Title: Using exergy to assess air pollution levels from a smokestack – Part 1: methodology

Authors: Marc A. Rosen, Yongan Ao

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada. ' Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering College, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110168, China

Abstract: Exergy is proposed as a standard to assess the potential impacts of smokestack pollutants, such as those from coal boilers and power plants. A method is developed which analyses the exergy distribution of emissions such as SO2, NO and CO2, and heat. In a companion paper, spatial variations are illustrated for temperature, concentration, thermal exergy, chemical exergy and exergy of the pollutants, and an extension of the methodology is discussed. Exergy may provide a pollution measure that captures many of the characteristics of pollutants. Exergy-based environmental methods may simplify assessments and help identify the most significant environmental impacts and hazards.

Keywords: exergy; environmental impact; smokestack pollutants; emissions; pollutant distribution; air pollution levels; pollution measures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2008.019110

International Journal of Exergy, 2008 Vol.5 No.4, pp.375 - 387

Published online: 29 Jun 2008 *

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