NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF AN INDUSTRIAL CUMULUS AFFECTED BY HEAT, MOISTURE, AND CCN RELEASED FROM AN OIL REFINERY

Large oil refineries emit heat, vapor, and cloud condensation nuclei ( CCN), all of which can affect the formation of cloud and precipitation . This study quantifies the relative contributions of the three factor s on cloud development in calm wind conditions using an axisymmetric c loud model. The factor separation technique is applied to isolate the net contributions of waste heat, vapor, and CCN on the rainfall of a c umulus developing in the industrial plume. The mutual-interactive cont ributions of two or three of the factors are also computed. The simula tions for midlatitude and tropical conditions indicate that the sensib le heat provides the major stimulus for cloud development and rain for mation. The pure contribution of the industrial CCN is to enhance the condensation, causing an increase in the mass of total cloud water. Th e simulation results indicate that mutual interactions between waste h eat and industrial CCN are large for both cases considered.