Numerical modelling of three-dimensional thermal surface discharges

The use of canal water for cooling is an important opportunity for companies to reduce their carbon emissions and save on energy bills. The available models used to evaluate the possibility of using canal water are too complicated and their applications are difficult. As such some potential opportunities for using canal water for cooling are being lost. This paper addresses current concerns to produce an interactive numerical model that will produce a three dimensional representation of the temperature distribution of heated water discharged into a still water region. The interactive model may be manipulated by non technical personal to evaluate differing discharge scenarios and ensure the proposal does not infringe the stringent regulations imposed by the Environmental Agencies. The proposed model makes use of information gathered from real on-site testing using a thermal camera and grid measurements in addition to a laboratory experimental tank that duplicates the varied on-site options. The parameters of temperature, velocity and boundaries were determined in both practical processes using a predefined grid mesh that covered the mixing zone. These practical results gave the turbulent diffusivity which was then used in the formulation of the model that was optimised to represent the real system results. It is shown that the results from the on-site testing, the laboratory results and the 3-D model all give complementary values so validating the final model.