AIR POLLUTION AND TREATMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The course requires the well-established knowledge of basic elements of inorganic and organic chemistry, mathematics, physics and safety.
There is one final exam, which verifies the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills through the performance in an oral test lasting about 30 minutes.
The oral exam consists of three different types of questions aimed at ascertaining: 1) ability to fully present a topic (or part of a topic) covered in the course; 2) ability to reply concisely and precisely to a specific request; 3) ability to use the knowledge and skills acquired in order to analyze equipment not covered in the course.
In the overall evaluation of the oral exam, all three types of question have the same weight (with reference to an evaluation out of thirty: 8/30). To complete the evaluation, 6/30 are attributed to the language properties (use of correct terminology and ability to formulate precise, logical and grammatically correct sentences).
Air quality is a key factor for both the well-being of citizens and the protection of the environment.
The aim of the course is to provide students a detailed knowledge of both the basic phenomenology of the dispersion of pollutants into the atmosphere (following both the normal exercise of industrial activities and accidents) and the techniques for reducing the concentrations of pollutants in the air streams discharged into the environment.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
a) use suitable mathematical models (point source) capable of providing a rough estimate (in terms of concentrations at the generic receptor) of the magnitude of any release into the atmosphere;
b) describe, size and verify the main equipment suitable for the treatment of polluted air streams that will then be emitted into the atmosphere.
Module 1: Modeling of the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere
Duration: 12 hours - Lectures
Introduction to the concept of dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere; dispersion of neutral, light and heavy gases into the atmosphere; classification of releases (continuous / instantaneous); threshold limit values regarding the effects on people following a release of toxic compounds into the atmosphere; phenomenology of the dispersion of a gas in the atmosphere; the effect of atmospheric turbulence on the rate of the transport phenomena of matter, energy and momentum; the concept of atmospheric stability and the Pasquill classes; trend of wind speed with altitude; Gaussian models for continuous and instantaneous emissions (correlations and simulations using codes developed in Matlab environment); the influence of the mediation time on the measured and experimental concentration value; the effect of the size of a finite source; estimation of inertial and gravitational effects; the influence of both the orography of the terrain and the presence of obstacles on the dispersions.
Module 2: Reconstruction of accidental events and simulations
Duration: 8 hours - Frontal Lessons
Reconstruction and simulation of accidents: the cases of Seveso and Bhopal; use of the ALOHA software; use of DispSim software and comparisons with other simulators.
Module 3: Illustration of the operating principle of industrial equipment for air purification
Duration: 18 hours - Lectures
Equipment for the treatment of polluted air.
Study of the dynamics of polluting particles in air and fluids. Introduction to air purification systems and gaseous streams circulating in a process plant. Phase diagrams, separation efficiencies, equipment classification. Qualitative and quantitative description, as well as the operating principles, of the main purification equipment for polluted gaseous streams: settling chambers, cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, bag filters, absorbers and adsorbers.
Module 4: Evaluation of possible accidental scenarios in air handling equipment (module with theoretical exercises)
Duration: 10 hours - Frontal Lessons
Description of the dangers associated with the use of air purification equipment and definition of some typical accidental scenarios. Analysis of major accidents that occurred in the 2000s.
Lessons: slides and handouts provided by the teacher in the classroom (in pdf or hard copy) - available in pdf format on the elearning website.
Movies: files provided in the classroom by the teacher or accessible through links provided directly on the slides and handouts given to students in pdf format.
The course will be carried out using lectures in which, in addition to the normal teaching activity, abundant use of multimedia films will be made in order to facilitate the learning of all the concepts related to: 1) the operation of the industrial equipment; 2) the dynamics of all the processes analyzed; 3) the possible accident scenarios investigated.
The teacher receives on appointment. It is possible to book an appointment by sending an email to: marco.barozzi@uninsubria.it.