2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CAPE3421 Atmospheric Pollution: Impacts and Controls
20 creditsClass Size: 50
Module manager: Dr V Dupont
Email: v.dupont@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2015/16
This module is mutually exclusive with
| CAPE5421M | Atmospheric Pollution: Impacts and Controls |
Module replaces
PEME3471 Atmospheric Pollution: Impacts and ControlsThis module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should:- understand the mechanisms of emission of the main air pollutants.
- understand the principles of the processes used for the control of air pollution from stationary industrial sources.
- be able to consider the designs associated with the implementation of the control techniques using engineering skills.
- be able to perform critical assessments of the advantages and drawbacks of each control technique covered.
- have an understanding of the chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere that contribute to the secondary generation, transportation and deposition of pollutants.
- be able to investigate the reasons for high pollutant concentrations and their dependence on emissions, chemical transformations and meteorological conditions and to discuss relevance to pollution control.
- be able to use appropriate methods of modelling atmospheric dispersion from stationary and transport processes and to apply them to simple numerical examples.
- understand the main environmental impacts resulting from atmospheric emissions of pollutants from energy related and industrial sources at a range of scales ranging from the urban environment to global impacts such as climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion.
Learning outcomes
Students should be able to choose and carry out the designs necessary for the implementation of the most appropriate control technique for a given stationary industrial process that emits air pollutants in significant amounts.
Students should be able to use appropriate methods of mathematical modelling of atmospheric dispersion problems and to relate these to the control of air quality through e.g. chimney height calculations.
Students should understand the impact of industrial emissions on global air pollution problems and to be able to critically assess proposed global control technologies such as geo-engineering.
Skills outcomes
Students will develop a critical ability as to which control technique is most appropriate for the air-polluting process under consideration.
Students will carry out small design exercises relevant to particular control techniques as the module progresses through the various air pollution control techniques. The design exercises include how to calculate the appropriate dimensions and process conditions of their control technique for a given air polluting process, and how to determine numerically their efficiency of control.
Students will develop the ability to formulate suitable equations which link emissions from typical industrial and transport sources to local and regional air quality and to use these equations to assess the air quality impacts of process design options or engine emissions controls.
Many of the skills developed and practiced in this module are transferable (e.g. to design and research projects).
Syllabus
Part A
- Mechanisms of emission and control methods from industrial stationary sources of: volatile organic compounds, sulphur species, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, soot, metallic emissions and particulate matter.
- This part of the module is delivered in the form of lectures with course examples embedded in the lectures, a laboratory practical and another item of coursework are associated with the control of air pollution section.
Part B
- Meteorological factors affecting pollutant dispersion; wind speed and direction and their variation with height, atmospheric stability, inversions.
- Origins of atmospheric turbulence, the atmospheric diffusion equation.
- Application of Gaussian plume model to elevated point and line sources.
- The earth's radiation balance, radiative forcing and climate change, climate predictions, model uncertainties, feedbacks and political responses.
- Proposed geo-engineering solutions to mitigate climate change.
- Stratospheric ozone, chemistry and physics of depletion processes, CFC's and control of emissions following the Montreal Protocol.
- Gas phase tropospheric chemistry, photochemical reactions of NOx, O3,VOC's, PAN, SO2.
- Liquid phase chemistry, atmospheric aerosols.
- Deposition processes acid rain and its effects, critical loads.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 22 | 2.00 | 44.00 |
| Practical | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Private study hours | 153.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 47.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
2 hours reading per lecture (excluding revision classes) (80h)17 hours for completion of lab assignment report
17 hours for completion of numerical control examples
17 hours for completion of numerical course work on control of air pollution.
22 hours exam revision
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Submissions from the laboratory practical report and the item of computer coursework set under the control of air pollution section will provide means to assess students' numeracy skills required for the exam. Feedback will highlight specific weaknesses in the students' work requiring strengthening or enhanced revision before the exam.A revision class will be held towards the end of term and the students will be asked to submit sample answers to past exam papers - particularly overseas students.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Report | Practical report | 20.00 |
| Computer Exercise | Based on case study | 20.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 3 hr | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 30/03/2015
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD