Investigation of Flow Dynamics for a Microalgae Suspension in an Open Pond System

Abstract

In the microalgae based biofuel technology, two main cultivation methods are available such as the Open pond system and the Closed photo bioreactor (PBR). The primary advantages of utilizing open raceway ponds are low production and maintenance cost. Though the open raceway ponds have been adjudged potentially cost effective, so many surrounding issues are involved to produce microalgae at a large scale that could make microalgae fuel cost competitive with the conventional petro oil. Many researchers have been studied so far to increase the efficiency of the cultivation methods without providing a proper mathematical model of flow dynamics inside the open raceway ponds. This paper presents a mathematical model to analyze the flow behavior of an open pond culture focusing the mixing factors by using a paddlewheel while the paddlewheel have its own unique dynamic characteristics. From our simulation we observed that the paddlewheel plays a vital role in mixing and the growth of microalgae. The velocity profiles, shear stress distributions are also studied at different parts of an open pond culture for a microalgae suspension.