INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL AERATOR PARAMETERS ON THE POND WATER FLOW RATE USING CFD

Authors

  • Mohd Azlan Musa ᵃFaculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ᵇCentre for Offshore Renewable Energy (CEFORE)Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ᶜInstitute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS)Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Fatin Alias Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Faris Roslan Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Nora Azlina Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Ahmad Fitriadhy Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Anuar Abu Bakar Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Mohammad Fadhli Ahmad Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Mohd Asamudin A. Rahman ᵃFaculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ᵇCentre for Offshore Renewable Energy (CEFORE)Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Che Wan Mohd Noor Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v88.24550

Keywords:

Mechanical aerator, CFD, Pond Flow rate, Paddle Configuration, Hydrodynamic Performance

Abstract

Mechanical aerators are essentialfor enhancing water circulation and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in shrimp pond aquaculture, which are critical for shrimp health and growth. Among the common aerator types, including paddlewheel, diffuser, and propeller systems, paddlewheels are widely used due to their effectiveness in surface aeration. However, uncontrolled flow rates may lead to pond erosion and excessive energy consumption. This study investigates the influence of paddlewheel design parameters on pond water flow rates using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in FLOW-3D. Three paddle configurations (with 12 holes, 16 holes, and no holes), rotational speeds ranging from 8 to 16 rad/s, and two layout setups (inline and parallel) were analyzed. The results show a strong correlation between paddle speed and flow rate, with optimal performance observed between 9 and 11 rad/s. The design without holes produced up to 73.3% higher flow rates but led to unbalanced circulation. In contrast, the parallel configuration provided more uniform flow distribution than the inline setup, helping to maintain consistent DO levels and reduce localized stagnation. These findings offer practical insights into optimizing aerator design and operation to improve water quality, minimize erosion risk, and support sustainable shrimp aquaculture.

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Published

2026-06-16

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 4: July 2026

Section

Science and Engineering

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