Modelling NO2 in Urban Environment Using CFD

Modelling NO2 in Urban Environment Using CFD This research aims at investigating the optimisation of air quality model by integrating the use of CFD at a city scale. The final goal of the research would be to regulate the amount of cars in Leicester city centre and thereby improve air quality. The model is planned to be built around an existing operational traffic control system used by the city of Leicester augmented with traffic flow, air quality information and near real-time data from space and in situ measurements. The air quality model includes roads source emission of NO2, 3D buildings and topography over the city of Leicester. Wind profiles are being simulated using atmospheric boundary layer condition and surface roughness parameters for different wind direction and velocity to form a wind database. The pollutant is then dispersed as a scalar along the wind stream depending on the wind conditions. Work is still at a preliminary stage but recent results have shown great promise. The wind velocity profiles have been validated against wind tunnel dataset from CEDVAL. The validation of the dispersion of the pollutant is currently being assessed. In the near future, further improvements are likely to be implemented in the model. Real time pollution measurements of NO2, impact of trees as porous bodies, thermal effects and chemistry are some possibilities.