Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling
The aim of this work was to study, by remote sensing and numerical modeling, the thermal dispersion of a plume discharged into the sea by a nuclear power plant. The case study is the thermal discharge of the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant, located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. First, the the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/12/1437 |
| _version_ | 1797503228974202880 |
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| author | Luis Laguna-Zarate Héctor Barrios-Piña Hermilo Ramírez-León Raudel García-Díaz Rocio Becerril-Piña |
| author_facet | Luis Laguna-Zarate Héctor Barrios-Piña Hermilo Ramírez-León Raudel García-Díaz Rocio Becerril-Piña |
| author_sort | Luis Laguna-Zarate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this work was to study, by remote sensing and numerical modeling, the thermal dispersion of a plume discharged into the sea by a nuclear power plant. The case study is the thermal discharge of the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant, located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. First, the thermal plume dispersion was characterized by applying remote sensing for different scenarios. Afterwards, Delft3D-FLOW numerical simulations were performed to expand the analysis of the thermal processes for a case in which the thermal plume tends towards the intake of the power plant. This thermal analysis was carried out by comparing the behavior of different dimensionless parameters. Moreover, the results of the numerical simulations were used to investigate the performance of the AEM and the <i>k-L</i> and <i>k-ε</i> turbulence models, available in the Delft3D-FLOW model. An LES turbulence model contribution was also analyzed. The results show that forced convection is predominant near the plume discharge area and at the vicinity of the intake structure. According to the metrics calculated, all turbulence models produced good agreement with the remote sensing data, except when the LES scheme was considered. Finally, the use of remote sensing and numerical simulations is helpful to better understand thermal plume dispersion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a3e8fcc7b4d481b9bae8e4d5495dff3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a3e8fcc7b4d481b9bae8e4d5495dff32023-11-23T09:03:45ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-12-01912143710.3390/jmse9121437Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical ModelingLuis Laguna-Zarate0Héctor Barrios-Piña1Hermilo Ramírez-León2Raudel García-Díaz3Rocio Becerril-Piña4Tecnologico de Monterrey, Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Tecnológico, Monterrey 64700, MexicoTecnologico de Monterrey, Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Tecnológico, Monterrey 64700, MexicoProyectos de Ingeniería y Medio Ambiente S.C. Eten 577, Lindavista, Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de Mexico 07300, MexicoInstituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca 50200, MexicoRed Lerma-Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca 50200, MexicoThe aim of this work was to study, by remote sensing and numerical modeling, the thermal dispersion of a plume discharged into the sea by a nuclear power plant. The case study is the thermal discharge of the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant, located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. First, the thermal plume dispersion was characterized by applying remote sensing for different scenarios. Afterwards, Delft3D-FLOW numerical simulations were performed to expand the analysis of the thermal processes for a case in which the thermal plume tends towards the intake of the power plant. This thermal analysis was carried out by comparing the behavior of different dimensionless parameters. Moreover, the results of the numerical simulations were used to investigate the performance of the AEM and the <i>k-L</i> and <i>k-ε</i> turbulence models, available in the Delft3D-FLOW model. An LES turbulence model contribution was also analyzed. The results show that forced convection is predominant near the plume discharge area and at the vicinity of the intake structure. According to the metrics calculated, all turbulence models produced good agreement with the remote sensing data, except when the LES scheme was considered. Finally, the use of remote sensing and numerical simulations is helpful to better understand thermal plume dispersion.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/12/1437coastal hydrodynamicsturbulence modelingremote sensingthermal plume discharge |
| spellingShingle | Luis Laguna-Zarate Héctor Barrios-Piña Hermilo Ramírez-León Raudel García-Díaz Rocio Becerril-Piña Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Journal of Marine Science and Engineering coastal hydrodynamics turbulence modeling remote sensing thermal plume discharge |
| title | Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling |
| title_full | Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling |
| title_short | Analysis of Thermal Plume Dispersion into the Sea by Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling |
| title_sort | analysis of thermal plume dispersion into the sea by remote sensing and numerical modeling |
| topic | coastal hydrodynamics turbulence modeling remote sensing thermal plume discharge |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/12/1437 |
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