Solution of a generalized air pollution model by orthogonal collocation

Turbulent atmospheric diffusion from single or multiple point sources was simulated using the K-theory and solved by a new numerical technique, orthogonal collocation. The physical and chemical behavior of pollutant species in the atmosphere was described by the 3-dimensional, unsteady-state diffusion equation including chemical reactions. Orthogonal collocation was used to reduce the partial differential equation governing the mean concentration of contaminants to first-order ordinary differential equations. This system of equations was then solved in a digital computer. Mean wind velocities and turbulent diffusivities were represented by empirical equations. Several meteorological parameters were included in these equations so that a variety of atmospheric conditions can be simulated. These parameters and other information required to solve an air pollution problem must be specified as input data by the user. The present method was evaluated by comparing the- results to existing experimental atmospheric concentration profiles. Good agreement was found in all cases. In addition, the sensitivity of the present model to variations in atmospheric conditions was analyzed by means of a parametric study. Proper responses were observed in all cases.