Author(s)

R. San José, J. L. Pérez & R. M. González

Abstract

Sophisticated and complex air quality models belonging to the so-called \“third generation of air quality modelling systems” are nowadays to be adapted and implemented into state-of-the-art computer cluster platforms which allow an operational use of the air quality modelling systems for forecasting applications. This type of application allows a full control \“in advance” of the impact on air quality concentrations of the emissions produced by different emission sources. In this application, a combined cycle power plant is used. Large industrial emissions located in the surrounding areas of cities are a substantial and important part of air concentrations in the surrounding areas of the city and industrial plant. In this contribution we show the implementation of an adapted version of the MM5-CMAQ – PSU/NCAR and EPA (US) models – modelling system for a large combined cycle power plant located in the near Madrid city (Spain). The system is implemented in an 8 – node cluster platform (Pentium –IV, 3,4 GHz) to provide in real-time the impact of the different power groups on the O3, NOx, PM10, SO2 and CO air concentrations in accumulative mode and in forecasting mode for up to 72 hours in advance with a decision take-up period of about 16 hours. The air quality modelling system has been mounted over three model domains with 9 km, 3 km and 1 km spatial resolution respectively and 23 vertical layers (up to 100 mb) with a full emission model (EMIMO) to provide emissions in detail for these three areas covering up to 400 x 400 km for the mother domain and 24 x 24 km for the 1 km spatial resolution model domain, all centered in the specific industrial plant (combined cycle power plant). The system called TEAP (EUREKA project)—a Tool to Evaluate the Air Quality Impact of Industrial Plants—allows one to quantify and qualify the impact of each individual power group (400 MW) in real-time and forecasting mode. As a consequence, the industrial plant and authorities have a period of time ( ≈ 16 hours) to make the decision to switch off one power group or several, to minimize or avoid the possible exceedance of EU limits – as declared in the EU directives. The quantification of the impact of these possible exceedances of EU Directives due to the emissions produced by the power plant is essential to making decisions according to the daily forecasts.

Keywords