Cage culture of channel catfish in a heated effluent from a power plant, Thomas Hill Reservoir

Abstract

The thermal effluent from electric power plants has been a subject of increased concern because of possible detrimental effects to the enviornment. Power demands in the united states have increased tremendously and may double over the next decade (Yee 1972). The need for electrical power is and will be met by an increase in the number of fossil-fueled and nuclear-fueled electric generating stations. The amount of waste heat, rejected into the aquatic enviornment, will be a function of the thermal efficiency of the particular power plant. Theoretical thermal efficiency of fossil-fueled plants is slightly above 60 percent (the present best plant is operating at about 40 precent efficiency), whereas the efficiency of nuclear plants is about 33 percent (Levin et al. 1972).