Plume behavior

The stopwatch technique for determining emission volume flow rate is based on measuring with a stopwatch the elapsed time for fume to rise between two known levels (e.g., Zj, Z,). For this test procedure to be valid, the test must be carried out in a region where the rising fume clearly exhibits buoyancy-dominated plume behavior. The calculation procedure depends on a good estimate of the location of the virtual origin of the plume and the heat release for the process. 

Chernobyl air plume behavior and reported initial arrival times of detectable radioactivity... 

Figure 32.6 Chernobyl air plume behavior and reported initial arrival times of detectable radioactivity. Plume A originated from Chernobyl on April 26, 1986 Plume B on April 27-28 and Plume C on April 29-30. The numbers indicate initial arrival times 1, April 26 2, April 27 3, April 28 4, April 29 5, April 30 6, May 1 7, May 2 and 8, May 3. (From United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). 1988. Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations, New York. 647 pp.)... 

For plume predictions, confirm that plume behavior applies by consideration of appropriate time scales. If plume behavior is not justified, revise the calculations with the puff model and recheck the dispersion time scale. Report the appropriate concentration or distance. 

Evaluation of Varying Meteorological Parameters on Cooling Tower Plume Behavior... 

Plume Behavior and Potential Environmental Effects of Large Dry Cooling Towers... 

The Prediction and Verification of Visible Plumes Behavior Associated with Cooling Tower Discharges... 

Predicting Cooling Tower Plume Behavior Hosier, C. L. 

Figure 8.15 LES calculations of 3d thermal plume behavior over ground surface 160 seconds after ignition. No porous canopy case Top - density contours middle - velocity contours bottom - geometry of plume.

Figure 8.16 LES calculations of 3d thermal plume behavior growing within a porous canopy 112 seconds after ignition. Porous canopy case (a) - temperature contours (b) - velocity contours (c) - geometry of fire and smoke (d) - general schematic.

Ultraviolet absorption by sulfur dioxide may also be usefully applied in the field for direct plume observations. In a novel technique developed for the observation of the colorless discharge of sulfur dioxide and water vapor from a natural gas cleaning plant vent stack, the use of silica optics and a special UV sensitive film allowed the clear photographic observation of plume behavior from the ultraviolet absorption of the sulfur dioxide component [30]. 

Integrated Science Technology, 1349 Old Highway 41, Marietta, Georgia (1999) Comparative MTBE versus benzene plume behavior. BP Oil Company Florida Facilities, Tech Report... 

Riestenberg D, Tsouris C, Brewer E, et al. (ZOOS) Field studies on the formation of sinking CO2 particles for ocean carbon sequestration Effects of injector geometry on particle density and dissolution rate and model simulation of plume behavior. Environmental Science and Technology 39 7287-7293. 

Wiedemeier et al. proposed a classification system for chlorinated solvent plumes based on the amount and origin of fermentation substrates that produce the hydrogen that drives halorespiration. Three types of groundwater environments and associated plume behavior, Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3, are described below. While the classification system can be used to represent entire plumes, it can also be used to define different zones within a chlorinated solvent plume. 

Descriptive plume behavior and reported initial arrival times of detectable activity in air. Plumes A, B, and C correspond to air mass movements originating from Chernobyl on April 26, April 27-28, and April 29-30, respectively. The numbers 1-8 indicate initial arrival days from April 26 (UNSCEAR 1988c)... 

FIGURE 2.26. The initial acceleration and buoyancy of the released material affects the plume behavior. The release shown is a dense gas release exhibiting initial slumping followed by dispersion to a neutrally buoyant state. 

A new class of studies, referred to as plume-a-thon studies, provide an opportunity to examine plume behavior at a variety of sites (29). Rice et al. (28) reported that plume lengths at 271 fuel hydrocarbon sites in California have stabilized at relatively short distances, less than 250 feet, from the release sites and that of these 59% were stable, 33% were shrinking and only 8% were growing. Likewise, Mace et al. (30) studied 217 sites in Texas and determined that 75% of benzene plumes are less than 250 feet long and are stable or decreasing in length regardless of whether active remediation is implemented or not. 

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