THERMOHYDRODYNAMICAL MODELING OF A POWER-PLANT IMPLEMENTATION IN THE ZEEBRUGGE HARBOR

A mathematical model and numerical simulation has been used to test th e validity of a water and thermal circulation scheme induced by the im plementation of a new power plant in the Zeebrugge harbour. The aim of the study was to: a) verify that in the interior basin of the inner h arbour, a sufficient stratification is present to allow for the captur e of cold bottom waters, whereas the ejected heated water remains at t he surface and is evacuated to the main harbour, b) study the way the water cools in the main harbour and to quantify the amount of thermal energy which is pumped back into the inner harbour, c) determine if th e global heat excess is evacuated and if the resulting temperature inc rease remains within reasonable limits at the power plant pump inlet. The study, accomplished in three steps, determined the parameters that control the recirculation (e.g. atmospheric conditions) and what thei r relative importance is. It was shown that a stratification is create d in the interior basin. In the main harbour the heat evacuation is do ne primarily by evaporation in the harbour and only for 20% by the out flow to the open sea. Extreme temperature increases at the pump inlet are expected to be 1.6 degrees C and 6.6 degrees C,but generally the t emperature increase lies between 3-4 degrees C. The actual value was f ound to be most sensitive to the atmospheric conditions.