Application of AERMOD Gaussian plume air dispersion model for simulation of CO emission from Oil Refinery Stacks

Abstract

Air dispersion modeling is important tools to improve air quality. The primary objective of this research was focused on simulation of CO emission from stacks in Tehran oil refinery, which is main refinery complex in Iran. This study was performed by AERMOD to simulation the CO dispersion emitted from stacks in 2018 and 2019 .Modeling results shown that maximum concentration of CO values at 1hr and 8hr for two times hot and cold 109 μg/m3, 32 μg/m3, 360 μg/m3, 254 μg/m3 respectively. Simulated values of CO emissions were compared with those obtained area measurement campaign at 4 receptors. Maximum concentration of CO in cold times was more than hot times. This can be attributed to low air turbulence. Our analysis demonstrated that the AERMOD modeling system could be used in the air quality simulation in the near future for CO. Simulation output depict that were all centered in against mountain and the middle of simulation area where the emission sources concentrated, and it is probably because the air pollutions were topography and source oriented. Finally, study results indicate that the simulated concentration of CO based on AERMOD, does not exceed concentration limit, set by the Iranian Ambient Air Quality Standard. It verified that co release from oil refinery stacks don't have any significant impact on nearby communities.

Keywords

• pollution
• AERMOD
• Monoxide carbon
• Point Source
• Dispersion Modeling