SENSITIVITY OF PLUME RISE MODELS IN THE CONTEXT OF DECISION SUPPORT

Model sensitivity can be analyzed using a fractional factorial experimental design. Here a plume rise model, PRISE, which may be useful in decision support, is utilized in such a sensitivity study for a single, isolated stack. Consideration of seven major factors which influence plume rise, together with their synergistic interactions, leads to the conclusion that the most important factors in determining plume rise appear to be inversion height, wind speed, initial effluent velocity and the two factor interaction (2fi) between inversion height and wind speed. Construction of a response surface leads to a new empirical equation for plume rise.