Title: Modelling of atmospheric flow and dispersion in the wake of a cylindrical obstacle

Authors: S. Andronopoulos; I. Mavroidis; A.G. Venetsanos; J.G. Bartzis

Addresses: Environmental Research Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Greece ' Hellenic Open University, School of Humanities, Patras, Greece ' Environmental Research Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Greece ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Bakola and Sialvera Str., 50100, Kozani, Greece

Abstract: The computational fluid dynamics code ADREA-HF is used to simulate atmospheric dispersion field experiments around an isolated cylindrical obstacle and two upwind sources of ammonia and propane, with the ammonia source located at different lateral positions. Model calculated concentrations and concentration fluctuations are compared with the experimental results, to investigate the effect of the lateral source displacement on the fluctuations intensity, showing a fair level of agreement. The observed differences were mainly attributed to the specificities of the cases, such as the interaction of a laterally displaced plume with the cylindrical obstacle, and to the variability observed in the field.

Keywords: atmospheric dispersion; circular cylinder; wake; model evaluation; concentration fluctuations; laterally displaced sources; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; dispersion modelling; atmospheric flow; cylindrical obstacles; ammonia; propane.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.047329

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.47 No.1/2/3/4, pp.108 - 119

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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