Numerical study on the flow environment for a novel design of net cage with a shielding device

• Published in: Ocean engineering 2022-01, Vol.243, p.110345, Article 110345
• Main Authors: Liu, Hang-Fei, Bi, Chun-Wei, Xu, Zhijing, Zhao, Yun-Peng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CFD modeling; Drag force; Flow field; Shielding device
• ISSN: 0029-8018; 1873-5258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110345

As aquaculture moves from inshore to the deep sea, developing a comfortable swimming environment for the farmed fish to cope with the strong current in the open sea becomes vitally imperative. This study designs a novel net cage with a shielding device to provide a sheltered area for the farmed fish at extreme ambient current speeds. Considering the time-consuming and substantial economic loss caused by the destruction of the net cage in situ measurements, a numerical method based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is employed to evaluate the flow field of the net cage. Three characterized parameters, namely the height of the middle plane nets, the inclined angle of plane nets, and the net solidity, are used to estimate their influences on the flow field of a net cage and the drag force loaded on it. The results highlight that the height variation of the middle-plane nets has little effect on the flow field and the drag force. Nevertheless, the increased inclined angle of plane nets and net solidity leads to a dramatic fluctuation regarding the current velocity distribution and the drag force. In particular, the increase of the inclined angle for the plane nets causes a noticeable increase in the cage volume. With this understanding, further aquaculture net cages can potentially be designed to better withstand the ocean's rigors and maintain the aquaculture industry's sustainability. •A novel dependable habitat of farmed fish: a novel design of net cage with a shielding device is researched.•Hydrodynamic characteristics of a novel design of net cage with a shielding device based on CFD are studied.•The influences of the inclined angle of plane nets on the flow field, drag force and cage volume are discussed.•The effects of net solidity on the flow field and drag force are thoroughly analyzed.