THERMAL
POLLUTION
ENGR. MAHESH KUMAR
What is Thermal Pollution?
Increase in the normal temperatures of natural waters
caused by intervention of human activities.
It is the degradation of water quality by any process
that changes ambient water temperature.
Temperature is a physical characteristic of water which is
characteristic of water which is regulated under the
Clean Water Act.
Causes
The major sources of thermal pollution are electric power plants
and industrial factories.
Another cause is the use of water as a coolant by power plants
and industrial manufacturers. When water used as a coolant is
returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature,
the change in temperature decreases oxygen supply, and
affects ecosystem composition.
When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair or other
causes, fish and other organisms adapted to particular
temperature range can be killed by the abrupt change in water
temperature known as "thermal shock."
Causes
Streams and small lakes are naturally kept cool by trees and
other tall plants that block sunlight. People often remove
this shading vegetation in order to harvest the wood in the
trees, to make room for crops, or to construct buildings,
roads, and other structures.
Even the removal of vegetation far away from a stream or
lake can contribute to thermal pollution by speeding up the
erosion of soil into the water, making it muddy.
Thermal Pollution
Waste Heat from Power Plants
Major Causes
Nuclear power plants
Deforestation
Soil erosion
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 warmer
Deforestation
The decrease in vegetation increases the amount of light
that hits the water, which increases the temperature of
the water
Deforestation also increases erosion
IMPACTS
All plant and animal species that live in water are adapted to
temperatures within a certain range.
Thermal pollution may also increase the metabolic rate of
aquatic animals, as enzyme activity, resulting in these
organisms consuming more food in a shorter time than if their
environment were not changed.
Some organisms do thrive in warm water, often with
undesirable effects. Algae and other plants grow more rapidly
in warm water than in cold, but they also die more rapidly.
Effects of Increased Water
Temperature
Thermal shock aquatic life adapted to a certain water
temperature can go into shock when the temp is
changed even 1 or 2 degrees.
Oxygen dissolved in water decreases
Increases the rate of photosynthesis, which increases the
amount of plant growth
Increases the metabolic rate of fish, which increases
their need for oxygen
Biotic Effects of Thermal Pollution
Changes in the environment may also result in migration
of organisms to another, more suitable environment, and
to in-migration of organisms that normally only live in
warmer waters elsewhere.
As a result one has the problem of compromising food
chains of the old and new environments.
Biodiversity can be decreased as a result.
DISOLVED OXYGEN VS TEMPERATURE
CONTROLS
Thermal pollution from power plants and factories is
relatively easy to control. Instead of discharging
heated water into lakes and streams, power plants and
factories can pass the heated water through cooling
towers or cooling ponds, where evaporation cools the
water before it is discharged.
Alternatively, power plants can be designed or refitted
to be more efficient and to produce less waste heat in
the first place.
Control of thermal pollution
Cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to
the atmosphere through evaporation and/or heat
transfer
Cogeneration, a process where waste heat is
recycled for domestic and/or industrial heating
purposes
CONTROLS
Thermal pollution from devegetation is quite hard to
control because it is caused by the cumulative effect
of many peoples actions, most of which are
individually minor.
There should be implemented laws that will help
control, conserve, and protect resources to counter
thermal pollution.
To prevent thermal pollution due to devegetation, the
prescription is simple: do not devegetate. All efforts to
control erosion also have the effect of keeping water
clearer and, thus, cooler.
Uses of Waste Heat
Cogeneration
Aquaculture
Greenhouse heating
Desalination of seawater
Increase crop growth in cold season
Preheat air
Others
Natural Draft Cooling Tower
Mechanical Draft Cooling
Tower
Air to Liquid Heat Exchanger
