Cross-sectional studies of plumes from a partially SO2-scrubbed power plant

J. F. Meagher*, L. Stockburger, R. J. Bonanno, M. Luria

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

An instrumented helicopter was used at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Widows Creek Steam Plant to collect a series of samples at several elevations within the plume at fixed distances downwind. During one segment of this study, much higher oxidation rates were observed in the lower part of the plume than in the upper part. These rates occurred on a day when the plume could be clearly separated into two parts. The upper part could be traced to the 305-m stack, which emits flue gases from combustion of low-sulfur coal. The lower part could be traced to two remaining sources, one of which is equipped with a wet limestone scrubber for flue gas desulfurization. A detailed analysis of the plume structure ruled out the possibility that the higher oxidation rate was associated with the scrubbed plume. The authors believe that the higher rate was a result of greater dispersion of the lower plume caused by a cross-wind shear and a mechanically-induced turbulence resulting from the special topography of the area and by a developing thermal boundary layer. Two edge-of-plume effects-maximum NO2 concentration at the border of the plume and a high concentration of condensation nuclei in the vicinity of the plume-are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2263-2272
Number of pages10
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume15
Issue number10-11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1981
Externally publishedYes

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