Thermal effects of nuclear power plants-a comparison with conventional plants.

This is a report of both field measurements and mathematical modeling of thermal pollution (or power plant discharges) in the Galveston Bay area, mainly in Clear Lake. The modeling has included both heat balance and heat diffusion studies. The following conclusions can be drawn from this study: (1) the general water temperature trend can be predicted by the mathematical model described herein within 1 degree F of our observed water temperatures, except for occasional extremes in temperature: this applies mainly to the one-day period of calculations; (2) the power company data, including flow rate of cooling water and outlet temperature, were found consistently low as compared to theoretical calculations of heat discharged: this might explain the poor predictions of extreme temperature; (3) in view of this fact, a continued monitoring of several water temperatures in the Galveston Bay area seems well worth pursuing in order to check further our computational model: the equipment necessary is available from the present project; (4) it was hoped to complete our diffusion study for the present report: however, this was not possible, because of lack of sufficient time. This will completed in the future, after we analyze the results of the diffusion experiment as obtained by aerial photography.