Title: The application of an aerofoil array to enhance the dispersion of an extended surface-based pollution source

Authors: Michael Bennett

Addresses: Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK

Abstract: An aerofoil generates lift by transferring vertical momentum to the unperturbed flow. For an aerofoil of finite width, this effect is conventionally described through the generation of a pair of counter-rotating trailing vortices. For this paper we have modelled the swarm of vortices generated by an array of surface-mounted aerofoils and its effect on the distribution of a passive tracer released upwind of the array and show how such a tracer can be usefully lifted and dispersed. Using the notional trail of an exhaust plume emitted by an aircraft in its take-off roll at Heathrow, we show that some elements of the plume are lifted by tens of metres by the distance of the perimeter fence. Such an array might be of value in abating surface concentrations near any distributed surface source of pollution, e.g., a road, runway or landfill site - or perhaps in suppressing ground frosts.

Keywords: local air quality; baffles; aerofoils; dispersion; passive mitigation; airports; roads; landfill; frost suppression; aerofoil arrays; surface-based pollution sources; air pollution; modelling; vortices swarm; exhaust plume; aircraft exhaust; take-off roll; Heathrow Airport; UK; United Kingdom; perimeter fences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.074504

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.57 No.3/4, pp.202 - 214

Received: 02 Dec 2014
Accepted: 07 Oct 2015
Published online: 02 Feb 2016 *

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