Near field performance of staged diffusers in shallow water

This work was performed by John H. Trowbridge as part of his masters thesis in the M.I.T. Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1979.Submerged diffusers are commonly used to dilute condenser cooling water from coastal power plants. A staged diffuser, in which the diffuser centerline is perpendicular to shore and the nozzles are direc- ted essentially offshore, is often used at sites where there is a long- shore, reversing current. Because of the symmetry of this design, dilution is improved by a longshore current in either direction, and the diffuser's position perpendicular to shore allows it to intercept a crossflow effectively. The performance of a staged diffuser in shallow water of constant depth has been analysed previously by treating the diffuser as a continuously distributed line source of momentum (Almquist and Stolzen- bach, 1976). This theory has been reviewed and extended to consider the case of a sloping bottom and to compute the external (entrainment) flow field set up by the diffuser. In these analyses the important parameters are the gross diffuser dimensions, including total flow rate, discharge velocity, water depth and diffuser length. Length scales are on the order of one diffuser length, and the characteristics of the individual jets are assumed to be insignificant in describing diffuser performance at this level. A more detailed analysis of staged diffuser performance in the near field is useful if one wishes to describe the temperatures and shear stresses experienced by organisms that are entrained into the diffuser plume. Length scales in this problem are on the order of the port spacing, and characteristics of the individual jets are very important at this level. Relevant diffuser dimensions are discharge velocity, port diameter D , port spacing, port elevation h, water depth H, and discharge orientation. A description of the near field at this level has been obtained by solving for the trajectories, velocities, temperatures and flow rates of individual jets. Boundary layer approximations are made similar to those used in the classical analysis of free turbulent jets, and the analysis includes the effects of shallow water, the flowfield set up by adjacent jets, and an ambient current. Theoretical predictions are compared with the results of an experimental program. The analysis is then used to evaluate different diffuser designs from the stand- point of temperature and shear stress exposure of entrained organisms

Predicting circulation and dispersion near coastal power plants : applications using models TEA and ELA

This report describes how a pair of two-dimensional numerical models (TEA and ELA) have been coupled to simulate thermal plume dispersion in the vicinity of coastal power plants. The work follows previous study by Kaufman and Adams (1981), but differs from most previous studies in that near field mixing is represented explicitly by specifying entrainment and mixed discharge fluxes as model boundary conditions. The models have been applied to two power plants-Brayton Point Generating Station and Millstone Nuclear Power Plant. Comparison against field data shows generally good agreement in both cases, and computational costs are reasonable. Several areas for additional research have been identified.Northeast Utilities Service Company and New England Power Company under M.I.T. Energy Laboratory Electric Utility Progra

Coupled near and far field thermal plume analysis using finite element techniques

The use of the open cycle cooling process for thermal power plants requires significant effluent discharges into aquatic environments. Both engineering and environmental considerations require accurate prediction of resulting temperature distribution in the receiving waters. Most predictive models have looked at one of two distinct regions of the discharge--the near or the far field--to the neglect of the other.A methodology is developed in this work to combine the attributes of both near and far field models. A finite element far field code is utilized which calculates both the circulation and heat distribution over a large area of the domain. From the far field coarse grid, a semi-circular area is removed which corresponds to the near field region of the discharge. At the new edge of the domain, which represents the near-far field boundary, mass flux and temperature boundary conditions are specified which simulate both the discharge into and entrainment out of the domain resulting from the surface discharge jet.Initial verification and testing of the model's characteristics is carried out in a hypothetical idealized domain. A more realistic verification is done at two prototype sites by comparing calculated results to previously acquired field data. The two sites are Millstone Nuclear Power Station (on Long Island Sound near Waterford, Connecticut) operating with two units and Brayton Point Generating Station (in Mt. Hope Bay near Somerset, Massachusetts) operating with three units on open cycle (existing conditions) and with four units on open cycle (proposed future condition). These comparisons suggest that the model can realistically describe the far field flow patterns associated with near field mixing thus making the model a useful tool in evaluating induced circulations, the source of entrained organisms, etc. These flow patterns are a direct function of the near field entrainment and discharge distributions which are specified as model boundary conditions and are thus easily calibrated and, if necessary, modified. Comparison between measured and predicted temperatures indicates that the predicted lengths and areas of isotherms are similar to measured lengths and areas. Predicted temperatures generally indicate greater dispersion than measured temperatures thus leading to overprediction of intake recirculation. Also, because boundary conditions on the near-far boundary have been assumed constant, the shape of predicted isotherms is not as responsive to changes in ambient current direction (e.g., tidal variations) as the measurements indicate.Future efforts should emphasize grid and program coding refinement to improve computational efficiency, use of methods to reduce numerical dispersion and incorporation of time-varying near-far field boundary conditions

Waste heat management in the electric power industry : issues of energy conservation and station operation under environmental constraints

Over the past three years, the Energy Laboratory, in cooperation with the R.M. Parsons Laboratory for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics at M.I.T. has been under contract with DOE/ECT to study various water and waste heat management issues associated with the choice of cooling systems for large steam-electric power plants. The purpose of this report is to summarize the major findings to-date of this study. In addition, an introduction or background section proceeds the summary so that the results can be better integrated into the larger picture of water and waste heat management.Over the past three years, the Energy Laboratory, in cooperation with the R.M. Parsons Laboratory for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics at M.I.T. has been under contract with DOE/ECT to study various water and waste heat management issues associated with the choice of cooling systems for large steam-electric power plants. The purpose of this report is to summarize the major findings to-date of this study. In addition, an introduction or background section proceeds the summary so that the results can be better integrated into the larger picture of water and waste heat management

Modeling the release of CO2 in the deep ocean

The idea of capturing and disposing of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the flue gas of fossil fuel-fired power plants has recently received attention as a possible mitigation strategy to counteract potential global warming due to the "greenhouse effect." One specific scheme is to concentrate the CO2 in the flue gas to over 90 mol %, compress and dehydrate the CO2 to supercritical conditions, and then transport it through a pipeline for deep ocean disposal. In Golomb et al. (1989), this scheme was studied, with emphasis on the CO 2 capture aspects. In this follow-on study, we concentrate on the mechanisms of releasing the CO 2 in the deep ocean.Golomb et al. only considered the release of individual liquid CO 2 droplets in the region below 500 m. In this study, we consider all depths in both the liquid and vapor regions, and we model the entire plume in addition to individual droplets or bubbles. The key design variables in the model that can be controlled are: (1) release depth, (2) number of diffuser ports, N, and (3) initial bubble or droplet radius, ro. The results show that we can lower the height of the plume by increasing the number of diffuser ports and/or decreasing the initial bubble or droplet radius. Figure S-1 summarizes the results for a release depth of 500 m. With reasonable values for N and r. of 10 and 1 cm respectively, we can keep the plume height under 100 m. Since our goal is to dissolve all the CO2 before it reaches the well-mixed surface layer at approximately 100 m, we can release our C02 at depths as shallow as 200 m. However, the residence time of the sequestered CO2 in the ocean is also a function of depth. For releases of CO2 less than 500 m deep, we can estimate a residence time of less than 50 years, and for a release from about 1000 m, a residence time from 200 to 300 years. These residence times may be increased by releasing in areas of downwelling or by forming solid CO 2-hydrates which will sink to the ocean floor. For depths greater than 500 m, CO2-hydrates may form but we have ignored them due to lack of data.We estimate that the local CO2 concentration will increase about 0.2 kg/m 3 . Added to the background concentration of 0.1 kg/m 3 , the resulting total concentration will be about 0.3 kg/m 3 , much less than saturation levels of about 40 kg/m 3 . Similarly, SO2 and NOx concentration increases will be about 1 .10 - 3 kg/m3 and 2 10- 4 kg/m 3 , respectively. Given an ambient current of 10 cm/s, horizontal dispersion will dilute these concentration increases by a factor of two at a distance of about 4 km downstream.In implementing a CO2 capture and sequester scheme based on an air separation/ flue gas recycle power plant, the price of electricity would double. The reasons for this doubling are: (1) 44% due to derating of the power plant because of the parasitic power required to capture C02, mainly for air separation and CO compression, (2) 42% due to capital charges and operation and maintenance costs (excluding fuel) of the power plant modifications, including air separation and CO2 compression, and (3) 14% due to capital charges and operation and maintenance costs of a 160 km pipeline for deep ocean disposal. These numbers assume that no additional control measures are required to mitigate potential environmental problems are associated with deep ocean disposal of CO02.Funded by the Mitsubishi Research Insitute, Society and Technology Dept

Eulerian-Lagrangian analysis of pollutant transport in shallow water

A numerical method for the solution of the two-dimensional, unsteady, transport equation is formulated, and its accuracy is tested.The method uses a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, in which the transport equation is divided into a diffusion equation (solved by a finite element method) and a convection equation (solved by the method of characteristics). This approach leads to results that are free of spurious oscillations and excessive numerical damping, even in the case where advection strongly dominates diffusion. For pure diffusion problems, optimal accuracy is approached as the time-step, At, goes to zero; conversely, for pure-convection problems, accuracy improves with increasing At; for convection-diffusion problems the At leading to optimal accuracy depends on the characteristics of the spatial discretization and on the relative importance of convection and diffusion.The method is cost-effective in modeling pollutant transport in coastal waters, as demonstrated by two prototype applications: hypothetical sludge dumping in Massachusetts Bay and the thermal discharge from Brayton Point Generating Station in Narragansett Bay. Numerical diffusion is eliminated or greatly reduced, raising the need for realistic estimation of dispersion coefficients. Costs (based on CPU time) should not exceed those of conventional Eulerian methods and, in some cases (e.g., problems involving predictions over several tidal cycles), considerable savings may even be achieved

Mathematical predictive models for cooling ponds and lakes. Part B, User's manual and applications of MITEMP. Part C. A transient analytical model for shallow cooling ponds

"Also published as R.M. Parsons Laboratory Technical Report No. 262."In Part B a computer code, '"MITEMP: M.I.T. Transient Temperature Prediction Model for Natural Reservoirs and Cooling Impoundments," is presented as a feasible and efficient tool for the prediction of transient performance of man-made impoundments. Particular emphasis is placed on waste heat dissipation from steam-electric power stations. The code allows the simulation of the physical regime (temperature and flow patterns) of impoundments as a function of design and for long time periods. The code contains the following elements: (1) Natural Deep Lake and Reservoir Model, (2) Deep Stratified Cooling Pond Model, (3) Shallow Vertically Mixed Dispersive Cooling Pond Model, and (4) Shallow, Vertically Mixed Recirculating Cooling Pond Model. The physical and mathematical basis for the present computer code is developed in an earlier report entitled, "Mathematical Predictive Models for Cooling Ponds and Lakes, Part A: Model Development and Design Considerations," by G. Jirka, M. Watanabe, K.H. Octavio, C. Cerco and D.R.F. Harleman, R.M. Parsons Laboratory for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics, Technical Report No. 238, December 1978. The user's manual presented herein gives a detailed description of the computational structure of MITEMP and discusses input and output requirements. The application to several case studies is presented. A complete code listing is given in the appendix, as are some sample computations. In Part C, an analytical model is developed to predict the transient performance of shallow, vertically mixed cooling ponds. This model is suggested as an aid in the initial design or screening process, eliminating the need for repeated use of MITEMP for long term simulations. When a candidate design(s) is selected, its long term performance can be analyzed with the more precise MITEMP.Prepared under the support of: Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, Illinois; NUS Corporation, Rockville, Maryland; Environmental Control Technology Division, U.S. Department of Energy; and Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Californi

Systematic Multi-Domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT): Study Protocol.

This article describes the protocol for the Systematic Multi-domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT), a single-blind randomized pilot trial to test a personalized, pragmatic, multi-domain Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk reduction intervention in a US integrated healthcare delivery system. Study participants will be 200 higher-risk older adults (age 70-89 years with subjective cognitive complaints, low normal performance on cognitive screen, and ≥ two modifiable risk factors targeted by our intervention) who will be recruited from selected primary care clinics of Kaiser Permanente Washington, oversampling people with non-white race or Hispanic ethnicity. Study participants will be randomly assigned to a two-year Alzheimer's risk reduction intervention (SMARRT) or a Health Education (HE) control. Randomization will be stratified by clinic, race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white versus non-white or Hispanic), and age (70-79, 80-89). Participants randomized to the SMARRT group will work with a behavioral coach and nurse to develop a personalized plan related to their risk factors (poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes with evidence of hyper or hypoglycemia, depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, contraindicated medications, physical inactivity, low cognitive stimulation, social isolation, poor diet, smoking). Participants in the HE control group will be mailed general health education information about these risk factors for AD. The primary outcome is two-year cognitive change on a cognitive test composite score. Secondary outcomes include: 1) improvement in targeted risk factors, 2) individual cognitive domain composite scores, 3) physical performance, 4) functional ability, 5) quality of life, and 6) incidence of mild cognitive impairment, AD, and dementia. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed in both groups at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

Research on the external fluid mechanics of ocean thermal energy conversion plants : report covering experiments in a current

This report describes a set of experiments in a physical model study to explore plume transport and recirculation potential for a range of generic Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant designs and ambient conditions. Tests were conducted in a thermally-stratified 12 m x 18 m x 0.6 m basin, at an undistorted length scale ratio of 1:300, which allowed the upper 180 m of the ocean to be studied. Conditions which have been tested include a range of plant sizes (nominally 200 MWe - 600 MWe); a range of discharge configurations (mixed vs. non-mixed evaporator and condenser flows, multiple vs. radial slot discharge port(s), variation of discharge-intake separation and variation of discharge angle); and a range of ambient current speeds (0.15 - 1.0 m/s), and density profiles (surface mixed layers of 31 to 64 m). The tests described herein complement those reported previously (Adams et al., 1979) for a stagnant-ambient environment.Measurements included temperature, dye concentration and visual observations from still and motion pictures. Results derived from these measurements are presented in tables and graphs in prototype dimensions for direct use by OTEC designers. Many of the results are also analyzed and presented in non-dimensional terms to extend their generality. No significant recirculation was observed for any tests with a discharge directed with a vertical (downward) component. For tests with a horizontal discharge, recirculation was observed to be a complex function of a number of parameters. For sufficiently shallow discharge submergence, low to moderate current speeds, and with plants employing a radial slot discharge, recirculation could result from dynamic pressures caused by the proximity of the free surface - despite the negative plume buoyancy. This mode was labelled "confinement-induced" recirculation and led to measurements of direct recirculation ranging from 25% to 40%.For certain combinations of ambient current speed and generally positive plume buoyancy (resultIng from deeper discharge submergence), the plume was observed to billow upward resulting in "current-induced" recirculation. This was observed for both radial slot and multiple port discharge configurations although somewhat greater recirculation was observed with the former configuration. Measured recirculation for current-induced recirculation fell in the range 0 to 10% with a peak occurring at intermediate current speeds of about 0.5 m/s. Experiments with a mixed evaporator and condenser discharge showed less tendency for direct recirculation of either type than the separate (evaporator only) discharges, but the effects of recirculation, as measured by the drop in evaporator intake temDerature (below the ambient temperature at the level of the intake) were not very different. A simple mathematical model, based on the governing length scales, was successfully calibrated to the observed values of direct recirculation for the radial discharge case.Various measures of plume transport were summarized to help designers predict the impact of OTEC operation on the environment and to establish guidelines for spacing of multiple plants. Minimum near field dilutions were observed in the range between 5 and 10 indicating that the peak concentration of any chemicals contained in the discharge would be between 10 and 20% of the discharge concentration. Near field horizontal and vertical dimensions of the plume wake were found to be correlated with a length scale derived from discharge kinematic momentum flux and ambient current speed. The rise and fall of the equilibrium plume elevation (above or below the discharge elevation) was found to be governed by a ratio of length scales based on the ambient density profile and the discharge kinematic momentum and buoyancy fluxes