Modelling the flow inside closed rearing aquaculture systems

Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)

Confidenciality: No

Education area(s): Mecànica de Fluïds Computacional

Title in different languages: Modelling the flow inside closed rearing aquaculture systems

Abstract: Aquaculture is a growing industry and so are the sizes of closed rearing units, where adequate fish swimming speeds are paramount. The hydrodynamics in closed tanks of up to 10 m in diameter have been documented, but there is little information on larger structures. The main purpose of this work has been the implementation and validation of a CFD (OpenFOAM) model to represent the hydrodynamics inside circular aquaculture tanks with a diameter of 1.5 m. Subsequently, the validated modelling procedure was applied to tanks with diameters ranging from 5 to 40 m. It was found that when using the realizable − RANS turbulence model, the most important flow characteristics – a forced and a bathtub vortex – are successfully modelled in tanks with a diameter of up to 10 m. Results suggest that in larger structures, higher turbulence levels result in the dissipation of the bathtub vortex.

Subject: Enginyeria mecànica

Academic year: 2019-2020

Language: Anglès

Work's public defense date: 2020-09-09

Subject areas: Mechanical engineering

Student: López Biagi, José Ricardo

Department: Enginyeria Mecànica

Creation date in repository: 2020-11-26

TFM credits: 15

Keywords: OpenFOAM, bathtub vortex, tank hydrodynamics

Title in original language: Modelling the flow inside closed rearing aquaculture systems

Access Rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Project director: Martorell Masip, Benjamí