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Annex 6

814.318.142.1OAPCFederal Council OrdinanceMar 1, 1986Original source

(Art. 6 para. 3)

Minimum stack height

1 Scope

The provisions of this Annex apply to installations for which the quantity Q/S exceeds 5, where: Q = mass flow of the emitted air pollutant in grams per hour; S = value calculated in accordance with Number 9.

2 Calculation method

1The required physical stack height is calculated step by step in accordance with Numbers 3 to 6.

2If more than one air pollutant is emitted, the physical stack height is calculated on the basis of the pollutant for which the quantity Q/S has the highest value.

3 Parameter H0

31 Determination of H0 according to Diagram 1

1The parameter H0takes account of the short-term effects of the air pollutants emitted from a single installation. It is determined with the aid of Diagram 1.

2The quantities Q and F depend on the emission conditions at the installation. The full load values and the fuel/emission conditions most conducive to air pollution are used to calculate H0.

3The quantity S is used to limit the maximum short-term ambient air pollution levels caused by the installation to a specific value (S value). The S values specified in Number 9 are used to calculate H0.

32 Determination of H0 in individual cases

1The parameter H0is determined in individual cases according to the recognised rules for calculating the stack height and the dispersion of flue gases if:

  1. the Q/S or F values lie outside Diagram 1; or
  2. the flue gas temperature is less than 55 °C.

2However, where flue gas temperatures are below 55 °C, the parameter H0must not be lower than the value which is obtained according to Diagram 1 for a temperature of 55 °C.

4 Minimum height for flat, obstacle-free terrain

1The stack height for flat, obstacle-free terrain is:

H1= f x H0

The correction factor f takes account of long-term effects due to wind channelling.

2Values between 1.0 and 1.5 are used for f as follows: f = 1.00 for sites with no prevailing wind direction; f = 1.25 for sites with average conditions; f = 1.50 for valleys with pronounced wind channelling. f = 1.00 for sites with no prevailing wind direction;

5 Height increase for buildings and vegetation

Elevated objects (buildings and vegetation) in the vicinity of the stack are taken into account by means of a height increase I1:

I1= g x I

where: I = Height of the highest significant obstacle area in the region affected by the installation. Values between 0 (no obstacles) and 30 m (e.g. forest) are used for I. g = Correction factor, with values between 0 and 1 according to Diagram 2.

6 Physical stack height

The physical stack height H is calculated according to the following formula:

H = H1+ I1

7 More stringent requirements

In justified cases, the authorities will require taller stacks, for example, in the case of: a. structures with particular shapes; b sites with particularly poor meteorological dispersion conditions; c. particular topographical conditions, such as narrow valleys, hillsides or depressions.

8 Symbols

H (m) = Physical stack height H0(m) = Parameter for determination of H1 H1(m) = Minimum stack height for flat, obstacle-free terrain

I (m) = Height of the highest significant obstacle area

I1(m) = Height increase for buildings and vegetation f (–) = Correction factor for long-term effects due to wind channelling

g (–) = Correction factor for buildings and vegetation

Q (g/h) = Mass flow of the emitted air pollutant; emissions of nitrogen oxides (nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide) are expressed as nitrogen dioxide Rn(m3/h) = Volume flow of the flue gas under standard conditions (0 °C, 1013 mbar) t (°C) = Flue gas temperature at the stack outlet Δt (°C) = t–10 °C F (m4/s3) = Lift flux; F = 3.18 × 10–6× Rn× Δt S (µg/m3) = S value (cf. Numbers 3 and 9)

9 S values

PollutantS (µg/m3)
Suspended particulates (PM10)150
Hydrogen chloride, expressed as HCl100
Chlorine150
Hydrogen fluoride and inorganic gaseous fluorine compounds, expressed as HF1
Carbon monoxide8000
Sulphur oxides, expressed as sulphur dioxide100
Hydrogen sulphide5
Nitrogen oxides, expressed as nitrogen dioxide100
Substances listed in Annex 1 Number 5:
– Class 10.5
– Class 22
– Class 35
Substances listed in Annex 1 Number 7:
– Class 150
– Class 2200
– Class 31000
Substances listed in Annex 1 Number 8:
– Class 10.1
– Class 21
– Class 310
1 Fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 µm.

Determination of the parameter H0 for stacks

Diagram 1

Determination of the correction factor for buildings and vegetation

Diagram 2

I = Height of the highest significant obstacle area (Number 5) H1 = Minimum stack height for flat, obstacle-free terrain (Number 4)

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