Quantitative estimation of odorous emissions from heterogeneous area sources via thermal imaging drone

The outdoor storage of wood chips, used in biomass thermal power plants, may lead to different diffuse gaseous emissions. These emissions can contain different molecules, often with a non-negligible odour potential. Despite this need, these solid area sources are particularly complex to be characterised, due to their very high heterogeneity determined by a complex phenomenon of self-heating. Previous studies have reported the correlation between specific odorous emission potential and surface temperature, detected via thermal camera. The present study aims to propose and explore the use of a thermal camera drone to obtain an entire thermal map for lignocellulosic storage and correlate the obtained data with specific emission rates. The field direct sampling, conducted via flux chamber, has confirmed a link between surface temperature and odorous emission for this kind of source. Moreover, the thermograms have made possible a short-cut quantitative estimation of an overall emission rate, crucial for the calculation of odour impact assessment at the receptors.