The Applications of an Integral Plume Rise Model

The mathematical description of plume rise is well established and has been reviewed by Briggs1. As the ground level concentration of pollutants is a strong function of the effective rise of the plume above the chimney, Δh, it is important that this quantity can be calculated over a wide range of meteorological conditions. However, as noted by Briggs1 various formulae give a range of values of Δh that differ by more than an order of magnitude. In order to clarify the situation equations have been used that are closely based upon the physics of plume rise. Schatzmann2, 3, 4 has presented a description of plume rise based upon the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, concentration and thermal energy. To close the system of equations an entrainment function is used and this paper discusses the application of this model to a variety of situations.