Dilution of a Dense Vertical Jet

Large volumes of brine are being discharged into the Gulf of Mexico where cavities are being mined in salt domes for the storage of crude oil along the Gulf Coast. A model study of a dense, vertical jet in a stagnant homogeneous fluid was conducted to develop diffuser design criteria. The model study indicated that in addition to the densimetric Froude number the riser height is a significant diffuser design parameter. The ratio of volume brine discharged to receiving water volume had considerable influence on the jet dilution. In model runs where the jet reached the surface, the resulting dilution was greater than that of a comparable jet that did not reach the surface. Results of field studies at the Freeport, Texas brine disposal outfall compared favorably with the results of the model study.