Optimizing flow uniformity and velocity fields in aquaculture tanks by modifying water inlets and nozzles arrangement: A computational fluid dynamics study

Ensuring optimal conditions for fish, especially in terms of uniform velocity fields, is crucial for aquaculture systems to attain self-cleaning efficiency in rearing tanks and better fish behavior, which ultimately impacts their survival and growth. The current study presented a full-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of three types of circular, square and square arc angle tanks used in aquaculture farms to choose the most optimal tank based on the flow uniformity and velocity field. At the next step, the optimal arrangement of the inlet number, inlet location, inlet angle, as well as the number of nozzles on each inlet was reconfigured to create the most optimal tank. The simulations were done using the CFD software FLUENT distributed by the ANSYS Corporation. The software calculates velocities in the tanks by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations of continuity and momentum that govern the mean turbulent flow of water. The results illustrated circular and square arc angle tanks had significantly more uniform fluid velocity compared to the square tanks, which the square arc angle tank due to better flow velocity near the wall and space utilization was selected for further rearrangements. Additionally, the implementation of two entrance pipes near the corner of the two parallel walls with an entry angle of 0° in a square arc angle tank resulted in a more consistent water velocity. As the number of inlet nozzles increased to six, the water streamlines became more uniform, suggesting a more consistent water velocity throughout the tank. However, when the number of input nozzles increased to nine, the tension on the nozzle apertures were increased probably due to the decrease of distance between them. Findings of the present study concluded that two inlets in the corner with an entry angle of 0° and six nozzles on each inlet pipe could provide the optimum water velocity in the square arc angle tanks.