Finite element mesh generation for numerical simulation of temperature stratification in hydroelectric reservoir environments Leon M. R. de Lima Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Engenharia 20553-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ E-mail: [email protected] Norberto Mangiavacchi Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Engenharia 20553-013, Rio de Janeiro, RJ E-mail: [email protected] Cássio B. P. Soares Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, FURNAS Centrais Elétricas S.A. Rio de Janeiro, RJ E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Many factors influence the hydrodynamic conditions in a hydroelectric power plant reservoir, and one of them is temperature stratification, due to its relation with water density. The chemical balance is also affected, in a consequence of the species transport, as well as the biological behavior in the aquatic system (different forms of life adapt only to a certain range of temperature). This paper presents a procedure of finite element mesh generation for numerical simulation of the temperature stratification in hydroelectric power plant reservoir environments. The numerical modeling is analogous to the 2dh hydrodynamic models, but instead of integrating along the height the integration is performed along the breadth, constituting a 2db model, which demands a special treatment for the mesh generation, combining topological and hydrographic data. The assembling process includes insertion of Cartesian points, Delaunay triangulation and refining routines. The authors acknowledge the financial support from FURNAS Centrais Elétricas S.A. for this research project. References [1] P.C.C. Rosman, Um Sistema Computacional de Hidrodinâmica Ambiental, “in R.C.V. Silva – Métodos Numéricos em Recursos Hídricos”, ed. Porto Alegre: ABRH, vol. 5, pp. 1-161, (2001). [2] A.A. Saggio, Estudo da Eutrofização do Reservatório de Barra Bonita (Rio TietêSP) Através de Simulação Numérica, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, pp. 1-10, 1992.