The impact of power units on air quality on a university campus located in the center of an urban agglomeration

Abstract

The aim of the presented research is to determine whether and to what extent emitters of remote heat sources in a large urban agglomeration affect the air quality in a somewhat closed area, such as 6.53 ha the campus of the Cracow University of Technology (CUT) near the city center in Cracow. Particular attention was paid to areas sheltered by buildings at different heights. It was important to correlate the occurring pollutants (PM₁₀, SO₂) with the potential emission occurring in the surrounding buildings. In such cases, it was necessary to measure the pollutants present at different heights above the area using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Thanks to the use of UAV, it was possible to accurately map pollution in the area covered by measurements (from 2 to 50 m above ground level), in this case on the campus of the CUT. The measurements enabled the identification of both the level of pollutants and their characteristics, leading to correlations with potential pollution sources occurring nearby or at a certain distance. The measurements were supported by computer simulations to use software OPA-03 to determine the potential risk from concentrated high emissions from municipal combined heat and power (CHP) plants. It was determined that CHP plants located at a distance from the city center do not have a direct impact on air quality, but indirectly through the movement of pollutants along the agglomeration ventilation corridors. The air quality in the CUT area was primarily influenced by low local emissions.