Back to results

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Thermal pollution modeling of the New River

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Thermal plume data from the Glen Lyn, Virginia power plant on the New River was compared to the thermal plume data from a hydraulic river model of this section of river. Both summer (high temperature, low river flow) and winter (low temperature, high river flow) conditions were modeled. The model plume in summer conditions was more comparable to the power plant than for the winter conditions, therefore a standard multiple port diffuser was tested in the river model, under summer conditions, to see how heat dissipation and thermal plume characteristics would change. No appreciable difference in the heat rise of the river with the diffuser was detected; however, initial heat dissipation was greater. A description of modeling methods, Froude scaling theory, present methods of measuring waste heat at power plants, and an evaluation of modeling as an effective method of predicting the thermal plume from a power plant is included.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Aerospace Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Aerospace Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1976

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Irons, John Jeffrey

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76227
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76227

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Irons, John Jeffrey. Thermal pollution modeling of the New River. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1976. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76227