Observations of flow patterns in a model of a marine fish larvae rearing tank

There are few studies on flow fields generated by aerators in fish larvae rearing tanks. The flow varies with aeration rates and tank proportions resulting in different larvae survival rates. The effects of aeration rate and aspect ratio AR (the ratio of liquid depth to tank radius) on overall flow patterns were investigated experimentally using flow visualization techniques. Two distinct types of flow patterns, a single-pair vortex system and a two-pair vortex system, were observed as the value of tank aspect ratio varied from about 1.0 to 2.0. In addition, corner vortex structures were observed in both the region between the free surface and the upper sidewall, and between the bottom wall and the lower sidewall of the tank. On the sidewall, reattachment and separation points were found, which were closely related with these vortex structures.