Theoretical and Experimental Study of Gaussian Plume Model in Small Scale System

Atmospheric dispersion pollution modelling is of great and actual concern in the scientific international community. Many dispersion models have been developed and used to estimate the downwind ambient concentration of air pollutants from sources such as industrial plants, vehicular traffic or accidental chemical release. Among them, Gaussian model is perhaps the most commonly used model type. It is often used to predict the dispersion of air pollution plumes originated from ground-level or elevated sources. In this research an experimental campaign was carried out in the wind tunnel of the Industrial Engineering Department of University of Catania. It was tested an emission plume of particulate matters and the concentrations of PM10 were evaluated in several points downwind beyond the emitter. Both the wind velocity and PM10 mass flow were varied in order to test the differences in terms of PM10 concentrations in the sampling points. A Gaussian plume mathematical model was developed according the boundaries conditions of the experimental campaign. The results of the model were compared with experimental ones in order to identify the limits and the advantages of this model in such a small scale system.