Details of Newhaven Plume Plotter

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

Stacks and buildings

Building measurements are taken from [1]. This image shows the layout of the stack and buildings modelled. North is at the top; colours and numbers indicate the height of the buildings and the stack.

Stack measurements

These are taken from [1]:

Stack location: 50.80203,0.04902.
Stack height: 65 m.
Stack diameter: 2.05 m. (The two stacks are modelled as one larger stack.)
Stack gas exit velocity: 18 m/s.
Stack gas temperature: 156 °C.

The following values are used for albedo, Bowen ratio and roughness length. None of these are specified in [1]:

Albedo: 0.2.
Bowen ratio: 1.
Roughness length: 0.5.

Emissions

The emission rates of pollutants are of two types. Both are calculated using the actual flow rate reported in [1], which is multiplied by the emission concentrations. (Note: the given flow rate is stated to be "per stack" but it must actually be for both stacks combined.)

For the planned emission rates, the concentrations used are the IED limits, as stated in (e.g.) [1] (but there is an error in [1] for the dioxins concentration; the correct value has been used). Resulting (mass per second) emission rates for the two stacks combined are listed below:

Pollutant	Emission rate per second
Oxides of nitrogen	8.16 g
Particulates	408 mg
Sulphur dioxide	2.04 g
Carbon monoxide	2.04 g
Hydrogen chloride	408 mg
Hydrogen flouride	40.8 mg
VOCs	408 mg
Cadmium & Thallium	2.04 mg
Mercury	2.04 mg
Other metals	20.4 mg
Dioxins and furans	4.08 ng

The actual emission rates use the annual average concentrations for 2016, as reported in the incinerator's annual report and on [2]. They are listed below:

Pollutant	Emission rate per second
Oxides of nitrogen	7.67 g
Particulates	57.12 mg
Sulphur dioxide	0
Carbon monoxide	142.8 mg
Hydrogen chloride	159.1 mg
Hydrogen flouride	1.404 mg
VOCs	8.16 mg
Cadmium & Thallium	39.58 μg
Mercury	97.51 μg
Other metals	2.036 mg
Dioxins and furans	285.6 pg

Background levels

The background levels of pollutants are taken from a later air quality assessment for the same location [3]:

Pollutant	Background concentration per m³
Oxides of nitrogen	12 μg
Particulates	13.5 μg
Sulphur dioxide	N/A
Carbon monoxide	N/A
Hydrogen chloride	N/A
Hydrogen flouride	N/A
VOCs	N/A
Cadmium & Thallium	N/A
Mercury	N/A
Other metals	N/A
Dioxins and furans	N/A

Weather data

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

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

References

1. Updated Air Quality Impact Assessment for Newhaven ERF. ERM. October 2010.

2. Veolia South Downs Emissions.

3. Newhaven Depot Air Quality Assessment. WYG. February 2018.