Abstract
Power requirements in the city of Al Mirfa in western Abu Dhabi are covered by the Al Mirfa Power and Distillation Plant. Comprehensive emission inventories for 2007-2008 were used to execute an ENVIMAN (OPSIS AB Company, Sweden) Gaussian dispersion model to predict ambient ground level concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM10) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) at selected receptors considering all emission sources located in the area. Two years of meteorological data was used in conjunction with the dispersion model to compute NOx and SO2 levels in and around the power plant. To validate the model, computed results were compared with the average values measured at a fixed Air Quality Station in Al Mirfa city. The highest hourly, daily and annual ground level concentrations under exiting meteorological conditions were then analyzed. The computed results for the study area revealed that daily, hourly and annual concentration values did not exceed the Federal Environment Agency (FEA) standard, and the contribution of plant emissions to the ground levels pollutants in the surrounded area range from 3.1 to 109 μg/m3 for NO2, and 1.1 to 41.4 μg/m3 for CO. This study can be considered a baseline study for any future expansion in the plant. Based on these results, mitigation strategies are not required.
Highlights
Desalination and power generation plants produce varying emissions to the surrounding atmosphere that may adversely impact air quality and cause air pollution in the vicinity of the plants
Studies using regional atmospheric models [1,2] tend to reveal concentration patterns of pollutants emitted from power plants that are centered over the source of emissions and have substantial health impacts over a large geographic range
Many studies conducted in the United States and Europe has demonstrated that emissions from power plants in compliance with national standards result in health impacts on nearby populations [3]
Summary
Desalination and power generation plants produce varying emissions to the surrounding atmosphere that may adversely impact air quality and cause air pollution in the vicinity of the plants. Studies using regional atmospheric models [1,2] tend to reveal concentration patterns of pollutants emitted from power plants that are centered over the source of emissions and have substantial health impacts over a large geographic range. Many studies conducted in the United States and Europe has demonstrated that emissions from power plants in compliance with national standards result in health impacts on nearby populations [3]. Description of the Study Area Al Mirfa is a coastal town on the Arabian Gulf located in the western part of Abu Dhabi. Four receptors locations considered to require specific references in the air dispersion modelling study were identified as presented in Figure 1, include the accommodation camp and local facilities (1), private palace (2), residential villas (3) and Al Mirfa Hotel (4)
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