Predicted climatology of cooling tower plumes from energy centers

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1977)016<0880:PCOCTP>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5445523

Hanna, S R

A one-dimensional plume and cloud growth model is applied to four months of radiosonde observations from Nashville, using as initial conditions the plume from single large cooling towers with waste heat outputs of 10/sup 3/, 10/sup 4/ and 10/sup 5/ MW, and a complex of cooling towers with a total waste heat output of 10/sup 5/ MW. Estimates of average annual plume rise from the four energy sources are 580, 1180, 2460 and 780 m, respectively.The predicted plume rise, visible plume length and cloud formation are given as functions of time of day, year and weather type. For example, a cloud forms at the top of the plume from the 10/sup 3/ MW tower in 65% of the morning soundings during which ground level fog was observed. A cloud is predicted to occur 95% of the time at the top of the plume from the single 10/sup 5/ MW tower. It is found that if the towers in an energy center are separated by a distance greater than the average plume rise from one tower, then plume merging is minimized. Observations from TVA's Paradise steam plant are used to test the predictions of visible plume length from a single 10/sup 3/ MW tower.

• Research Organization: Air Resources Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Laboratory, NOAA, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830
• OSTI ID: 5445523
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States) Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 16:9; ISSN JAMOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500400* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COOLING TOWERS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEAT
METEOROLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLUMES
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE HEAT
WASTES