The performance of the AERMOD and ADMS dispersion models was tested using PM10 (thoracic dust) emissions from Rössing Uranium Mine open pit in Namibia. The performance of the two models was evaluated against the observations and also against each other using various statistical measures. The models were tested under different case scenarios (cases explained in chapter 4) with the aim of evaluating their performances as well as their inter model variability. The study was undertaken from the 13 July 2009 – 14 August 2009. The results from the study showed that the performance of ADMS was superior to that of AERMOD. In general, the performance of AERMOD was very poor and simulated extremely high concentration values. AERMOD performed even more poorly during calm conditions. ADMS performance was superior to AERMOD as was evident from the values of various performance statistical measures and a conclusion reached was that ADMS is likely to be a better model to use in cases where prolonged calm conditions are experienced. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

L’érosion éolienne des matières granulaires (minerais, charbons,. . . ) est un des facteurs influençant grandement la qualité de l’air dans l’environnement proche de nombreux sites industriels. L’objectif principal de ce travail est l’amélioration des méthodologies de quantification des émissions des sources diffuses, notamment à partir d’une meilleure prise en compte de l’exposition éolienne des sources que sont les tas de stockage et des répartitions granulométriques des matières présentes sur les sites de stockage. Les observations sur sites industriels montrent que les régions proches des tas de stockage de matières granulaires sont chargées de particules de granulométries plutôt fines. Celles-ci sont susceptibles d’être remises en suspension par les structures tourbillonnaires générées par le vent incident. Ainsi, ces zones d’envol potentiel ont fait l’objet d’analyses afin de quantifier leur contribution aux émissions globales. Une technique de visualisation d’écoulement pariétal, associée à des simulations numériques tridimensionnelles, ont été mises en oeuvre pour mieux comprendre ces structures de l’écoulement. Les matières granulaires sont un mélange de particules érodibles et non-érodibles. Le caractère érodible étant lié aux propriétés des particules (principalement granulométrie et masse volumique), ainsi qu’à la vitesse du vent incident. Dans ce cadre, deux types d’études ont été menées: des essais expérimentaux d’envol de particules dans une soufflerie et des simulations numériques tridimensionnelles avec un logiciel open-source de mécanique des fluides (Code_Saturne). Une technique originale a ainsi été développée pour quantifier, par une pesée en continue, l’influence des particules non-érodibles sur le flux massique envolé. En parallèle, le comportement des particules sur la surface est analysé à l’aide de clichés photographiques. L’analyse de l’effet des particules non-érodibles au niveau local est réalisée grâce à des simulations numériques pour des configurations polydispersées. Les résultats présentés dans ce mémoire constituent de premiers éléments pouvant possiblement contribuer à l’amélioration des modèles actuels de quantification des émissions de particules par une meilleure intégration et pris en compte de la présence de particules non-érodibles pour les matières présentant de larges spectres granulométriques. / Wind erosion of granular materials (ores, coal, ...) is one of the factors that greatly influence the quality of the air in the immediate vicinity of many industrial sites. The main objective of this work is the improvement of methodologies for quantifying emissions from diffuse sources. It may be carried out by a better consideration of wind exposure on the sources (storage piles) and larger size distributions of granular materials present at the storage sites. Observations show that areas near storage piles of granular materials on industrial sites are loaded with silt particles. These particles may be re-emitted by vortex structures. Thus, these areas of potential particles take-off were analyzed to quantify their contribution to global emissions. A wall flow visualization technique associated with three-dimensional numerical simulations have been implemented. Granular material is a mixture of erodible and non-erodible particle. The erodible character may be associated to particle properties (mainly size and density), as well as the ambient wind speed. In this context, two types of studies were conducted: experimental tests of particles take-off in a wind-tunnel and numerical simulations with a three-dimensional open-source fluid dynamics code (Code_Saturne). An original technique has been developed to quantify, by a continuous weighing, the influence of non-erodible particles of the mass flow. In parallel, the behaviour of particles on the surface is analyzed using photographs. The analysis of the effect of nonerodible particles at local level is achieved through numerical simulations for poly-dispersed configurations. The results presented in this thesis are the first elements that can potentially contribute to the improvement of current models of quantification of particulate emissions through a better integration of the presence of non-erodible particles for materials with large particle size spectra.

Submitted by Marcia Silva (marcia@latec.uff.br) on 2016-10-10T18:53:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Adriana Vidal França de Carvalho.pdf: 2829879 bytes, checksum: 20647d41336cf9b355d364ab38963b35 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Biblioteca da Escola de Engenharia (bee@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-01-26T13:49:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Adriana Vidal França de Carvalho.pdf: 2829879 bytes, checksum: 20647d41336cf9b355d364ab38963b35 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T13:49:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Adriana Vidal França de Carvalho.pdf: 2829879 bytes, checksum: 20647d41336cf9b355d364ab38963b35 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-18 / O impacto na qualidade do ar causado pela emissão de poluentes atmosféricos tem sido um problema ambiental crescente, especialmente nos centros urbanos e nas áreas industriais. O ozônio, formado por reações fotoquímicas, é um dos principais componentes do smog fotoquímico. Devido às suas características oxidantes ele é prejudicial à saúde e ao meio ambiente. Por ser um poluente secundário, o controle dos níveis de ozônio na troposfera deve ser realizado a partir da redução dos seus principais precursores: COVs e óxidos de nitrogênio. Refinarias de petróleo são importantes fontes de COVs, especialmente de emissões fugitivas de componentes de linhas de processo e, portanto, são fontes onde há potencial para reduzir estas emissões. Além disso, as licenças ambientais das refinarias também exigem a redução de emissões fugitivas de COVs. A metodologia LDAR, baseada no uso de um analisador portátil para identificação de vazamentos em componentes de linhas de processo, vem sendo utilizada nos Estados Unidos desde a década de 70 para a redução das emissões fugitivas de COVs em refinarias de petróleo. É uma metodologia bastante intensiva em mão de obra e tem custo elevado, uma vez que exige o monitoramento individual de milhares de componentes existentes em uma planta industrial para a detecção de vazamentos. Porém, estudos mostram que o controle com foco nos grandes vazamentos permite uma redução mais efetiva das emissões fugitivas e com menor custo. A metodologia Smart LDAR, que consiste no uso de imagem ótica de infravermelho para visualização de gases, permite a identificação dos grandes vazamentos, que são os que mais contribuem para as emissões fugitivas, sem que haja necessidade de medição de todos os componentes das linhas de processo. O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar as metodologias LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) e Smart LDAR, utilizadas para o controle de emissões fugitivas de compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs) em refinaria de petróleo, utilizando o conceito de custo-efetividade. Os resultados obtidos a partir das avaliações realizadas mostraram que a metodologia Smart LDAR tem melhor relação custo efetividade para o controle de emissões fugitivas de COVs em comparação à metodologia LDAR convencional / The impact on air quality caused by air pollutants emissions has proven to be a growing environmental problem, mainly at urban centers and industrial areas. The ozone, formed through photochemical reactions, is the photochemical smog’s major component. Due its oxidizing characteristics, it is harmful to the healthy and to the environment. Due to de fact to be a secondary pollutant, the ozone control in the troposphere must be achieved by reducing emissions from its main precursors: VOCs and nitrogen oxides. Petroleum refineries are significant sources of VOCs, especially of fugitive emissions from process lines’ components, so they are sources with potential to reduce these emissions. Furthermore, the petroleum refineries’ environmental licenses also demand the reduction of VOCs’ fugitive emissions. The LDAR methodology, which is based on the application of a portable analyzer to identify leaks in process lines’ components, has been used in the US since the 70s to reduce VOCs’ fugitive emissions in petroleum refineries. This methodology is quite intensive hand labor and costly, since an industrial plant has thousands of components that must be measured individually to detect leaks. However, studies show that the control focusing on large leaks allows the reduction of fugitive emissions more effectively and with low costs. The methodology known as Smart LDAR, which uses infrared optical image for gas leaks view, has the potential to identify great leaks, that most contribute to the fugitive emissions, without requirement to measure all process lines’ components. The purpose of this research is evaluate the methodologies LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) and Smart LDAR, used to control volatile organic compounds’ (VOCs) fugitive emissions in petroleum refineries, using the concept of cost-effective analysis. The results obtained from the evaluations of this study showed that the Smart LDAR methodology has the best cost effective relation to control fugitive emissions compared to the LDAR conventional methodology

Os aterros de disposição de resíduos sólidos urbanos são equipamentos que, necessariamente, devem ser integrados ao sistema de saneamento e proteção à saúde pública das municipalidades. Independentemente se bem planejados, construídos e operados, os mesmos oferecem impactos ambientais aos locais onde estão implantados e ao seu entorno. Os referidos aterros são fontes de emissão antropogênica de gases indutores do efeito estufa global, como o metano (\'CH IND.4\') e o dióxido de carbono (\'CO IND.2\'). O presente trabalho teve por objetivo medir, estimativamente, in situ, a contribuição destes equipamentos no fluxo destes gases na natureza. Para isso, foram desenvolvidas duas campanhas em oito aterros de municípios do estado de São Paulo (Brasil) nos anos de 2006 e 2007. Foram medidas a concentrações de \'CH IND.4\' e \'CO IND.2\' no ar ambiente dos aterros, a emissão solo-ar e o fluxo a partir dos dissipadores verticais, quando presentes. As amostras coletadas do GAS foram analisadas por cromatografia gasosa. Os resultados evidenciaram que as concentrações de \'CH IND.4\' e \'CO IND.2\' na atmosfera dos aterros foram de 18.000 ppm e 5.500 ppm, respectivamente. Estes valores corresponderam a dez mil vezes e quinze vezes maiores que aquelas medidas em locais distantes dos aterros (background). Os resultados das medidas do fluxo solo-ar apontaram para uma grande variabilidade desta emissão, entre os sítios da coleta, entre os aterros e entre as campanhas. As taxas médias de emissão solo-ar variaram de 5,66 g/\'M POT.2\'.d a 148,20 g/\'M POT.2\'.d para \'CH IND.4\' e de 17,78 g/\'M POT.2\'.d a 223,04 g/\'M POT.2\'.d para \'CO IND.2\'. A emissão estimada solo-ar para os aterros variou de 276,82 a 75.730,20 toneladas por ano de \'CH IND.4\' e de 501,02 a 76.312,74 toneladas por ano para o \'CO IND.2\'. A emissão estimada para os aterros a partir dos dissipadores verticais variou de 73,52 a 307,31 toneladas para \'CH IND.4\' e de 165,83 a 692,32 toneladas por ano para o \'CO IND.2\'. Os resultados também evidenciaram que a concentração dos gases no ar ambiente dos aterros e a emissão solo-ar, especialmente, pareceram independer da operação dispensada: caso aterros sanitários, controlados ou lixões. Todos apresentaram muitas semelhanças no processo de emissão. Mesmo a presença do sistema de sucção do GAS para alimentar a usina termoelétrica (UTEB) no aterro Bandeirantes, São Paulo, Capital, não o diferenciou dos demais. De modo geral, não foi possível correlacionar variáveis que apontassem para tendências gerais na emissão destes sistemas de disposição de RSU. Com base nos resultados supracitados, este trabalho sugere futuras perspectivas de pesquisas. / Urban solid waste disposal landfills are equipments that must be integrated with the drainage and protection of the public health of municipalities system. Regardless of whether they are well planned, built and operated, they offer environmental impacts to the areas where they are deployed and their surroundings. The present work aimed at measuring, as estimates, in situ, the contribution of the aforementioned equipments in the flux of these gases in nature. The research was developed in 2006 and 2007 in two campaigns in eight municipal solid waste landfills in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Concentrations of \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' were measured in the air from landfills; the ground-air emission and the flux from vertical drains, when present. The samples collected of the GAS were analyzed utilizing gas chromatography. The results showed that the concentrations of \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' in the atmosphere from landfills were 18,000 ppm and 5,500 ppm, respectively. These values correspond to ten thousand and fifteen times greater than those measured on places far away from landfills (background). The results of the ground-air flux indicated a great variability of this emission, not only among the collection sites, but also among the landfills and between the campaigns. The average ground-air emission ranged from 5.66 g/\'M POT.2\'.d to 148.20 g/\'M POT.2\'.d for \'CH IND.4\' and from 17.78 g/\'M POT.2\'.d to 223,04 g/\'M POT.2\'.d for \'CO IND.2\'. The estimated ground-air emission for the landfills ranged from 276.82 to 75,730.20 tons per year of \'CH IND.4\' and from 501.02 to 76,312.74 tons per year for \'CO IND.2\'. The estimated emission for the landfills from the vertical drains ranged from 73.52 to 307.31 tons per year for \'CH IND.4\' and from 165.83 to 692.32 tons per year for \'CO IND.2\'. The results also showed that concentration of gases in the environment air of landfills and the emission, especially ground-air, seems to be independent of the operation given: whether it is sanitary landfill, controlled landfill, or dump. They all presented many similarities in the emission process, and major differences among them were not elucidated. Even the presence of the suction system of the GAS to feed the thermoelectric plant (UTEB) at the Bandeirantes landfill, located at the capital of São Paulo, did not differentiate it from the other landfills from the \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' emission perspective. In a nutshell, it was not possible to correlate variables that pointed to general trends in the emissions of these USW disposal equipments. Based on these results, future prospects for research are suggested.

Os aterros de disposição de resíduos sólidos urbanos são equipamentos que, necessariamente, devem ser integrados ao sistema de saneamento e proteção à saúde pública das municipalidades. Independentemente se bem planejados, construídos e operados, os mesmos oferecem impactos ambientais aos locais onde estão implantados e ao seu entorno. Os referidos aterros são fontes de emissão antropogênica de gases indutores do efeito estufa global, como o metano (\'CH IND.4\') e o dióxido de carbono (\'CO IND.2\'). O presente trabalho teve por objetivo medir, estimativamente, in situ, a contribuição destes equipamentos no fluxo destes gases na natureza. Para isso, foram desenvolvidas duas campanhas em oito aterros de municípios do estado de São Paulo (Brasil) nos anos de 2006 e 2007. Foram medidas a concentrações de \'CH IND.4\' e \'CO IND.2\' no ar ambiente dos aterros, a emissão solo-ar e o fluxo a partir dos dissipadores verticais, quando presentes. As amostras coletadas do GAS foram analisadas por cromatografia gasosa. Os resultados evidenciaram que as concentrações de \'CH IND.4\' e \'CO IND.2\' na atmosfera dos aterros foram de 18.000 ppm e 5.500 ppm, respectivamente. Estes valores corresponderam a dez mil vezes e quinze vezes maiores que aquelas medidas em locais distantes dos aterros (background). Os resultados das medidas do fluxo solo-ar apontaram para uma grande variabilidade desta emissão, entre os sítios da coleta, entre os aterros e entre as campanhas. As taxas médias de emissão solo-ar variaram de 5,66 g/\'M POT.2\'.d a 148,20 g/\'M POT.2\'.d para \'CH IND.4\' e de 17,78 g/\'M POT.2\'.d a 223,04 g/\'M POT.2\'.d para \'CO IND.2\'. A emissão estimada solo-ar para os aterros variou de 276,82 a 75.730,20 toneladas por ano de \'CH IND.4\' e de 501,02 a 76.312,74 toneladas por ano para o \'CO IND.2\'. A emissão estimada para os aterros a partir dos dissipadores verticais variou de 73,52 a 307,31 toneladas para \'CH IND.4\' e de 165,83 a 692,32 toneladas por ano para o \'CO IND.2\'. Os resultados também evidenciaram que a concentração dos gases no ar ambiente dos aterros e a emissão solo-ar, especialmente, pareceram independer da operação dispensada: caso aterros sanitários, controlados ou lixões. Todos apresentaram muitas semelhanças no processo de emissão. Mesmo a presença do sistema de sucção do GAS para alimentar a usina termoelétrica (UTEB) no aterro Bandeirantes, São Paulo, Capital, não o diferenciou dos demais. De modo geral, não foi possível correlacionar variáveis que apontassem para tendências gerais na emissão destes sistemas de disposição de RSU. Com base nos resultados supracitados, este trabalho sugere futuras perspectivas de pesquisas. / Urban solid waste disposal landfills are equipments that must be integrated with the drainage and protection of the public health of municipalities system. Regardless of whether they are well planned, built and operated, they offer environmental impacts to the areas where they are deployed and their surroundings. The present work aimed at measuring, as estimates, in situ, the contribution of the aforementioned equipments in the flux of these gases in nature. The research was developed in 2006 and 2007 in two campaigns in eight municipal solid waste landfills in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Concentrations of \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' were measured in the air from landfills; the ground-air emission and the flux from vertical drains, when present. The samples collected of the GAS were analyzed utilizing gas chromatography. The results showed that the concentrations of \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' in the atmosphere from landfills were 18,000 ppm and 5,500 ppm, respectively. These values correspond to ten thousand and fifteen times greater than those measured on places far away from landfills (background). The results of the ground-air flux indicated a great variability of this emission, not only among the collection sites, but also among the landfills and between the campaigns. The average ground-air emission ranged from 5.66 g/\'M POT.2\'.d to 148.20 g/\'M POT.2\'.d for \'CH IND.4\' and from 17.78 g/\'M POT.2\'.d to 223,04 g/\'M POT.2\'.d for \'CO IND.2\'. The estimated ground-air emission for the landfills ranged from 276.82 to 75,730.20 tons per year of \'CH IND.4\' and from 501.02 to 76,312.74 tons per year for \'CO IND.2\'. The estimated emission for the landfills from the vertical drains ranged from 73.52 to 307.31 tons per year for \'CH IND.4\' and from 165.83 to 692.32 tons per year for \'CO IND.2\'. The results also showed that concentration of gases in the environment air of landfills and the emission, especially ground-air, seems to be independent of the operation given: whether it is sanitary landfill, controlled landfill, or dump. They all presented many similarities in the emission process, and major differences among them were not elucidated. Even the presence of the suction system of the GAS to feed the thermoelectric plant (UTEB) at the Bandeirantes landfill, located at the capital of São Paulo, did not differentiate it from the other landfills from the \'CH IND.4\' and \'CO IND.2\' emission perspective. In a nutshell, it was not possible to correlate variables that pointed to general trends in the emissions of these USW disposal equipments. Based on these results, future prospects for research are suggested.