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Air Pollution Control
Luftreinhaltung
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:18
Abstract
The lecture provides in the first part an introduction to the formation of air pollutants by technical processes, the emission of these chemicals into the atmosphere and their impact on air quality. The second part covers different strategies and techniques for emission reduction. The basic knowledge is deepened by the discussion of specific air pollution problems of today's society.
Objective
The students gain general knowledge of the technical processes resulting in air pollution and study the methods used for air pollution control. The students can identify major air pollution sources and understand the methods for measuring pollutants, collecting and analyzing data. The students can suggest and evaluate possible control methods and equipment, design control systems and estimate their efficiency and efforts. The students know the different strategies of air pollution control and are familiar with their scientific fundamentals. They are able to incorporate goals concerning air quality into their engineering work.
Content
Part 1 Emission, Immission, Transmission Fluxes of pollutants and their environmental impact: - physical and chemical processes leading to emission of pollutants - mass and energy of processes - Emission measurement techniques and concepts - quantification of emissions from individual and aggregated sources - extent and development of the emissions (Switzerland and global) - propagation and transport of pollutants (transmission) - meteorological parameters influencing air pollution dispersion - deterministic and stochastic models, describing air pollution dispersion - dispersion models (Gaussian model, box model, receptor model) - measurement concepts for ambient air (immission level) - extent and development of ambient air mixing ratios - goal and instrument of air pollution control Part 2 Air Pollution Control Technologies The reduction of the formation of pollutants is done by modifying the processes (pro-cessintegrated measures) and by different engineering operations for the cleaning of waste gas (downstream pollution control). It will be demonstrated, that the variety of these procedures can be traced back to the application of a few basic physical and chemical principles. Procedures for the removal of particles (inertial separator, filtration, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers) with their different mechanisms (field forces, impaction and diffusion processes) and the modelling of these mechanisms. Procedures for the removal of gaseous pollutants and the description of the driving forces involved, as well as the equilibrium and the kinetics of the relevant processes (absorption, adsorption as well as thermal, catalytic and biological conversions). Discussion of the technical possibilities to solve the actual air pollution problems.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Brigitte Buchmann, Air pollution control, Part IJing Wang, Air pollution control, Part IILecture slides and exercises
Literature
List of literature included in script
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Luftreinhaltung 102-0635-01L
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- Papier, Schreibstift, normaler, nicht-programierbarer Rechner, welcher keinen Internetzugang hat.Paper, pens and calculators (communication-disabled and non-programmable) are needed for the exam.
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Luftreinhaltung
Die genauen Unterrichtszeiten von ONLINE - Veranstaltungen werden von den Dozierenden kommuniziert.
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4 h weekly |
Offered In
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Electives (The students are free to choose individually from the entire course offer of ETH Zürich and the universities of Zürich and Bern.)
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