Author(s): S. A. Socolofsky; A. L. Dissanayake
Linked Author(s): Scott A. Socolofsky
Keywords: Industrial discharges; Integral plume model; Settling flux; Particle plumes
Abstract: This paper presents an integral plume model developed to simulate point source, particle laden domestic and industrial discharges such as produced water, sewage, and dredging discharge plumes. The model is an extension of a Lagrangian integral plume model developed to simulate deepwater oil and gas blowouts, which has the capability of tracking the mean path of inert particles, with a size distribution, within plumes released at various angles in stratified, still or sheared environments. It also allows the separation of particles from the plume and tracks the mean particle paths in the far field, predicting the distribution patterns of settling fluxes of heavy or large particles in the vicinity of plume. This is important in predicting the sludge accumulation rates from industrial particle laden plumes. The model is validated with available experimental data in the literature, and here, we present the details of model development and selected validation cases.
Year: 2016