CHEMICAL TRANSPORT AND METEOROLOGICAL MODELS FOR ANALYSIS OF PARTICULATE MATTERS GENERATED FROM A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT

A coal-fired power plant is considered as one of the main sources for fine particulate matters. Particulate matter generated from the power plant can be classified into the primary particulate matter (PM) and the secondary PM. The primary PM is ejected as a solid-state and the secondary PM is ejected as a gaseous state called a precursor and becomes a solid-state by chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Since the size of the secondary PM is smaller than 2.5 micrometers, it can cause severe health problems. Therefore, accurate prediction of advection and diffusion of PM generated from a coal-fired power plant is highly necessary. In the present study, the WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting–Chemistry) model is used to simulate air quality near a coal-fired power plant. The Carbon-bond mechanism version Z (CBMZ), is used to predict formation of the secondary PM. An aerosol model, which simulates aerosol interactions and chemistry (MOSAIC), is used to predict the transport of fine particles. The meteorological model WRF is used to predict dispersion of fine particles and gaseous components.22Nkc