Plume Dynamics in Low But Turbulent Winds

Plumes behaving badly! Here we see how a plume – in the wind shadow of a large tank – moves and dilutes in very sporadic and non-uniform ways due to relatively low, yet turbulent winds. Even so, we’re able to measure the emission rate quite accurately and consistently even at a distance of 100m from the QLM gas imaging lidar camera. This is a 10 kg/hr release rate the camera measured at 11.6 kg/hr. It demonstrates the stochastic nature of gas in the wind - even when it blows consistently, the plume moves around chaotically. When the wind changes, it gets even worse! These images were captured during a measurement campaign with our partners at SLB at the TTU Oilfield Tech Center.