1Department of Chemical Engineering, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad-580 002, Karnataka, India
2Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka -Surathkal-575 025, Karnataka, India
3Department of Civil Engineering, SDM College of Engineering and Technology – Dharwad, 580 002, Karnataka, India
*Email: lokeshwarinavalgund@gmail.com
Online published on 24 April, 2015.
In the present paper seasonal pattern of mixing height of pollutants in tropical climate is discussed taking Incinerator plant at Tarihal Industrial estate, Hubli as an example using Gaussian plume (GP) model. The air quality within the radius of 10 km due to the release of SO2, NOx and Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) for different season (monsoon, winter and summer) from the Biomedical Waste Treatment Incinerator plant has been computed. Mixing Height was estimated from the GP model for different meteorological inputs. A marked seasonal variation characterized by higher RSPM levels in the summer which decreased progressively through winter and rainy (monsoon) season is observed in the study area. NOx and SO2 were found to be within the permissible limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Government of India. Maximum mixing height based on the present study is found to be 1791m during summer, with the stability class being D, which is neutral atmospheric condition for maximum wind speed of 8.5 m/s. During winter and rainy season, the mixing height was 1084m and 1025m respectively for the corresponding maximum wind speed of 4.1m/s and 2.2 m/s, which suggest instability class of C and B. Since, RSPM get settled due to rain effect, despite of low mixing height during the rainy season and winter, ambient air quality in Hubli-Dharwar twin city is within the unpolluted range.
Mixing height, RSPM, Incinerator Plant, Gaussian Plume Model, Seasonal variation
