One-Dimensional Temperature Predictions in Unsteady Flows

One-dimensional temperature models are useful in assessing the environmental impact of waste heat discharges. The model presented in this paper both considers transient flow and meteorological conditions and is therefore applicable to actual rivers and estuaries. The equations governing the flow and the temperature distribution are reviewed and the role and determination of the dispersion coefficient is examined. The fluxes participating in the overall heat budget of a water body are individually considered and formulas are given to evaluate them. The nature of the necessary boundary conditions is considered and a case study is presented where the natural temperature distribution in the Conowingo Reservoir is predicted and compared to actual measurements.