Diffusion of Effluents

Gaussian Plume Model

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Effluent Diffusion
An effluent released at some point into the
atmosphere not only moves in a gross way, due
to the various temperature conditions.
Individual particles in the effluent become
increasingly separated from one another as the
result of local atmospheric turbulence in a
process called turbulent diffusion.
Turbulent diffusion results from the successive
collisions of individual particles, while the
diffusion of pollutants is due to the cumulative
effects of turbulent eddies in the atmosphere
2

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Diffusion Equation
d
K
dt
2

Where
is the concentration of some effluent as a function
of space and time. and
K is diffusion coefficient.

Only valid if atmosphere is isotropic and at rest.

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Diffusion Equation for Non Isotropic

Atmosphere
d
d
d d
Kx 2 K y 2 Kz 2
dx
dy
dz
dt
2

With a wind blowing at an average speed v in the x-direction.

d
d
d d
d
Kx 2 K y 2 Kz 2
v
dx
dy
dz
dt
dx
2

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Effluent Diffusion
Assumption
Point source
Located at origin
Constant release rate (Q )
is not a function of time.
Movement of effluent in the direction of wind is due to wind
itself. (Kx=0)

d
d
d
K y 2 Kz 2 v
dy
dz
dx
2

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Solution of Diffusion Equation

v y 2 z 2
Q'

exp

4
x
K
K
4 K y K z

z
y

The effluent moving in x-direction spreads out in

Gaussian Distribution in the y and z-directions.
The standard deviations of these distributions are
given by:

y
6

2 xK y
v

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

2 xK z
z
v
Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Solution of Diffusion Equation

Writing in terms of y and z (which are
functions of x)
y2
Q'
z 2

exp

2
2

2 v y z
2

y
z

y and z are called, respectively, the horizontal

and vertical dispersion coefficients.

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Solution of Diffusion Equation

(Elevated Releases)
If the effluents are released at some altitude h
into the atmosphere above the ground.
2
2

2
2

h
z

Q'
y
y

exp

exp

2
2
2
2

2 v y z
2 z
2 z
2 y

2 y

Ground Level Concentration (at z=0):

y2
h2

exp

2
2

v y z
2

y
z
Q'

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Solution of Diffusion Equation

(Largest ground level concentration)
Along the centerline of the plume (y=0):
h2

exp
2
v y z
2 z
Exponential factor is never greater than unity.
Q'

Effluent concentration at all points is always greater

along the plume with a ground level release (h=0) then
when the effluents are released at some altitude.

Q'

v y z

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Conservative estimate when release

height is not known.
Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Diffusion of Radioactive Effluents

Radioactivity is emitted from nuclear power
plants in puffs, rather than at constant rate.
The effluent concentration at any point at
ground level then rises in time to some
maximum value and subsequently falls to
zero as the puff passes.
The total radiation dose from such a puff is
proportional to the time integral of over
the passage of the puff.

T t dt

10

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Diffusion of Radioactive Effluents

h2

exp
2
v y z
2 z
Q

Here, Q is the total amount of effluent releases in

the puff.
y and z , should increase as root of x from the point of
emission.
However experimental data show that y and z increase
much more rapidly

The diffusion model for atmospheric dispersion is not

an exact description of the phenomenon.
11

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Pasquill Conditions
y and z for six different atmospheric
conditions (A-F)
Derived from experimental data.
Less stable conditions have higher values of
both y and z than stable conditions.
3
Seventh Category
z G z F
Type: G
Extremely stable

12

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

5
2
y G y F
3

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Pasquill Conditions

Horizontal dispersion coefficient y as a function of distance from

source for the various Pasquill conditions . (From D. H. Slade,
Editor, Meteorology and Atomic Energy-1968. Washington, D.C.: US
Atomic Energy Commission, 1968.)

13

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Vertical dispersion coefficient az as a function of distance from

source for the various Pasquill conditions. (From D. H. Slade,
Editor, Meteorology and Atomic Ener gy-1 968. Washington,
D.C. : US Atomic Energy Commission, 1968.)

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Easy way to determine y and z

for computer coding
Standard Terrain

14

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Easy way to determine y and z

for computer coding
City Terrain

Home Work:
Plot y and z using MATLAB and compare with figures given on slide 13.
15

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

How to find Pasquill Categories???

Surface Wind
Speeda
m/s

Day
Incoming Solar Radiation
Strongb

Moderatec

Slightd

Night
Cloudinesse
Cloudy
Clear
(4/8)
(3/8)
E
F
E
F
D
E
D
D
D
D

<2
A
A-Bf
B
2-3
A-B
B
C
3-5
B
B-C
C
5-6
C
C-D
D
>6
C
D
D
a Surface wind speed is measured at 10 m above the ground
b Corresponds to clear summer day with sun higher than 60 above the horizon.
c Corresponds to a summer day with a few broken clouds, or a clear day with sun 35-60 above horizon.
d Corresponds to a fall afternoon, or a cloudy summer day, or clear summer day with the sun 15-35.
e Cloudinees is defined as the fraction of sky covered by clouds.
f For A-B, B-C, or C-D conditions, average values should be obtained for each.
A = Very stable
D = Neutral
B = Moderately unstable
E = Slightly stable
C = Slightly unstable
F = Stable
Regardless of wind speed, class D should by assumed for overcast conditions, day or night.
16

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

How to find Pasquill Categories???

Relationship between Pasquill category and temperature gradient and standard
deviation of the angle of the vane

From Regulatory Guide 1.23, USNRC (1980)

17

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Effluent Dispersion

18

v / Q` rises to a maximum value.

Decreases more or less exponentially.
For more unstable conditions (A,B)
maxima occurs near the source point
and then decreases rapidly
For stable conditions (E,F), peak is
located much further away from the
source.
In the dispersion of effluents from
nuclear power plants, the concentration
of the effluent is usually higher in the
more important, populated off-site
regions under stable than under
unstable conditions.
Stable conditions are often assumed
calculations of such effluent dispersion.

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

The quantity v / Q' at ground level, for effluents emitted at a height of 30 m, as a function
of distance from the source. (From D. H. Slade, Editor, Meteorology and Atomic Energy1968. Washington, D.C.: US Atomic Energy Commission, 1968.)

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Location of Maximum Concentration

Lets
find location of
maximum
for
various
atmospheric conditions
Considering the equation

h2
Q/

exp 2
v y z
2 z
Derivative is put equal to
zero
Before differentiating

Consider that both y and z

are function of x, therefore
related as y = az

19

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Taking Log. of both side of the

equation is taken

h2
ln 2 ln z
ln C
2
2 z

Where C is composite of
constants
Now differentiating w.r.t. x
1 d 2 h 2 d z

3
0
dx z z dx

and so

h2 2 z2 or z h

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Maximum Concentration
The maximum value of concentration is
max

Q/

e v y z max

where (yz)max means that y and z are to be

evaluated at the value of x determined from
h 2 2 z2
or z h

20

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Problem
Estimate the location of the maximum concentration
of a non-radioactive effluent released at a height of
30m under type F conditions
Solution:
z

h
30

21.2m
2
2

From figure/equation z = 21.2 m, that corresponds to

x = 1900 m

21

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Diffusion of Radioactive Effluents

As the plume disperses in the atmosphere material
shall decay w.r.t its decay constant half life.
Q/ is replaced with Qo/ exp(-t) where,
Qo/ = rate of emission of radioactivity from source
= decay constant
t = time required to reach the point of observation

Assuming that

The effluent moves only with wind in x- direction and does

not meander, then

The effluent conc. is given by:

x h2
Qo

exp
2
v y z
v 2 z

The equation overestimates the value of at x (due to plume meander)

22

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

The amount of radioactivity in an effluent plume may also
decrease with distance from the source as some of the
radioactivity falls out or diffuses out of the plume and deposits
on the ground.
This effect is most pronounced for some types of radionuclides,
in particular, the isotopes of iodine, during periods of rain.
Water droplets tend to pick up the radioactivity and carry it
directly to the ground, a process known as washout, or wet
deposition.
Once radioactivity is deposited on the ground, it may provide a
significant source of radiation exposure.
Radioactivity falling on food stuffs, pasture land, or bodies of
water may enter into the human food chain.
23

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

Deposition rate per unit area of the ground is
taken to be proportional to the effluent
concentration and is written as: R d vd
where
vd is a proportionality constant.
If Rd has the units of Ci/m2-sec and is in Ci/m3,
then vd has the units of m/sec and is called the
deposition velocity.

is evaluated at or near ground level, and the

value of vd is obtained from experiment.
24

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

The dry-deposition velocity for iodine ranges
from about 0.002 to 0.01 m/sec;
It is somewhat smaller for particulate fallout.
The value of vd for wet deposition depends on
the height of the plume.
For a nominal height of 103 m, vd is
approximately 0.2 m/sec for iodine and 0.1
m/sec for particulates.
The noble gases are not subject to either dry or
wet deposition.
25

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

Consider now the concentration of an effluent
subject to deposition as a function of
distance from the source.
Along the centerline of the plume, will be
a function of only x and z .
The total amount of effluent (radioactivity)
in a volume element of the plume of unit
width in the y-direction and thickness dx is

given by the integral

dx

x, z dz

z 0
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Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

The rate at which this effluent decreases due
to deposition is then

d
dx x, z dz x, 0 vd dx
dt z 0

Noting that dx / dt = v, we find that the

average wind speed, above equation can be
written as
x, 0 vd dx
d x, z dz
z 0

27

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Effective Plume Height

Effective height of the plume is defined by
the relation

1
z
x, z dz

x, 0 0
2
2

2
2

z h
z h

Q'
y
y

exp

exp

2
2
2
2

2 v y z
2

y
y
z
z

h2

z
z exp
2
2

z
28

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

Introducing effective plume height into the
equation below
x, 0 vd dx
d x, z dz
v
z 0

We get

d x,0 x,0 dx

Where

vd
vz

decreases exponentially with distance, due to

deposition.
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Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan

Deposition and Fallout

Substituting this result into equation below

We get

x h2
Qo

exp
2
v y z
v 2 z

Qo
x h2

exp
2
v y z
v 2 z

30

Meteorology and Atmospheric Dispersion

Qaisar Nadeem
Department of Nuclear Engineering, PIEAS Pakistan