A thermal plume is one which is generated by gas rising above heat source. The gas rises because thermal expansion makes warm gas less dense than the surrounding cooler gas. The thermal plume model is an experimental methodology usable easily to simulate the fire plume. The thermal model contributes to better understand many practical fire problems such as problems associated with fire tunnel and flow encountered in fires of structural elements of buildings.
Thermal discharges can originate from various industrial and domestic sources where effluents are often warmer than the surrounding waters that receive them.
Objectives
To determine how the discharge will dissipate in the receiving body of water under varying ambient conditions and different outlet configurations
Methodology
Computer models are used to simulate the thermal discharge dispersal. Knowledge of the spatial distribution and extent of such industrial end products prior to and during the development’s operation will help minimize the detrimental effects these may cause.
- In analysing the Gaussian plume model, the following assumptions are usually made:
- Continuous emission and negligible diffusion in the direction of travel.
- The material diffused is a stable gas or aerosol, with a negligible deposition rate.
- Mass is conserved through reflection at surfaces.
- Background pollution is negligible.
- Steady-state conditions.
- Constant wind speed and direction with time and elevation.
- Negligible wind shear effect on horizontal diffusion.
- The dispersion parameters are assumed to be functions of x (and hence u alone).
- The terrain is relatively flat, open country
