Application of Environmental Regulations on Design of Hydraulic Structures for Open Cooling Water System

by Jagdish K. Virmani, Bechtel Corp, Gaithersburg, United States,
Mahmood Naghash, Bechtel Corp, Gaithersburg, United States,
Adnan M. Alsaffar, Bechtel Corp, Gaithersburg, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Design of intake and discharge structures for an open cooling water system for a thermal power plant requires that the design of hydraulic structures meets the federal, state, and local environmental regulations. The pertaining regulations evolve from section 316 (a) and 316 (b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act where best available technology must be applied for the specific site. For a site with a limited river front available within the plant property along with large variation in river water level and flow, detailed optimization studies are performed to meet these requirements. The intake was designed to minimize impact on fish entrapment and impingement and to meet the Section 316(b) permit requirement and to reduce warm water recirculation so that plant efficiency and the size of the thermal plume will not be affected. The design of the discharge structure had to meet the thermal discharge criteria governed by the 316(a) permit requirement, and minimize warm water recirculation into the intake. Low river flow and associated velocities had contributed to the low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the river water. Therefore; provisions were also made to aerate the heated effluent before discharging into the river.

Subject Headings: Water intakes | Water discharge | Hydraulic structures | Thermal pollution | Hydro power | Water circulation | Thermal power

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