Regional Issue Identification and Assessment Program (RIIA). A methodology for analyzing the short-term air quality impacts of new power plants: issue paper 5

• Main Author: Lipfert, F.W.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING; POLICY AND ECONOMY; CENTRAL REGION; AIR QUALITY; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; MID-ATLANTIC REGION; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; AIR POLLUTION; CALCULATION METHODS; ELECTRIC UTILITIES; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; METEOROLOGY; PLANNING; USA; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; NORTH AMERICA; POLLUTION; POWER PLANTS; PUBLIC UTILITIES; THERMAL POWER PLANTS; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6731097; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6731097; https://doi.org/10.2172/6731097

A simplified methodology is presented, based on Gaussian plume relationships, which could be used to assess regulatory constraints and vegetation damage for new power plants. Data input requirements include: (a) power plant size (MW), (b) fuel type, sulfur content, and level of control, and (c) nearby terrain elevation difference, with respect to stack base, for critical receptors. Based on sample calculations the 24-hour PSD increment is seen to be the most restrictive, using the ASME dispersion coefficients. An 800-MW plant (which is close to the optimum size from cost and reliability considerations according to a recent analysis), could be forced to reduce emissions below the levels assumed in this paper if adverse conditions were encountered. For example, terrain features higher than about 300 m at the critical distance from the plant could be restrictive, as could sufficiently persistent winds that would confine 24-hour plume spreading to <10/sup 0/.