1 Background

The Gaussian plume equation was semi-analytical solution, assuming that wind velocity and eddy diffusivities were constant. The non-Gaussian models agree well with the observed data by Hinrichsen [17]. Wortmann et al. [35] and Essa et al. [10] calculated a new technique to get the concentration of contaminants in the planetary boundary layer.

Early solutions used only two dimensions [26, 28, 34]. The Green's function method was studied by Stakgold [30]. Yeh [37] calculated advection–diffusion equation in three dimensions under boundary conditions. Also, these equations have been studied in turbulent models for unbounded domain by [18, 38]. Also, [33, 32] utilized dispersion modeling. All techniques have been restricted to a single isolated point source located at the origin. The details of several solutions were investigated by Carslaw and Jaeger [7], Sutton [31], Yaglom [36], Pasquill [24], Berlyand [4] and Lin and Hildemann [21]. Also, the diffusion from a point source in an urban atmosphere was estimated by Essa and El-Otaify [9]. Heines and Peters [16], and Bennett [3] investigated the physical effect of model for the dry deposition of pollutants to a rough surface. Recently, Essa et al. [11, 12] estimated the solution of the advection–diffusion equation in two dimensions with variable vertical eddy diffusivity and wind speed using Hankel transform. Also, Essa et al. [11, 12] found the solution of advection–diffusion equation in three dimensions using Hankel transform.

In the first part: Pasquill and Smith [22, 23] introduced the advection–diffusion equation in steady state for a continuous point source as follows:

$$u(z) = \frac{\partial C}{{\partial x}} = \frac{\partial }{\partial z}\left[ {K(z)\frac{\partial C}{{\partial z}}} \right]$$
(1)

where u(z) and K(z) are the mean horizontal wind velocity and vertical eddy diffusivity as a function of vertical height. Assuming that u(z) = 0 at z = 0, as defined by [29] as follows:

$$\frac{{{du}}}{{{dz}}} = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} }}{{k{z}}}{\varphi }_{{m}} {(z/L)}$$
(2)

where φm(z/L) is the non-dimension wind gradient, L is the Monin–Obukhov length, u* is the friction velocity, and k is the von-Karman's constant equals 0.4. One can get by integrating Eq. (2) w.r.t (z) the following velocity profiles [9]:

$${u}\left( {z} \right)\; = \;\frac{{{u}_{{*}} }}{k}\,\;{ln}\left( {\frac{{{z} + {z}_{{o}} }}{{{z}_{{o}} }}} \right){\text{, neutral conditions}}$$
(3)
$${u}\left( {z} \right) = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} }}{k}\left[ {{ln}\left( {\frac{{{z} + {z}_{{o}} }}{{{z}_{{o}} }}} \right) + \frac{{{5}.2{z}}}{{L}}} \right],\;{\text{stable}}\;{\text{conditions}}$$
(4)
$${u}\left( {z} \right)\; = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} }}{k}\,\left\{ \begin{gathered} {ln}\left[ {\frac{{{[1} + \frac{{{16(z} + {z}_{{o}} )}}{L}]^{1/4} - \;\;{1}}}{{{[1} + \frac{{{16(z} + {z}_{{o}} )}}{L}]^{1/4} {\kern 1pt} + \;\;{1}}}} \right] + {2}\mathop {{tan}}\limits^{{ - {1}}} {[1} + \frac{{{16(z} + {z}_{{o}} )}}{L}]^{1/4} \hfill \\ + {ln}\left[ {\frac{{{[1} + \frac{{{16z}_{{o}} }}{L}]^{1/4} + \;\;{1}}}{{{[1} + \frac{{{16z}_{{o}} }}{L}]^{1/4} {\kern 1pt} - \;\;{1}}}} \right] + {2}\mathop {{tan}}\limits^{{ - {1}}} {[1} + \frac{{{16z}_{{o}} }}{L}]^{1/4} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right\}{\text{unstable}}\;{\text{conditions}}$$
(5)

The vertical diffusion coefficient was taken from Hanna et al. [13, 14]as follows:

$${K}\left( {z} \right)\; = \;{K}_{{o}} \; + k{\kern 1pt} {u}_{{_{{*}} }} {\kern 1pt} {z}\quad\;{neutral\, condtions}$$
(6)
$${K}\left( {z} \right)\; = {K}_{{o}} \; + \;k{\kern 1pt} {u}_{{_{{*}} }} {\kern 1pt} {z}\;\;\left( {{1} + \frac{{{5}{.2z}}}{{L}}} \right)^{{ - {1}}} \quad \text{stable\, conditions}$$
(7)
$${K}\left( {z} \right)\; = {K}_{{o}} \; + \;k{\kern 1pt} {u}_{{_{{*}} }} {\kern 1pt} {z}\;\;\left( {{1} + \frac{{{16z}}}{{\left| {L} \right|}}} \right)^{1/4}\quad \text{unstable\, conditions}$$
(8)

where Ko is a constant value. Equation (1) is solved using the boundary conditions as follows:

  • (1)-The mixing layer was assumed not allowing fluid to pass through to the pollutants

    $$C\left( {x, \, z} \right) = 0, \quad {\text{at}} \quad z = h$$
    (9a)

    And

    $$\frac{{\partial {\kern 1pt} \,{C}\left( {{x,z}} \right)}}{{\partial {\kern 1pt} {z}}} = {0}\quad{at}\;z = h$$
    (9b)

    where h is the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL).

  • (2)-Assuming that there is a deposition at the ground surface as follows:

    $${K}\left( {z} \right)\;\frac{{\partial {\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} {C}\left( {{x,z}} \right)}}{{\partial {\kern 1pt} {z}}} = \,{v}_{{d}} \;{C}\left( {{x,z}} \right)\quad{at}\;z = 0$$
    (10)

    where vd is the deposition velocity.

The solution of Eq. (1) is solved theoretical under different stabilities [10] as follows:

$${C}{\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} \,\left( {{x,z}} \right) = {F}\left( {x} \right)\;\left( {{1} - \frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{{2}}$$
(11)

Integrating Eq. (1) from zero to h with respect to z, and applying Eqs. (9b) and (10), one gets:

$$\frac{{d}}{{{dx}}}\;\;\int\limits_{{0}}^{{h}} {\;{u(z)}\;\;{C(x,z)}\;{dz}} \;\; = - {v}_{{d}} {C(x,0)}$$
(12)

2 For neutral conditions

Substituting C(x, z) and u (z) by Eqs. (11) and (3) in Eq. (12), one obtains:

$$\frac{{{u}_{{*}} }}{k}\;\;\frac{{{dF(x)}}}{{{dx}}}\;\;\int\limits_{{0}}^{{h}} {\,\left( {{1} - \frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)}^{{2}} {\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} \,{ln}\,\left( {\frac{{{z} + {z}_{{o}} }}{{{z}_{{o}} }}} \right)\;{dz}\;\; = - {v}_{{d}} {F(x)}$$
(13)

Equation (13) becomes:

$$\frac{{{u}_{{*}} N\;}}{k}\;\;\frac{{{dF(x)}}}{{{dx}}}\;\; = \; - {v}_{{d}} {F(x)}$$
(14)

where

$$\begin{aligned} N & = \int\limits_{0}^{h} {\left( {1 - \frac{z}{h}} \right)^{2} } \ln \left( {\frac{{z + z_{o} }}{{z_{o} }}} \right)dz \\ & = \frac{{z_{o}^{3} }}{{3h^{2} }}\left( {1 + \frac{h}{{z_{o} }}} \right)^{3} \ln \left( {1 + \frac{h}{{z_{o} }}} \right) - \frac{{z_{o}^{2} }}{{18h}}\left[ {\left\{ {6 + \frac{{15}}{{z_{o} }} + 11\frac{{h^{2} }}{{z_{o}^{2} }}} \right\}} \right] \\ \end{aligned}$$
(15)

Equation (14) becomes:

$${F(x)} = {F}_{{0}} \;{exp}\left( { - \;\;\frac{{{v}_{{d}} \;k}}{{{u}_{{*}} \,{N}}}\;\;{x}} \right)$$
(16)

where F0 is a constant. Then, the solution in the neutral case was obtained as follows:

$${C(x,}\;{z)}\;\; = \;\;{F}_{{0}} \;{exp}\left( { - \;\;\frac{{{v}_{{d}} \,k}}{{{u}_{{*}} \,{N}}}\;\;{x}} \right)\;\;\left( {{1}\; - \;\frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{{2}}$$
(17)

Taking

$${x}_{{{dn}}} = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} {N}}}{{{v}_{{d}} \,k}}$$
(18)

where \({x}_{{{dn}}}\) is the decay distance of pollutant in neutral condition. Equation (17) becomes:

$${C(x,}\;{z)}\;\; = \;\;{F}_{{0}} \;{exp}\,\left( { - \;\;\frac{{x}}{{{x}_{{{dn}}} }}} \right)\;\;\left( {{1}\; - \;\frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{2}$$
(19)

Now, F0 can be determined by using the formula:

$$Q = \int\limits_{{x = 0}}^{{x_{{dn}} }} {\int\limits_{{z = 0}}^{h} {u(z)} } C(x,z)dxdz$$
(20)

where Q is the emission rate which after substitution of Eqs. (3) and (19), one gets:

$${Q} = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} \;{F}_{{0}} }}{{k}}\int\limits_{{{x} = {0}}}^{{{x}_{{_{{{dn}}} }} }} {{exp}\left( { - \;\;\frac{{x}}{{{x}_{{{dn}}} }}} \right)\;{dx}\;\;\int\limits_{{{z} = {0}}}^{{h}} {\left( {{1}\; - \;\frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{{2}} \;{ln}\,\left( {\frac{{{z} + {z}_{{o}} }}{{{z}_{{o}} }}} \right)\;} \;} {dz}\;\;\;$$
$$= \frac{{{u}_{{*}} {F}_{{0}} {N}\;{x}_{{_{{{dn}}} }} }}{k}\left( {{1} - \frac{{1}}{{e}}} \right)$$

Then, the concentration of pollutants in neutral condition becomes:

$$C(x,z) = \frac{Q}{{0.63v_{d} x_{{dn}}^{2} }}\exp {\mkern 1mu} \left( { - \frac{x}{{x_{{dn}} }}} \right)\left( {1 - \frac{z}{h}} \right)^{2}$$
(21)

Similarly, C(x, z) in stable condition takes form [10]:

$${C(x,}\;{z)}\;\; = \;\;\frac{{{Q}\;}}{{{0}{.63}\;\;{v}_{{d}}^{\;} {x}_{{{ds}}}^{2} }}\;{exp}\,\left( { - \;\;\frac{{x}}{{{x}_{{{ds}}} }}} \right)\;\;\left( {{1}\; - \;\frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{2}$$
(22)

where Xds is given in the stable case as follows:

$${x}_{{{ds}}} = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} \,{M}}}{{{v}_{{d}} \,k}}$$
(23)

where M = N – (5.2 h2/12L).

Also, C(x,z) in unstable condition is given [10] as follows:

$${C(x,}\;{z)}\;\; = \;\;\frac{{{Q}\;}}{{{0}{.63}\;\;{v}_{{d}}^{\;} {x}_{{{du}}}^{2} }}\;{exp}\,\left( { - \;\;\frac{{x}}{{{x}_{{{du}}} }}} \right)\;\;\left( {{1}\; - \;\frac{{z}}{{h}}} \right)^{2}$$
(24)

where Xdu is given in unstable case as follows:

$${x}_{{_{{{du}}} }} = \frac{{{u}_{{*}} \,D}}{{{v}_{{d}} \,k}}$$
(25)

where D is taken from [10].

In the second part: We assumed two-dimensional structure with homogeneity in the lateral coordinate, where ū(z) is described in Fig. 1. The ground surface is treated with no deposition of matter exist.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Graph of pollutants diffusion of the plume

Full size image

The conservation of mass can be taken from [9]:

$$Q = \int_{0}^{H} {\overline{u}(z)C(z)dz}$$
(26)

where

\(\overline{u}(z)\) is the average wind velocity, C(z) is the concentration of pollutants, and H is the effective stack height of the plume.

3 The Effective stack Height (H)

We estimated the height of the plume as follows:

$$\Delta h = 3(w_{o} /u)D_{{_{1} }}$$
(27)

where wo is the exit velocity of the pollutants (m/s) and D1 is the inside stack diameter (m). Then, H equals:

$$H = h_{{_{s} }} + \Delta h = h{\kern 1pt}_{{_{s} }} + 3(w_{o} /u)D_{{_{1} }}$$
(28)

The concentration profile will be assumed in form [9]:

$$C/C_{0} = 1 + \alpha_{1} (z/H) + \alpha_{2} (z/H)^{2} + ...$$
(29)

where Co is the concentration value at the edge of the plume. C(z) is the concentration at vertical height; α1 and α2, etc., are constants.

The fitting in Fig. 2 is obtained by taking the first two terms as follows:

$$C/C_{0} = 1 + \alpha_{1} (z/H)$$
(30)
Fig. 2
figure 2

Diagram of the concentration of (I131) via the downwind distance

Full size image

If α1 is a r percentage of the concentration as follows:

$$\alpha_{1} = \, 0.01 \, r \, - 1$$
(30a)

if r = 0, then

$$C/C_{o} = 1 - \left( {z/H} \right)$$
(30b)

After substituting, Eq. (26) becomes using different stabilities as follows:

4 Neutral case

$$Q = \int_{0}^{H} {\left[ {\frac{{\upsilon_{*} }}{k}\ln \left( {\frac{{z + z_{0} }}{{z_{0} }}} \right)} \right]C_{0} \left( {1 + \alpha (z/H)} \right)dz}$$
(31)

The integration over "z" yields:

$$C_{0} = \frac{4kHQ}{{\upsilon_{*} }}\left[ {2\left( {H + z_{0} } \right)\left( {2H + \alpha H - \alpha z_{0} } \right)\ln \frac{{H + z_{0} }}{{z_{0} }} - H\left( {4H + \alpha H - 2\alpha z_{0} } \right)} \right]^{ - 1}$$
(32)

5 Stable case

$$Q = \int_{0}^{H} {\left[ {\frac{{\upsilon_{*} }}{k}\ln \left( {\frac{{z + z_{0} }}{{z_{0} }}} \right) + \frac{5.2z}{L}} \right]C_{0} \left( {1 + \alpha (z/H)} \right)dz}$$
(33)

After integration, Co takes the form:

$$C_{0} = \frac{kHQ}{{\upsilon_{*} }}\left\{ {\frac{1}{4H}\left[ {2\left( {H + z_{0} } \right)\left( {2H + \alpha H - \alpha z_{0} } \right)\ln \frac{{H + z_{0} }}{{z_{0} }} - H\left( {4H + \alpha H - 2\alpha z_{0} } \right)} \right] + \frac{{5.2H^{2} }}{L}\left( {\frac{1}{2} + \frac{\alpha }{3}} \right)} \right\}^{ - 1}$$
(34)

6 Unstable case

$$Q = \int_{0}^{H} {\frac{{\upsilon_{*} }}{k}\left[ {\ln \left( {\frac{{\left( {1 + f(z)} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} - 1}}{{\left( {1 + f(z)} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} + 1}}} \right) + 2tan^{ - 1} \left( {1 + f(z)} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} + \ln \left( {\frac{{\left( {1 + \frac{{16z_{0} }}{L}} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} + 1}}{{\left( {1 + \frac{{16z_{0} }}{L}} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} - 1}}} \right) + 2tan^{ - 1} \left( {1 + \frac{{16z_{0} )}}{L}} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} } \right]C_{0} \left( {1 + \alpha (z/H)} \right)dz}$$
(35)

where f(z) stands for: \(f(z) = \frac{{16(z + z_{0} )}}{L}\).

By substituting from the above equation into Eq. (35) and integrating w.r.t “z,” one gets:

$$C_{0} = \frac{kQ}{{\upsilon_{*} }}\Omega^{ - 1}$$

where \(\Omega\) was taking from [9]:

The time dosage integral of the concentration “D” is defined as:

$$D = \int_{0}^{t} {Cdt}$$
(36)

The mass balance condition takes the form:

$$Q = \int_{0}^{z} {} \int_{0}^{t} {uCdz} dt = {\text{constant}}$$
(37)

Substituting from Eq. (36) in Eq. (37), one gets:

$$Q = \int\limits_{0}^{z} {uDdz} = {\text{constant}}$$
(38)

The second research reactor in E.A.E.A., (ETRR-2) has stack height H1 equals 27 m which is a point source of (I131), (H) equals 31.29 m, (Q) equals 35 Bq, the wind velocity (u) equals 2.8 m/s, and the lapse rate (ΔT/ΔZ) (oc/100 m) is 0.36, which is a stable case. Using Eq. (34), one gets (Co) equals 1.208 Bq/m3. Then, the concentration at ground level becomes:

$$C(ground) = 1.208{\kern 1pt} \left( {1 - \frac{{H_{{_{1} }} }}{H}} \right){ = 0}{\text{.17}}\;{\text{Bq/m}}^{{3}}$$
(39)

The observed concentration at x = 300 m and H = 31.29 m was 0.16 Bq/m3. The corrected source strength becomes:

$$Q(corrected) = \frac{(0.16)(35)}{{0.17}} = 37.06{\kern 1pt} \,Bq$$

Then, the corrected C (ground) = 0.18 Bq/m3.

In the third part: The maximum ground-level concentration with two cases was estimated [9]. The concentration at the ground reaches a maximum and thereafter decreases as given by Hans et al.[15] with the formula:

$$C\left( {x, \, y} \right) \, = [Q/(\pi \sigma_{y} \sigma_{z} u)\left] { \exp \, } \right[ \, - \, H^{2} /2\sigma_{z}^{2} ]\exp \, [ - y^{2} /2\sigma_{y}^{2} ]$$
(40)

σi (i = y, z): are dispersion parameters of concentration in the lateral and vertical directions (m).

The extreme concentration at ground occurs along the plume centerline (y = 0) at ground (z = 0) [25]).

σy and σz can be estimated as follows:

$$\sigma_{y} = a \, x^{b} ,\quad \sigma_{z} = c \, x^{d}$$
(41)

where a, b, c, d values are taken from Curtiss [8].

The ground-level concentration along centerline was estimated from Eq. (40) taking σy and σz from Eq. (41) one gets:

$$\chi (x,0,0;H) = \frac{Q}{{\pi acux^{b + d} }}\exp \left[ {\frac{{ - H^{2} (x)}}{{2c^{2} x^{2d} }}} \right]$$
(42)

The maximum concentration value can be obtained after solving the following equation:

$$xH\frac{\partial H}{{\partial x}} - H^{2} d + c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d) = 0$$
(43)

The maximum concentration and effective height were obtained as follows:

7 First: the effective height as a function of x

A—Unstable or neutral conditions:

The buoyancy flux parameter, Fb, was written [5] as follows:

$$F_{b} = \, g \, v_{s} r_{s}^{2} \left( {T_{s} - \, T_{a} } \right)/T_{s}$$
(44)

For (hs < 305 m), g is the acceleration (ms−2), vs is the exit vertical speed (ms−1), rs is the exit radius (m), Ts is the gas exit temperature (K), and Ta is the ambient temperature (K) at hs [27].

The critical x* is given by:

$$x* = 2.16 \, F_{b}^{2/5} h_{s}^{3/5}$$
(45)

For x ≤ x*, we have:

$$\Delta h\left( x \right) = {\text{const}}. \, F_{b}^{1/3} \left( u \right)^{ - 1} x^{2/3}$$
(46)

Taking the constant equals 1.6 [6], one gets:

$$H \, = \, h_{s} + \, 1.6 \, F_{b}^{1/3} \left( u \right)^{ - 1} x^{2/3}$$
(47)

This equation is used if Ts > Ta (2/3 law) [27].

uh can be calculated at 10 m as follows:

$$u_{h} = u_{10} \;(H/10m)^{p}$$
(48)

where the parameter p is given from [20].

Substituting from (47) into (43), one gets:

$$H* = \frac{{ - c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{{2/3(\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }})x^{2/3} - d(\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }})x^{2/3} - h_{s} d}}$$
(49)

where H* is the maximum value.

In unstable condition, taking d = 1.17 ([8] H* becomes:

$$H* = \frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{{0.5(\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }})x^{2/3} + h_{s} d}}$$
(50)

Then,

$$H*^{2} = \left[ {\frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{{0.5(\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }})x^{2/3} + h_{s} d}}} \right]^{2}$$
(51)

The maximum value for \(\chi\)* has the form:

$$\chi^{*} \left( {x, \, 0, \, 0, \, H} \right) \, = \, [Q \, / \, (\pi \sigma_{y} \sigma_{z} u_{h} )] \, \exp \frac{ - 1}{{2\sigma_{z}^{2} }}\left[ {\frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{{0.5\left( {\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }}} \right)x^{2/3} + h_{s} d}}} \right]^{2}$$
(52)

In neutral condition, taking d = 0.95 [8] \(\chi\)* becomes:

$$\chi^{*} \left( {x, \, 0, \, 0, \, H} \right) \, = \, [Q \, / \, (\pi \sigma_{y} \sigma_{z} u_{h} )] \, \exp \frac{ - 1}{{2\sigma_{z}^{2} }}\left[ {\frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{{0.28\left( {\frac{{1.6F^{1/3} }}{{u_{h} }}} \right)x^{2/3} + h_{s} d}}} \right]^{2}$$
(53)

In stable stability, there are two methods for maximum concentration at z = 0 as follows:

(First)—In stable, where d = 0.67 [8] the maximum value for \(\chi\)* is:

$$\chi^{*} \left( {x, \, 0, \, 0, \, H} \right) \, = \, [Q \, / \, (\pi \sigma_{y} \sigma_{z} u_{h} )] \, \exp \left[ {\frac{{ - c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)^{2} }}{{2d^{2} h_{s}^{2} }}} \right]$$
(54)

(Second)—In stable (E and F), the stability parameter is written as follows:

$$s = \frac{g}{{T_{a} }}\left( {\frac{\Delta \theta }{{\Delta Z}}} \right)$$
(55)

where \(\left( {\frac{\Delta \theta }{{\Delta Z}}} \right)\) = 0.02 K/m for E and \(\left( {\frac{\Delta \theta }{{\Delta Z}}} \right)\) = 0.035 K/m for F ([27].

\(\Delta h\) is written as follows:

$$\Delta h = 2.6\left( {\frac{{F_{b} }}{{u_{h} s}}} \right)^{1/3}$$
(56)

H* becomes:

$$H* = \left( {\frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{d}} \right)^{0.5}$$
(57)

Also, χ* has the form:

$$\chi^{*} \left( {x, \, 0, \, 0, \, H} \right) = [Q/(\pi \sigma_{y} \sigma_{z} u_{h} )] \, \exp \left\{ {\frac{ - (b + d)}{{2d^{{}} }}} \right\}$$
(58)

8 Second case: H is a constant of downwind distance:

If H is constant, then,\(\frac{\partial H}{{\partial x}} = 0\), assuming Hc = hs + 3woD/u, where Hc is constant. H* becomes:

$$H^{*} = \left[ {\frac{{c^{2} x^{2d} (b + d)}}{d}} \right]^{0.5}$$
(59)

The maximum value for \(\chi\)* has the form:

$$\chi *(x,0,0;H) = \frac{Q}{{\pi acu_{h} x^{b + d} }}\exp \left[ {\frac{ - (b + d)}{{2\,d\,}}} \right]$$
(60)

9 First case study

The decay distance and the concentration of pollutant at Inshas, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, were calculating. The stability was found in stable condition by using these data. The value of L was taken from Gifford work [13]. One uses Eq. (4) to calculate the values of u* in terms of the wind velocity u(z) at 10 m height; hence, the values of the mixing height could be estimated from [2] for stable condition:

$${h} = {0}{.4}\,\left( {{u}_{{*}} \frac{{L}}{\left| f \right|}} \right)^{{{1/2}}} ,\;{\text{for}}\;{\text{ h/L > 0}}$$
(61)

where f is the Coriolis parameter. vd equals 0.04 m/s for Iodine [19]. Hence, the decay distance of iodine has been estimated using Eq. (23). The friction velocity and the mixing height with downwind distance are illustrated in Fig. 3. One gets the change of the friction velocity and mixing height from 0.25 to 0.3 m/s and 180 to 190 m, respectively [10].

Fig. 3
figure 3

Shows the variation between friction velocity, mixing height via downwind distance

Full size image

The values of mixing height proportional with the decay distance are shown in Fig. 4; the normalized concentration (C/Q) of iodine at heights z = 0, 10, 50 m as a function of downwind distance has been evaluated by Eq. (22). One finds that the maximum normalized ground-level concentration equals 18*10–6 at 100 m and then decreases to reach near minimum value at 5000 m as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 4
figure 4

The relation between decay distance, the mixing height with downwind distance

Full size image
Fig. 5
figure 5

Shows the variation between C (x, z)/Q via downwind distance at z = 0, 10 and 50 m

Full size image

10 Second case study

Co/Q is applied on the first research reactor at Inshas, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority. hs equals 43 m, D equals 1 m, wo equals 4 m/s, and the total ventilation equals 39,965 m3/hr. Also, one takes α = -1. Figure 6 shows that a straight-line fit well to these data in three conditions between Co/Q and H.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Shows that Co/Q and H in three stabilities conditions

Full size image

11 Third case study

One gets the maximum concentration on the second research reactor at Inshas, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority. hs equals 27 m, D equals 1 m, wo equals 0.3 m/s, and the total ventilation equals 3400 m3/hr [1]. One finds that the maximum concentrations are 6.2*10–4, 4.8* 10–4 and 2*10–4 Bq/m3 at 40 m in unstable, neutral and stable conditions, respectively; when plume rise depends on downwind distance as shown in Fig. 7, these values are less than the maximum system activity (MSA).

Fig. 7
figure 7

The concentration for Cs-137 via downwind distance through different stabilities classes when "H" depends on "x"

Full size image

One finds that the effective height is quadratic with downwind distance in unstable case and the correlation coefficient (R) equals 0.99, (xmax) equals 1000 m, and (Hmax) reaches 978 m. In neutral case, the curve is still quadratic and smaller than that in the unstable case, R = 1. Also, in the stable case, the relation is linear, R = 0.984, xmax reaches to maximum value, and Hmax will reach 59 m as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8
figure 8

The relation of "H" for Cs-137 via "x" when H depends on "x"

Full size image

We find that the maximum concentrations are 2.5* 10–4, 2.1* 10–4 and 2* 10–4 Bq/m3 in neutral, unstable and stable conditions, respectively, at 40 m when H is a constant as shown in Fig. 9. Also, the relation between "H" and "x" is linear in unstable condition, Hmax = 163 m when xmax = 1000 m and R = 0.997. In neutral case, the relation is quadratic and R = 1 and Hmax = 83 m at xmax = 1000 m. Also, in stable case the relation is still quadratic and R = 0.998, Hmax = 58.5 m at xmax = 1000 m as shown in Fig. 10. We must take H that depends on x because one gets the values of "H" and the concentration near the true. This is the best result to reach it.

Fig. 9
figure 9

The concentration for Cs 137 via downwind distance when H is a constant value

Full size image
Fig. 10
figure 10

The variation of (H) for Cs-137 via (x) when H is a constant

Full size image

12 Conclusions

The concentration released from an elevated point source in the presence of both deposition and elevated mixed layer is estimated. The decay distance in the downwind distance is calculated. The maximum normalized concentration equals 18*10–6 (s/m3) at 100 m and then decreases to reach minimum value at 5000 m at the ground level.

The logarithmic law of wind velocity in different conditions is used to get the plume rise, effective stack height and the normalized concentration at the axis of the plume from the reactor release through different stability classes. We find that the ground-level concentration of iodine (I131) agrees with the observed concentrations.

The values of extreme concentration are 6.2*10–4, 4.8* 10–4 and 2*10–4 Bq/m3 at 40 m in unstable, neutral and stable conditions, respectively; when the plume rise depends on downwind distance and then decreases to values less than MSA, after that the values are close to zero at 400 m from the stack. In stable case, the maximum values of the ground-level concentration of air pollutants were similar in the two cases. One obtains a good model when the plume rise depends on downwind distance and it is the best result.