PrOlor - A software system for odor dispersion forecast

PrOlor is a software system that allows you to predict when certain odor concentration thresholds will be exceeded at sensitive receptors of interest 24/48 hours in advance. In this way, if the plant in question has the possibility of reducing its emissions in the time window in which the exceedance is predicted, there will be a reduction in complaints from the neighboring population, making it easier for the plant to operate.

One of the advantages of PrOlor is the simplicity of the results delivered to the user, who receives daily messages (emails) indicating whether or not the odor thresholds of interest have been exceeded at sensitive receptors. Despite this simplicity in communicating results, PrOlor is based on highly reliable meteorological and atmospheric dispersion models (WRF, CALMET, CALPUFF) that are executed at defined time intervals on a cloud server. Therefore, the user does not need to install any software on their PC or periodically access a website to check the results, which are sent by email to one or more addresses.

PrOlor can be used to predict odor concentration levels caused by facilities located anywhere in the world. It requires an initial setup to define meteorological domains (extent, orography, land use) and sources of interest. Once the setup is complete, PrOlor calculation sessions can begin. Each session includes the following steps, which are performed automatically:

  • Downloading the global meteorological data needed to initialize WRF
  • Running the meteorological chain simulations
    • Running the WRF prognostic meteorological model simulation
    • Running the CALWRF processor
    • Execution of the CALMET diagnostic meteorological model simulation
  • Execution of the dispersion chain simulations
    • Execution of the CALPUFF model simulation (version 7)
    • Execution of the post-processors necessary to extract the information of interest
  • Preparation of the message and sending by email

The calculation procedure determines the hourly peak concentrations at each hour of simulation and compares them with a threshold of interest (peak-to-mean ratio and threshold can be defined for each plant). It is also possible to define different email addresses, for example, some intended to receive alert messages when exceedances are predicted, and others intended to receive all messages or messages without exceedances. The message that is sent is quite simple but incorporates all the relevant information:

  • Date and time of the forecast
  • Concentration values for each receptor and each hour of simulation when the threshold is exceeded
  • Instructions on the actions to be taken by the recipient of the message

The PrOlor system was developed by Enviroware in collaboration with Ambiente et Odora S.L. (Spain).

PrOlor is currently used in a number of facilities, including, for example, a composting plant located in southern Spain.

A technical description of the PrOlor system was presented at the NOSE 2024 Conference.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.