Statistical assessment and modeling of the effects of weather conditions on H2S plume dispersal from Icelandic geothermal power plants

Þorsteinsson, Þorsteinn; Hackenbruch, Julia; Sveinbjörnsson, Einar Ö.; Jóhannsson, Þorsteinn

doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2012.10.003

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This is especially true for H 2 S, where concentrations of H 2 S depend on various meteorological factors. 5 40 Many calculations performed in the present study may give rise to concern due to multiple comparisons; however, it has been argued that no adjustments are needed for these. 41 The increased risk seemed to be restricted to the oldest in the population and the data consisted of those 18 years of age and older, limiting the generalisability of the results with regard to age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Hydrogen sulfide and traffic-related air pollutants in association with increased mortality: a case-crossover study in Reykjavik, Iceland

et al. 2015

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ObjectivesTo study the association between daily mortality and short-term increases in air pollutants, both traffic-related and the geothermal source-specific hydrogen sulfide (H2S).DesignPopulation-based, time stratified case-crossover. A lag time to 4 days was considered. Seasonal, gender and age stratification were calculated. Also, the best-fit lag when introducing H2S >7 µg/m3 was selected by the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC).SettingThe population of the greater Reykjavik area (n=181 558) during 2003–2009.ParticipantsCases were defined as individuals living in the Reykjavik capital area, 18 years or older (N=138 657), who died due to all natural causes (ICD-10 codes A00-R99) other than injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes, or cardiovascular disease (ICD-10 codes I00-I99) during the study period.Main outcome measurePercentage increases in risk of death (IR%) following an interquartile range increase in pollutants.ResultsThe total number of deaths due to all natural causes was 7679 and due to cardiovascular diseases was 3033. The interquartile range increased concentrations of H2S (2.6 µg/m3) were associated with daily all natural cause mortality in the Reykjavik capital area. The IR% was statistically significant during the summer season (lag 1: IR%=5.05, 95% CI 0.61 to 9.68; lag 2: IR%=5.09, 95% CI 0.44 to 9.97), among males (lag 0: IR%=2.26, 95% CI 0.23 to 4.44), and among the elderly (lag 0: IR%=1.94, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.04; lag 1: IR%=1.99, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.04), when adjusted for traffic-related pollutants and meteorological variables. The traffic-related pollutants were generally not associated with statistical significant IR%s.ConclusionsThe results suggest that ambient H2S air pollution may increase mortality in Reykjavik, Iceland. To the best of our knowledge, ambient H2S exposure has not previously been associated with increased mortality in population-based studies and therefore the results should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are warranted to confirm or refute whether H2S exposure induces premature deaths.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Hydrogen sulfide and traffic-related air pollutants in association with increased mortality: a case-crossover study in Reykjavik, Iceland

et al. 2015

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“…1). Notice that although a fluid coming from deep underground geothermal systems typically contains dissolved gases (such as H2S (Thorsteinsson et al, 2013)), silica (Sugita et al, 2003) and calcite (Hébert et al, 2010), it is assumed in this paper that its properties may be approximated as equal to those of pure water, which is in line with recent literature (e.g., Jalilinasrabady et al, 2012;Pambudi et al, 2014).…”

Section: Double-flash Reference Designmentioning

confidence: 62%

Improvement of Double-Flash geothermal power plant design: A comparison of six interstage heating processes

Sarr

Mathieu-Potvin

2015

Geothermics

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In this paper, six different modifications of the Double-Flash power plants are proposed. These modifications are named "interstage heating" and consist of additional heat exchangers properly located in the system. The six interstage heating designs are analysed, optimized and then compared to an optimized Double-Flash reference power plant. The objective function is the power plant specific output (kJ/kg), and the design variables are the separator temperatures (°C) and the split fraction. Optimizations are performed for a wide range of reservoir temperatures (i.e., from 140 °C to 240 °C). Results show that interstage heating processes may increase the specific output of the plant by about 5%, decrease the liquid content in the low pressure turbine by about 50%, and decrease the required cooling capacity of the plant by about 10%. On the other hand, the analysis showed that the new designs proposed have negligible influence on the high pressure turbine liquid content or on the silica saturation coefficient. Keywords

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“…To estimate H 2 S exposure through 2007 to July 2014 in different sections of the Reykjavik capital area, a simple model was applied whereas the modelled concentration only depends on wind speed, the angle between wind direction and modelled location, and incoming solar radiation. The width of the plume was determined from measurements and calculations using the well known Gaussian plume, Pasquill-Gifford model [ 29 , 30 ], at 25 km from the source under stable conditions [ 31 ]. The model predicted H 2 S concentrations that were compared to measured concentrations at measurement stations operated by EAI, in section A (Hvaleyrarholt station, HEH) and in section C (GRE) ( Fig 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model predicted H 2 S concentrations that were compared to measured concentrations at measurement stations operated by EAI, in section A (Hvaleyrarholt station, HEH) and in section C (GRE) ( Fig 1 ). Emissions from the Nesjavellir power plant were not included in the model, as the power plant is behind a mountain [ 31 ], which limits the distribution of H 2 S westward in the direction of the Reykjavik capital area [ 26 , 27 , 32 ], and this was confirmed by H 2 S measurement at GRE before the start of the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant in 2006 [ 16 ]. The model covers a 50° section from Hellisheidi power plant to the west, which includes the Reykjavik capital area.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For each section, the average 24-hour H 2 S concentration was calculated. The location of Hellisheidi power plant is some 260m above sea level and there is a moderate, practically continuous downward slope [ 31 ] westward from the plant to the Reykjavik capital area (GRE). Detailed description of the H 2 S modelling can be found in S1 Model Calculations .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association between Daily Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure and Incidence of Emergency Hospital Visits: A Population-Based Study

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe adverse health effects of high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure are well known, though the possible effects of low concentrations have not been thoroughly studied. The aim was to study short-term associations between modelled ambient low-level concentrations of intermittent hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and emergency hospital visits with heart diseases (HD), respiratory diseases, and stroke as primary diagnosis.MethodsThe study is population-based, using data from patient-, and population-registers from the only acute care institution in the Reykjavik capital area, between 1 January, 2007 and 30 June, 2014. The study population was individuals (≥18yr) living in the Reykjavik capital area. The H2S emission originates from a geothermal power plant in the vicinity. A model was used to estimate H2S exposure in different sections of the area. A generalized linear model assuming Poisson distribution was used to investigate the association between emergency hospital visits and H2S exposure. Distributed lag models were adjusted for seasonality, gender, age, traffic zones, and other relevant factors. Lag days from 0 to 4 were considered.ResultsThe total number of emergency hospital visits was 32961 with a mean age of 70 years. In fully adjusted un-stratified models, H2S concentrations exceeding 7.00μg/m3 were associated with increases in emergency hospital visits with HD as primary diagnosis at lag 0 risk ratio (RR): 1.067; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.024–1.111, lag 2 RR: 1.049; 95%CI: 1.005–1.095, and lag 4 RR: 1.046; 95%CI: 1.004–1.089. Among males an association was found between H2S concentrations exceeding 7.00μg/m3, and HD at lag 0 RR: 1.087; 95%CI: 1.032–1.146 and lag 4 RR: 1080; 95%CI: 1.025–1.138; and among those 73 years and older at lag 0 RR: 1.075; 95%CI: 1.014–1.140 and lag 3 RR: 1.072; 95%CI: 1.009–1.139. No associations were found with other diseases.ConclusionsThe study showed an association between emergency hospital visits with HD as primary diagnosis and same day H2S concentrations exceeding 7.00μg/m3, more pronounced among males and those 73 years and older than among females and younger individuals.

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Statistical assessment and modeling of the effects of weather conditions on H2S plume dispersal from Icelandic geothermal power plants

Cited by 18 publications

References 9 publications

Hydrogen sulfide and traffic-related air pollutants in association with increased mortality: a case-crossover study in Reykjavik, Iceland

Hydrogen sulfide and traffic-related air pollutants in association with increased mortality: a case-crossover study in Reykjavik, Iceland

Improvement of Double-Flash geothermal power plant design: A comparison of six interstage heating processes

Association between Daily Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure and Incidence of Emergency Hospital Visits: A Population-Based Study

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