Comparison of 1D and 3D reservoir heat transport models and temperature effects on mass transport

Abstract

ABSTRACT One and three-dimensional heat transport models are compared in a dendritic reservoir in Brazil. We estimate the periods of temperature stratification for both models using physical indices and temperature gradients. The three-dimensional model reproduces more accurately the water column temperature profiles, however with focus on the physical indices (Wedderburn Number and Lake Number) similar results were obtained with both models. Secondly, we investigated the effects of temperature stratification on substance mass transport using the three-dimensional model. The advective and dispersive transport for a tracer released in a river and in a side arm of the reservoir were quantified. We identified that considering the effects of temperature stratification increased the horizontal advective transport - up to a maximum of 40% increase for the tracer released in the river, and 9% for the side arm. In relation to dispersive transport there was a decrease in transport due to temperature stratification, and no pattern was discernible for the side arm tracer modeling.