Cold source

The heat flowing through the condenser is dissipated into the environment acting as the cold source. Water circulates in the tertiary circuit at a flow rate of approximately 50 m³/s. This water is drawn from a river or the sea and filtered.
The circuit is said to be « open » when the tepid water is returned to its source after exiting the condenser. It is said to be « closed » when the water releases its heat to the ambient air in a cooling tower before returning to the condenser. About 1 m³/s of water evaporates in this process, forming a cloud plume.