MODELING OF THERMAL POLLUTION SPREADING FROM A STEAM

POWER PLANT IN COASTAL AREA

Badruz Zaman, Mukhtasor dan Sujantoko
Ocean Engineering Department, Faculty of Marine Technology, ITS

Abstract
Cooling water discharge is inevitable in current system of power plant in coastal environment. The
effect of the discharge from the power plant can cause marine pollution disorders on ecosystem
balance because of its high temperature and may be able to cause warm water recirculation into
the intake as result of tidal current reversal. An appropriate designs need to be developed to
prevent adverse effects on the discharge’s capability to minimize hot water spreading. In this
research, thermal pollution due to Steam Power Plant was modeled using SMS (Surface Water
Modeling System) software. The result from modeling can be one of parameters for design of
cooling water system. The model results show that numerical model can provide a design that
fulfills the environmental and operational criteria.

Keywords: Power plant, marine pollution, thermal pollution, numerical modeling, SMS

Introduction Modeling Waste Heat

Power plants and chemical industry uses Waste heat is heat generated by human
large enough water for cooling systems activity which unnatural character and
(cooling water system). Water is taken from harmful to the environment in an aquatic
the sea and returned back to the sea with system. The power plant is a major source
higher temperatures. Heat of waste water of waste heat that can pollute rivers, lakes,
increases the temperature of the ponds and coastal areas. Power plant with
surrounding environment (ambient water). power 1000 MW estimated release 55 m3/s
Increased temperature may affect the factor waste heat that can increase the
of physics, chemistry and biology. environmental temperature of 11 ºC (Singh
Physically, temperature increase can affect and Hager, 1997).
the density, viscosity, vapor pressure, and
In the process of mixing the waste with the
solubility. The effect of chemical factors
environment, there are several things to be
such as changes in chemical equilibrium,
aware of them such as the momentum of
reaction rates, microbial activity, odor, taste
discharge, the flow of water body, the
changes, and a decrease in salinity.
turbulence caused by mixing of effluent and
Influence of biological factors such as the
the environment, spreading due to the
death of young organisms, food chains are
different buoyant density of sea water and
disconnected, the decrease in resistance of
effluent, and whether there is any structure
toxins, predation by predators that are more
or navigation in sewage systems. Waste
tolerant of changes in temperature,
dispersion pattern can vary depending on
increasing cell metabolism, and competition
the type of waste places (rivers, estuaries,
with other species that lived more tolerant
lakes, beaches) and its characteristics
(Tchobanoglous and Burton, 1991 ).
(depth, presence or absence of
Thermal waste caused harm to marine life if stratification, conditions still or flowing
the sewage system was not designed water).
properly. In addition, the improper design of
Power plants and chemical industries
sewage systems can cause the waste water
require large water used as coolant (cooling
go back to the cooling water inlet system
water), usually taken from sea water. Sea
(intake channel). Therefore an evaluation
water from entering through the cooling
procedure is required to see how much heat
water system comprising a channel or pipe
is spread in the environment around landfill
entry (intake), water filtration equipment,
sites. To determine the spreading of waste
pumps, valves, and other supporting
water is used a numerical modeling method
instrumentation. Because the number of
that has been progressing fast enough
required quantity of cooling water is plenty
today. This paper will present the results of
and the resulting temperature rise is then
modeling the spreading of waste heat from
thrown back into the sea, then the
power plant with waste disposal system
placement of this system should be looked
layout of the various scenarios.
at properly.

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There are several factors that influence the v v v h   2v  2v 
1/ 2

choice of an intake channel such as water h  hu  hv   E yx 2  E yy 2 

t x y   x y 
depth of which is as high or low tides, the
slope of the seabed, ocean wave  a h 
 u 2  v 2 
gvn2
conditions, currents along the coast,  gh   
sedimentation, water quality and marine  y y  1.486h 
1/ 6 2

creatures that live there, the possibility of

 Va2 sin  2hv sin   0 ………………… (2)
pollution, waste heat recirculation, coastal
boundaries, water quality standards, and
h  u v  h h
economic factors (Mukhtasor, 2007).  h    u v  0 ……........ (3)
t  x y  x y
This study focuses on the circulation of
waste heat that occurred. In selection of Explanation:
design, size and magnitude of the a : base elevation
circulation of waste heat wave is the main E : eddy viscosity coefficient
thing that must be considered. Hence, g : gravitational acceleration
modeling is needed to predict the spread of h : water depth
waste heat that occurred. n : manning roughness n-value
u, v : velocity in Cartesian coordinates
Modeling the spreading of waste, either by
x, y, t : Cartesian coordinates and time
physical or numerical model is very
ρ : fluid density
significant in the management of waste
ζ : wind shear stress coefficient
heat. The behavior and concentration of
empirically
waste heat in the ocean can also be
Va : wind speed
estimated using computer-assisted
modeling. Considering the processes so
 : wind direction
ω : angle of the earth's rotation
complex, both the behavior and distribution
of waste, hence modeling approach can be  : local latitude
done to emphasize the dominant processes 1,486 : SI conversion (meters) to the
occur. In other words, the modeling done to non-SI unit
simplify the processes was so complex. Equations 1, 2 and 3 above are solved
Hydrodynamics modeling is an important using the finite element Galerkin method.
tool to simulate the dispersion pattern at Variables are assumed to vary with time
waste water. Hydrodynamics model can be according to the following equation:
done in the form of simulation, which is one
f t   f 0  at  bt c (4)
way that can be used to determine the
spread of waste that has been, is and may
t o  t  t o  t
happen. Simulation is a process done by a
model that mimics the natural process that In these studies, for the simulation model
is expected to represent actual events. and the use of those equations
Simulation can be done with the help of the continuously, Newton-Raphson iteration
model, either mathematically or empirically Non-Linear was used.
based.
To present the spread of waste, this study
Hydrodynamic Equation applied the numerical model with finite
The principle of mass conservation and element approach in two dimensions, where
momentum in the direction of two- the spread of the concentration of the water
dimensional (surface water) used in the depth is assumed to be the same (uniform).
model hydrodynamic for getting current Equation 5 have been prepared under the
speed and elevation. Mathematically this conditions of analysis is limited to one
principle can be written with equation 1 to 3 dimension (the average cross-section and
the following: the average depth) and two-dimensional
u u u h   2u  2u  (average depth) where the concentration of
h  hu  hv   E xx 2  E xy 2  mixed evenly in the vertical direction (King
t x y   x y  in the User Guide to RMA 2).
 a h 
 u 2  v 2 
gun2 1/ 2  c c c  c  c R (c ) 
 gh    h  u  v  Dx  Dy    kc  0
 x x  1.486h 
1/ 6 2
 t x y x x y y h 
.............................................................. (5)
 Va2 cos  2hv sin   0 ………………(1)

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Explanation:
c : pollutant concentration
Dx, Dy : mixing coefficient
turbulence (dispersion coefficient)
h : water depth
k : decline rate of pollutant
(First order)
R(c) : the rate of evaporation or rain
t : time
u, v : velocity in x and y
 : source / sinking constituent
Equations mentioned above was solved by
using SMS software. For modeling the flow
patterns used RMA2 module. While for the
simulation of the spread of waste heat is
used RMA4 module. Simulation of waste
heat was carried out after the flow pattern
results obtained from RMA2 module.
Input Modeling
 Bathymetry Map
Bathimetery map is used to gain insight
about the depth contours of the sea and the
beach slope around the study area. Layout
of the Steam Power Plant 2 in Probolinggo,
Indonesia was used as case study. Figure 1
below shows the location of the area
bathimetery study.
 Tides
Tidal data was used as modeling input
program to generate ocean currents. It was
taken for a month period with
measurements every hour. See Figure 2 to
see the tidal data in study area.

POWER
PLANT

Figure 1: Bathymetry in the study area (compiled from maps bathymetry Bakosurtanal)
Elevation (m)

Time (hours)
Figure 2: Tidal graph in the study area (data taken from BMG)

4
 Current
Current measurements required to calibrate
the current data modeling results with a real
current data in the water of the study area.
Current measurements made at three
points with the coordinates (UTM 49): point
1 (780319; 9147240), point 2 (780835;
9147010), and point 3 (781371; 9147203).
Measurement procedures are at each point
was measured every hour for 12 hours with
a depth of 0.2d, 0.6d and 0.8d, where d is
the depth of water. Current magnitude and
direction was recorded. At the time of
measurement, the vessel was stopped to
reduce the impact of the propeller’s current
round.
From the current measurement was
st
obtained that the average current at 1
point location is 0.15 m/s. Then, the location
of 2nd point is 0.2 m/s and for the last, the
current average at location of 3th point is
0.14 m/s.
• Power Plant Operational Waste Data
This study used hypothetical data of cooling
water discharge system of power plant.
Assumed a system with a pump capable to
provide water flow from 100,000 to 120,000
m3/day. The temperature of sea water
entered the draft after going through the
process of cooling of about 20 ºC and out of
about 33 º C. Sea temperatures around the
study area is 29 ºC. Condenser water
requirements for 100000-120000 m3/hr.
Cooling water circulation system is used
that is used once through the system, using
the intake and discharge channels. Cooling
water needs will be supplied by utilizing sea
water.
Validation
Current velocity modeling results should be
validated to determine the accuracy of
these modeling results. Validation was done
by comparing the modeling results with the
current velocity current field measurement
results in accordance with the observation
time and the time step of modeling.
Fig. 3: Current velocity validation at point 1
4
Fig 4: Current velocity validation at point 2
Fig 5: Current velocity validation at point 3
From the above validation results showed
that there were still differences between the
modeling results with the current flow
measurements in the field. It was caused by
currents modeling is only generated by the
tides. While in the current measurement
results are not only influenced by tidal but
also by the waves and wind. So, the
correction should be taken for wave and
wind effects on the generation of ocean
currents.
The simulation results
• The pattern of current flow
Flow velocity at high tide ranged from 0.00
to 0.03 m/s. While the flow speed at low tide
ranged 0.09 to 0.2 m/s. Here are the results
of current velocity modeling at three point
location which are in front of dock;
discharge canal and intake canal (Figure 6).
 Distribution pattern of temperature
increase
To simulate the temperature distribution,
the simulation results are presented in the
form of distribution pattern of water
temperature increase of seawater
temperature. The simulation was conducted
with time (time step) 360 hours or 15 days.
In this simulation, the factors considered
only current generated by tides. The
simulation results are used as reference to
determine whether the design layout and
configuration of the waste disposal system
in accordance with operational criteria and
environmental criteria. Operational criteria
require that increases in temperature into
the intake channel should not exceed 0.2 ºC
of ambient temperature. While
environmental criteria require that the
temperature raises no more than 3 ºC at a The simulation results of temperature
distance of 200 m from the location of distribution shown in Figure 7 below.
discharge (Abbaspour et al, 2005).

Discharge kanal Depan Dermaga Intake kanal

0.09

0.08

0.07

0.06
Kecepatan (m/s)

0.05

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Waktu (hari)
Figure 6: Current pattern result of SMS modeling

Temperature rise (ºC)

Power Plant

Figure 7: Distribution pattern of temperature rise (500 m grid spacing)

As shown in the picture above that
temperature increase in the intake canal is
very small (not visible in the image because
of too little value) is only about 0.02 ºC.
Therefore, the operational requirements are
fulfilled where the value of the temperature
increase in the intake canal does not
exceed 0.2 ºC. For environmental criteria
can be seen that the increase in
temperature at a distance of 200 m from the
discharge canal is only 1.69 ºC. So,
environmental criteria are also fulfilled
because the increase in temperature at a
distance of 200 m from the discharge canal

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of less than 3 ºC. Figure 8 shows the spent substantial funds. For that reason, it
temperature rise at a distance of 200 m will be reviewed how the increase of
from the discharge canal and at the mouth temperature with the design of the canal
of the intake canal. length shortened to 250 m and 10 m. This is
needed to determine whether the discharge
In the process of thermal waste disposal
channel shortening design still meets the
system design, economic aspects should
operational and environmental criteria.
be considered deeply. The length of the
discharge channel reaches 500 m will be

200 m dari discharge kanal Intake kanal

2.5

2
Kenaikan suhu ( C)

1.5

0.5

0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Time step (jam)

Figure 8: Temperature rise in power plant

This step is performed in an attempt to save Based on the result above, the discharge
high costs. From the results of modeling channel design can not be shortened by
with the discharge channel shortening was economic reasons. This is because the
found that increases in temperature at a environmental criteria are not eligible
distance of 200 m from the location of although the operational criteria are fulfilled.
discharge with long discharge canal 500 m The increase of temperature at a distance
still under the operational criteria (3 ºC) is of 200 m from the mouth of canals with a
2.01 ºC. While the discharge channel with a discharge channel length variation shows at
shelf for 250 m is 3.24 ºC and for the Figure 9. The next Figure shows the results
discharge channel of length 10 m is 3.47 of modeling the spread of thermal pollution
ºC, both of which do not meet the by varying the discharge length with 240
operational criteria. hours time step (Figure 10, Figure 11 and
Figure 12).
Discharge kanal 500 m Discharge kanal 250 m Discharge kanal 10 m
4
3.5
Kenaikan suhu ( C)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250
Time step (jam)

Figure 9: The temperature rise at a distance of 200 m from the location of discharge with
discharge channel length variation

6
Figure 10: The spread of heat waste with a long discharge canal 500 m

Figure 11: The spread of heat waste with a long discharge canal 250 m

Figure 12: The spread of heat waste with a long discharge canal 10 m

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Conclusion
Based on simulation results that was performed, it can be concluded that the modeling of waste
spreading is very important in determine whether the design layout of a sewage system fulfill
with the criteria required or not. Numerical model is very helpful to find an alternative layout of
waste heat disposal. For the hypothetical case in this study, the long-channel discharge can be
altered to find the most appropriate design.

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