Thermal pollution abatement evaluation model for power plant siting

Abstract

A thermal pollution abatement model for power plant siting is formulated to evaluate the economic costs, resource requirements, and physical characteristics of a particular thermal pollution abatement technology at a given site type for a plant alternative. The model also provides a screening capability to determine which sites are feasible alternatives for development by the calculation of the resource requirements and a check of the applicable thermal standards, and determining whether the plant alternative could be built on the available site in compliance with the thermal standards. The thermal pollution evaluation model analyzes the abatement technologies of surface discharge, diffuser, cooling pond, spray canal, and wet mechanical draft cooling towers. The typical site types evaluated are a river, small lake, great lake, coastal, estuary, offshore ocean, and water poor site. The model will be used in conjunction with a Plant Evaluation Model, which analyzes the effects of fuel costs and air pollution abatement, a Plant Expansion Model, and a Generation Expansion Model to determine the optimal operating and generating plan for an electric utility. The model may also be used in conjunction with the Plant Evaluation Model to evaluate the trade offs between the dollar cost of electric power generation, reliability, and air and thermal pollution. The model may also be used to determine, for a single plant site alternative, which abatement technologies would be feasible, and to make an economic and resource requirement comparison between these alternatives. Finally, the model could be used to examine the economic and locational aspects of the implementation of a plan limiting the waste heat discharge to natural bodies to zero discharge.