Premium
Linear bubble plume model for hypolimnetic oxygenation: Full‐scale validation and sensitivity analysis
Author(s) -
Singleton V. L.,
Gantzer P.,
Little J. C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2005wr004836
Subject(s) - plume , bubble , diffuser (optics) , mechanics , environmental science , panache , radius , volumetric flow rate , flow (mathematics) , sensitivity (control systems) , thermodynamics , physics , optics , light source , computer security , electronic engineering , computer science , engineering
An existing linear bubble plume model was improved, and data collected from a full‐scale diffuser installed in Spring Hollow Reservoir, Virginia, were used to validate the model. The depth of maximum plume rise was simulated well for two of the three diffuser tests. Temperature predictions deviated from measured profiles near the maximum plume rise height, but predicted dissolved oxygen profiles compared very well with observations. A sensitivity analysis was performed. The gas flow rate had the greatest effect on predicted plume rise height and induced water flow rate, both of which were directly proportional to gas flow rate. Oxygen transfer within the hypolimnion was independent of all parameters except initial bubble radius and was inversely proportional for radii greater than approximately 1 mm. The results of this work suggest that plume dynamics and oxygen transfer can successfully be predicted for linear bubble plumes using the discrete‐bubble approach.