Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach
Microplastics are accumulated in coastal regions due to human activity. Although limited data from beach surveys show an increase in microplastics in marine habitats, continuous monitoring is required on microplastics loading and distribution in the marine environment. In this study, CFD numerical s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/23/3432 |
| _version_ | 1797507102155997184 |
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| author | Mohammadreza Fatahi Guven Akdogan Christie Dorfling Petrie Van Wyk |
| author_facet | Mohammadreza Fatahi Guven Akdogan Christie Dorfling Petrie Van Wyk |
| author_sort | Mohammadreza Fatahi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics are accumulated in coastal regions due to human activity. Although limited data from beach surveys show an increase in microplastics in marine habitats, continuous monitoring is required on microplastics loading and distribution in the marine environment. In this study, CFD numerical simulations using VOF and Airy wave models coupled with DPM were carried out to investigate the effects of various variables on microplastics motion and distribution in a simulated coastal marine environment. PET, PU, and PP microplastic particles were released from the oceanside to investigate the effects of microplastic type, size, and shape with two different ocean–water flow velocities and temperature conditions. Particle position data from their tracking were used to determine the effect of each variable on the spatial distribution of particles. The quantitative analysis of vertical and horizontal distribution of microplastics particles revealed that, with low water velocity, most of the large denser spherical PET and PU microplastics would sink towards the bottom and settle at the ocean floor, while most of the small non-spherical particles would float near the surface and travel towards the shoreline. For lighter PP microplastics, larger spherical particles would float more readily than denser spherical ones. Large spherical and smaller non-spherical PP particles travel farthest reporting to the shoreline. Increasing the oceanwater velocity altered the distribution patterns in which lighter PP particles, almost independent of shape and size, travel swiftly to the shoreline together with smaller non-spherical denser microplastics. Lastly, the simulation results revealed that the oceanwater temperature did not play any significant role in the spatial distribution of microplastic particles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:42:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8eff5e328c54438bce3e98791354829 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:42:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8eff5e328c54438bce3e987913548292023-11-23T03:15:31ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-12-011323343210.3390/w13233432Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD ApproachMohammadreza Fatahi0Guven Akdogan1Christie Dorfling2Petrie Van Wyk3Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaMicroplastics are accumulated in coastal regions due to human activity. Although limited data from beach surveys show an increase in microplastics in marine habitats, continuous monitoring is required on microplastics loading and distribution in the marine environment. In this study, CFD numerical simulations using VOF and Airy wave models coupled with DPM were carried out to investigate the effects of various variables on microplastics motion and distribution in a simulated coastal marine environment. PET, PU, and PP microplastic particles were released from the oceanside to investigate the effects of microplastic type, size, and shape with two different ocean–water flow velocities and temperature conditions. Particle position data from their tracking were used to determine the effect of each variable on the spatial distribution of particles. The quantitative analysis of vertical and horizontal distribution of microplastics particles revealed that, with low water velocity, most of the large denser spherical PET and PU microplastics would sink towards the bottom and settle at the ocean floor, while most of the small non-spherical particles would float near the surface and travel towards the shoreline. For lighter PP microplastics, larger spherical particles would float more readily than denser spherical ones. Large spherical and smaller non-spherical PP particles travel farthest reporting to the shoreline. Increasing the oceanwater velocity altered the distribution patterns in which lighter PP particles, almost independent of shape and size, travel swiftly to the shoreline together with smaller non-spherical denser microplastics. Lastly, the simulation results revealed that the oceanwater temperature did not play any significant role in the spatial distribution of microplastic particles.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/23/3432PETPUPPnear coastal watersmicroplastics distributionCFD simulations |
| spellingShingle | Mohammadreza Fatahi Guven Akdogan Christie Dorfling Petrie Van Wyk Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach Water PET PU PP near coastal waters microplastics distribution CFD simulations |
| title | Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach |
| title_full | Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach |
| title_short | Numerical Study of Microplastic Dispersal in Simulated Coastal Waters Using CFD Approach |
| title_sort | numerical study of microplastic dispersal in simulated coastal waters using cfd approach |
| topic | PET PU PP near coastal waters microplastics distribution CFD simulations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/23/3432 |
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