Application de la mécanique des fluides numérique pour évaluer et optimiser la performance d’un chenal à haut rendement algal

In a well-mixed condition, High Rate Algal Pond (HRAP) is one of the most appropriate ways for algal biomass production. This study is interested in the effect of the hydrodynamics inside a lab-scale HRAP that plays an important role to realize proper mixing. Computational Fluid Dynamics has proven itself to offer the possibilities of understanding and optimizing complex hydrodynamic parameters that are commonly considered as decisive factors to the degree of mixing. In this study, two alternative CFD modeling approaches, Inlet Velocity and Dynamic Mesh methods, are used to simulate the pond hydrodynamics. Measured velocity and tracer data are used to validate and compare the performance of these approaches. Horizontal velocity profiles across the depth of flow at three locations display higher agreement with the experimental values in the Dynamic Mesh method than the Inlet Velocity method. On the other hand, with turbulence diffusion included in the Inlet velocity method, good agreement is found between simulated and experimental tracer values in fairly short simulation time than in the Dynamic Mesh approach. The computational time for Dynamic Mesh is extremely exaggerated without an equivalent advantage in the tracer simulation result over the Inlet Velocity method in this particular model setup. To enhance the velocity prediction from Inlet Velocity method, velocity profile from ADV measurement has been applied on the inlet patch of the model and better fitting curves are observed in this case. Simple modification has also been made on the geometry of the pond to demonstrate the effect of the flow deflector on mixing condition and power consumption. The provision of deflectors could make the velocity distribution uniform thereby minimizing power consumption and reducing the dead zones.