An infrared method for plume rise visualization and measurement

• Main Authors: Rickel, Cindy, Lamb, Brian, Guenther, Alex, Allwine, Eugene
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 1990
• Subjects: Prudhoe Bay
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2rj4d1fz

An infrared video camera and recording system were used to record near source plume rise from a low turbine stack at an oil gathering center at Prudhoe Bay, AK. The system provided real-time, continuous visualization of the plume using a color monitor while the images were recorded with a standard video tape recorder. Following the field study, single frame images were digitized using a micro-computer video system. As part of the digitization, the plume centerline was determined as well as an isotherm of the plume outline. In this application, one frame from each 2-min period in the record was digitized. The results were used to calculate the variability in plume centerline during each hour. During strong winds with blowing snow, the mean plume rise for the hour at 15 m downwind was 6±2 m. The observed plume rise from the turbine stack was greater than that calculated using momentum-only or buoyancy-only plume rise models and only slightly larger than that estimated from combined momentum-buoyancy plume rise models. © 1990.