ANALYSIS OF BUOYANT SURFACE JETS.

To obtain improved prediction of heated plume characteristics from a surface jet, an integral analysis computer model was modified and a comprehensive set of field and laboratory data available from the literature was gathered, analyzed, and correlated for estimating the magnitude of certain coefficients that are normally introduced in these analyses to achieve closure. The estimated parameters include the coefficients for entrainment, turbulent exchange, drag, and shear. Since there appeared considerable scatter in the data, even after appropriate subgrouping to narrow the influence of various flow conditions on the data, only statistical procedures could be applied to find the best fit. Although the model has many shortcomings, the analysis predicts field situations more successfully than other analyses of its type. Such an analytical method has been widely used in industry and government for the prediction of thermal plumes from steam power plants.