Studies of the transformation of steam-water emissions of a cooling tower in the ambient atmospheric environment, depending on meteorological factors, is carried out. It is revealed that the structure of the steam-water plume is heterogeneous. There are three zones in which the character of thermo-aerodynamic processes and their flow conditions change significantly: the zone of active aerodynamic processes, the transition zone, and the flare zone. It is established that dilution of the steam-water plume with polluted air is carried out throughout the volume due to its turbulence. Using the above methodological developments allows determining the main design parameters of the cooling tower steam-water plum, in particular, temperature and humidity conditions.

The article is devoted to the analysis of problems in the occurrence of difficult to predict natural emergencies. The issues related to the use of the system of automatic shutdown of gas, water and power supply at industrial enterprises and residential premises are considered. It has been established that the automatic shutdown system should have the smallest time delay. Particular attention should also be paid to autonomy and energy independence. The analysis showed that during an earthquake, a system using a “gravitational energy accumulator” can be used, which will allow obtaining the shortest time delay, and such a system does not require any additional energy consumption, special control and maintenance.