Disposal of Dense Effluents as Negatively Buoyant Jets

Dr. George Christodoulou
Professor, and Director, Applied Hydraulics Laboratory,
National Technical University of Athens, Greece

The behavior of jets denser than ambient has drawn considerable attention in recent years, due to its theoretical complexity and practical importance related to the disposal of heavy effluents into the water environment, notably brines from desalination plants. The seminar addresses two main issues:

(a) The jet geometrical characteristics and dilutions achieved. Experimental results are presented for the geometrical characteristics of dense jets issuing upwards at an angle as well as for the concentration distributions within the jet. Also, a simple integral model for the description of such jets is proposed, as well as approximate estimates of their main characteristics, with comparison to the experimental findings.

(b) The development of the density current after impingement of the dense jet on the  bottom. Experimental results and theoretical analysis are presented for the spreading of the density current on either a horizontal or a sloping bottom.