Thermal Effects of Projected Power Growth: South Atlantic and East Gulf Coast River Basins

摘要

Direct cooling capacities of twelve major southeastern river systems were calculated for average and low flow conditions. Total regional cooling capacities considering not only the direct heating of the rivers, but also their ability to dissipate heat to the atmosphere, ranged from a high of 328 GWT to a low of 65 GWT. The Alabama, Apalochicola, Altamaha, and Savannah rivers contribute essentially all of the capacity based on low flow conditions. The remaining rivers (Roanoke, Pee Dee, Wateree, Congaree, Choctawhatchee, Tombigbee, and Pearl) have insufficient flow to assimilate 800 MWT over major portions of their length under such conditions. Inclusion of the Suwannee in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act removed from consideration only about 2 GWT (under low flow conditions) of cooling capacity.nConsidering that roughly 1.7 MWT are rejected regionally for each MWe generated (corresponding roughly to 33% efficiency in a fossil fuel plant), the available cooling capacity will support ∽38 GWe at one time. Projecting the present regional practice of siting ∽40% of the thermal generating capacity to utilize ocean or estuarine cooling, a total of ∽65 GWe could be accommodated in the area. Although improvements in plant efficiency could increase this to 70 to 80 GWe, analysis of projected power generation patterns indicates that this is insufficient to cool, on a once-through basis, the anticipated growth in the electrical generation industry, and that recourse to supplemental cooling techniques will be required throughout much of the Southeastern United States.