Prognosis Modeling of Nitrous Oxide Emissions after Catalytic Reduction
Maya Stefanova1, Rozalina Chuturkova2, Evgeni Sokolovski3, Nina Ilieva4, Tsenislav Vlaknenski5
1Maya Stefanova, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
2Rozalina Chuturkova, PhD, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
3Evgeni Sokolovski, PhD, Department of Engineering Ecology, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
4Nina Ilieva, PhD, Department of Engineering Ecology, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
5Tsenislav Vlaknenski, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
Manuscript received on 20 November 2015 | Revised Manuscript received on 30 November 2015 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2015 | PP: 38-45 | Volume-4 Issue-5, November 2015 | Retrieval Number: E1505114515©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The present research aims to assess the effect of increasing the thickness of a secondary catalyst layer for N2O emission reduction at a nitric acid plant in Devnya, Bulgaria upon the ambient air quality. A mathematical modeling is done for simulating the dispersion of N2O emissions from the plant into the ground atmospheric layer taking into account the specific topographic and meteorological conditions of the region. Separate graphic models are done illustrating the dispersion of N2O emissions at two main scenarios – at current thickness of the secondary catalyst layer of 60 mm and at future increase of the catalyst layer thickness to 90 mm. Modeling results indicate that under equivalent meteorological conditions the planned increase of the secondary catalyst layer thickness leads to 69 % reduction of the annual average N2O concentration in the atmosphere. Maximum N2O concentrations over specific periods of time (1 hour, 8 hours and 24 hours) are also reduced over 3 times within the outlines of the exposed areas. Research results provide prognosis on the impact of the increased thickness of the secondary catalyst layer as a measure for N2O emission reduction upon the ambient air quality of the source region. Prognosis modeling provides a tool for assessing the contribution of N2O emissions from nitric acid production to the overall greenhouse gas emissions in long-term future periods regarding the implementation of quantitative commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
Keyword: – Ambient air quality, Greenhouse gas emissions, Nitrous oxide, Prognosis air Dispersion modeling, Secondary catalyst layer.
Scope of the Article: Bio-Science and Bio-Technology