13 research outputs found

    Assessment of the NO2 distribution and relationship with traffic load in the Caribbean coastal city

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    NO2 ambient concentrations were measured in a coastal Caribbean city. Barranquilla is a Caribbean city located in the North of Colombia that has approximately 1.200.000 inhabitants and possesses a warm, humid climate. In order to obtain the concentration of the contaminant in an adequate resolution, 137 passive diffusion tubes from Gradko© were installed. Diffusion passive tubes prepared with 20% TEA/water were located at the roadside between 1 and 5 m from the kerb edge. The sampling period was two weeks, from 3/16/2019 to 3/30/2019. Samples were analyzed on the UV CARY1 spectrophotometer by Gradko©. Results showed an average of 19.92 ±11.50 µg/m3 , with a maximum and minimum value of 70.27 and 0.57 µg/m3 , respectively. Spatial NO2 correlation with low traffic load was higher than with maximum traffic. The expected results include analyzing the areas of the city with high concentrations of this pollutant that exceed the WHO guidelines in six (6) points. Overall, the multiregression analysis is a very effective method to enrich the understanding of NO2 distributions. It can provide scientific evidence for the relationship between NO2 and traffic, beneficial for developing the targeted policies and measures to reduce NO2 pollution levels in hot spots. This research may subsidize knowledge to serve as a tool for environmental and health authorities

    Wind tunnel simulation of the plume dispersion emmited from an isolated chimney

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    A crescente demanda mundial por energia, o aumento da produção industrial mundial e o efeito estufa têm gerado um grande problema para a atmosfera no que diz respeito à poluição. As necessidades de conhecimento sobre a física da dispersão de poluentes levaram à criação de ferramentas capazes de reproduzir e responder sobre os possíveis efeitos ao meio ambiente. Túneis de vento de camada limite são ferramentas que possuem condições de simular, em escala reduzida, as emissões de fontes poluidoras tais como chaminés de indústrias e emissões de veículos automotores, bem como permitir a obtenção de soluções aos possíveis danos causados. Este trabalho realizou um estudo exploratório em túnel de vento do comportamento de uma pluma de contaminantes emitidos por uma chaminé isolada, utilizando o hélio como gás traçador. Foram realizados ensaios com diferentes tipos de escoamento, velocidades do vento e velocidades de emissão da pluma. As emissões utilizaram hélio puro e uma mistura binária de hélio e ar. Foram feitos levantamentos do perfil de concentrações no eixo da chaminé, a diferentes posições a sotavento. Avaliou-se também a eficiência de um sistema de anemometria acoplado a uma sonda aspirante como instrumento medidor de concentrações de hélio. A análise dos resultados demonstrou a capacidade do túnel de simular o fenômeno da dispersão de poluentes e a influência das características da rugosidade do terreno no processo de diluição da pluma. Concluiu-se que há a influência aerodinâmica da chaminé sobre a pluma, comprovando-se a existência de três regiões características da pluma, cada uma apresentando um determinado comportamento para as flutuações instantâneas da concentração de hélio. Por último, o sistema de anemometria em conjunto com uma sonda aspirante é somente adequado para estudos de efeitos locais de dispersão de poluentes.The increasing global energy demand, the growth of the world industrial production and the greenhouse effect have created a great problem for the atmosphere regarding pollution. The need of knowledge about the physics of the pollutants dispersion led to the creation of tools able to simulate and to respond on the possible effects to the environment. Boundary layer wind tunnels are tools capable of simulate, in reduced scale, the emissions from pollutant sources such as chimneys from industries and vehicles, as well as to allow possible hazardous problems to be solved. In this work, an exploratory wind tunnel study is made of the plume behaviour originated from an isolated chimney, using helium as tracer gas. The tests were performed for different types of flows, wind velocities and plume emission velocities. The emissions were from pure helium and a binary mixture of helium and air. The concentrations were measured in several positions leeward of the source. It was also evaluated the efficiency of an anemometry system connected to an aspirating probe as measuring instrument of the helium concentration.The analysis of the results demonstrated the capacity of the wind tunnel to simulate the pollutant dispersion phenomenon and the influence of the terrain roughness in the plume dilution process. It is concluded that the chimney exerts an aerodynamic influence over the plume, proving the existence of three characteristic plume regions, each one presenting a specific behaviour for the instantaneous fluctuations of helium concentrations. Regarding the anemometry system connected to an aspirating probe, it is concluded that it is only adequate for the study of local effects in the dispersion of pollutants

    Wind tunnel simulation of the plume dispersion emmited from an isolated chimney

    No full text
    A crescente demanda mundial por energia, o aumento da produção industrial mundial e o efeito estufa têm gerado um grande problema para a atmosfera no que diz respeito à poluição. As necessidades de conhecimento sobre a física da dispersão de poluentes levaram à criação de ferramentas capazes de reproduzir e responder sobre os possíveis efeitos ao meio ambiente. Túneis de vento de camada limite são ferramentas que possuem condições de simular, em escala reduzida, as emissões de fontes poluidoras tais como chaminés de indústrias e emissões de veículos automotores, bem como permitir a obtenção de soluções aos possíveis danos causados. Este trabalho realizou um estudo exploratório em túnel de vento do comportamento de uma pluma de contaminantes emitidos por uma chaminé isolada, utilizando o hélio como gás traçador. Foram realizados ensaios com diferentes tipos de escoamento, velocidades do vento e velocidades de emissão da pluma. As emissões utilizaram hélio puro e uma mistura binária de hélio e ar. Foram feitos levantamentos do perfil de concentrações no eixo da chaminé, a diferentes posições a sotavento. Avaliou-se também a eficiência de um sistema de anemometria acoplado a uma sonda aspirante como instrumento medidor de concentrações de hélio. A análise dos resultados demonstrou a capacidade do túnel de simular o fenômeno da dispersão de poluentes e a influência das características da rugosidade do terreno no processo de diluição da pluma. Concluiu-se que há a influência aerodinâmica da chaminé sobre a pluma, comprovando-se a existência de três regiões características da pluma, cada uma apresentando um determinado comportamento para as flutuações instantâneas da concentração de hélio. Por último, o sistema de anemometria em conjunto com uma sonda aspirante é somente adequado para estudos de efeitos locais de dispersão de poluentes.The increasing global energy demand, the growth of the world industrial production and the greenhouse effect have created a great problem for the atmosphere regarding pollution. The need of knowledge about the physics of the pollutants dispersion led to the creation of tools able to simulate and to respond on the possible effects to the environment. Boundary layer wind tunnels are tools capable of simulate, in reduced scale, the emissions from pollutant sources such as chimneys from industries and vehicles, as well as to allow possible hazardous problems to be solved. In this work, an exploratory wind tunnel study is made of the plume behaviour originated from an isolated chimney, using helium as tracer gas. The tests were performed for different types of flows, wind velocities and plume emission velocities. The emissions were from pure helium and a binary mixture of helium and air. The concentrations were measured in several positions leeward of the source. It was also evaluated the efficiency of an anemometry system connected to an aspirating probe as measuring instrument of the helium concentration.The analysis of the results demonstrated the capacity of the wind tunnel to simulate the pollutant dispersion phenomenon and the influence of the terrain roughness in the plume dilution process. It is concluded that the chimney exerts an aerodynamic influence over the plume, proving the existence of three characteristic plume regions, each one presenting a specific behaviour for the instantaneous fluctuations of helium concentrations. Regarding the anemometry system connected to an aspirating probe, it is concluded that it is only adequate for the study of local effects in the dispersion of pollutants

    Linking of built environment inequalities with air quality: a case study

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    In developing countries, where few air quality stations and studies exist, measuring the spatial gradient of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in urban areas is challenging. Our research explores the linking the of built environment with air quality by developing a model that allows relating NO2 with transport, land use, socioeconomics, and built environment characteristics. For the model estimation, we installed and quantified 114 diffusion tubes from Gradko© in Barranquilla, Colombia, a Caribbean city. Our results indicated that the lowest NO2 values occurred in remaining green areas, reduced traffic, and places that favor walking. However, the city design and current conditions of the built environment generate inequalities in exposure to air pollution. Low-income inhabitants are exposed to higher NO2 values than wealthier people. Therefore, planning sustainable and equitable cities should involve reducing NO2 concentrations by designing sound strategies for adequate mobility and developing an urban design that promotes walking
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