Numerical modeling and wind tunnel experimental study of pollutant dispersion in coastal continent

Coastal areas are preferred for nuclear power plants due to the availability of seawater for cooling. However, siting also requires evaluating radiation doses to the environment and public during normal operation and potential accidents. This study examines how thermal differences and coastal meteorological conditions affect pollutant dispersion, using a three-dimensional numerical model of the flow field validated against wind tunnel experiments at a nuclear power plant. The validation shows less than 15% error between simulations and experiments. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted under varying sea and land temperatures and wind speeds to analyze flow field structures and pollutant dispersion. Results reveal that the thermal internal boundary layer significantly influences pollutant dispersion. Higher wind speeds reduce the effect of temperature on flow field structure, while thermal variations affect vertical pollutant dispersion. The effective dose estimation model calculates a maximum downwind dose rate of 1.28 mSv/year, well below the International Commission on Radiological Protection’s annual dose limit. These findings offer insights into minimizing environmental risks and ensuring safety at coastal nuclear power plants.