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Air Pollution & Its Controls

1. INTRODUCTION

Air Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, biological characteristics of air that may harmfully affect the life or create a potential health hazard of living organism. Air Pollution is thus direct or indirect change in any component of biosphere that is harmful to the living components and in particular undesirable for man affecting adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general environment.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

2. POLLUTANTS
Any substance, which causes pollution, is called a Pollutant. A pollutant may thus include any chemical or geochemical (dust, sediment, grit etc.) substance biotic component or its product or physical factor that is released intentionally by man into the environment in such concentration that may have adverse harmful or unpleasant effects. It may be also defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be or tends to be injurious to the environment. Pollutants are the residues of things we make use and throw away. There are many sources of such pollutants. The lakes and rivers are polluted by wastes from chemical and other factories and the air by gaseous of automobile exhausts industries, thermal power plants etc.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

3. SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION


1. Natural sources 2. Man made sources.

3.1

NATURAL SOURCES The lower atmosphere of the earth extends to about 13 Km. above the earths surface. Sources of natural origin have contributed to the composition of earths atmosphere. In lower atmosphere the substances are being added constantly through mans activities. In addition to the water vapour other variable gaseous constituents includes oxides of nitrogen from electrical storms, hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride from volcanic disturbances sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide from seepage of sour natural gases from volcanoes or from action of sulphide bacteria and ozone formed photo chemically or by electrical discharge. During growing season the pollens are

transported from one place to another by wind currents and range about 5-50 m . The microorganisms present in atmosphere from broad spectrum of viable particle consisting of algae, fungi, yeasts, rusts, smuts, moulds spores and bacteria. Except algae all above microorganisms can be transported by wind to great distances and infects plants, animals and human beings.

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3.1.1 Radioactive natural sources: Radioactive natural sources can be contribute to the radioactivity of the atmosphere consist of radioactive minerals in earths crust and the action of cosmic rays from outer space of gaseous constituents of atmosphere. The radioactive elements which occur in igneous rocks and soils are derived from three families Viz. The Uranium series (U 238)the Thorium series(Th232) and the Actinium series (U235).Radioactive gases which mainly contribute to the radioactivity of the atmosphere consist of radon and thoron. These gases are derived two nuclides of radium Ra226 andRa228.

3.1.2 Atmospheric reaction: In the lower atmosphere, natural chemical reactions take place, which convert gases or vapour into solids and liquid products by oxidation, combination, condensation and polymerization mechanisms. In the upper atmosphere photochemical reactions may break down more complex molecule by absorption of high energy ultraviolet solar radiation and resultant oxidation atomic and free radial chain reactions most of H2S liberated to atmosphere comes from natural sources, which is estimated about 300 million tonnes per year. Other Sulphur compounds including organic sulphide and mercaptans constituents have minor emission quantities.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

3.2

MAN MADE SOURCES: In the urban areas the main sources of air pollution are the products of

combustion of fuels in the houses. Such as coal, oil, gases and the exhaust gases from automotive vehicles. Important sources of air pollution in specific areas are also present in industrial activities connected with nonferrous metal smelting and refining iron and steel manufacturing, oil refining, chemical and petrochemical operations, manufacture of pulp and paper and so many such other industries. The dust fall distribution in cities is a useful indication of amount of fly ash and dust deposited from stack emissions. Most of the particles collected in this manner are larger than 20-40m in size. In most contaminated areas, the quantity of such dust can be 50-100km\kmsqure per month.

3.2.1 Sulphur Dioxide: Thermal power houses\plants are main contributor to SO2 emissions and accounts for 40% of total emissions. In this world total combustion of coal and petroleum products for energy liberated more than 18 millions tonnes of SO2 to atmosphere and this is 80% of total emission. As a matter of fact air pollution by SO2 Is the main nations major air pollution problem.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

3.2.2 Nitrogen Oxides: Are produced from the combustion of fuels. It has estimated that about 18 million tonnes of nitrogen oxides are added in the atmosphere every year. Out of this quantity about 46% are produced from transportation vehicles 25 % from electrical generation plants 17 % from industries 9 % from residences and remaining 3 % from commercial operations. In other way 64 % are derived from combustion of fuel oil and gasoline 26 % from coal burning and remaining 10 % from the use of natural gas Because of continue increase in number of vehicles, power plants ands industries. The pollution of atmosphere due to nitrogen oxides is increasing day by day. There is urgent need to control oxides of nitrogen especially in view of their photochemical activity.

3.2.3 Carbon Monoxides: The exhausts of the automobile and coal burning are the main sources of carbon monoxides. By 2000 century, it is estimated that about 460 million tonnens of carbon monoxides will be discharged into atmosphere per year out of this quantity 99.5% will be contributed by transportation alone.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

4. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Following are the effects of air pollution 1. Effect on vegetation 2. Effect on human health 3. Effect on physical properties of atmosphere 4. Biological effects.

4.1

EFFECTS ON VEGETATION: Sensitive vegetation is severely damaged by SO2 gas at low end of

those known cause deterioration in patients in pulmonary disease .This effect is also exhibited by low concentration of ozone and nitrogen dioxides.

4.2

EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH: Under moderate climates and low altitudes, it has been noted an

excess mortality in general population was noted in European countries, when SO2 and SP exceeded 500g/m3 for 24 hours. This increase was noted amongst the susceptible groups of populations viz. those with cardiac or pulmonary disease morbidity changes also increased after SO2 concentration of 500 g/m3 and 200g/m3 occurring together for more than 24 hours. In India study shows that respiratory disease patients showed increase symptoms when SO2 and total particular concentration exceed 100g/m3 with 50% or more and at warmer temperature visibility is affected. Carmon monoxide

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

effects the cardiovascular system and oxygeneration of tissues. In high nitrogen dioxide areas respiratory illness among children have been reported. Photochemical oxidants, cause irritation of eye, nose and throat.

4.3

EFFECT ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ATMOSPHERE

The physical effect of air pollutants can be classified as follows: a. Effects on visibility. b. Effects on urban atmosphere and weather condition and c. Effect on atmospheric constituents. a. Effects On Visibility: In the direction of sun visibility is less due to light scattering by particles in the polluted air. Other meteorological factors such as inversion, height and wind speed presence of hygroscopic particles and relative humidity also effect the visibility, The observed visibility mainly depends on (i) the nature of particulate matter in ambient air and (ii) the volume of air into which it gets mixed up. Sometimes better visibility is expected during strong winds, as it may provide more dilution. But if the strong winds raise dust, it will reduce the visibility. b. Effect On Urban Atmospheric and weather conditions: Urban air pollution is caused due to smoke, dust and other aerosols, which are related to fog, clouds, and precipitation. Experiments have shown that a city can be 5-10 % more cloudy,

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

100%more foggy in winter and may have 5-10% more precipitation due to air pollution the solar radiation is reduced by 30%. c. Effects on atmospheric constituents: Atmospheric carbon dioxide is the main source of organic carbon in the biosphere since 1900 it has been noted that there is steady increase in atmospheric CO2 due to combustion .In this carbon dioxide was first interpreted as a factor responsible for rise in ambient temperature and would be due to increased infracted absorption by CO2.

4.4

EFFECTS ON MATERIALS

Air pollution deteriorate the materials by five ways 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Abrasion . Deposition and removal. Direct chemical attack. Indirect chemical attack. Corrosion.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

Air pollution is directly responsible for economic losses in the urban areas. The effect of air pollution on various materials: Sr. No. 1. Material Building Material 2. Metals Air Pollutants Other Effects on Material Discolouration

Factors SO2, Acids, gases and Moisture adhering particulates Moisture, Temperature

SO2, acid gases SO2, Acid gases

Tamishing surface, of metal Reduction

of loss in

3. 4. 5. 6.

Textiles Rubber Paints Paper

SXO2, Acid gases Oxidants SO2, H2S

Moisture, Sunlight Sunlight and Moisture, Fungus Sunlight

textile strength Reduction in textile strength Cracking, Discolouration Embrittlement

particulates SO2, Acids gases

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

5. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION


The control of emissions can be realized in number of ways five separate possibilities for control is shown in fig.

5.1

SOURCE CORRECTION: This is the easiest solution to air pollution problem, we stop the guilty

process. Hence, it is also called prevention. The engg. Must consider the possibility of controlling the emissions by changing the process. For instance, if automobile are found to realized high lead levels in air, the most reasonable solution is simply to eliminate the lead in the gasoline. The forces have been corrected and the problem solved.

5.2

COLLECTION OF POLLUTANTS: Often the most serious problem in air pollution control is the collection

of the pollutants so as to provide treatment. Automobiles are most dangerous, but only because the emissions cannot readily collected. If we could channel

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

the exhausts from automobiles to some central facilities, their treatment would be much more reasonable than controlling each individual car. Air pollution control engg. Have their toughest time when the pollutants from an industry are not collected but emitted from windows, doors and cracks-in-the-walls.

5.3

COOLING:

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

The exhaust gases to be treated are sometimes too hot for the control equipment and the gases must first be cooled. This can be done in three general ways: dilution, quenching, or heat exchange coils. Dilution is acceptable only if the total amount of hot exhaust is small. Quenching has the additional advantage of scrubbing out some of these gases and particulates. The cooling coils are perhaps the most widely used, and are especially appropriate when heat can conserved.

5.4

TREATMENT: The selection of correct treatment device requires the matching of the

characteristics of pollutant and the features of the control device. It is important to realize that the sizes of air pollutants range many orders of magnitude and it is therefore not reasonable to expect one device to be effective for all pollutants. In addition, the types of chemicals in emissions will often dictate the use some devices. For example, a gas containing a high concentration of SO2 could clean by water sprays, but the resulting H2SO4 might present serious corrosion problem. Although any new devices may appear any day in the market the following are most widely used: i. Setting chambers are nothing more than large places in the flues, similar to settling tanks in water treatment. These chambers remove only the large particulates.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

ii.

Cyclones are widely used for removing large particulates. The dirty air is blasted into a conical cylinder, but of the centerline. This creates a violent swirl within the cone, and the heavy solids migrate to the wall of the cylinder where they slow down due to friction and exits at bottom of the cone. The clean is in the middle of the cylinder and exits out the top. Cyclones are widely used as pre-cleaners, to remove the heavy material before further treatment.

iii.

Bag filters operate like the common vacuum cleaner. Fabric bags are use to collects dust, which must be periodically shaken out of the bags. The fabric removes nearly all particulates. Bag filters are widely used in many industries, but are sensitive to high temperature and humidity.

iv.

Wet collectors come in many shapes and styles. The simple spray tower is an effective method for removing large particulates. More efficient scrubbers promote the contact between air and water by violent action in a narrow throat section into which the water is introduced. Generally the more violent encounter, and hence the smaller the gas bubbles or water droplets, the more effective scrubbing.

v.

Electrostatic precipitators are widely used in power plants. The particulate matter is removed by first being charged by electron jumping from one high voltage electrodes to the other, and then migrating to the positively charged electrodes. One type is shown in fig. Consist of pipe with a wire hanging down the middle. The particulates will collect on the pipe and must be removed by bagging the pipes with hammers.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

Electrostatic precipitators to have no moving parts, require electricity, and are extremely effective in removing sub microns particulates they are expensive.

5.5

DISPERSION: The science of metrology has great bearing on air pollution. An air

pollution problem involves three parts. The source, the movement of the pollutant and the reciprocal. The concentration of the pollutants at the recipient

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

is affected by atmospheric dispersion, or how the pollutant is polluted with clean air. This dispersion takes place horizontally as well as vertically. Earth rotation presents new areas for the sun to shine upon and to warm air. Accordingly a pattern of winds is set up around the world, some seasonal (eg. Hurricanes) and some permanents. Air pollution engg. Often use a variation of wind rose called pollution rose to determine the source of the pollutant.

5.6 i.

VECULAR POLLUTION: To check pollutant emission from vehicular exhaust: This can be achieved by using (a) New proportion of gasoline and air (b) More exact timing of fuel feeding (c) Gas additives to improve combustion. (d) By injecting air into the exhaust to convert exhaust compounds to less toxic material and by (e) Updating of engine design.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

ii.

To control evaporation from fuel tank and carburetor: This can be done by (a) Collections of vapors with activated charcoal when the engine is turned off and its ignition when the engine is started (b) Subjecting the gasoline in the tank to slight pressure to prevent the gas from evaporation and (c) Developing low volatile that does not evaporate easily.

iii.

Use of filters: Some gas vapour escapes between walls and piston, which enters the crack case and then discharge into atmosphere.

Hydrocarbons (about 25%)are released in the way. Thus use of filters that captures and recycle these escaped gases in the engine should control the emission of these hydrocarbons. iv. Control through law: There are to be enforced some standard through Motor Vehicle act and other Acts for design of engines etc.

5.7

INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION: To check air pollution by industrial plant chimney wastes, we must

device measures for removal of particulates matter and gaseous pollutants from the wastes. Removal of particulates matter involves their collections under the influence of different forces, their by moving them continuously out of gas stream. The equipment uses for their removal are (i) cyclone collectors

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

and (ii) electrostatic propitiators (ESPs). Thus we have to generated the controlled of technology. At present there are few power plants and industries that have installed the requisite ESPs.

5.8

GASEOUS POLLUTANTS:

These can be removed by the following methods: i. Wet systems: There are used washing towers in which alkali fluid circulate continuously this liquid reacts with SO2 to produce a precipitated.

ii.

Dry system: Here the gas pollutants are allowed to react with an absorbent under dry phase; dolomite, lime (CaO) and limestone (CaOH) are placed in the way of flowing gas (SO2). The process is not very expensive and does not involve any spray of water.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

THERMAL POLLUTION & CONTROL


Thermal Pollution has been used to indicate the detrimental effects of heated effluents is charged by various power plants. It denotes the impairment of quality and deterioration of aquatic and terrestrial environment. Various Industrial plants like thermal, atomic, nuclear, coal fired plants, oil field generators and mills utilize water for cooling purposes. The heated effluents are discharged at a temperature 8 to 100 C higher than the temperature of intake waters, which reduces the concentration of D.O. (Dissolved Oxygen). Thermal Pollution : 1. It can be defined as:

The warming up of an aquatic system to the point where desirable organisms are adversely

2.

Addition of excess of undesirable heat to water that makes it harmful to man, animal, plant or aquatic life or otherwise causes significant dangers to the normal activities of aquatic communities in water.

3.

Heated

effluents

either

from

natural

or

man

made

sources,

contaminated with water supplies, may be harmful to life because of their toxicity, reduction in Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.), aesthetically unsuitable and spread diseases. 4. It reduces the number of aquatic species and destroys the balance of life in streams as is evidenced by the biological indices of community and diversity.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

5.

It is a by-product of rapid and unplanned industrial progress and over

population.

SOURCES OF THERMAL POLLUTION The accelerated pace of development, rapid industrialization and extensive population density have creased demand of thermal power plants. Human activities, today, are constantly adding pollutants to air and water at an alarming rate. The following sources contribute to thermal pollution.

1.

Nuclear Power Plants : Nuclear power plants, including drainage from

hospitals, institutes, nuclear experiments and explosions, discharge a lot have unutilized heat and trapped radionu clides into nearby water streams. Emissions from nuclear reactors and processing instruments are also responsible for increasing the temperature of water bodies. Heated effluents from power plants are discharged at 10 C higher than the coolant receptor and severely affect the aquatic flora and launa. 2. Coal-fired Power Plants :- Some thermal power plants ultimately

discharges effluent having temperature difference of TJC between effluent and water body. The Thermal power plants utilize coal as fuel and they constitute the major source of thermal pollutants. The heated coils are cooled with water from nearby lake or river and discharge the hot water back to the receptor water body and thereby increasing the temperature of the nearby

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

water. The heated effluent decreases the Dissolved Oxygen content of water. It results into killing of fish and other marine organisms. 3. Industrial Effluents :- Industries generating electricity, like coal as fuel

and Nuclear powered thermal plants, require huge amounts of cooling water for heat removal. Other industries like

EFFECTS OF THERMAL POLLUTION: The various effects of the thermal pollution are: 1. Reduction in Dissolved Oxygen :- Concentration of dissolved oxygen

decreases with increase in temperature of water. For example, the D.O. content is 14.6 ppm in water at a temperature of 32 F and 6.6 ppm at 64 F. Thus cold-water fish, which requires about 6 ppm to survive, would not tolerate the high water temperatures. If they remained in the area they would die of oxygen starvation. Since the aquatic biota live aerobically, so a healthy stream should have an adequate supply of dissolved oxygen. 2. Change in Water Properties : A rise in temperature changes the

physical and chemical properties if water. The vapour pressure increases sharply, while the viscosity of water decreases. The decrease in density, viscosity and solubility of gases increases the settling speed of suspended particles, which seriously affect the food supply of aquatic organisms, 3. Increase-in Toxicity: The rising temperature increases the toxicity

of the poison present in water. A 10 "C rise in temperature doubles the toxic

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effect of Potassium Cyanide, while an 80 C rise in temperature triples the toxic effect of O - Xylene causing massive mortality of fish. 4. Interference with biological Activities :temperature is

considered to be of vital importance to physiology, metabolism and biochemical process in controlling respiratory rates, digestion, excretion and overall development of aquatic organisms. The temperature changes totally disrupt the entire ecosystem. Sharp changes in temperature are often destructive. Because, the life of aquatic animals involves several chemical reactions and the rate of these reactions vary according to changes in temperature. 5. Interference with production :fishes, several activities like nest

building, spawning, hatching and migration and reproduction etc. depend on some optimum temperature. For instance, the maximum temperature at which lake trout will spawn successfully is 8.9 C. The warm water not only disturbs spawning but also destroys the laid eggs. 6. Variations in reproduction :- The increase in temperature triggers

deposition of eggs by female. The triggering is particularly dramatic in estuarine fish, which spawn in four hours after the water temperature reaches critical level.

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CONTROL OF THERMAL POLLUTION Heat must be removed from the condenser cooling waters prior to their disposal into water bodies. The major principles involved in the process of heat loss are:1. 2. 3. 4. Conduction Convection Radiation Evaporation

The following methods can be adopted to control high temperature caused by thermal discharges:1. COOLING PONDS : The cooling towers are beneficially used in

dissipation of heat as shown in fig.1.

Fig. No. 1

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

CONCLUSION

Though the pollution can be controlled by ways of treatments but Prevention is always better than cure. So it is duty of engineers to design any of the commodity by keeping in mind The presentation of pollution. This seminar contains the various ways of polluted air but still it does not mean that the impurities not remain in the air, even if we treat, because the production of pollution is more owing to such a huge atmosphere.

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

REFERENCES
1. 2. 3. Environmental Engineering J. S. Birdie www.airpollution_prevent.com www.google.com

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Air Pollution & Its Controls

CONTENTS

Sr. No. 1. 2. 3. 4 4. 4 5. 6. 7. 8.

Particulars INTRODUCTION POLLUTANTS SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION PRVENTION AND CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION THERMAL POLLUTION & CONTROL CONCLUSION REFERENCES

Pg. No. 1 2 3 7 11 19 24 25

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