Modeling and CFD Simulation of Macroalgae Motion within Aerated Tanks: Assessment of Light-Dark Cycle Period

Radomír Filip, Ingrid Masaló and Štěpán Papáček ()
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Radomír Filip: Centrum výzkumu Řež s.r.o., Hlavní 130, Řež, 25068 Husinec, Czech Republic
Ingrid Masaló: Departament d’Enginyeria Agroalimentària i Biotecnologia, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTECH, C/Esteve Terrades 8, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
Štěpán Papáček: Institute of Information Theory and Automation, Department of Control Theory, Czech Academy of Sciences, Pod Vodárenskou věží 4, 18208 Prague, Czech Republic

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Computational techniques can be applied to numerically assess key parameters influencing the biotechnological process to better predict the essential features governing macroalgae growth and nutrient removal in aerated tanks, e.g., integrated into multitrophic aquaculture systems. Recent advances in computational hardware and software, such as the discrete element method (DEM) coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) codes, have enabled flow simulations in biotechnological systems. Here, we perform CFD-DEM simulations of macroalgae motion within aerated tanks to assess the light–dark cycle period as one of the most critical abiotic conditions governing the growth of photosynthetic organisms. This proof-of-concept study, which deals with the challenging problem of the fluid–structure interaction in aerated (bubbled) tanks with a highly flexible solid phase, includes a set of detailed 2D CFD simulations for two types of settings differing in the presence or absence of an inner cylinder assembly. Consequently, corresponding regression models for the cycle period are derived, and the initial hypothesis of the assembly’s beneficial role is confirmed. Eventually, the CFD results are verified using an image processing technique on the laboratory scale tank with Ulva sp. and specific 3D CFD-DEM simulations.

Keywords: aerated tanks; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); discrete element method (DEM); fluid–structure interaction (FSI); light–dark cycles; macroalgae; seaweed (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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