A new Lagrangian method for modelling the buoyant plume rise

A new method for the buoyant plume rise computation is proposed. Following Alessandrini and Ferrero (Phys A 388:1375-1387, 2009) a scalar transported by the particles and representing the temperature difference between the plume and the environment air is introduced. As a consequence, no more particles than those inside the plume have to be released to simulate the entrainment of the background air temperature. A second scalar, the vertical plume velocity, is assigned to each particle. In this way the entrainment is properly simulated and the plume rise is calculated from the local property of the flow. The model has been tested against data from two laboratory experiments in neutral and stable stratified flows. The comparison shows a good agreement.Then, we tested our new model against literature analytical formulae in a simple uniform neutral atmosphere, considering either the case of a single plume or the one of two plumes from adjacent stacks combining during the rising stage. Finally, a comparison of the model against an atmospheric tracer experiment (Bull Run), characterized by vertically non-homogeneous fields (wind velocity, temperature, velocity standard deviations and time scales), was performed. All the tests confirmed the satisfactory performance of the model. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.