INFRARED METHOD FOR PLUME RISE VISUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT

• Main Authors: C. Rickel, A. Guenther, E. Allwine, B. Lamb
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Prudhoe Bay; Alaska
• Online Access: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimsapi.dispdetail?deid=39768

An infrared video camera and recording system were used to record near-source plume rise from a low turbine stack on an oil-gathering center at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. he 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. s part of the digitization, the plume centerline was captured as well as an isotherm of the plume outline. n this application, one frame from each two-minute period in the record was captured and digitized. he results were used to calculate the variability in plume centerline during each hour. uring strong winds with blowing snow, the mean plume rise for the hour at 15 m downwind was 6+2m. he observed plume rise from the turbine stack was greater than that calculated using momentum-only, buoyancy-only, or combined momentum-buoyancy plume rise models.