Details of Runcorn Plume Plotter

This page should be read in conjunction with How Plume Plotter Works. It provides more details specific to the Runcorn version of Plume Plotter.

Stack measurements

All of these are taken from [1]:

The following values are used for albedo, Bowen ratio, and roughness length. Roughness length is as specified in [1]:

Emissions

The emission rates of pollutants are of two types. Both are calculated using the flow rate reported in [1], which is multiplied by the emission concentrations.

For the planned emission rates, the concentrations used are the IED limits, as stated in (e.g.) [1]. Resulting (mass per second) emission rates are listed below:

PollutantEmission rate
per second
Oxides of nitrogen40 g
Particulates PM102 g
VOCs2 g
Hydrogen chloride2 g
Hydrogen flouride200 mg
Carbon monoxide10 g
Sulphur dioxide10 g
Mercury10 mg
Cadmium and thallium10 mg
Other metals100 mg
Dioxins and furans20 ng

The actual emission rates use the same flow rates and the annual average concentrations for 2021, as reported in the incinerator's annual report. They are listed below:

PollutantEmission rate
per second
Oxides of nitrogen33.27 g
Particulates PM10156 mg
VOCs50 mg
Hydrogen chloride134 mg
Hydrogen flouride143.3 mg
Carbon monoxide270 mg
Sulphur dioxide2.402 g
Mercury315 μg
Cadmium and thallium270 μg
Other metals37.3 mg
Dioxins and furans3.25 ng

Background levels

The background levels of pollutants are taken from [1]:

PollutantBackground
concentration per m3
Oxides of nitrogen26 μg
Particulates PM1025.6 μg
VOCsN/A
Hydrogen chloride550 ng
Hydrogen flouride2.46 μg
Carbon monoxide240 μg
Sulphur dioxide20 μg
Mercury2 ng
Cadmium and thallium300 pg
Other metals34.48 ng
Dioxins and furans86 fg

Weather data

Weather data is taken from METAR reports from a local airport: Liverpool.

Upper air data is the latest reported by the Nottingham upper air station.

References

1. Runcorn Energy from Waste Project: Environmental Statement. Appendix 10.1 - Air Quality Assessment. December 2006. There is no direct link! Search for planning application 07/00068/ELC here