Numerical modeling of the effects of a thermal fence on pollutant dispersion in the stable atmospheric boundary layer

Numerical studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of a line of heating - that is, a thermal fence - on the short-range (less than 1 km from the pollutant source) dispersion of pollutants under various stable nighttime conditions. The thermal fence was located downwind of a ground-based pollutant source. The heating rate was varied from 10³ W m^-1 (watts per meter length of the fence) to 10⁶ W m^-1. Initial numerical results demonstrated that the thermal fence enhanced vertical mixing of pollutants behind the fence and could reduce the downwind ground-level concentration by more than 60%. Estimated fuel cost was $2.50 per hour per meter with atypical heating rate of 10⁵ W m^-1. The thermal fence might be a useful means of alleviating odors and reducing exposure to contaminants, from short-term releases especially.