Hydrothermal Analysis by Finite Element Method

The finite element method is used to predict the horizontal temperature distribution resulting from the discharge of a heated effluent into a body of water. The methods of heat transfer which are considered include the heat exchange at the air-water interface, advection and diffusion. The two-dimensional, steady state solution to the governing field equation is approximated by applying Galerkin’s method. Comparison of the numerical solution with the exact solution for a one-dimensional example is in good agreement. The analytical procedure is also used to predict the distribution of a heated effluent which is discharged into a river and the results are compared with those obtained for a model study. The analytical technique can be applied to rivers, lakes or cooling ponds.