Homework No. 3
Sean Edward Paquette
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Course: Air and Water Pollution Prevention and Control Engineering; MANE-6960H01
Professor Ernesto Gutierrez-Miravete
Fall 2013
Homework (Number 3) – Due date October 3, 2013
1. Do some research to estimate quantities of five selected air pollutants due to natural and
anthropogenic sources in the USA and in the whole world:
A simple Webster definition of the word pollutant is, a substance that makes land, water, air, etc., dirty
and not safe or suitable to use: something that causes pollution. Five air pollutants due to natural and
anthropogenic sources in the USA and in the world are listed below:
A. Carbon Dioxide
CO2 2012 global emission estimated to be 35.6 billion tons
http://www.mpg.de/6678112/carbon-dioxide-climate-change
B. Methane
CH4 2010 global emission estimated to be 5.3 billion tons (estimated
based on CO2 levels)
http://www.ecofys.com/files/files/asn-ecofys-2013-world-ghg-emissions-flow-chart-2010.pdf
C. Nitrogen Oxide
N2O 2010 global emissions estimated to be 2.5 billion tons (estimated
based on CO2 levels)
http://www.ecofys.com/files/files/asn-ecofys-2013-world-ghg-emissions-flow-chart-2010.pdf
D. Hydrofluorocarbon
HFC 2010 global emission estimated to be 0.71 billion tons
based on CO2 levels)
http://www.ecofys.com/files/files/asn-ecofys-2013-world-ghg-emissions-flow-chart-2010.pdf
E. Sulfur Dioxide
SO2 2011 global emissions estimated to be 101 Tg (trillions of grams);
http://www.globe-net.com/articles/2013/march/25/sulphur-dioxide-emissions-are-falling/
Sean Paquette
Air & Water Pollution Prevention & Control Engineering
MANE-6960H01
Semester Fall 2013
Homework No. 3
2. Select ten industries or human activities and create a table showing typical air
pollutants produced in each case. Include both outdoor and indoor air pollutants in
your list.
Sean Paquette
Air & Water Pollution Prevention & Control Engineering
MANE-6960H01
Semester Fall 2013
Homework No. 3
3. Write a 250 word essay about thermal and prompt NOx.
Thermal NO2 is NO2 formed through high temperature oxidation of diatomic nitrogen found in the
atmosphere. “The formation rate is a function of temperature and residence time of nitrogen at that
temperature.” At temperatures greater than 1,600 °C (2,900°F), “molecular nitrogen (N2) and oxygen
(O2) in the combustion air disassociate into their atomic states and participate in a series of reactions.”
Extreme heat cause the highly stable bond (Two nitrogen atoms attached by a triple bond) to break.
Prompt NO2 is the “third source attributed to the reaction of atmospheric nitrogen (N2), with free
radicals such as C, CH, and CH2 fragments derived from fuel, where this cannot be explained by either
the aforementioned thermal or fuel process.” This reaction occurs early in combustion, resulting in the
formation of fixed NH (nitrogen monohydrate), HCN (hydrogen cyanide), H2CN (dihydrogen cyanide) and
CN- (cyano radical) which can oxide to NO. Furthermore, NO2 can range from 10 to 100 ppm in the
exhaust. This information was composed with information collected from a white paper published by
SFA International, Inc. The website is
http://www.sfainternational.com/library/Reduction%20of%20Thermal%20and%20Prompt%20NOx%20i
n%20Exhausts%20of%20Natural%20Gas%20Fuel%20Boilers%20-%20Combined.pdf.
Sean Paquette
Air & Water Pollution Prevention & Control Engineering
MANE-6960H01
Semester Fall 2013
Homework No. 3
4. A 1,000 MW(el) coal fired power plant consumes 3 million tons of coal per year. The coal
contains 2% sulfur 10% mineral (ash). Assume all the sulfur becomes SO2 and estimate the
amount of CO2, SO2 and fly ash emissions from the plant in kg/s.
1,000 MW (el) plant consumes 3 million tons of coal per year
Estimated Quantity of Fly Ash
(3,000,000 tons of coal) X 10% = 300,000 tons = 272,155,422 kg of fly ash
(272,155,422 kg of fly ash) / (3.155E7 seconds in a year) = 8.62 kg/s
Estimated Quantity of CO2
(1,000 MW) X (3,412,142.45 Btu/hr) = 3,412,142,450 Btu/hr
Based on data collected from www.EIA.gov
(http://www.eia.gov/coal/production/quarterly/co2_article/co2.html) Bituminous coal from PA emits
206.7 pounds of carbon dioxide per million Btu
(3,412,142,450 Btu/hr) / (1,000,000) X (206.7) = 705,290 pounds/hr
(705,290 pounds/hr) X (0.45) X (1/3600) = 88.16 kg/s
Estimated Quantity of SO2
S + O2 = SO2
Assume all (S) becomes (SO2)
Molecular Weight (S) = 32 g/mol
Molecular Weight (O) = 16 g/mol x (2 mol) = 32
Molecular Weight (SO2) = 64 g/mol
(3,000,000 tons of coal) X (2%) X (32/64) = 30,000 tons of coal
30,000 tons = 27,215,542 kg of coal / year
(27,215,542 kg of coal /year) / (3.155E7 seconds in a year) = 0.863 kg/s
Sean Paquette
Air & Water Pollution Prevention & Control Engineering
MANE-6960H01
Semester Fall 2013
Homework No. 3
5. Use the Gaussian plume model to carry out computer experiments showing the effects of the
various parameters. Focus particularly on the maximum ground level concentration of
pollutant and its location in each case and write a 250 word essay summarizing your findings.
6. Produce a ~ 250 word essay combining what we have covered in class to date with your
proposed air pollution project topic.
At a high level my project is focusing on forecasting studies of relations between population growth and
air pollution, while incorporating a financial dimension as well. Over the course of the three lectures we
have covered a range of material I will be able to incorporate in my project along with new information
learned. In the first lecture we discussed air pollution legislation and the challenges experienced on a
regular basis. Most important for my project focusing on air pollution and population growth
understands the most important air pollutants which affect us on a daily basis. The air pollutants are (C,
N and S oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter). Furthermore, the third lecture we discussed
origin of air pollutants and their combustion reactions, this with help with the technical side of my air
pollution project.
Sean Paquette
Air & Water Pollution Prevention & Control Engineering
MANE-6960H01
Semester Fall 2013