MSc defence by Mariela A. Aráuz Torres
Mariela A. Aráuz Torres, M.Sc. Fellow in Environmental Science and Natural Resources at the University of Iceland will give a lecture on her MSc project on Wednesday 21 May, 2014 at 14:00 in Askja, room 128.
The title of the project is:
H2S Dispersion Modelling from San Jacinto-Tizate Geothermal Power Plant, Nicaragua
Mariela's supervisors are:
Þröstur Þorsteinsson, Senior Lecturer and Þráinn Friðriksson, PhD, Geochemist at Iceland Geosurvey.
External examiner will be Þorsteinn Jóhannsson, specialst at Umhverfisstofnun.
Everyone's welcome to attend.
Abstract
The hydrogen sulphide emissions (H2S) from geothermal power plants can negatively affect the air quality in its environs. National ambient air guidelines for H2S have not been developed in Nicaragua.
Dispersion modelling of the H2S emissions from the San Jacinto-Tizate geothermal power plant was carried out using AERMOD model for the prediction of H2S ground level concentrations in the vicinity
of the power plant. When the power plant operates at full load for a whole year (72MW) the H2S emissions are estimated as 1436.2 tons/year. The annual spatial distribution of the plume was identified
in the W direction of the power plant, spreading towards WNW and WSW, in agreement with prevailing winds in the area. The modelling results show that the operation of the San Jacinto-Tizate
geothermal power plant does not have strong negative impacts on air quality in the neighboring communities. The results provide useful information to analyze the spatial distribution and the extents
of the plume during a given period, and can assist policy makers and project developer in improving the air quality monitoring plans.