Simulating pollution dispersion from chemical plants
Chemical plants spew pollutants into the atmosphere that impact the environment, human health, visibility and climate change. In recent decades the computer has emerged as a powerful tool that can predict the emission and spread of this pollution. As such it has played an important role in the execution of Environmental Impact Assessments of chemical plants. The DEMACSYS project, sponsored by the INCO Programme, brought together EU Member States, Third Countries and New Independent States to create a computer-based decision support tool. The DEMACSYS system is comprised of knowledge bases describing chemical plant operation procedures, emissions indices, meteorological parameters that govern the transport and transformation of the emitted substances and, finally, pollution concentration maps. The development of the tool was overseen by the DEMACSYS coordinator, the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Following successful tests with the Shchenkinoazot chemical plant and a refinery in the Russian capital, the DEMACSYS system was patented. UMIST possesses the knowledge necessary to adapt the DEMACSYS system to new applications. Details for each new chemical plant, its local environment and climate must be entered in order to achieve the best possible simulation. Apart from the tool as a whole, UMIST also maintains the right to license use of the various elements comprising the DEMACSYS system.
