Abstract
Biofuels derived from algae are becoming an increasingly viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels; however, research and development in the field must continue to advance the technology before biofuels can be produced in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. Unlike with photobioreactors, there is no generally accepted model for evaluating the growth of algae in open raceways because algal growth involves a large number of variables. For this reason, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could prove to be a valuable and effective tool for the design, optimization, and operation of large-scale raceway ponds under local environmental conditions. CFD can elucidate and quantify the complex sets of variables that govern heat, mass, and flow patterns within the pond and provide spatiotemporal data concerning algal concentration and other water quality variables, such as light and temperature. The corresponding outcomes will enable designers to create more efficient ponds and more accurately predict growth under a variety of scenarios, as well as optimize the pond's operation in order to produce the maximum amount of biomass possible within a given locality. The present study focuses on developing user-defined functions capable of capturing key parameters, verifying the CFD outcomes against existing experimental data, providing computational solutions, and assessing the sensitivity of the model.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 203-213 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Transactions of the ASABE |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2015 |
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Keywords
- Algae
- Biofuels
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Food Science
- Forestry
- Soil Science
Cite this
A computational fluid dynamics model of algal growth : Development and validation. / Drewry, J. L.; Choi, C. Y.; An, Lingling; Gharagozloo, P. E.
In: Transactions of the ASABE, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2015, p. 203-213.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A computational fluid dynamics model of algal growth
T2 - Development and validation
AU - Drewry, J. L.
AU - Choi, C. Y.
AU - An, Lingling
AU - Gharagozloo, P. E.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Biofuels derived from algae are becoming an increasingly viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels; however, research and development in the field must continue to advance the technology before biofuels can be produced in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. Unlike with photobioreactors, there is no generally accepted model for evaluating the growth of algae in open raceways because algal growth involves a large number of variables. For this reason, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could prove to be a valuable and effective tool for the design, optimization, and operation of large-scale raceway ponds under local environmental conditions. CFD can elucidate and quantify the complex sets of variables that govern heat, mass, and flow patterns within the pond and provide spatiotemporal data concerning algal concentration and other water quality variables, such as light and temperature. The corresponding outcomes will enable designers to create more efficient ponds and more accurately predict growth under a variety of scenarios, as well as optimize the pond's operation in order to produce the maximum amount of biomass possible within a given locality. The present study focuses on developing user-defined functions capable of capturing key parameters, verifying the CFD outcomes against existing experimental data, providing computational solutions, and assessing the sensitivity of the model.
AB - Biofuels derived from algae are becoming an increasingly viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels; however, research and development in the field must continue to advance the technology before biofuels can be produced in an economical and environmentally friendly manner. Unlike with photobioreactors, there is no generally accepted model for evaluating the growth of algae in open raceways because algal growth involves a large number of variables. For this reason, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could prove to be a valuable and effective tool for the design, optimization, and operation of large-scale raceway ponds under local environmental conditions. CFD can elucidate and quantify the complex sets of variables that govern heat, mass, and flow patterns within the pond and provide spatiotemporal data concerning algal concentration and other water quality variables, such as light and temperature. The corresponding outcomes will enable designers to create more efficient ponds and more accurately predict growth under a variety of scenarios, as well as optimize the pond's operation in order to produce the maximum amount of biomass possible within a given locality. The present study focuses on developing user-defined functions capable of capturing key parameters, verifying the CFD outcomes against existing experimental data, providing computational solutions, and assessing the sensitivity of the model.
KW - Algae
KW - Biofuels
KW - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929174999&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84929174999&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.13031/trans.58.10372
DO - 10.13031/trans.58.10372
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84929174999
VL - 58
SP - 203
EP - 213
JO - Transactions of the ASABE
JF - Transactions of the ASABE
SN - 2151-0032
IS - 2
ER -