Thermal Discharge: A Model-Prototype Comparison

Infrared temperature sensing systems were used to compare the temperature fields resulting from a prototype power plant's condenser cooling water discharge with those obtained by simulating the discharge on a distorted hydraulic model. IR temperature measurement offers certain advantages over the more common thermocouple or thermistor temperature sensing and recording systems. The prototype plant is located in the upper reaches of San Francisco Bay, and was simulated on the San Francisco Bay-Delta model. The model is operated by the Corps of Engineers and has 1000:1 horizontal and 100:1 vertical length ratios. Photographic images of the temperature fields on both model and prototype are presented, along with best fit lines relating nondimensional surface temperature increase and the surface area enclosed by the increase. The general features of the prototype fields were satisfactorily reproduced by the model. The IR systems used are described and an analysis of the factors influencing the results is included.