Solution to Problem 9.1

For a continuously operating smokestack and steady climatic conditions, we can assume a steady
concentration field, i.e. C/t = 0. The wind is given as u = 5 m/s, implying v = w = 0. We are
told to assume a uniform wind, i.e. no shear, so we neglect shear-dispersion. For the length-scale
of interest, Lx = 10,000m, the Peclet number is (5m/s)(10,000m)/(1m2/s) = 50,000 >>> 1. With
this high value of Pe, the longitudinal diffusion term is negligible relative to longitudinal
advection, and we drop it. With the above assumptions, the transport equation

with S = 0 for Freon and S = kTCEC for the TCE.

For a continuous release, = 5 kg/min = 83 g/s at (x,y,z) = (0, 0, H), the solution to (b) is

where k = 0 for Freon and k = kTCE for the TCE. To account for the no-flux boundary we add a
positive image source at (x,y,z) = (0, 0, -H).

In any transverse dimension for which the plume is unbounded (here the y-direction), the
maximum concentration is at the centerline of the plume (here y = 0). The vertical coordinate,
however, is bounded by a no-flux boundary at the ground, z = 0. Once the plume reaches the
ground, concentration will build up at the no-flux boundary. Because the upper edge of the
plume is not bounded, the vertical concentration field will eventually become asymmetric with
the maximum concentration at the ground. We estimate the distance at which this will occur
using the time-scale for the edge of the plume (the 2 contour) to reach the ground,

(e) T,2= H2/(8Dz) = (20m)2 / (8 x 0.1 m2s-1) = 500 s.

Thus, for x >> (u T,2) = 2500 m, which includes the point of interest, we expect the maximum
concentration to be at the ground. Therefore, the maximum concentration at x = 10,000 m will
be Cmax = C (x =10000 m , y = 0, z = 0). Evaluating (d) for Freon and TCE we find,





Very little degradation of TCE occurs over the 10,000m distance.

 

 

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