain height. dispersion cannot go

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