Mathematical modeling of cooling-tower plumes

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6379913

Carhart, R; Policastro, A

The vast majority of mathematical models used to predict plume rise from natural-draft (NDCT) and mechanical-draft (MDCT) cooling towers employ the integral approach. The following significant areas of controversy exist in the theoretical development of such models: assumptions needed to assure the proper balance between buoyancy and momentum transfer mechanisms; treatment of tower downwash; treatment of thermodynamics; treatment of atmospheric diffusion; and proper method for merging of plumes. The most successful models employ assumptions which appear physically reasonable with calibration of unknown coefficients with field and/or laboratory data. Such models are capable of predicting visible plume rise within a factor of 2 and visible plume length within a factor of 2.5 for 50 to 75% of most new field cases. Such accuracy is sufficient for most design and environmental impact evaluations. Only the ANL and KUMULUS Models of this better-performing group are sufficiently general, however, to handle any configuration of NDCTs and MDCTs.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Chicago (USA). Dept. of Physics; Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6379913
• Report Number(s): CONF-820810-16; ON: DE83008681
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCURACY
AIR FLOW
COOLING TOWERS
DIFFUSION
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWERS
PLUMES
THERMODYNAMICS
TOWERS