Numerical simulation of the thermal pollution zones formation from the power plant for different weather conditions

This work presents a numerical simulation of the distribution of heat sinks generated as a result of cooling generators of nuclear power plants in a natural reservoir. The aim of the work was to assess the thermal effect on the water area of Lake Balkhash, near the city of Ulken, where a site for a nuclear power plant was prepared. To obtain real results using computer modeling, the calculations took into account changes in air temperature, as well as the direction and speed of the wind in the area under study. One of the main tasks of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of jet-guide dams for natural cooling reservoirs. According to the obtained results, the longer the length of the barrier, the slower the heated water entered the tank for collecting cold water. Thus, the developed model made it possible to predict changes in the temperature regimes of the lake due to thermal pollution and to select the optimal volume of discharged water in order to minimize the negative impact. The obtained results will help to optimize the use of stream-guide dams for natural cooling reservoirs with real meteorological data.