Two-dimensional numerical model of the near-field flow for an ocean thermal power plant. Part I. The theoretical approach and a laboratory simulation. [Turbulent water motions resulting from intakes and outflows]
This report describes the computer model NRFL02 which has been developed to calculate the near-field stratified turbulent flow driven by the intakes and outflows of an ocean thermal power plant. A two-dimensional geometry is assumed, with the power plant intakes and jet outflows modelled by boundary conditions on the left boundary of a rectangular domain. Horizontal flow through the right boundary, to or from the far-field, is allowed by assuming a pressure in hydrostatic equilibrium with the ambient density distribution. The code uses a first-order closure model to treat the stratified turbulence. Advanced numerical methods enable convergent and accurate solutions to be obtained rapidly and economically. A simple laboratory simulation of two-dimensional stratified turbulence driven by intakes and jet outflows is proposed in order to address the general question of near-flow recirculation. Such an experiment would also provide vital data for verifying the code NRFL02 and its successors, and for tuning the turbulence parameters to give the best agreement. Numerical results from NRFL02 are presented for the proposed experimental simulation. They confirm the analysis predicting a stability limit on the far-field horizontal flow, and demonstrate the occurrence of recirculation for fast flow cases.
- Research Organization:
- Science Applications, Inc., McLean, VA (USA). Fluid Mechanics Div.; Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(49-26)-1005
- OSTI ID:
- 7303071
- Report Number(s):
- DSE-1005-5; NRL-GFD/OTEC-5-76
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
FLOW MODELS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
JETS
LIQUID FLOW
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
SIMULATION
TURBULENCE
TURBULENT FLOW
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
FLUID FLOW
MATHEMATICS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
140800* - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems