University of Delaware       Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering       Spring 2012

CIEG 434: Air Pollution Control (3 hrs)



DESCRIPTION:

Overview of the sources, properties, effects, and regulations of particulate and gaseous air pollutants, with a focus on the criteria pollutants and their precursors.  Introduction to the gas-cleaning equipment and processes commonly used to control emissions from industrial/stationary sources.  These include gravitational and centrifugal separators, electrostatic precipitators, bag houses, particulate scrubbers, gas adsorption, gas absorption, and thermal, catalytic, and biological oxidation.  The strategies to minimize formation of combustion by-products will be discussed.  Emphasis will be placed on understanding the properties and behaviors of air pollutants and the principles of the different emission control technologies.

PREREQUISITES:

CIEG233, CIEG305, and CHEG231 or equivalent.
 

TIME / PLACE:

Tuesday & Thursday, 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. / 350 DuPont Hall.
 

INSTRUCTOR:

Pei Chiu, 344B DuPont Hall, 831-3104, pei@udel.edu
 

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  You may also make appointments with the instructor by phone or email.
 

TEXTBOOK: (Required)

Cooper, C. D. & Alley, F. C., "Air Pollution Control: A Design Approach", 4th ed, Waveland Press, 2011.
 

REFERENCES: (Not required.  These books are sources of certain lecture notes and supplemental materials.)

(1) De Nevers, N., "Air Pollution Control Engineering", 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, 2000.
(2) Heinsohn, R. J. and Kabel, R. L. "Sources and Control of Air Pollution", Prentice Hall, 1998.
(3) Crawford, M. "Air Pollution Control Theory", McGraw-Hill, 1976.
 

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Homework Assignments (80 points = 10 points per assignment x 8 assignments)

You may work in groups of 2 to 4 (but no more than 4) on homework assignments.  Each assignment is due one week from the day it is assigned.  Points will be deducted for assignments submitted after the due date (see LATE POLICY below), unless a special request is submitted and approved by the instructor in advance.  Each group only needs to turn in one assignment (but don't forget to include the names of all group members!) and all group members will receive the same grade.

2. Hourly Exams (60 points = 30 points each x 2 exams)

These exams will be open-book and will be held in class, tentatively on March 15 and May 03.  The first exam will cover particulate matter and its control, and the second exam will cover vapors and their control.  You need to bring a calculator, a conversion table, and blank paper.  You may also bring your lecture notes and the text.  However, no cell/smart phone or any other device that can access either the phone network or wirelss internet is permittedAll such devices must be turned off during exam or your exam will not be accepted.

3. Final Exam (60 points)

The final exam will follow the same format as the mid-term exams.  The final exam will be cumulative and will cover ALL lectures, homework assignments, hourly exams, and any guest lectures if applicable.  The final exam time and location will be announced later in the spring as determined by the University.

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION:

Activities and efforts that contribute to understanding of the subject matter are encouraged and will be rewarded by extra "active participation" points (up to 10 points/person/semester).
 

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance is not mandatory and no points will be deducted due to absence.  However, absence and tardiness are not acceptable reasons for late assignments.
 

LATE POLICY:

Late homework assignments will lose 20% (i.e., 2 points) per school day.  After one week from the due date, a late assignment is considered missing and will not be accepted or graded (i.e., 20% x 5 days = 100% deducted).
 

GRADING:

The total numbers of points are 200 based on the requirements.

If you earn a total of
170 points or more, you will receive an A or A-
150 points or more, you will receive a B+, B, or B-
130 points or more, you will receive a C+, C, or C-
120 points or more, you will receive a D
< 120 points, you will receive an F

SCHEDULE and ASSIGNED READINGS (Cooper & Alley is required; De Nevers and Heinsohn & Kabel are optional.)

1. Scope and objective of the course.  Syllabus and house-keeping details.

    Review: unit conversion, ideal gas law, material & energy balance, and Bernoulli equation.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 1, pp. 30-48 & Chapter 2, pp. 79-93.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 1, pp. 27-48.

2. Overview of air pollutants: types, causes, sources, and effects.
    Atmosphere: composition, scales of atmospheric processes

    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 1, pp. 1-16, 48-66.
    De Nevers: Chapter 2.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapters 4 & 5.

Homework #1 assigned.

3. Regulations and air quality standards.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 1, pp. 17-30.
    De Nevers: Chapter 3.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 3.

4. Particulate matter: characteristics and behavior in air.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 3, pp. 111-124.
    De Nevers: Chapter 8, Section 8.2.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 11.

Homework #2 assigned.

5. Particulate control devices.  Part I: Wall collection devices - 1: Gravity settlers and cyclones.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 4, pp. 124-151.
    De Nevers: Chapter 9, Sections 9.1.1 & 9.1.2.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 12, pp. 567-572.

6. Particulate control devices.  Part I: Wall collection devices - 2: Electrostatic precipitators.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 5, pp. 161-184.
    De Nevers: Chapter 9, Section 9.1.3.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 12, pp. 608-619.

Homework #3 assigned.

7. Particulate control devices.  Part II: Dividing collection devices - 1: Filters and bag houses.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 6, pp. 193-217.
    De Nevers: Chapter 9, Sections 9.2.1 and 9.2.2.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 12, pp. 591-606.

8. Particulate control devices.  Part II: Dividing collection devices - 2: Scrubbers.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 7, pp. 231-257.
    De Nevers: Chapter 9, Section 9.2.4.
    Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 12, pp. 575-591.

Homework #4 assigned.

First Examination (tentatively March 15).

9. Gaseous pollutants: Physical and chemical properties.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 10, pp. 327-339.
    De Nevers: Chapter 10, Sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3.

10. VOC control - 1: Oxidation - thermal, catalytic, and biological.
      Cooper & Alley: Chapter 11, pp. 343-374 & Chapter 14, pp. 455-477.
      De Nevers: Chapter 10, Sections 10.5.1 and 10.5.2.
      Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 10, pp. 474-482.

Homework #5 assigned.

11. VOC control - 2: Adsorption and condensation.
      Cooper & Alley: Chapter 12, pp. 385-407.
      De Nevers: Chapter 10, Sections 10.4.1 and 10.4.2.
      Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 10, pp. 440-453.

Homework #6 assigned.

12. Control of water-soluble and acidic/basic gases: Gas absorption (scrubbing).
      Cooper & Alley: Chapter 13, pp. 417-446.
      De Nevers: Chapter 10, Section 10.4.3.
      Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapters 10, pp. 453-474.

13. Sulfur oxides (SOx) control.
      Cooper & Alley: Chapter 15, pp. 485-517.
      De Nevers: Chapter 11.
      Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 10, pp. 485-488.

Homework #7 assigned.

Second Examination (tentatively May 03).

14. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) control.
      Cooper & Alley: Chapter 16, pp. 523-551.
      De Nevers: Chapter 12.
      Heinsohn & Kabel: Chapter 10, pp. 482-485.

15. CO2 and other pollutants of climate/global significance: methane, nitrous oxide, black carbon, ground ozone, and fluorocarbons.
     
Cooper & Alley (4th Ed.): Chapter 22, pp. 721-758.

Homework #8 assigned.

16. Review.  Closing remarks and feedback.  Course evaluation.

Final examination (time and location TBA).


If time permits, some of the following topics will be discussed:

1. Mercury and other hazardous air pollutants.  Indoor air pollution.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 21, pp. 649-671.
    De Nevers: Chapter 15.

2. Mobile sources and their control.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 18, pp. 533-564.
    De Nevers: Chapter 13.

3. Photochemical smog: Chemistry, effects, and control.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 19, pp. 588-601.

4. Atmospheric transport and dispersion.  Meteorology and atmospheric stability.
    Cooper & Alley: Chapter 20, pp. 607-642.
    De Nevers: Chapter 5.