THERMAL POLLUTION

SRIRAM V LECTURER IN CHEMISTRY KNCET THOTTIAM

THERMAL POLLUTION

DEFINITION
ADDITION OF EXCESS OF UNDESIRABLE HEAT TO WATER THAT MAKES IT HARMFUL TO MAN, ANIMAL OR AQUATIC LIFE

CAUSES
DISCHARGE OF HEATED WATER OR HOT WASTE MATERIAL INTO WATER BODIES FROM NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS DOMESTIC SEWAGE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Nuclear power plants use water as a cooling agent.

After the water is used, it is put back into a water supply at 9-20oC

Emissions from nuclear reactor increase the temperature of water bodies.

Coal-fired power plants

Coal is utilized as a fuel Condenser coils are cooled with water from nearby lake or river The heated effluents decrease the DO of water Damages the marine organisms

Industrial Effluents
Discharged water from steam-electric power industry using turbo generators will have a higher temperature ranging from 6 to 9C than the receiving water

In modern stations, producing 100 MW, nearly one

million gallons are discharged in an hour with increase in temperature of the cooling water passing by 8 to 10 C

Domestic sewage
Sewage is commonly discharged into lakes, canals or streams Municipal sewage normally has a higher temperature than the receiving water Increase in temperature of the receiving water decreases the DO of water.

The foul smelling gases increased in water

resulting in death of marine organisms

Hydro electric power generation

Generation of hydroelectric power sometimes results in

negative thermal loading in water systems

Creates less heat on water sources less than nuclear power plant

CONTROL MEASURES
Cooling towers
Cooling ponds Spray ponds

Artificial lakes