Modeling Possible Cooling-Water Intake System Impacts on Ohio River Fish Populations

To assess the possible impacts caused by cooling-water intake system entrainment and impingement losses, populations of six target fish species near power plants on the Ohio River were modeled. A Leslie matrix model was constructed to allow an evaluation of bluegill, freshwater drum, emerald shiner, gizzard shad, sauger, and white bass populations within five river pools. Site-specific information on fish abundance and length-frequency distribution was obtained from long-term Ohio River Ecological Research Program and Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) electrofishing monitoring programs. Entrainment and impingement data were obtained from 316(b) demonstrations previously completed at eight Ohio River power plants. The model was first run under a scenario representative of current conditions, which included fish losses due to entrainment and impingement. The model was then rerun with these losses added back into the populations, representative of what would happen if all entrainment and impingement losses were eliminated. The model was run to represent a 50-year time period, which is a typical life span for an Ohio River coal-fired power plant. Percent changes between populations modeled with and without entrainment and impingement losses in each pool were compared to the mean interannual coefficient of variation (CV), a measure of normal fish population variability. In 6 of the 22 scenarios of fish species and river pools that were evaluated (6 species × 5 river pools, minus 8 species/river pool combinations that could not be evaluated due to insufficient fish data), the projected fish population change was greater than the expected variability of the existing fish population, indicating a possible adverse environmental impact. Given the number of other variables affecting fish populations and the conservative modeling approach, which assumed 100% mortality for all entrained fish and eggs, it was concluded that the likelihood of impact was by no means assured, even in these six cases. It was concluded that in most cases, current entrainment and impingement losses at six Ohio River power plants have little or no effect at the population level.

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Experimental Studies on the Cooling Water Intake System for the Atomic Power Plant at Tokai, Japan

Coastal Engineering in Japan ◽

10.1080/05785634.1962.11924623 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 111-133

Author(s):

Masashi Hom-ma ◽

Kiyosihi Horikawa

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Water Intake ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Atomic Power Plant ◽

Intake System

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Design and Execution of a Submarine Cooling Water Intake System for the Atomic Power Plant, Tokai, Japan

Coastal Engineering in Japan ◽

10.1080/05785634.1962.11924624 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 135-160

Author(s):

Yutaka Inai ◽

Akira Seyama ◽

Toshio Togashi

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Water Intake ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Atomic Power Plant ◽

Intake System

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Analysis on Critical Factors of Marine Organism Impacts on Water Intake Safety at Nuclear Power Plants

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science ◽

10.1115/1.4048112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaocheng Fu ◽

Fenglei Du ◽

Xiang Pu ◽

Xuan Wang ◽

Fengze Han

Keyword(s):

Water Intake ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Power Plants ◽

Nuclear Power Plants ◽

Marine Organism ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Marine Organisms ◽

Reproductive Capacity ◽

Driving Mechanism ◽

Hydrodynamic Conditions

Abstract The safety of cooling water intake in nuclear power plants (NPPs) has gradually become an important factor affecting the safety of NPPs. Marine flora and fauna outbreaks are one of the main types affecting the safety of cooling water intake in NPPs, and the driving mechanism is more complicated and difficult to predict. This paper mainly analyzes the main types and typical cases of marine organisms that cause cooling water intake blockage in NPPs, and analyzes the key factors such as hydrodynamic conditions, timing of organism's outbreak, characteristics of species, and design of the screen systems. The results show that strong hydrodynamic conditions or strong tides caused by special meteorological conditions are important factors. Considering the time of organism's outbreak, spring and summer (May–August, may change slightly according to different latitude) is key period because of the reproduction and growth of most marine organisms, according to the growth law of marine organisms. In terms of biological characteristics, it is sensible to focus on those species with fast growth, strong reproductive capacity, short life cycle, weak swimming ability, and cluster distribution. As to the design of screen systems, the blockage mainly occurs in revolving filter screens. The grid spacing of normal mechanical grille is too large to block the small marine organisms. It is necessary to add trash interception nets according to the type and size of the marine species. Finally, a case is used to confirm the factors needed to pay more attention.

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Defining environmentally acceptable flow downstream intake structures in Croatia

Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal ◽

10.1108/14777830310488720 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 520-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stjepan Mišetić ◽

Željko Pavlin ◽

Milorad Mrakovčić ◽

Vedran Jurić

Keyword(s):

Water Intake ◽

Fish Species ◽

Food Chain ◽

Biological Response ◽

Fish Populations ◽

Bioindicator Species ◽

Water Flows ◽

Complex Methods ◽

Natural Channel ◽

Characteristic Fish

Determining minimum water flows that will continuously run through a natural channel downstream of a water intake (Q0) is a multidisciplinary problem. It is, however, not approached in a multidisciplinary way in most countries. This paper offers an overview of the main methods and proposes a practical and environmentally more acceptable way of determining the retained flow, namely the environmentally acceptable flow (EAF). It is proposed that until the conditions are created for use of more complex methods and/or biological response techniques, the EAF be defined by determining whether the retained flow is sufficient for sustaining and developing indigenous wildlife in the streams by ensuring of the essential living conditions for the bioindicator species. The proposed bioindicators are characteristic fish populations of a specific type of stream and stream reaches. Being the final link in the ecological food chain, fish species are reliable indicators of bioecological balance in a stream.

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Maryland Power Plant Cooling-Water Intake Regulations and their Application in Evaluation of Adverse Environmental Impact

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2002.175 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Richard McLean ◽

William A. Richkus ◽

Stephen P. Schreiner ◽

David Fluke

Keyword(s):

Water Intake ◽

Power Plants ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Important Species ◽

Site Specific ◽

The Cost ◽

Power Plant Cooling ◽

Location Design ◽

Design Construction

Maryland’s cooling-water intake and discharge regulations, the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.08.03, stem from Sections 316(a) and (b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). COMAR 26.08.03.05 and litigative and administrative rulings stipulate that the location, design, construction, and capability of cooling-water intake structures must reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts (AEIs), providing that the costs of implementing the BTA are not wholly disproportionate to the expected environmental benefits. Maryland law exempts facilities that withdraw less than 10 million gallons/day (MGD) and less than 20% of stream or net flow by the intake. If not exempt, BTA must be installed if the cost of doing so is less than five times the value of fish impinged annually. Through site-specific studies and the use of a Spawning and Nursery Area of Consequence (SNAC) model applied to Representative Important Species, several power plants were evaluated to determine if they have had an adverse effect on spawning and nursery areas of consequence. Examples of application of the Maryland law to a number of power plants in the state are presented, together with the outcome of their evaluation.

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Water Quality and the Discharge of Cooling Water into Rivers, Lakes and Coastal Waters

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1983.0054 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 15-30

Author(s):

R. Gasparini

Keyword(s):

Coastal Waters ◽

Power Plants ◽

Cooling System ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Fish Population ◽

Point Of View ◽

Water Bodies ◽

Experimental Investigations ◽

Cooling Systems ◽

Receiving Water

This paper resumés some of the main findings and conclusions of a study group on cooling water problems (1) set up by UNIPEDE (2). The paper represents only the personal point of view of the author, in particular as chairman of the above mentioned group. The basic aim of the work was the study of the effects of the discharge of cooling water in the receiving water bodies (rivers, lakes and coastal waters). This type of assessment permits a more balanced and pragmatic approach to aspects such as thermal pollution, entrainment, impingement and pollution by antifouling agents. The first part of the paper deals with the problem of damage to organisms entering a cooling system. An important factor in assessing the meaning of such aspect is the growing evidence that there is no reduction in fish population of the receiving water body associated with the operation of modern power plants despite the catch in the once through-cooling systems due to entrainment and impingement, that can be minimized, but not avoided. The second part deals with the different methods of fouling prevention in power plants, with their possible environmental effects in the receiving water bodies. The third part is a comprehensive review of the results of aquatic impact studies at power plants, that is the results of many experimental investigations carried out in the field to evaluate the effects of the operation of once through cooling systems sited on rivers, lakes, or coastal waters.

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