Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1058804 | Journal of Environmental Management | 2006 | 13 Pages |
Abstract
The effects of the warm water discharged by a nuclear power plant (NPP) into a small reservoir are studied. A case study is presented (José Cabrera NPP-Zorita Hidráulica Reservoir) with experimental data of the reservoir stratification and predicted data of the dispersion of radioactive pollutants from operative or accidental releases. The vertical and longitudinal temperature profiles, electrical conductivity and transparency of the reservoir water were measured for an annual cycle. The results indicate that the continuous warm water discharge from the NPP causes permanent and artificial reservoir stratification. The stratification is significant within 1500Â m upstream and 1000Â m downstream from the warm water outfall. The pollutant dispersion has been predicted by using a flow model based on NT perfect-mixing compartments in series with feedback. The model parameter, NT, is calculated from the longitudinal diffusion coefficient. The prediction of pollutant dispersion by means of this model shows that the stratification slows down the vertical mixing in the whole water body, and reduces the reservoir volume that is effective for the dilution and dispersion of pollutants. This means that, in the case of a radioactive pollutant release, the reservoir radioactivity level could increase significantly.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Energy
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Authors
MarÃa C. Palancar, José M. Aragón, Fernando Sánchez, Roberto Gil,