THERMAL DISPERSION FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM CIRCULATION IN BONTANG WATERS, EAST KALIMANTAN
Affan Fadli Rahmadian

Bandung of Institute Technology

Abstract

A cooling circulation system in a Steam and Gas Power Plant (PLTUG) operates by utilizing seawater for generator cooling, leading to the production of thermal water waste as a by product. This study aims to analyze the distribution of thermal water waste in Bontang waters resulting from the PLTUG activities. To achieve this, a numerical approach utilizing the HAMburg Shelf Ocean Model (HAMSOM) was employed. The researchers developed a numerical model using baroclinic mode and initialized it with field data from May 2022. Subsequently, the model accuracy was verified against field data collected between 6th and 12th September 2022. Overall, a positive correlation was observed between the field data and the numerical model. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values for current, temperature, and salinity were 0.095 m/s, 0.447 deg_C, and 0.964 psu, respectively. The study revealed that the dispersion of thermal water waste was most extensive during the full-phase low tide condition, resulting in a temperature increase of 1.5 deg_C from its initial value.

Keywords: Hot Water Waste, Bontang Waters, Current Patterns, Salinity, Temperature

Topic: Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics