Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of gaseous pollutants dispersion in low wind speed condition: Isfahan refinery, a case study

Abstract

A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to predict the dispersion of gaseous pollutants released from different stacks in Isfahan refinery in Iran. Three types of turbulent models including the standard k-ε, the RNG k-ε, and the realizable k-ε models are compared and considered. The results of model are compared with the experimental data obtained by measuring the CO2 concentration inside and close to the refinery boundaries. The comparison shows the sufficient precision of model predictions. By using the design of experiment (DOE) technique, the effects of model parameters are investigated on the results. The results of standard k-ε model for Sc t = 0.5 and hr = 2 m, the realizable k-ε model for hr = 2 m, and the RNG.k-ε model for hr = 2.5 m provide more acceptable results when these results are compared with the models responses with ideal values of these parameters. The latter gives some better results for the case of Isfahan refinery. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.