Experimental study of the drag on fine-mesh netting

The hydrodynamic forces on netting have been investigated by many researchers. They proposed equations to estimate the drag and lift coefficients of the netting, taking the effects of the Reynolds number and solidity ratio into account. However, there are few studies on the hydrodynamic forces on netting with a fine mesh, which is sometimes used in Japan for farming small fish, such as young sardines. The size of the fine mesh is a few millimeters, whereas the solidity ratio of the netting is similar to that of standard netting. The drag on fine-mesh netting may increase because of the effects of blocking. In the present study, the drag on fine-mesh netting was examined by means of a towing experiment in a water tank. The experiment included an investigation of the drag on a planar net, a half-circular net, a circular net, and a circular net with a bottom, to understand the effect of the attack angle of the water current and wake. As a result, the drag coefficient of the plane net was in the range of those proposed in the previous studies. The effect of the attack angle of the water current was approximately reproduced by the cosine function. The reduction factors for the water current velocity through the circular net also agreed with those proposed in the previous studies, whereas it was approximately at the maximum among the previous estimations. Consequently, the drag on fine-mesh netting could be well explained by the estimates from the previous studies. However, the drag at the bottom of the net, parallel to the water current, was overestimated if hydrodynamic forces act on each transverse twine normal to the flow direction. The effects of the interactions among the twines, which are aligned parallel to the flow direction, should be specifically examined as a future study.     

Typical hydrodynamic models for aquaculture nets: A comparative study under pure current conditions

The net is regarded as the most critical component in marine aquaculture facilities as it is the only barrier which protects the environment from fish escapes. Accurate predictions of the net cage deformation and drag force on the nets are needed, both for ensuring fish welfare and for dimensioning of the mooring system. Thus, an appropriate hydrodynamic model is essential. In practice, two types of hydrodynamic force models, i.e., the Morison type and the Screen type, are commonly used to calculate the hydrodynamic forces on nets. Application of the models depends on the underlying structural model and the availability of data. A systematic review of hydrodynamic models is therefore undertaken to compare the models and various parameterisations, in aid of model selection during the design. In this study, eleven commonly used hydrodynamic models, i.e., five Morison models and six Screen models, are reviewed comprehensively, and implemented into a general finite element (FE) solver for dynamic simulations. Sensitivity studies on different current velocities, inflow angles and solidities of the nets are carried out. Moreover, different wake effects are also considered in numerical simulations. The numerical results from different models are compared against existing experimental data under pure current conditions. Suggestions for selection of suitable hydrodynamic models are provided, based on the model comparison.     

Numerical simulation of the flow field inside and around gravity cages

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model is established to simulate the flow field inside and around the gravity cages in a current. The realizable k–ɛ turbulence model was chosen to describe the flow, and the governing equations are solved by using the finite volume method. In the numerical model the cylindrical cage is divided into 16 plane nets around the circumference and a bottom net, and the net is modeled using the porous media model. The unknown porous coefficients are determined from the hydrodynamic force on the net under different flow velocities and attack angles using the least squares method. In order to validate the numerical model, the numerical results of the plane nets were compared with the data obtained from two physical model tests. The comparisons show that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Using the present model, this paper presents the flow field inside and around the gravity cages with different spacing distances and cage numbers. This study provides information about the flow field inside and around the fishing net cages.     

Accuracy improvement of numerical simulation with the determination of drag coefficients of floating collars

To install aquaculture facilities in the open sea, which is significantly influenced by tidal currents and waves, technology must be developed to withstand severe natural conditions. Many studies have been performed on cage structures that can operate in such an environment. To analyze the performance of the cage structure, it is necessary to derive the drag coefficient of the floating collar according to the degree of submergence of the floating collar in the sea; however, studies on this have not been published. Therefore, in the present study, we determined the drag coefficients according to the extent of submersion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, which are the most commonly used pipes for cage floating collars. Using three types of HDPE pipes with different diameters, we derived drag coefficients for 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, and complete submersion of the pipe’s cross section at different attack angles and current speeds. The drag coefficient of the HDPE pipe derived from a flume-tank experiment was employed for modeling the floating collar. Additionally, a numerical simulation was performed. The deformation of the sides of the cage according to the current speeds agreed well with the model test and numerical simulation results, and the overall calculation error for the tension of the mooring line was within ±5%. Furthermore, the accuracy of the simulation was improved by about 7% through the numerical calculation method of the floating collar applied in this study. According to the results of the model test and numerical simulation, cage structures with various properties can be modeled consistently using a mass–spring model, enabling relatively accurate numerical calculations and behavior simulation of the cage.     

Aquaculture Net Drag Force and Added Mass

The hydrodynamic loads on plane net samples of differing mesh geometry are measured in steady and oscillating flows. The steady loads on plane nets are also numerically simulated. The net is modeled as an inter-connected system of lumped masses and springs. The loads are computed for each twine segment and applied to the lumped masses at the segment ends. The equations of motion are formulated for the coupled dynamics of the masses and solved numerically. Drag data from the experiments is compared with analytical and numerical models and existing empirical formulae. Results for steady flows indicate that drag coefficients for nets and cylinders, as a function of the Reynolds number, have identical trends with consistent offsets. It is concluded that the drag coefficient for nets is equivalent to the drag coefficient for cylinders (and spheres for knotted nets) modified by a function of net solidity. For unsteady flows, the drag and added mass are extracted from the total wave force by applying a vector approach. It is shown that drag and added mass coefficients are not well quantified by conventional non-dimensional parameters (i.e. Keulegan–Carpenter and Reynolds numbers). The unsteady drag coefficient is presented as a function of wave particle velocity, wave period and net porosity. It is proposed that the added mass coefficient be expressed by an assumption of an effective thickness—conceptually the width of water affected by the net, which is a function of wave frequency and net solidity.     

Engineering procedures for design and analysis of submersible fish cages with copper netting for exposed marine environment

Novel design and analysis procedures are needed for engineering of the offshore fish farms utilizing copper alloy netting. Existing technologies developed for fish cages with polymer nets are not directly transferrable to the fish cages with copper netting. In particular, the structural integrity of fish cage/mooring systems, and initial high costs of fish cages with copper netting are two major concerns in the engineering for open ocean aquaculture. We propose the modified engineering procedures, which address these concerns and allow for retrofitting of existing fish farming systems with polymer nets. These procedures are illustrated by considering two case studies: design of a rigid-frame and flexible gravity-type fish cages. Performance of both designs is analyzed after the field trials in the North Atlantic and South Pacific oceans, correspondingly.     

水流作用下一种养殖金属网衣水阻力特性的数值模拟研究

为保障深远海金属网箱养殖系统的结构安全,进行网箱结构的水动力学研究是一项重要的工作。构成金属网箱主要组成部分的金属网衣是一种小直径多孔的网状结构,在波浪和水流作用下的水动力学特性与一般的海洋工程结构物有显著不同。本文基于有限元基本原理,采用梁单元模拟金属网线结构,采用连接单元模拟网线接触部位的相互作用,并运用ABAQUS软件进行数值计算,在试验验证的基础上,分析了在水流作用下一种金属菱形链网衣在不同网目尺寸、不同网线直径情况下的水阻力变化情况。数值模拟结果表明在各种工况下,当网目尺寸由25 mm增加到35 mm、45 mm时,网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为14.71%和38.07%;当网线直径由2.5 mm增加到3.2 mm、4.0 mm时,各工况下网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为25.05%和45.06%。研究结果可以为进一步开展深海养殖金属网箱水动力特性研究提供积极的基础。     

Comparative analysis of ichthyoplankton sampling gear for early life stages of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Comparative gear tows were conducted during the summers of 1987–1990 in the Gulf of Alaska. Efficiencies of four types of ichthyoplankton sampling gear were compared with respect to total catch and size distribution of larval fish. Fish were sampled using the bongo net (333 and 505 μm mesh), 1 m Tucker net, 3 m Tucker net and the Methot frame net. Results indicate that the bongo and the 1 m Tucker nets caught similar numbers and size distribution of fish. The larger 3 m Tucker and Method frame nets caught a larger size class of fish but a smaller total catch. Although there was a slightly significant diel difference in total catch detected in the smaller nets, no diel differences in size distribution of fish caught were detected for any of the nets.     

Drag force acting on biofouled net panels

Measurements were made to assess the increase in drag on aquaculture cage netting due to biofouling. Drag force was obtained by towing net panels, perpendicular to the incident flow, in experiments conducted in a tow tank and in the field. The net panels were fabricated from netting stretched within a 1 m² pipe frame. They were towed at various speeds, and drag force was measured using a bridle-pulley arrangement terminating in a load cell. The frame without netting was also drag tested so that net-only results could be obtained by subtracting out the frame contribution. Measurements of drag force and velocity were processed to yield drag coefficients.

Clean nets were drag tested in the University of New Hampshire (UNH) 36.5 m long tow tank. Nets were then exposed to biofouling during the summer of 2004 at the UNH open ocean aquaculture demonstration site 1.6 km south of the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire, U.S.A. Nine net panels were recovered on 6 October 2004 and immediately drag tested at sea to minimize disturbing the fouling communities. The majority of the growth was skeleton shrimp (Caprella sp.) with some colonial hydroids (Tubularia sp.), blue mussels (Mytilus edulus) and rock borer clams (Hiatella actica). Since the deployment depth was 15 m (commensurate with submerged cages at the site), no algae were present. The net panels had been subject to several different antifouling treatments, so the extent of growth varied amongst the panels. Drag force measurements were made using a bridle-pulley-load cell configuration similar to that employed in the tow tank. Fixtures and instruments were mounted on an unpowered catamaran that was towed alongside a workboat. Thus, the catamaran served as the “carriage” for field measurements.

Increases in net-only drag coefficient varied from 6 to 240% of the clean net values. The maximum biofouled net drag coefficient was 0.599 based on net outline area. Biofouled drag coefficients generally increased with solidity (projected area of blockage divided by outline area) and volume of growth. There was, however, considerable scatter attributed in part to different mixes of species present.     

贝类养殖吊笼水动力特性的实验研究

通过模型实验的方法分别探讨了规则波和均匀流作用下贝类养殖吊笼的水动力特性,并分析了贝类养殖密度对吊笼受力的影响。在波浪作用下,基于莫里森方程,通过最小二乘法计算水动力系数C_d和惯性力系数C_m值;在水流作用下,利用简化莫里森公式反推出C_d值;分析了Kc数、雷诺数Re和养殖密度对C_d和C_m的影响。结果显示:吊笼的运动幅度及受力随着波高、周期及流速的增大而增大;随着贝类养殖密度的增大,吊笼受到的水平力逐渐增大,而吊笼的运动幅度逐渐减小;在波浪效应下,随着Kc数、Re的增大,C_d有略微增大趋势,而C_m则先增大后趋于常数;在水流作用下,C_d值随着雷诺数Re的增大无显著变化;在同一工况下,C_d随着贝类养殖密度的增加而增大,而C_m相应减小。研究表明,本实验得出的吊笼水动力系数可作为计算吊笼波浪力和流阻力时的取值参考。     

立式V型曲面网板的水动力性能

采用正交优选法来考察网板板面折角、展弦比以及后退角对立式V型曲面网板水动力性能的影响。试验结果证明影响网板水动力性能的最重要的因素是网板板面折角,其次是展弦比和后退角。当网板的板面曲率为14%、板面折角为12°、展弦比为1.60、后退角为10°时,网板具有较高的水动力性能。当冲角为25°和28°时,网板的升力系数均为1.68。另外,通过对优选网板添加模拟海底的试验证明,网板在底层作业时,其临界冲角从28°减小为25°;在常用工作冲角范围内,网板在底层时的扩张性能要高于中层,同时,网板的升阻比也略有上升,并能在较宽的冲角范围内持续保持较高的扩张性能。     

不同工作姿态下立式双曲面网板水动力及周围流场特性研究

网板是单拖网中实现网具扩张的重要属具,其稳定状态直接决定拖网网口扩张程度,进而影响渔获效率和经济效益。该研究以立式双曲面网板为研究对象,利用水槽模型试验和数值模拟(Computational fluid dynamics,CFD)探究立式双曲面网板在不同倾斜状态(内、外倾斜,前、后倾斜)和冲角下的水动力性能变化,并对网板周围流场和表面压力进行可视化。结果显示:1)模型试验和数值模拟的网板升力系数均在倾角为0°,冲角为25°时达到最大值,分别为1.69和1.88;而两者的阻力系数均随倾角增大逐渐减小。2)模型试验和数值模拟的升阻比均随倾角增大逐渐减小;当内倾角为5°时,两者的升阻比均达到最大,分别为3.27和3.69。3)压力中心系数Cpb随倾角变化基本保持不变;但当网板处于前倾状态时,Cpc随倾角增大而增加;而网板处于后倾状态时,Cpc随倾角增大逐渐减小。4)CFD结果显示,网板中心面后部旋涡随倾角增大逐渐减小;当网板处于内、外倾状态时,前端流速衰减区随倾角增大逐渐增加;但当网板处于前、后倾状态时,衰减区随倾角增大逐渐减小;网板处于前倾状态时,压力中心随倾角增大逐渐向网板上端翼弦移动,网板处于后倾状态时则出现相反结果。研究结果可为今后研究网板稳定性和合理使用及调整网板提供科学参考。     

Fundamental studies on the hydrodynamic resistance of small pot traps

ABSTRACT:   The hydrodynamic resistance of small pot traps has been conducted in order to establish some basic information. The specific objectives of the study was to measure the hydrodynamic force and estimate the critical setting condition for traps. Five types of traps with different materials were used in the experiment: a netted semi-cylinder shape, a wire semi-cylinder shape, a heart shape, a box shape, and a cylinder shape. The hydrodynamic force of each trap was measured in a flume tank. Flow speeds in the flume tank were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 m/s. Attack angles for this study were 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees. At an attack angle of 0 degrees the main axis of the trap was parallel to the water flow and at 90 degrees it was vertical. The values of the hydrodynamic drag coefficient varied with traps: netted semi-cylinder shape, 2.75–5.96; wire semi-cylinder shape, 2.81–4.49; heart shape, 2.77–3.66; box shape, 2.39–2.97; and for cylinder shape, 3.57–3.67. The flow speed (0.5 m/s) was effective to set the netted semi-cylinder, wire semi-cylinder, box, and cylinder shaped traps. The same flow speed applied to the heart-shaped trap was only effective to a maximum of 30 degrees attack angles and below.     

Fluid dynamic resistance for the trolling depressor

ABSTRACT: The mechanism of deciding a posture of the trolling depressor in the towing was investigated. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the trolling depressor, which has been widely used by Japanese coastal fishermen, were investigated using models with a 394.5 cm² plane form area in different shapes and cambers. These models were rigged for an attack angle from −10° to 90°. The lift, drag and moment were measured by a three-component load cell in the circulating water tank. The difference in the shape of the trolling depressor did not affect the drag coefficient. Superior efficiency of the trolling depressor is considered to be due to the effect of camber. The position of the pressure center very near the front edge makes the trolling depressor move downward. Disagreement of points between the towing point and the pressure center accelerated the swinging movement of the trolling depressor.     

双开缝矩形曲面网板水动力性能及影响参数研究

为满足渔业现代化的发展需求,渔具的改良是其不可或缺的一部分,而网板是提供拖网网衣水平张力主要属具。采用矩形曲面网板有利于提高网板的升力系数和升阻比,而网板开缝有利于减小网板的背面涡流,增加网板的水动力性能,提高网板操作稳定性。为研究小型拖网渔船网板的水动力性能,通过数值模拟的方法,在其他参数一定的情况下,采用控制变量法控制双开缝矩形曲面网板的速度、开缝尺寸以及展弦比等参数的单一变化,研究其对拖网网板水动力性能的影响规律。数值计算结果表明:该网板升力系数和升阻比随冲角的增大呈先增后减的趋势,最佳升阻比出现在冲角为10°左右的时候;速度对网板水动力性能无显著影响;升力系数随开缝尺寸的增加总体呈上升趋势,当开缝尺寸大于50 mm时,升力系数无显著变化,升阻比随开缝尺寸增大总体呈先增后减的趋势;不同展弦比的网板在升力系数达到最大时对应的最佳冲角随展弦比的增加而逐渐减小;同时,升力系数峰值随展弦比的增加呈先增后减的趋势,当展弦比为0.6左右时,升力系数的峰值达到最大。研究结果可为同类型的小型拖网渔船拖网网板的结构优化设计提供更加可靠的参考。     

自升式深海网箱不同工况下结构安全性评估研究

深海网箱养殖受极端环境影响较大,自升式深海网箱凭借其结构特点在极端天气下可将养殖箱体下潜入水,为更好地应对极端环境、增加养殖效益提供了可能。本文针对某自升式深海网箱,基于大型通用有限元软件ANSYS的Mechanical模块,建立其有限元分析模型,而后考虑正常作业及风暴自存2种作业状态,通过编制不同相位角下桩腿支反力搜索程序确定计算工况,最终求解得到网箱各部件结构变形情况及应力分布,从而完成网箱结构安全性评估。研究表明,自升式深海网箱通过箱体下潜入水可以很好应对极端环境条件;经校核,本研究的自升式深海网箱结构安全性满足要求;桩腿及附近撑杆是自升式网箱的结构薄弱区域,在网箱设计中应予重点考虑。本研究可为自升式深海网箱结构安全分析提供方法参考。     

Preliminary study on the effects of exclusion of wild fauna from aquaculture cages in a shallow marine environment

Previous investigations into the environmental impacts at a shallow-water oligotrophic marine experimental cage aquaculture site in Western Australia have found no accumulation of organic material, and limited changes in macrofaunal communities. It was hypothesised that wild fish populations in the area consumed particulate wastes emanating from the cage, thus reducing the benthic impacts. An experiment was designed to quantify the accumulation of organic material on the seabed occurring in the presence and absence of wild fauna. Three treatments were arranged in duplicate, cages without exclusion nets (normal situation) (CAGE-FISH); cages surrounded by a 35-mm mesh exclusion net (preventing wild fish access to the sea bed and water column near the cage) (CAGE-FISH-EXCL); and empty cages surrounded by exclusion nets (to control for effects from the exclusion net) (CAGE-EXCL). In addition, four reference sites without cages (REF) were sampled. Following baseline sampling, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were stocked into the CAGE-FISH and the CAGE-FISH-EXCL treatments at an initial stocking density of 2.4 kg m⁻³. The experiment was terminated after 62 days, at a final stock density of 5.6 kg m⁻³. Sampling found significantly greater accumulation of nutrients and fine sediments under the cages enclosed in the exclusion net than in other treatments and sites. Levels of organic carbon deposition at cages with exclusion nets was found to be 4.5±1.0 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ (mean±S.E.) compared to 0.7 to 1.1 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ at control and reference sites.The accumulation of nutrients at the CAGE-FISH-EXCL sites was correlated to distinct changes in macrofaunal community composition, with a sharp increase in overall macrofaunal abundance and a growing dominance of capitellid polychaetes. Based on a comparison between sedimentation rates within and outside excluded areas, the proportions of the total sedimenting nutrients consumed by wild fish were calculated to be 40% to 60%. It was concluded that in the natural coastal system of Western Australia or comparable environments, wild fish are potential important consumers of cage aquaculture waste materials. The fact that sediment C, N and P did not increase below cages with fish and no exclusion nets suggests that the benthic fauna, including surface grazing fish, at these sites were able to assimilate much of the remaining total sedimentary nutrients.     

Examination of net volume reduction of gravity-type open-net fish cages under sea currents

Owing to heavy criticisms of nearshore fish farming for causing environmental pollution and encroaching on sea space used for shipping, boating, recreational sea activities and marine eco-tourism, offshore fish farming has now being seriously considered. Moreover an offshore site provides more pristine water and greater space for increased fish production. However, offshore fish farming poses challenges such as a more energetic sea environment. A higher sea current can lead to large deformation of fish net and hence a net volume reduction which compromises fish welfare. With the view to identifying the effects of various important parameters on net volume reduction of a gravity-type open-net fish cage, this paper adopts a mass-spring model for the dynamic analysis of current-induced net deformations of cylindrical fish nets with discrete weights hanging at the bottom edge of the nets. In this model, the net mesh comprises knot nodes and bar nodes connected by tension-only massless springs. The spring stiffness is determined from the net bar diameters and material properties. The current-induced loads are applied to each node and calculated based on Morrison’s equation. The governing equation system for nodal motions can be established according to Newton’s second law, and solved by using the Runge-Kutta method for the real-time net deformations. The effects of net string reinforcements, weight distributions and net shapes on the net volume reduction are studied with the view to shed insights into how one may improve fish cage designs to effectively mitigate net deformation under high sea current speeds in offshore fish farming sites.     

Periphyton fouling as a marginal energy source in tropical tilapia cage farming

In aquaculture, the benefit of autotrophic production within land-based ponds for fish production has long been recognized. In cage culture, organisms growing on the cage net have so far only been considered as a problem. This study investigated the potential production of periphyton on cage nets used in a tropical mixed tilapia culture of Oreochromis mortimeri (Trewavas), Tilapia rendalli (Boulenger) and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. The production of periphyton was assessed experimentally and compared with the energy demand of the caged fish. The tilapias were found to graze intensively on the net, and the primary production of periphyton on the cage net was ≈ 1% relative to the energy demands of the fish.     

波浪作用下双层网底鲆鲽网箱水动力特性的数值模拟

根据有限单元法建立了波浪作用下双层网底网箱的受力运动模型,通过数值计算求解双层网底的位移与倾角。先将上层网底与下层网底的计算值进行比较,然后,将双层网底网箱中下层网底与单层网底网箱开展对比分析。计算结果显示,在波浪周期内,双层网底网箱的2层网底能保持相对平行的状态。2层网底的位移与最大倾角随着波高与周期的增大而增加,并且2层网底的倾斜方向一致。在相同波浪条件作用下,下层网底的水平位移大于上层网底,二者垂直位移差异较小,下层网底最大倾角值大于上层网底。研究发现,当波高为15 cm、周期为1.4 s时,双层网底网箱的2层网底的倾角相差最大,但并未发生接触碰撞,网底可以保持相对稳定。此外,双层网底网箱的下层网底的最大位移值小于单层网底网箱,最大倾角值大于单层网底网箱。研究表明,当波浪一定时,双层网底网箱的最大锚绳力均大于单层网底网箱。