Quantitative remote measurements of pollutants from stationary sources using Raman lidar

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Remote Sensing Technology

Background:

• Accurate monitoring of stationary source emissions is crucial for environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
• Remote sensing techniques offer non-invasive methods for atmospheric pollutant detection.
• Raman lidar presents a promising technology for real-time emission measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively evaluate the advantages of Raman lidar for remote measurement of stationary source emissions.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of measuring sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) concentrations using Raman lidar.
• To assess the accuracy and limitations of the Raman lidar system for emission monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a calibration tank at a 300 m distance during nighttime conditions.
• Employed a ruby laser (1.5-J, 30 pulses/min), 6-m range resolution, interference filters, photon counting detection, and a 20-cm receiver.
• Verified measurement accuracy by analyzing known SO(2) concentrations, filter tuning, and varying CO(2) levels.

Main Results:

• Achieved accurate measurements of approximately 10(3)-ppm SO(2) with a 12% accuracy within a 15-minute observation time.
• Demonstrated the system's capability to detect and quantify SO(2) under specific nighttime conditions.
• Encountered limitations in evaluating fluorescence from plume aerosols due to simulation challenges.

Conclusions:

• Raman lidar is a viable tool for the remote measurement of SO(2) emissions from stationary sources.
• The study confirms the potential of Raman lidar for environmental monitoring applications.
• Further research is needed to address challenges related to aerosol interference for comprehensive plume analysis.