14-23: Structural Modification of a Power Plant’s River Water Intake to

A numerical study was conducted to evaluate design alternatives to alleviate ice accumulation at the river intake. A numerical model to predict the ice transport and accumulation at the river intake was developed and validated. The model was used to understand the main phenomenon leading to ice transport and accumulation. This paper will describe the use of the model to analyze the effectiveness of mitigation measures. A mitigation plan consisting of intake modifications to be implemented during several phases is presented. In the first phase, large pipe openings are cut in the walls separating intake pump wells of previously retired units at the facility. In the second phase, a number of sediment control vanes previously placed in front of the intake will be removed to facilitate downstream ice transport. A third phase, if needed to be implemented, involves removing additional sedimentation control vanes and cutting holes in the pump wells on the operating units.