Validation of a Single Source Simulation by Means of Past and Actual Air Quality Measurements

When the construction of the new 600 MWe fossil fuel power plant of Langerlo, in the northern part of Belgium, started, the electric power company initiated a SO₂ monitoring programme in order to determine the already existing SO₂-pollution in the vicinity of the planned power plant. Daily measurements in eight monitoring stations (Fig. 1) were started in 1973 by the N.V. Vinçotte. These measurements continued once the plant became operational. The statistical interpretation of the data collected during several successive years, respectively without and with the power plant emitting sulphur dioxide, made it possible to define the measured impact of the new source as a function of time and space.