Outfall Mixing Zones

Large quantities of wastewater released from municipal sources or heated water from power plants raise concern over outfall location and their environmental impact on the ecosystem. The assimilative capacity of receiving waters, which depends on the circulation and mixing characteristics of the system, dictates the location and design of outfall diffusers. We have developed an innovative methodology to handle both the near- and far-field in a coupled 2D and 3D modeling framework. Initial dilution calculations are performed using near-field mixing models to evaluate plume characteristics. A coupled hydrodynamic model is then used to evaluate plume characteristics governed by the ambient far-field hydrodynamics.

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