First annual report on weather modification effects of cooling towers

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:5215765

Hanna, S R; Hosker, Jr, R P

A cooling tower plume and cloud growth model were developed. Using observed atmospheric vertical profiles of temperature, dew point and wind speed, and the source parameters for a cooling tower, the plume and cloud growth model estimates the variation with height of vertical speed, temperature, water vapor content, and liquid water content in the plume. The present model is one dimensional and steady state, but future plans call for the development of multidimensional models. The model predictions are compared to observations of cooling tower plumes at the Rancho Seco and John E. Amos power plants and a refinery cloud. Fair agreement is obtained between estimates and observations of excess water and temperature in the plume, visible plume length, and plume rise. The model is also applied to 241 radiosonde soundings from Nashville, using four hypothetical sources ranging from a single 1000 MW cooling tower to a 10/sup 5/ MW power park. It is estimated that liquid water will form at the top of the plume 39% of the time for the 1000 MW tower. Estimated visible plume length and plume rise are presently being compared with observations from TVA's Paradise, Kentucky, cooling tower. The plans for laboratory study of flow and plume behavior near single and multiple cooling towers of different types are presented. An extensive survey of the laboratory simulation literature has been completed, requirements for the requisite modeling facility formulated, and equipment, including a suitable wind tunnel, purchased. Funding and construction delays in obtaining a building to house the tunnel have unavoidably postponed the start of the experimental test program.

• Research Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oak Ridge, TN (USA). Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-05-3688
• OSTI ID: 5215765
• Report Number(s): TID-27836
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
CLOUDS
COOLING TOWERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
GASES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLUMES
POLLUTION
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TUNNELS
TURBULENCE
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR
WEATHER
WIND
WIND TUNNELS