Cost evaluation of air pollution control standards

Abstract

A modAl is developed to describe the sulfur dioxide and particulate air pollution characteristics of a fossil fueled steam electric power plant. The model contains three stages. The first considers boiler emissions and the application of one of four parameterized abatement methods: wet limestone scrubbing, catalytic oxidation, magnesium oxide scrubbing, and the use of tall stacks. The second stage tests stack emissions and uses meteorological dispersion models, particularly the double gaussian model, to determine and test three hour, twenty-four hour and annual worst case ground level concentrations. The third stage calculates the performance of the abatement method used in terms of economics and resource costs. The model can be used to determine feasible combinations of plant types, site types and abatement methods as support for a separate generation expansion model. It can also be used independently to study environmental and economic sensitivities to changes in air pollution standards. General descriptions of the operation of the abatement methods and explanations of meteorological modeling are included. Examples of the use of the model as an evaluative planning tool and as a sensitivity analysis tool, examining sulfur dioxide standards, are given. A computer listing of the model is included.