Proactively Monitoring and Managing Odors using Real-Time Odor Plume Prediction

The Trinity River Authority Central Regional Wastewater System (CRWS) retained Perkins Engineering Consultants, Inc. to research, specify and assist with procurement of a real-time odor plume prediction system. The real-time model is used to monitor the CRWS odor production and as a tool for assessing strategies for reducing the CRWS odor footprint.The real-time odor plume prediction system was designed to achieve the following objectives:Use field-measured odor and atmospheric values, along with programmed fixed emission values for selected processes, to project, on a real-time basis, and to continuously record, in a graphic format, the projected intensity and locations of impact of odors from the CRWS facility.Notify staff when odors approach or exceed predetermined levels at selected locations on or off the plant site.Provide information to be used in evaluating the potential effectiveness of alternative strategies for preventing or reducing odors perceived offsite.Provide information to project the estimated intensity and frequency of odors experienced by the traveling public on Interstate 30 south of and other selected receptor locations.Provide a model to help with optimization of odor control chemical feed in reducing the probable off-site odor impact.An odor dispersion model predicts the intensity, frequency, and spatial extent of nuisance odors generated by the treatment facilities. Continuous monitoring and modeling systems display odor isopleths in real-time based on live atmospheric data. Real-time odor plume prediction systems can use onsite continuous measurement sensors correlated to odor units (OU) and an onsite weather station as input to calculate the resulting odor plume. The number of onsite sensors depends on the size of the facility and available budget.The features, capabilities, and limitations of real-time odor plume prediction systems as well as lessons learned through the procurement of a real-time model for the CRWS facility are discussed later in this paper.