Numerical simulation of oil pollution due to optimum pattern of turbulent flow, wind and tide effects

Abbstract :

Oil spill advection and dispersion occur because of chemicals, physicals and biological processes related to the properties of oil, hydrodynamics, meteorology and other environmental factors. In this paper, oil pollution was simulated in Assaluyeh port. The spreading and diffusion of oil pollution was investigated due to wind forces and tide effects as well. The model, MIKE3, as a three dimensional model based on the finite  volume method was invoked for oil spill fate including spreading, advection, diffusion and determination of evaporation rate, emulsification, oil dissolution in water and remaining oil spill thickness. First, the current pattern was determined according to the water level fluctuations. Using water level variations in Hangam Island, the tidal components as the open boundary initial conditions were applied to the model. In addition, to solve the turbulence hydrodynamic equations, the Smagorinsky formula was used which was fairly in accordance with the experimental results. Furthermore, the results showed that wind velocity could have the greatest effect on oil fate. Contingency plans indicated that oil spill moved toward shore lines and damaged beaches near the Assaluyeh port mostly in Bandar-e Siraf and Bandar-e Kangan in 2008 and Nayband Gulf in 2012.