Three-dimensional finite element modelling of thermal and chlorine discharges of a maritime nuclear power plant

The numerical model TELEMAC-3D simulates three-dimensional flows in rivers and in coastal zones. It is used to study for instance mixing of fresh and salted waters, thermal dilution, mixing of pollutant in ambient waters or suspended sediment transport. A brief description of the algorithm is first given. Then, the computation of thermal and chlorinated plumes of a nuclear power plant is shown. The numerical results are in good agreement with the available measurements in the near field. Farther, the power plant impact is sometimes masked by external phenomena (natural or not).