The effect of micro-scale turbulence on the reaction rate in a chemically reactive plume

Abstract A model of a chemically reactive plume is used to study the effect that atmospheric turbulence has on the rate of reaction between NO and O 3 upon their release into the atmosphere. The model describes only the cycle NOO 3 NO 2 and simulates a release into the atmospheric neutral boundary layer. A Gaussian profile is assumed for the inert species NO x defined as NO x NO+NO 2 . A second-order closure model is used to calculate explicitly concentration (co-) variances of the chemical reactive species. The determination of NO′O′ 3 is fundamental since it affects the chemical reaction rate during the dispersion process. This has important consequences for the concentration fields of the reactants and the products. The closure model includes the Damkohler number (the ratio of the time scale of turbulence and the time scale of chemistry) of all the species involved in the dispersion/reaction process. The study of (co-)variances provides insights into the process of dispersion as well as into the influence of turbulence on the chemical reaction rate. The downstream chemistry development clearly shows the existence of three different phases: no reaction, partial reaction and homogeneous chemistry. The extent of these three phases is determined by the value of the Damkohler number and the amount of mass released.